Your Trusted Expert in Breeding and Maintaining Healthy Golden Retrievers

All Goldens are genetically “red” as expressed by their genotype “ee” at the E locus. They have other genes that control the intensity of the recessive yellow known as red color expression. This results in shades of “gold” from very light golden (cream) to deep dark golden (rust). Goldens are registered as light golden, golden, and dark golden. The field coat tends to be shorter, not as heavy, and with less shedding than what you might see in the conformation lines. Field coats require less grooming. Spaying or neutering increases shedding (an intact Golden sheds less than a Labrador!).

Goldens were in dog shows starting in 1906 and accepted by the AKC in 1925. It is a Sporting breed and judged on movement as well as structure. Temperament is also paramount in the breed standard. If it’s not friendly, it isn’t a Golden! The Golden Retriever has never won Best in Show at the famed Westminster Dog Show, but it wins over America’s heart time and time again making it one of the most popular breeds every year.

There is nothing sweeter than the expression of a Golden Retriever. But don’t let that pretty face fool you; this dog is no ditz: the character, personality, and talents of this breed run deep. The classic Golden excels at being a family dog extraordinaire, a loyal companion, great with children and a growing family, and an excellent retriever of upland game and waterfowl. They love being part of a team and thrive with “homeschooling” for hunt training. There is nothing they love more than partnering with their person for a common goal, be it hunting, scent work, agility, obedience, tracking, or a snuggle on the sofa.

It is no wonder they are so popular. While Golden Retrievers are physically stunning, it is their wonderful temperament that makes them America’s preferred pet. And yet, they are so much more than pets. In addition to a sweet loving personality, Goldens are smart and inquisitive. They are also problem solvers. Sometimes too smart for their own good. They quickly learn to barter and will trade the TV remote for their favorite toy you just put away. They are super easy to train and do exceptionally well in obedience classes. “Will work for food” was never more true than for a Golden! While adults weigh 55-85 pounds, they will try to convince you that they are lapdogs after all and just want to be with their people.

Golden Retrievers, along with Labrador Retrievers and crosses between the two breeds, are the preferred breeds for most service dog organizations, such as Guide Dogs for the Blind.

If you asked a Golden Retriever what their job is, they would say, “It is to be as close as possible to the human, and for the most part, any human will do. I am particularly adept at following humans into the bathroom, up and down stairs, and into the kitchen. My other full-time job is to distribute hair on every conceivable surface.”

The fantastic, happy, patient temperament of Goldens make them one of the most consistently chosen and trusted family dogs around.

The mission of Kokopelli Assisted Reproductive Services at Kokopelli Veterinary Center is to fully support responsible breeders in creating the healthiest puppies possible. Part of that mission is advising breeders in health testing and advising potential puppy buyers on what they should be considering when looking at adopting a puppy.

• Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER): Eye diseases are often progressive and some are not detectable until a dog ages. It is recommended that breeding dogs have annual CAER examinations, which must be performed by a board-certified ophthalmologist. The GRCA strongly recommends all breeding dogs have annual eye clearances. Eye OFA clinics are held a few times a year at Kokopelli Veterinary Center. Please call our front desk to schedule your dogs for our next clinic.
• Cardiac OFA evaluation: This exam must be performed on dogs at least 12 months of age by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Using Doppler ultrasound, the cardiologist thoroughly evaluates the anatomy and function of the heart. Two basic tiers of heart disease clearance are evaluated: congenital and adult-onset diseases. Congenital disorders are present at birth and are detectable anytime the dog is examined. Once a dog has been cleared for congenital disorders, that clearance is good forever. The GRCA strongly recommends all breeding dogs have cardiac clearances. Cardiac OFA examinations are performed at Kokopelli Veterinary Center a few times every year. Please contact our front desk to make an appointment for your dog.

• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (Golden Retriever) (NCL, NCL5)—This is a progressive disease usually manifesting between 1.5 and 2 years of age in Golden Retrievers. Dogs suffering from NCL experience loss of coordination, blindness, and behavioral changes, including anxiety, constant circling, aggression, compulsive behaviors, loss of learned skills, tremors, ataxia (lack of coordination), and seizures. Affected dogs are usually euthanized before 3 years of age due to poor quality of life. NCL is an autosomal recessive trait. This means that a dog must have two alleles of the affected gene, one from each parent, to exhibit the disease. Affected dogs (ones that have 2 copies of the affected gene) should not be bred. If a dog has only one allele (copy) of the affected gene and one normal allele, they are considered a “carrier” but will not have any signs of the disease. Carrier dogs are fine to breed, so long as they are only bred to a dog that tests as clear (two normal alleles). Pairing a carrier with a clear dog will result in 50% carriers and 50% clear puppies. Breeding two carriers to each other will result in 25% clear puppies, 50% carriers, and 25% of the litter affected with NCL. All prospective Golden Retriever breeding dogs should have genetic testing for NCL performed. The veterinarians at Kokopelli Veterinary Center can help with genetic testing and counseling. Please call our front desk to schedule an appointment.

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