AKA: Golden, Yellow Retriever, Goldie

Description: The Golden Retriever is a well-balanced and well-proportioned dog that has a cream to golden colored coat, hence its name. It has an outer coat that is water repellant, and an undercoat that is dense. The head of the Golden Retriever is broad, and its muzzle is wide and powerful. Its nose is black, it ears medium-sized and pendant. The eyes are brown and have dark rims. Its teeth forms a scissors bite.

The Golden Retriever’s body is muscular, with a powerful muzzle and strong thighs. The chest is broad, and the tail is long and never curled.

Dynamics: The Golden Retriever is an intelligent and well-behaved dog. It is easily trained, sweet, confident, and eager to please. It makes for an outstanding family pet, always patient and gentle with children, and loyal and to its masters. This breed is people-oriented, and gets along with other dogs and pets, too.

The Golden Retriever makes a good watchdog. It is not very likely to attack strangers but it can give a bark to signal someone’s approach.

Breed Group: Sporting, Gundog

Weight: males 60-80 lbs (27-36 kg), females 55-70 lbs (25-32 kg)

Height: males 22-24 inches (56-61 cm), females 20-22 inches (51-56 cm)

Color: The Golden Retriever has a coat that ranges from cream to a golden color.

Country of Origin: The Golden Retriever originated in the British Isles. It was bred from crossing a yellow Flat-Coated Retriever, light-coated Tweed Water Spaniels, other spaniels, setters, the Newfoundland, and (possibly) the Bloodhound. The breed was actually first shown as a Golden Flat-Coat. It is now one of the most popular family companion dogs.

Activities: The Golden Retriever needs daily exercises and play sessions like retrieving balls and toys. The Golden Retriever’s talents include hunting, tracking, retrieving, narcotics detection, agility, competitive obedience, and trick performances. It is also used as a guide for the blind, therapy dog, and a service dog for the disabled. This breed is also good in water; it loves to swim.

Grooming: In grooming the Golden Retriever, there will be no difficulty. It is easy to groom the Golden Retriever. Combing and brushing the coat is enough. Bathe only when necessary. Dry shampoo regularly.

Other Info: The Golden Retriever has a life expectancy of about 10-12 years. Like most of the other breeds, it is also prone to hip dysplasia and congenital eye defects. Skin allergies are also common. The parents of the dog should be checked for OFA and CERF certification. They should also be checked for Von Willebrand’s disease and heart problems. The Golden Retriever will be fine in an apartment. However, it has to be taken outdoors from time to time and exercised sufficiently.

Photo: Sarbajit Sarbajna and Pharaoh Hound

AKA: Chessie, Chessy Dog

Description: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a powerful and muscular retriever, with a an outercoat and woolly undercoat that are oily and water-repellant. The head is round, with hanging small ears, yellowish eyes, and thin lips.

The Chessie’s front legs are straight and powerful. The hind legs are also powerful, with the dewclaws removed. Removal of the front dewclaws is optional, but this is recommended if the dog is used for the field. The toes are webbed, which gives the Chesapeake Bay Retriever more power in its excellent swimming ability. Its tail is around 12-15 inches long.

Dynamics: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever exudes intelligence and independence. It is courageous, obedient, and lovable. It gets along with children and is affectionate to the family. It can also get along well with cats and other dogs when socialized since puppyhood.

Training the Chesapeake Bay Retriever requires confidence, discipline, and patience. This breed can be stubborn and aggressive that one has to be consistent and firm, but not harsh, in handling it. It tends to be dominant, territorial, and suspicious if not trained and socialized properly. The Chesapeake Bay Terrier also matures slowly.

Breed Group: Gun dog, Sporting Group

Weight: males 65-80 lbs (29-36 kg), females 55-70 lbs (25-32 kg)

Height: males 23-26 inches (58-66 cm), females 21-24 inches (53-61 cm)

Color: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever comes in shades of brown, red or tan. The color ranges from a dead-grass-straw color to a deep dark brown with red overtones. White is sometimes present in the chest and feet.

Country of Origin: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the result of cross between a Newfoundland and a local retriever at Chesapeake Bay Area, Maryland. When it was found that the cross made an outstanding retriever, more careful breeding was developed to create the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Activities: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever needs extreme physical activities. Swimming and long walks or jogs should be included in its exercises, else the breed will behave badly due to boredom. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever’s talents include obedience, tracking, hunting, retrieving, guarding, watchdogging, schutzhund, and field spots. It has also proved itself to be a good family companion.

Grooming: Grooming the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is easy because of its dense short hair. Brush with a bristle brush and remove dead hairs. Bathe only when necessary, not so much that the oily texture in their coat will be stripped out (it protects them from icy waters).

Other Info: The life expectancy of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is around 10-12 years. It is basically healthy but prone to eye problems and hip dysplasia.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not suitable for apartment life. It is inactive indoors and this could result to bad behavior due to boredom and lack of exercise. This breed likes to sleep outdoors and prefer cool climates and a place where there is a body of water nearby.

AKA: Black Labrador Retriever, Yellow Labrador Retriever, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Silver Labrador Retriever, Lab

Description: This kind of breed has two types, the English Labrador that is from bred stock and is bigger, heavier and thicker, and the American Labrador from American bred stock that is tall and lean. The Labrador Retriever is a very active, alert breed and strong breed. They have a muscular built. Their fur is smooth and thick all over that also varies in color may it be black,yellow or chocolate brown. Among them, mostly yellow is the common and popular color. Labs’ ears are drop and medium in length with a brown or black thick nose and a scissors bite. The eyes has smart expression with its hazel or chestnut color. Also, its tail is strong and hairy and Their muzzle is slightly wide with a strong built neck.

Temperament: Labrador Retrievers are a very smart and intelligent dog. Easy to train breed, with pleasant personality. A very devoted, loving and hardworking dog. Labrador retrievers are considered as guide dogs as well as sniffer dog able to detect some harmful objects like drugs and especially explosives. Labs are also very playful and loves to swim. They are also an ideal pet, they are outgoing and always enjoy with their human companion. They are also alert but very friendly therefore they couldn’t be an ideal guard dog. Moreover, they too loves water and easy to train especially enjoy carrying things through their mouth. Labrador breed are not too aggressive like any other breeds because they are a good tempered dog.

Activity: They are active outdoor Very playful dog who loves ball and water that is why they enjoy to swim. A long daily walk and jog would be best for this breed. They have good appetite therefore they are required to have regular exercise to avoid being overweight.

Grooming: Labs requires not a very heavy grooming since they have short hair unless they shed heavily but only during its season. Weekly brushing and combing should be done for them to prevent matting. Bathe only when necessary.

Health Problems: Eye problems, HD and elbow dysplasia, CMO, thyroid problems, vWD, diabetes, PRA, OCD, allergies, seizures, and heart problems. The life expectancy of the Labrador Retriever is around 10-12 years.

Breed Group: Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
Color: Black, yellow, or chocolate colored. All colors are solids.
Height: Males 22.5 – 24.5 inches; Females 21.5 – 23.5.
Weight: Males 60 – 75 lbs; Females 55 – 70 lbs
Country Of Origin: Canada (Greenland)

Dynamics: They are a fast learner so they are easy to be trained. Labs are also friendly and playful and could easily be socialized to other dogs as well as with people around and they bond well with children.