Golden Retrievers
According to the Golden Retriever Club of Canada, the breed was originally developed in Scotland in the mid-19th century as a bird hunting dog able to retrieve land and water fowl. Goldens eventually made an appearance in Canada in the 1920’s, where their beautiful appearance, exceptional temperament and their sturdy, muscular stature made them excellent working dogs.

When Golden Retrievers mature, the males typically measure 23-24″ at the shoulder (withers) and weigh 75-80 lbs. Females are slightly smaller at 21 ½”-22 ½” at the withers and weigh about 60-65 lbs. One of the characteristics of Goldens is their multi-length coat, which consists of a good undercoat during the colder months, with a longer, water-repellent outer coat with heavier feathering on the chest, tail, back of thighs and forelegs. The adult coat varies in shades of lustrous gold from cream to dark gold. Heideland’s Caledonia Rose of Cedar Ridge – Rosie – is a lovely cream girl!

While Golden Retrievers are strikingly beautiful dogs, the hallmark of the breed is their wonderful eager-to-please temperament. Well-bred and properly socialized Goldens are extremely trainable and versatile. They are employed as guide dogs for the blind, independence dogs for the disabled, therapy dogs and ptsd dogs, and work well as autism assistive dogs. Golden’s make superb hunting retrievers and excel in both the show ring for conformation to type, as well as in obedience and agility rings. Most important however, is that Goldens make unsurpassable family companions. The following breed information provided below by the Canadian Kennel Club may help you to decide if the Golden is right for you.

Temperament
As a family pet, especially with children, the breed has few equals. The Golden is noted for being friendly, reliable and trustworthy. In addition to being a gentle-mouthed retriever, the breed excels in obedience and shines as a guide dog for the seeing-impaired.
Activity Level
A powerful and active dog, the Golden does well in suburban or country environments where he gets lots of outdoor exercise, but keep him well-fenced for his own protection.
Height/Weight
Strong and upstanding males measure from 23-24 in (58-61 cm) at the shoulder and weigh from 65-75 lb (29.5-34 kg). Females are somewhat smaller.
Coat
The dense and water-repellent coat lies flat against the body and may be straight or wavy. It is firm and resilient. There’s moderate feathering on the back of the forelegs and heavier feathering on the front of the neck, back of thighs and underside of tail.
Colour
It’s golden, of course, but in various shades of gold.
Grooming
Regular brushing is the only grooming required outside of the occasional bath.Goldens or ‘Doodles’?As stated on the About Standard Poodles page, the marketplace has created an interest in various Poodle crosses, like GoldenDoodles, LabraDoodles etc.. There are a couple of things driving this trend. The first is that mixed breed dogs are being sold as though as ‘designer dogs’ that somehow offer ‘more’ than a purebred. The specific characteristics people look for in a ‘Doodle’ mostly include wanting a non-shedding, intelligent, trainable pet that looks like a teddy bear & without the “fancy poodle” look. The price charged for these mixed breed dogs can go up to $5000.

Like Poodles, Golden Retrievers have many wonderful traits that are the result of selective breeding programs across many generations. They are sensitive, intelligent and highly trainable.  without question among the most intelligent and trainable dogs available. 

Some purebred breeders are hesitant to talk about ‘Doodles’, but one standard poodle breeder in Ontario is blunt about his feelings. 
“If you want the best of a poodle, why don’t you buy a poodle?” said Peter Welsh. The same may be said about Goldens. If you want the best of a Golden, why not buy a Golden?

We encourage anyone who wants a puppy to do extensive research. Doodles, like any dog, can have behavioural and health problems if poorly bred or trained. The traits you may desire may, or may not appear in a mixed breed or hybrid dog. There are even rescue associations dedicated to the breed because so many end up having very different needs and qualities than the buyer hoped for.

Anybody wanting to buy a dog has to consider why they are buying them and do their own research. That applies to getting a rescue dog, a hybrid or designer dog like a ‘Doodle’, or a purebred. All pets take time, patience and effort.