There’s a sup er cute holiday coming up. Golden Retriever Day is February 3rd! The Golden Retriever is definitely one of the world’s favorite pups. In fact, this sweet, lovable pooch is currently the number 3 top dog, out of 197 breeds. That’s pretty impressive! A local vet goes over a few facts about these ‘pawesome’ pooches below.

Temperament

Friendly, loyal, and smart, Golden Retrievers are known for being cute, super lovable, and easy to please. Honestly, you really couldn’t ask for a better dog, or a more adorable one! They are both playful and active, and love to run and play. Given the fact that they were specifically bred to retrieve waterfowl, it’s not exactly a surprise to find that these pooches love water. (Tip: if you don’t have easy access to a pet-friendly swimming area, get Fido a kiddie pool to splash around in on hot days.) Aside from swimming, Fido’s favorite pastimes include playing Fetch , going on rides, scoring bacon, and collecting belly rubs.

Basics

The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized pooch with long, pretty fur. The average height and weight top off at about 23 inches and 65 pounds for females, and 24 inches and 75 pounds for males. Their natural happiness is even noted in the official breed standards: their tails are often described as moving with a ‘merry fashion.’ There are three kinds of Goldens: British, American, and Canadian. They’re all adorable! It’s worth pointing out that Golden Retrievers are easily confused with Yellow Labrador Retrievers. The main difference between them? The Yellow Lab has shorter fur.

Activity

Like the other sporting dogs, Golden Retrievers are very active. Fido will need lots of walks and playtime. These cute pooches also make great companions for joggers, though you’ll need to get the thumbs-up from your veterinarian before taking your pet out for a run. Goldens are excellent at doggy sports, such as agility, and are also wonderful at obedience and tracking.

Grooming

Goldens have beautiful fur. They are also very generous about trying to share it with their humans. Fido will shed continuously throughout the year. If you don’t want to find fur everywhere, you’ll need to brush him regularly. The good news is that your pooch will only need occasional baths. Regular nail trims are also a must, however, as is good dental care. Ask your vet for more information.

Do you have questions about caring for a Golden? Please do not hesitate to reach out if ever we can be of assistance.