I'm wondering whether or not I should get a Golden Retriever for the family. Could you fill me in about them?
Golden Retrievers are fantastic family pets! I think they're my favorite breed of dog!
They really are. I guess I'll tell you about them, instead! So, they're obviously a large-sized breed of dog, but most people don't realize, since they've become great family dogs, that they actually were mainly used as gun dogs, to retrieve waterfowl (ducks, etc.) during hunting and shooting parties.
Oh really? I had no idea! They do seem rather large, do they have thick coats?
Yeah, that's one of their key visual distinctions. A long-coated breed, obviously, and their dense inner coat gives them that warmth they need outdoors, but they also have an outer coat that helps repel water, as well.
That's really interesting! They seem like such smart dogs. Are they used for other purposes other than retrieving waterfowl?
Absolutely. Given their great temperaments and intelligence, they're often used as disability assistance dogs (guide dogs/hearing dogs for the blind and deaf), and their hunting skills also make them good for detective work, in search and rescue events.
Aw, such good dogs! Do you know from what dogs they were originally bred?