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Insurance for Golden Retrievers
Golden Retriever insurance can bring peace of mind that your beloved Goldie is protected against health issues such as hip or eye problems.
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It’s difficult to imagine another breed of dog as loving, playful and gentle as the Golden Retriever. They are great family dogs who want to be part of your “pack” and will bend over backwards to please you. But it's important to be aware of some common health issues among the breed, and the important role of pet insurance.
What do you want to learn about?
History
Retrievers are working dogs who were bred to fetch (or retrieve) birds that had been shot from the sky by hunters. In the late 19th century Scotland, there were a number of proficient retriever breeds, but none that were exceptionally friendly and gentle in the home. One hunter named Lord Tweedmouth decided to do something about that.
He bred a local retriever named Nous with a Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct) named Belle. The four offspring formed the basis of the Golden Retriever breeding program and are the ancestors of all Golden Retrievers today. Other bloodlines were later introduced including the Irish Setter, Bloodhound and St. John’s Water Dog (also extinct).
Characteristics
The Golden Retriever is a large-built dog with a distinctive, thick golden coat of wavy fur. However, the Goldie’s beautiful fur doesn’t come without its drawbacks, as the breed is prone to heavy shedding.
The Golden Retriever has a long, symmetrical body, a friendly demeanour and intelligent eyes. It is strongly-built and moves with graceful, yet powerful strides.
Because Golden Retrievers are big eaters, they can easily go overboard and put on too much weight. It is important to manage their diet and give them plenty of exercise.
Are Golden Retrievers the best dogs?
As one of the best family dogs, it is no surprise that the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. The dogs are playful, energetic, friendly and intelligent. Because they like to feel like “part of the pack”, they can quickly become a great companion to the entire family.[/fin_accordion]
What makes them such great family dogs?
Golden retrievers were specifically bred to be friendly toward their masters and gentle in the home. They can be somewhat needy and anxious, traits that lead them to crave feelings of belonging and companionship. That means they will show you and your children lots of love and attention in the hopes you will provide the same back to them.Golden Retrievers are quite rambunctious, so despite their best intentions, they can sometimes be too playful around small children and potentially knock them over. So it’s important to keep a close eye on them around little ones.[/fin_accordion]
Are Golden Retrievers smart dogs?
Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent dogs and respond well to obedience training and learning new tricks. In fact, the Golden Retriever is the fourth smartest dog breed in the world according to some rankings. It’s essential that working dogs possess high intelligence in order to follow their masters’ orders and to perform complicated tasks, and the Golden Retriever is no exception.
Are Golden Retriever puppies easy to train?
Golden Retrievers are incredibly easy to train. The best time to get them started is while they are impressionable puppies. If you get them started early, you can instil a lifelong love of learning into your Goldie.
Temperament
Be prepared to spend at least two hours a day playing fetch with your pup and letting it run around outdoors, as Golden Retrievers have seemingly boundless energy and need to burn it off. They also love to swim, but keep a close eye on them when around questionable waters.
One thing to keep in mind: Golden Retrievers are extremely friendly toward strangers, so they don’t make the best guard dogs.
Is the Golden Retriever right for me?
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Life expectancy |
|
| Apartment-friendly |
|
| Tolerates being alone |
|
| Kid-friendly |
|
| Dog-friendly |
|
| Shedding factor |
|
| Easy to train |
|
| Intelligence |
|
| Aggression |
|
| Tendency to bark |
|
| Energy level |
|
| Exercise requirement |
|
Cost of pet insurance for a Golden Retriever
The good news keeps on coming for these loving and intelligent pets. Golden Retrievers cost only about $15 per week to insure with a comprehensive policy. That’s a small price to pay for a pet with such a big heart.
Health problems Goldies can experience
As with many pure breeds, some undesirable hereditary traits can be passed down through the lineage due to early inbreeding. These usually manifest themselves as health problems.
Lucky for us, the Golden Retriever has avoided many of these problems, but there are still some health issues you need to watch out for. These include:
- Hip/elbow dysplasia and other joint conditions
- Cataracts and other eye diseases
- Allergies
- Blood clotting
- Subaortic stenosis
- Bloat
- Epilepsy
- Hypothyroidism
- Cancer
When should you desex a Golden Retriever?
Desexing your Golden Retriever too early or too late could hasten some health complications. A study at the University of California Davis found that the risk of certain diseases can increase based on when Golden Retrievers are neutered.
Desexing your male dog too early (before one year) can hasten certain complications, while doing so too late (after one year) can hasten others. These study results are based on Golden Retrievers, but can differ from breed to breed and gender to gender.
The best thing you can do, no matter what kind of dog you own, is to check with your vet, who will assess your particular dog’s constitution to determine the best time to get it desexed.
How much does treatment cost?
Treating some of the health problems Golden Retrievers may inherit can be an expensive exercise. The table below is a rough guide to the treatment costs you can expect for a range of common conditions:
| Health problem | Average total claim |
|---|---|
| Fractures | $2,715 |
| Cancer | $1,798 |
| Snake bite | $1,742 |
| Diabetes | $2,583 |
| Cruciate condition | $2,530 |
| Epilepsy and seizures | $1,079 |
| Liver | $1,716 |
| Pancreas | $1,360 |
Source: The Hollard Insurance Company (2016/2017)
Why you may need pet insurance for your Golden Retriever
A properly raised Golden Retriever will create a lifetime of joy for all members of your family. That’s why it is important to make sure it stays happy and healthy. A good pet insurance plan could protect your beloved dog with effective treatments for conditions like hip dysplasia, cataracts or allergies.
It will also cover accidents like getting hit by a car and snake bites. This might come in handy given the Goldie’s energetic and adventurous nature. For a small price, you can rest assured your Goldie will get the best treatment possible and that it won’t break the bank.
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Ask an Expert
How much does it cost to desex a female golden retriever?
Hello Natalie,
Thank you for your comment.
As per checking, Desexing female dogs will cost you at around $200 – $220 for small dogs and can go up to $400 or more for large dogs (60kg plus). The typical cost for desexing female dogs weighing 10 – 20 kg is around $250.
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Regards,
Jhezelyn