Page 29 - ShowSight Presents The Golden Retriever
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THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREED
DISCOVER THESE GENTLE AND VERSATILE DOGS
By Rita Robins
Anoble head... a gentle twinkle of the eye... a smiling face... a vibrant burst of energy, run- ning free as the wind... a wagging tail, happily beating from side to side... a thundering splash into icy waters in quest of game on a cold November day... a shiny coat, glisten- ing like a nugget of gold... a proud stance winning him the best of the show... a guid- ing nudge to the blind... an enthusiastic search for snowballs tossed by the family... and, most of all, a contented ball of loyal, unquestioning devotion curled up at your feet at the end of a busy day: this is the essence of the Golden Retriever. They are beautiful, intelligent, and very talented. The Golden Retriever is one of the most versatile dog breeds known to man.
A friend and companion first, the Golden Retriever excels at hunting, com- petition obedience, agility, tracking, search and rescue, and service or therapy work. The Golden can be taught to do any activity within his physical ability, and he excels at almost any dog sport one might care to try. Goldens are relatively easy to train and quickly pick up new concepts and ideas. They have a healthy admiration for food and can be bribed into doing just about anything.
Combining beauty and brains in one dog is no mean feat, but the Golden Retriever does it all. As a hunting partner, the Golden is a steady working dog able to work long days in the field with enthu- siasm. Their endless drive and easy dis- position makes them ideal hunting dogs for the beginning dog handler although that is not the limit of the breed. Some of the top field dogs in history have been Golden retrievers and their numbers still fill the trial reports.
Golden Retrievers are exceptionally intelligent and trainable. Due to their
