The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a breed of dog, historically developed as a gundog to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and an instinctive love of water. Their intelligence and versatility see them employed in a variety of roles including illegal drug detection, search and rescue, as hunting dogs and as guide dogs. They possess a friendly, eager-to-please demeanor, and are the 4th most popular family dog breeds (by registration) in the world.
The Golden Retriever was first developed in Scotland at "Guisachan" near Glen Affric, the highland estate of Sir Dudley Marjoribanks later Baron Tweedmouth. Golden Retrievers were first accepted for registration by the The Kennel Club of England in 1903, as Flat Coats - Golden. They were first exhibited in 1908, and in 1911 were recognized as a breed described as Retriever (Golden and Yellow). In 1913, the Golden Retriever Club was founded. The breed name was officially changed to Golden Retriever in 1920.
The temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the breed and is described in the standard as "kindly, friendly and confident". They are not "one man dogs" and are generally equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them.Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed and as such is considered a serious fault. Nor should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous. The typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please.
Golden Retrievers are also noted for their intelligence. The Golden Retriever ranks fourth in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being one of the brightest dogs ranked by obedience command trainability. These dogs are also renowned for their patience with children.
By the time they reach maturity however, Goldens will have become active and fun-loving animals with the exceptionally patient demeanor befitting a dog bred to sit quietly for hours in a hunting blind. Adult Golden Retrievers love to work, and have a keen ability to focus on a given task. They will seemingly work until collapse, so care should be taken to avoid overworking them.
Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are a size suited for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for water. Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable—due to their intelligence, athleticism and desire to please their handlers—and generally excel in obedience trials. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events. Harsh training methods are unnecessary as Golden Retrievers often respond very well to positive and upbeat training styles.
Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock. Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, calmness, and willingness to learn. Because of this, they are commonly used as guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and search and rescue dogs. They are friendly and tend to learn tricks easily.
The Golden Retriever's eagerness to please has made them consistent, top performers in the obedience and agility rings. Plus with their excellent swimming ability they are great at dock jumping. Their natural retrieving ability also sees them excel in flyball and field trials.
HEALTH
These disorders are relatively common in this breed, and where possible, efforts are being made to eradicate them. Ask your breeder about these conditions in his or her dogs. These disorders seriously affect the health of your pet and may require medical or surgical intervention.
Hip dysplasia:
An affliction common among larger breeds such as the Golden- where in the head of the thigh bone works itself free of the cup (or acetabulum) of the hip. This looseness in the joint can leads to excessive surface wear and eventually arthritis and pain.
While environmental factors may contribute to this disorder, it is commonly believe to be almost completely hereditary. Reputable breeders hip score all the dogs they breed with.
Statistics released by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals readily show that breeding of only non-dysplastic dogs can substantially decrease the risk and incidence of the disorder.
Golden Retriever Breed total hip score average in Australia is 15.3
Elbow dysplasia:
The term elbow dysplasia refers to several conditions that affect the elbow joint: osteochondrosis of the medial humeral condyle, fragmented medial coronoid process, ununited anconeal process, and incongruent elbow. More than one of these conditions may be present, and this disease often affects both front legs. An affected dog shows forelimb lameness and elbow pain. These conditions may actually be different manifestations of a single disease process, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) . OCD is abnormal maturation of cartilage (the specialized connective tissue from which bone develops). While this in an inherited defect, environmental factors such as diet, activity, and trauma also have a role in the development and progression of the disease.
Lameness usually starts insidiously at 7 to 10 months of age. It is present every day, and may be most obvious when you dog first gets up, or starts to walk or run. The prognosis (the likely outcome) depends on how far the disease has progressed when treatment begins. Good clinical results (ie. your dog will not be painful) are usually seen if treatment starts early, before osteoarthritis (degenerative changes in the joint) has developed. If left untreated, your dog’s pain and lameness will gradually get worse.
Retinal dysplasia:
The normal retina lines the back of the eye. The retinal cells receive light stimuli from the external environment and transmit the information to the brain where it is interpreted to become vision. In retinal dysplasia, there is abnormal development of the retina, present at birth. The disorder can be inherited, or it can be acquired as a result of a viral infection or some other event before the pups were born.
The effect on vision of the mildest form (folding of the retina) is not known. The abnormal retinal folds may disappear with age in dogs that are only mildly affected.
There is some loss of vision or blindness with the geographic or detached forms of retinal dysplasia, and this is present for the dog's whole life. With their acute senses of smell and hearing, dogs can compensate very well for visual difficulties, particularly in familiar surroundings. In fact owners may be unaware of the extent of vision loss. You can help your visually impaired dog by developing regular routes for exercise, maintaining your dog's surroundings as constant as possible, introducing any necessary changes gradually, and being patient with your dog.
Aortic stenosis:
In aortic stenosis, there is a partial obstruction to the flow of blood as it leaves the left side of the heart (the left ventricle) through the main blood vessel (the aorta) that carries blood to the rest of the body. The obstruction ranges from small nodules to a fibrous band, most commonly just below the aortic valve ("subvalvular aortic stenosis"). Due to the obstruction, the heart must work harder to pump out an adequate blood volume. Clinical signs and long-term outcome depend on the degree of narrowing, or stenosis.
Dogs with mild stenosis will generally show no clinical effects and have a normal life expectancy. With moderate to severe stenosis, signs will be variable. Because of the narrowing in the aorta as the blood leaves the left ventricle, your dog's heart must work harder to pump an adequate volume of blood to the rest of the body. Depending on the degree of obstruction, your dog's heart may be able to compensate at rest but not keep up with the body's demands during exercise. Thus you may see reduced exercise tolerance - your dog just seems to run out of steam - or fainting due to inadequate blood supply to the brain.
In response to the obstruction to blood flow, the heart muscle becomes thicker over time (left ventricular hypertrophy). As the condition progresses, your dog's heart becomes less able to compensate and you and your veterinarian may see signs associated with left-sided heart failure such as tiring on exercise, difficulty in breathing, coughing, and/or poor growth. Changes in the heart muscle can also lead to abnormal heart rhythms (cardiac arrythmias) and sudden death.
ENTROPION
Entropion is the inward rolling of the eyelid, most commonly the lower lid. This irritates the surface of the eye (the cornea) and may ultimately cause visual impairment.
Entropion is a common hereditary disorder in dogs. Selection for a particular conformation, of exaggerated facial features with prominent eyes and/or heavy facial folds, has created or worsened this problem in many breeds. Entropion can also result from injury or after inflammation or infection (conjunctivitis)
How is entropion treated?
Entropion is corrected surgically. If possible it is best to delay surgery until the dog is an adult since the involved facial structures are still growing and changing.
More than 1 operation may be required. It is better to correct the entropion conservatively and repeat the operation later if necessary, than to overcorrect causing ectropion.
DISTICHIASIS (DOUBLE LASHES)
Extra row of eyelashes, usually on the lower lid but can be on the upper lid causing irritation to the cornea characterized by tearing. If the lashes are soft, they will generally not cause any problems to the dog. If the lashes are hard, they can cause irritation and damage to the cornea and removal of the lashes is necessary. This can be done fairly quickly by most vets.
HYPOTHYROIDISM:
Inadequate output of the thyroid hormone causing the coat to thin, becoming coarse, brittle and falling out easily. Other signs that develop gradually are lethargy, obesity, drooping of the eyelids, mental dullness, and irregular heat cycles. Mild thyroid deficiency frequently goes undetected. Diagnosis involves a blood test. Treatment: requires lifetime treatment with thyroid hormone.
Von Willebrands Disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Willebrands_Disease
Breed Standard- ANKC Australia
Group: Group 3 (Gundogs)
History:
General Appearance: Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with kindly expression.
Characteristics: Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability.
Temperament: Kindly, friendly and confident.
Head And Skull: Balanced and well-chiselled, skull broad without coarseness; well set on neck, muzzle powerful, wide and deep. Length of foreface approximately equals length from well-defined stop to occiput. Nose preferably black.
Eyes: Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.
Ears: Moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes.
Mouth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck: Good length, clean and muscular.
Forequarters: Forelegs straight with good bone, shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body. Elbows close fitting.
Body: Balanced, short coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep, well sprung. Level topline.
Hindquarters: Loin and legs strong and muscular, good second thighs, well bent stifles. Hocks well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out. Cowhocks highly undesirable.
Feet: Round and cat-like.
Tail: Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.
Gait/Movement: Powerful with good drive. Straight and true in front and rear. Stride long and free with no sign of hackney action in front.
Coat: Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat.
Colour: Any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only, permissible.
Sizes: Height:
Dogs 56-61 cms (22-24 ins) at withers
Bitches 51-56 cms (20-22 ins) at withers
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Notes: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
