American Kennel Club - Meet the Golden

Brought to you by The American Kennel Club and The Golden Retriever Club of America.

Lead Editor: Karen Julian

Art Director: Cindy Kassebaum

Production Manager: Laurie Panaggio

Production Supervisor: Jessica Jaensch

Production Coordinator: Leah Rosalez

Vice President, Chief Content Officer: June Kikuchi

Vice President, Kennel Club Books: Andrew DePrisco

I-5 Press: Jennifer Calvert, Amy Deputato, Karen Julian, Jarelle S. Stein

Photographs by: Gina Cioli/I-5 Studio: 10, 14, 28, 31, 33, 40, 42, 67, 72, 84, 86, 94, 109, 120; Cheryl Ertelt: Cover inset, 3, 4, 12, 24, 29, 30, 41, 77, 87, 106, 115; Christopher Appoldt Photography: Cover, Back cover, 4, 13, 46, 47, 50-51, 54, 56, 64, 68, 69; Cris Kelly Photography: Cover inset, 43, 60, 112-113, 121; Fox Hill Photo: Daniel Johnson, 35, 96; Paulette Johnson, 52, 58, 66, 89, 95, 97; Connie Summers/Paulette Johnson, 78; Gondolin Photography (Christopher Butler): 20-21; LMEimages (Laurie Meehan-Elmer): 6-7, 34, 36, 45, 82-83, 108, 110; Mark Raycroft Photography: Cover insets, 4, 8, 9, 15, 16-17, 18, 22, 25, 26-27, 37, 38-39, 44, 48, 49, 53, 57, 59, 61, 62-63, 92-93, 105, 114, 119; PawPrince Studios (Pamela Marks): 23, 32, 73, 79, 88, 98; Shutterstock: 55, 65, 75, 81, 85, 99, 118, 124; Sporthorse Photography (Tara Gregg): 1, 11, 70-71, 74, 76, 80, 90, 101, 102-103, 111, 116.

Copyright 2012 The American Kennel Club and I-5 Press

I-5 Press

A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of I-5 Press, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The American Kennel Clubs meet the golden : the responsible dog owners handbook.

p. cm. -- (AKCs meet the breeds series)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-935484-88-2

eISBN 978-1-620080-16-0

1. Golden retriever. I. American Kennel Club.

SF429.G63A44 2012

636.7527--dc23

2012007688

Printed and bound in the United States

16 15 14 13 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Meet Your New Dog

Welcome to Meet the Golden. Whether youre a long-time Golden Retriever owner, or youve just brought home your first puppy, we wish you a lifetime of happiness and enjoyment with your new pet.

In this book, youll learn about the history of the breed, receive tips on feeding, grooming, and training, and learn about all the fun you can have with your dog. The American Kennel Club and I-5 Press hope that this book serves as a useful guide on the lifelong journey youll take with your canine companion.

Owned and cherished by millions across America, Golden Retrievers make wonderful companions that also enjoy taking part in a variety of dog sports, including Conformation (dog shows), Obedience, Rally, and Agility.

Thousands of Goldens have also earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen award by demonstrating their good manners at home and in the community. We hope that you and your Golden will become involved in AKC events, too! Learn how to get involved at www.akc.org/events or find a training club in your area at www.akc.org/events/trainingclubs.cfm.

We encourage you to connect with other Golden owners on the AKC website (www.akc.org), Facebook (www.facebook.com/americankennelclub), and Twitter (@akcdoglovers). Also visit the website for the Golden Retriever Club of America (www.grca.org), the national parent club for the Golden Retriever, to learn about the breed from reputable exhibitors and breeders.

Enjoy Meet the Golden!

Sincerely,

Dennis B. Sprung

AKC President and CEO

Contents

I s your dream dog friendly, energetic, smart, and covered in a shimmering golden coat? Then the Golden Retriever is the perfect dog for you! Bred by a British nobleman in the nineteenth century to hunt waterfowl, this breed has become one of the most recognized, beloved, and talented dogs in the world. The Golden is truly a wonder dog that guides the blind; assists the disabled; sniffs out bombs, drugs, and cancer cells; searches (and rescues!) people buried in the aftermath of natural disasters and terrorist attacks; and brings smiles to the faces of children and seniors in hospitals and nursing homes. Plus hes one swell chum to his human family.

Always the Bridesmaid

The Golden Retriever is in the top five AKC registered breeds but has never beaten the most popular breed, the Labrador Retriever. To register your Golden pup with the AKC, fill out the Dog Registration Application you were given by your breeder and mail it to the AKC office in North Carolina. You can also register your dog online at www.akc.org.

You can see the smiling face of Goldens on television commercials, magazine advertisements, birthday greeting cards, T-shirts, kitchen magnets, wallpapers for computersvirtually everywhere imaginable. People cant seem to get enough of the Golden Retriever. Not only has the Golden been in the top five most popular breeds in the United States for over three decades, according to American Kennel Club registration statistics, but the breed ranks high in England, Japan, China, Sweden, and Norway as well.

ARE YOU RIGHT FOR AN 18-KARAT GOLDEN?

Anyone whos owned (or been owned by) a Golden will attest that this breed is the ideal family dog and companion. A better canine friend cannot be found. Golden Retrievers might be all-around, do-it-all dogs, but you must remember that every dog has his own distinct personality, and in a breed as versatile as the Golden, you can find individual dogs with extremely different personalities and abilities.

Friendly is actually in the definition of the breed, and Goldens make everyone they meet feel like a long-lost friend. They greet family members, postal carriers, and kind strangers with tail-wagging enthusiasm. This quality makes the Golden Retriever a wonderful therapy dog that visits patients in care facilities, veterans hospitals, and assisted-living communities. This quality has also led the breed to excel as guide and assistance dogs, bonding with their caretakers regardless of their physical limitations.

Goldens have the need to retrieve and will happily play fetch for hours. Channel your Goldens energy into obedience training.

Lovable, huggable Golden Retrievers are popular not only in the United States, but in Europe and Asia as well.

Few breeds surpass the Goldens zest for life. He finds joy in every moment of the day, exploring every hole and corner of the yard, and retrieving every stick and leaf he can find. Like all other retrievers, Goldens love to mouth. They will retrieve anything within their reachsocks, underwear, leather belts, and their absolute favorite, anything made of feathers (down comforters, jackets, pillows, and the occasional feather boa). Unchecked, they will shred these things to pieces. Many Golden Retriever puppies are miniature chewing machines. Some chew their way well into adulthood, leaving telltale scars on furniture and cabinetry. Conscientious owners quickly learn to keep everything off the floor and away from puppies, adults, and senior Goldens. If youre waiting for your puppy to mature and grow out of his I-love-feathers phase, dont hold your breath!