Archive for December, 2009
Retriever pet care guide
All dogs just as adults can have medical problems and the golden retriever breed is no exception, although the conditions listed below are for the golden retriever most of them also apply to other retriever breeds. The most common medical problems the golden has are hip dysplasia, eye problems, skin problems and epilepsy, though of course this does not mean that your retriever will suffer from these just that they are common to the breed.
However if you bought your puppy from a reputable breeder then they will have been well aware of these conditions and only used stud dogs that have been tested and are in the best of health to their knowledge.
Retriever pet care guide
The Chesapeake Bay retriever or chessie as it is more commonly and affectionately called is a powerful well muscled retriever with a short slightly wavy coat which is usually in shades varying from red, tan, brown to a deep brownish colour with reddish overtones. The dog’s coat is oily to repel water as the dog loves to swim and the coat consists of two layers, a harsh outer coat and a dense under coat, they are a very friendly and intelligent breed of retriever.
Retriever pet care guide
The curly coated retriever is a large very athletic dog which has a very distinctive crisp curly coat, hence the name, the coat sets it apart from all the other retriever breeds and is very thick, curly and black or livered in colour. Only the hocks, face and the front of the legs are smooth, the curly coat covers the rest of the body including the ears and long tapering tail.
Retriever pet care guide
Although not as popular as other retrievers such as the golden retriever and Labrador retriever the duck tolling retriever does make a good pet, this is a breed that was developed especially for luring and retrieving water fowl on shoots. The dog will run, jump and play along the waters edge in sight of the birds then disappear from sight only to re appear again, this arouses the bird’s curiosity and in turn they are lured into gunshot range. Once shot the retriever gets to work and retrieves the bird to its owner.
Retriever pet care guide
The flat coated retriever is just like all the other retriever breeds in that it has a loving caring nature and is easy to please its master, the flat coated retriever was primarily bred as a gun dog, to retrieve birds out on shoots however it also makes for an excellent pet. It has a single coat which is very lustrous, dense and medium in length, with long feathering on the chest, backs of the legs and tail. The most common colour for this type of retriever is solid black but liver is also acceptable.
Retriever pet care guide
If you are thinking of buying a golden retriever not just for a pet but also for showing then you will have to find a breeder that breeds puppies specifically for show. To enter a dog in a show it must meet certain standards set out by the Kennel club, every breed has what the kennel club calls a standard and only dogs matching as close to this standard will win top prizes. The breed standard for the golden retriever is set out below:
Retriever pet care guide
The golden retriever is among one of the most popular breeds of all the retrievers with its rich golden long feathered coat of creamy to light brown. They are one of the most lovable and intelligent of all dog breeds and are excellent as pets and have a lovable temperament, the golden retriever makes an excellent pet for those families with children. The golden retriever is a loyal sweet natured dog who loves nothing more than pleasing their owner which makes them easier than certain other breeds to obedience train and housetrain.
Retriever pet care guide
The Labrador retriever is a very lovable affectionate dog; it has a short coat in colours which can be chocolate, solid black and a creamy yellow with the coat being double layered and easy to take care of.
The Labrador as a pet
The Labrador is a lively and good tempered dog who has a very playful nature and loves to play especially in water as they are excellent swimmers. Labradors are very easy to train as they are very willing to learn and always eager to please their master, training should begin at an early age especially for obedience as the dog when fully grown has a powerful neck which could become a problem should your pet decide to take you for a walk instead of you taking it.
Retriever pet care guide
The golden retriever is an excellent choice of breed for the family; they are a very gentle intelligent breed who is excellent around children. They adapt well and quickly to a new home and are generally very easy to train as they love nothing better than to please. There are however certain things to take into consideration before buying your puppy, the golden retriever loves to be around people and doesn’t like being left alone for long periods of time so you should ask yourself if you have the time needed to take care of a dog. Due to the golden’s long coat they also shed profusely and need regular grooming to keep them clean and healthy, they also need a lot of exercise as they are a very active breed.
Retriever pet care guide
There are several points to consider before you go making a rush decision when you are thinking of purchasing a Labrador retriever, one of the first decisions is are you buying the puppy as a pet, for show or as a working dog for hunting? If you only want the dog as a companion then you won’t be as limited but should still consider where you buy your puppy from.
If you want a puppy for showing in the future then you will have to take into account that it will have to meet certain standards which are laid out for the breed. If buying for show the puppy will usually cost more than one bought as a pet, if you are buying for sport such as hunting then its parents credentials will be essential too as they will pass traits onto to the puppy.