• All About Goldens

    Golden Retrievers have always been a staple family dog, and its no secret as to why…

    Aside from their calm demeanor, their playful and absolutely loving charcter, they can also learn and memorize over 100 commands!

    Over the years there have been many types of golden mixes, but what people may not realize is that the American golden, and the English golden, are both PURE BRED Golden Retrievers. They just have different characteristics. Lets learn about each one…

American Golden

     Retriever      

American Golden Retrievers (sometimes known as ‘Goldies’) have the more familiar dark red to light golden color and medium-length coat. The American Goldie is lanky and muscular with an arched, narrow-shaped head. Their eyes are usually large to medium-sized and dark brown.

Personality One of the reasons why American Golden Retrievers are very popular is due to their personality and temperament. These dogs are described as friendly, kind, and gentle. Goldies can get along with almost anyone, making them great additions to families with children.

Training and Exercise The key to training and socializing your dog is to start when they are young. As for exercise, the American Golden Retriever is an active dog, so daily exercise at least 1-2 times a day is a must. These dogs love swimming, fetching, and running around. Before bringing a Golden Retriever into your home, make sure you can provide it with the exercise it needs to thrive.

Health and Care American Golden Retrievers are a healthy breed overall but are not immune to health problems. Since Goldies have longer hair, shedding will be unavoidable. However, weekly grooming will help reduce the amount of hair found around the house. Goldies do not need to be bathed often; however, since they love water, bathing them will not be a large issue for you! Goldens, like other breeds, can have health problems if not given the proper diet & immunizations. Yearly check ups will ensure that your dog is healthy and has the proper care if something does arise.

Suitable For: American Golden Retrievers are suitable for many people. They will become an excellent part of a single or multi-person household. These dogs are also wonderful with children; and they have a strong desire to please their owner.

English Golden

     Retriever      

Like the American , English Golden Retrievers are equally as friendly and loyal. One of the major differences between them is their color and build. English Goldens are lighter in color, usually cream -light golden. Their coat is also a bit shorter and wavier when compared to the American. The English are stockier, and their heads are more square & blocky. Their paws and snout are larger as well.

Personality The overall personality of the English Golden Retriever is slightly different from the American. They are friendly, but they are also a bit calmer in temperament. However, this does not make them less of a loyal companion when compared to the American Goldie. Their calmer disposition makes them easier to train overall, which is a plus for new dog owners. This also makes them a good choice for owners with children and other pets.

Training and Exercise English Golden Retrievers are easier to train because they are calmer and less hyper than American Goldens (Keep in mind, that "hyper" for goldens are still at a minimum compared to other breeds). Their intelligence and maturity allow for easy training, but regardless of which Goldie version you have, it is always best to start training and personalizing them when they are young. . Because goldens are prone to weight gain, they will get obese without daily exercise.

Health and Care English Golden Retrievers can develop the same health problems as American Goldens, but you can reduce the chances of your English Golden developing these issues by making sure they are kept up on their check ups and screened for these conditions.

Suitable For: English Golden Retrievers are wonderful companions for families, especially children. As with all dogs, children should be supervised when playing with the dog to make sure they are not too rough with them. The primary considerations with owning a Goldie are ensuring that they have daily companionship. They thrive on being around their humans.

Goldens are known for their loyalty, which is probably why they have always made the top 5 dog breeds in America.
Not only are they suitable for families, they are amazing therapy & service dogs because of their patient nature & huge hearts!

Whether you are looking to jumpstart your breeding program, or you want to grow your family;
O’Brien Way Goldens is here to assist you!