Large breed Golden Retrievers are considered one of the most popular dog breeds because of their canny intelligence, friendliness, loyalty, and devotion to their families. These unique retrievers are natural athletes, and they perform exceptionally in sports and hunting. However, despite their nature, they’re reasonably easy to train and adjust well in a family environment. In fact, they are incredibly loyal to their owners and will do anything to protect them from any threat.
Our Review of Large Breed Golden Retrievers
Considering such characteristics, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the large breed Golden Retrievers are ranked in the top ten family dogs in the USA. Golden Retrievers are a lively bunch that keeps their puppy-like manners until they are three to four years old. Moreover, as they are originally bred for physically demanding jobs, they need to fulfill their needs by exercising daily. Similarly, because they are meant to work, the pet owners usually assign them routine tasks like retrieving the morning newspaper, competing in dog sports, or even waking up other family members.
While we say all this, it is essential to remember that Golden Retrievers are not watchdogs. They might bark at strangers to warn you about them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they wouldn’t greet them with a happy Golden smile and a wagging tail.
If you’re about to get a large breed Golden Retriever, this article will help you understand a lot about them!
Size
It takes a year for large breed Golden Retrievers to reach their full height and another year to gain their adult weight.
Adult male Golden Retrievers usually have a height of twenty-three to twenty-four inches, and they weigh between sixty-five to seventy-five pounds. On the other hand, the females are slightly smaller and lighter than the male Golden Retrievers. They are twenty-one to twenty-three inches tall and weigh almost fifty-five to sixty-five pounds.
Due to their size, it is not advised to keep them in small apartments. Although they don’t mind staying indoors as long as they have human company, they also need space to roam freely and exercise.
Personality
All large breed Golden Retrievers are calm, sweet, and overly joyous by nature. They enjoy working with people and are always eager to please their owners. However, it’s important to remember that all Golden Retrievers have somewhat hunting instincts. Thus, the pet owners need to raise and train them from the very beginning to make the most of their heritage. Adult Golden Retrievers also work tremendously well as therapeutic dogs when they’ve trained adequately.
Like every other dog, large-breed Golden Retrievers need to polish their socializing skills from an early stage. They require exposure to different people, sounds, activities, and experiences to mature with time, ensuring they grow up to be well-rounded dogs.
Health Issues
Large breed Golden Retrievers are generally healthy, but they are prone to encounter certain health conditions like all other breeds. If you’re about to buy a Golden Retriever puppy, make sure that your pet and its parents have been tested for the following diseases:
1- Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
These are heritable conditions that don’t allow a Golden Retriever’s elbow and hip sockets to fit snugly into the joints. An X-ray screening can determine if your dog has this condition or not.
2. Cataracts
Cataracts are one of the common diseases found in large breed Golden Retrievers. This condition is characterized by the cloudy spots on the eye lens that grows over time, causing permanent vision impairment.
3. Allergies
Large breed Golden Retrievers can be allergic to various things, ranging from pollen and dust mites to certain foods. It is better to check your pet for possible allergies before you adopt it.
4. Epilepsy
This is a brain disorder that causes convulsions and periodic seizures. This disease is usually found in mature dogs, genetically passed on to their pups.
5. Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone cancer that is commonly found in large breed Golden Retrievers. This is a treatable yet incurable disease.
Exercise
Since large breed Golden Retrievers are a sporting breed, they need plenty of exercises every day to maintain their fitness and release their build-up stress. A healthy Golden Retriever needs a ninety-minute workout session where it can run, swim, play catch, or even go on hikes with its owner on some days. Going on hunting trips and long camping are also an excellent way to keep your Golden Retrievers happy, nourished, and energized.
Feeding
When it comes to large breed Golden Retrievers, pet owners need to take special care of their puppies during the age of four and seven months. At that stage, Golden Retrievers are more prone to encounter bone disorders. However, you can reduce or even completely eliminate these chances by giving your pets a high-quality and low-calorie diet that keeps them from maturing too fast.
Large breed Golden Retrievers usually eat, depending on their metabolism, age, build, and activity level. However, an average-sized pooch requires two meals a day, consisting of two to three cups of dry food.
Life Span
On average, large breed golden retrievers live between ten to twelve years. The better their exercise routine and eating habits, the better their chances to live long and healthy.
Our Final Thoughts
Knowing what they’re in for is essential for the pet owners to keep their large breed Golden Retrievers happy and healthy. These furry canines are a faithful family companion, and they need a big social circle and a family that adores them with snuggles and affection. If you’re looking for a caring dog who will always stay loyal to you and makes your days shine brighter, then there are no better pets than the large breed Golden Retrievers!
