Name: Libby
Location: Lake City, Fla.
Age: 1
Dog Breed: Golden Retriever
Favorite Treat: Liver snacks.
Favorite Toy: Laser light.
Likes: Playing fetch.
Dislikes: When her food bowl is empty!
Human-Like Qualities: Libby enjoys playing for hours on end, swimming and snoozing in the recliner when she doesn't get caught!
Skills: Libby is an AKC Canine Good Citizen and an active member of the Caring K-9's Therapy Dog team.
Congratulations to our submitter, Bella and Tilly "The Dynamic Maltese Duo". If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!
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Posts tagged "GoldenRetriever"
Golden Retrievers are some of the most popular dogs in the country, according to the American Kennel Club, but even longtime fans of the dogs don't necessarily know all about golden's breeding and history. We asked dog breeder and trainer Chris Miele of Cross Creek Goldens, to tell us what he loves most about the dog and to put our knowledge to the test.
"For me, they are the ideal dog. They have a wonderful sense of play, a fun sense of humor and they set a perfect example for us on how to behave," Miele tells Paw Nation. Think you've got the goods on goldens? Take our quiz to find out!
Learn more about your favorite breeds at the upcoming Meet the Breeds event in New York City on October 16–17. For more information, visit MeetTheBreeds.com.
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"For me, they are the ideal dog. They have a wonderful sense of play, a fun sense of humor and they set a perfect example for us on how to behave," Miele tells Paw Nation. Think you've got the goods on goldens? Take our quiz to find out!
How Well Do You Know Golden Retrievers?
Who originated the breed in Scotland in the 1860s?
- Local fisherman, tired of birds stealing their fish
- Lord Tweedmouth and his wavy-coated retriever
- Gentlemen hunters, looking for companions
- Sir Goldsmith and his wild dogs
Why was the breed developed?
- To herd small livestock
- To be guard dogs
- To be lapdogs for hair fetishists
- To be hunting dogs that could live with a family
What is a key characteristic of the breed?
- Friendly temperament
- Beautiful coats
- Reliable retrieving
- Trainability
- All of the above
According to AKC Registration Statistics, how popular are Golden Retrievers?
- #1
- #4
- #6
- #11
Golden Retrievers thrive on:
- Interaction with their owners
- Moderate amounts of exercise
- Having private time to themselves
- All of the above
Which president had a Golden Retriever named Liberty?
- John Kennedy
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Gerald Ford
- Abraham Lincoln
What is the breed's average life expectancy?
- 7-8 years
- 10-12 years
- 14-16 years
- 19-20 years
Learn more about your favorite breeds at the upcoming Meet the Breeds event in New York City on October 16–17. For more information, visit MeetTheBreeds.com.
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Which dog breeds are the most intelligent? And just what makes them so smart?
We took the list of the top ten brainiest breeds and asked dog guru Billy Rafferty, author of "Happy Dog: Caring for Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit" to give his perspective. "While most smart dogs have certain traits in common -- loyalty, vigilance, perceptiveness, a caring nature -- "there are many different kinds of intelligence," says Rafferty. "Canine intelligence is more nuanced than people think."
In the photo gallery below, Rafferty explains the pros and cons of owning these clever (but sometimes high maintenance) canines. And to learn more about how the original list was created, check out "The Intelligence of Dogs" by neuropsychologist Stanley Coren, PhD,. Coren based his findings on evaluations of breeds made by over 200 dog obedience judges in the U.S. and Canada.
Learn more about your favorite breeds at Meet the Breeds in New York City on October 16–17. Paw Nation is the official blog for the event, so be sure to check back here for more news and stories.
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We took the list of the top ten brainiest breeds and asked dog guru Billy Rafferty, author of "Happy Dog: Caring for Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit" to give his perspective. "While most smart dogs have certain traits in common -- loyalty, vigilance, perceptiveness, a caring nature -- "there are many different kinds of intelligence," says Rafferty. "Canine intelligence is more nuanced than people think."
In the photo gallery below, Rafferty explains the pros and cons of owning these clever (but sometimes high maintenance) canines. And to learn more about how the original list was created, check out "The Intelligence of Dogs" by neuropsychologist Stanley Coren, PhD,. Coren based his findings on evaluations of breeds made by over 200 dog obedience judges in the U.S. and Canada.
Learn more about your favorite breeds at Meet the Breeds in New York City on October 16–17. Paw Nation is the official blog for the event, so be sure to check back here for more news and stories.
Talk about a diamond in the ruff!
A hungry golden retriever made headlines when he swallowed a three-carat diamond worth $20,000, reports WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.
The expensive meal was eaten at Robert Bernard Jewelry Store in Rockville, Md., where Sollie goes to work everyday with his owner, George Kaufmann, who co-owns the store with his business partner, Robert Rosin. When a visiting diamond dealer was showing the men some loose diamonds, one of the glittering gemstones dropped to the ground, according to WTTG-TV.
What occurred next was stunning. "Saw Sollie go for the diamond -- gobbled it up," Rosin told WJLA. "Tried to get it, couldn't get it -- gone!"
"Stones have dropped before and [Sollie] doesn't pay attention," Kaufmann, the dog's owner, told WTTG. But this particular diamond fell and landed right in front of his mouth.
The men quickly called the veterinarian, who had some sage advice: Let nature takes its course.
Kaufmann walked Sollie morning and night, collecting the dog's stool for inspection. On the third day, the diamond surfaced. "It was 7 a.m. and they had just come back from their morning walk," Rosin tells Paw Nation. "George was going through everything on his deck and, eureka, there it was!"
Sollie still goes to the jewelry store every day, but now Kaufmann and Rosin make sure to have lots of doggie treats on hand. "It wasn't so funny then, but I guess it's funny now," laughs Rosin.
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A hungry golden retriever made headlines when he swallowed a three-carat diamond worth $20,000, reports WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.
The expensive meal was eaten at Robert Bernard Jewelry Store in Rockville, Md., where Sollie goes to work everyday with his owner, George Kaufmann, who co-owns the store with his business partner, Robert Rosin. When a visiting diamond dealer was showing the men some loose diamonds, one of the glittering gemstones dropped to the ground, according to WTTG-TV.
What occurred next was stunning. "Saw Sollie go for the diamond -- gobbled it up," Rosin told WJLA. "Tried to get it, couldn't get it -- gone!"
"Stones have dropped before and [Sollie] doesn't pay attention," Kaufmann, the dog's owner, told WTTG. But this particular diamond fell and landed right in front of his mouth.
The men quickly called the veterinarian, who had some sage advice: Let nature takes its course.
Kaufmann walked Sollie morning and night, collecting the dog's stool for inspection. On the third day, the diamond surfaced. "It was 7 a.m. and they had just come back from their morning walk," Rosin tells Paw Nation. "George was going through everything on his deck and, eureka, there it was!"
Sollie still goes to the jewelry store every day, but now Kaufmann and Rosin make sure to have lots of doggie treats on hand. "It wasn't so funny then, but I guess it's funny now," laughs Rosin.
Flickr/Bonnaboo
Personality: One of the nicest breed you'll ever encounter: family-friendly, eager to please, calm, kind, confident, loyal to owners yet amiable towards strangers. Golden retrievers are also highly intelligent and love to work, even if that work requires hours of stillness and patience, which a hunting dog was bred to endure. Yet they also love physical activity.
Grooming: Though the golden retriever sports a double coat, it is not as notorious a shedder as some other double-coated breeds. Brushing a few times a week using a bristle brush and an undercoat rake in tandem is the best way to control shedding. Other than that, goldens do not usually require high-maintenance grooming. Bathe the dog weekly or monthly, depending on how dirty it gets, and follow up with a gentle ear cleaning. Nails should also be clipped frequently enough to prevent the paws from splaying.
Common Health Issues: Cancer is the most common killer of golden retrievers. Cataracts are also prevalent in the breed. Less common but still a health risk are hip and elbow dysplasia, joint diseases, and skin allergies. Goldens also are more allergic to fleas than the average dog.
Photo: Masons News Service / SWNS.COM
Earlier this month, we posted a story about a dog who was cruelly abandoned on a Maltese cliff, but was lucky enough to be rescued before suffering a more grisly fate.
But what happens when a dog is rescued from the bottom of a cliff instead of the top?
Three weeks ago, a golden retriever named Mac -- vacationing with his owner on the Isle of Wight -- wasn't quite as lucky as his Maltese counterpart. While chasing a rabbit, Mac took an accidental dive off a cliff and plunged 40 feet to the rocks below.
Amazingly, he survived the fall. But not unscathed.
Mac apparently was saved by his collar, which snagged on rocks during his descent, slowing the fall and likely saving his life. The collar was found broken near Mac's body on the ground. "If he hadn't been wearing [a collar], he would have just free-fallen and there's no way he could have survived," owner Margaret Sills told the Daily Mail. Her Majesty's Coastguard rescued Mac and rushed him to a vet, who found he had suffered two broken legs and a collapsed lung.
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Why Vets Can't Always Smell What You Smell
