Latest news with #GoldenRetrievers
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
3 Dog Breeds More Prone to Separation Anxiety
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." While many dogs can adapt to being left alone for short periods, some breeds are more prone to separation anxiety issues than others. According to research from Nato Pet Insurance, Dachshunds, Cockapoos and Toy Poodles are the top three dog breeds "predisposed to separation anxiety". Due to their rise in popularity during the pandemic, these breeds never learned to be alone and are more likely to show signs of separation-related behavior. "The rise in demand often led to reliance on puppy farms with poor conditions, where the health of the dogs was disregarded," says award-winning dog behavior specialist, Rachel Rodgers. "These environments place significant strain on the mothers, which can impact the puppies born under such conditions." On the other hand, breeds who can happily handle being alone include Golden Retrievers, Border Terriers, and Miniature Schnauzers. "While studies suggest Golden Retrievers are a breed with a high likelihood of separation anxiety, this has not been the case in my observations," adds Rachel. "Dogs experiencing separation anxiety are often referred by a vet to a Clinical Animal Behaviorist (CAB), who specializes in understanding and addressing animal behavior." Research suggests that eight of out 10 dogs find it hard to cope when left alone, however many owners struggle to spot the signs. According to the Dogs Trust, the signs of separation anxiety in dogs include: Whining Barking/howling Pacing Trembling Panting Drooling Destructive behavior such as scratching at furniture If your dog is struggling with separation-related behaviour, talk to a local vet who knows you and your dog. They may refer you to a clinical animal behaviorist. You Might Also Like 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Radio presenter Anton Savage on his dog Sandy: ‘Fetching? Let's just say he is a Golden Retriever who has yet to retrieve anything!'
Sandy is the spitting image of my last dog, Jack, who died about three years ago. Jack lived to be an old dog, but even though he had bad hips and bad elbows in his final years, he was stoic. In physical form, Jack was a Golden Retriever, alright, but in character that was only half of it; the other half of his mindset was something like that of a German Shepherd. He was always protecting his perimeter wherever we went, especially if we were off camping somewhere. Right to the end, Jack was still powering on as best he could. He was fierce noble. After he died, like with any dog you've been close to, you're left with the feeling that you don't want to be disloyal, so it was a year or so before I got Sandy. He is such an athletic dog. I live near St Anne's Park in Dublin and we go there a lot. I cycle, he runs. Golden Retrievers were bred as gun dogs. The invention of the rifle meant that game could be shot from further away. Using spaniels to retrieve was all very well, but after about 80 yards they were wrecked. Golden Retrievers were bigger, tougher and could run for longer. I know that when I run the legs off Sandy, he really loves it. It's like he thinks we're out in the wild and I'm saying: 'Go grab a duck!' I didn't have a dog as a kid but I always had a vaguely romantic notion that it would be nice to have one. It's not until you actually get a dog, though, that you realise the difference between romance and reality. I mean, the sheer amount of excrement in any given day from a dog the size of Sandy is an absolute revelation! And then there's the hair; it's everywhere. Even in the dishwasher. When I took it apart recently, I discovered that the insulation layer was no longer black — it was white, thanks to Sandy's hair! Never underestimate the level of responsibility involved in looking after a dog. Some people are born consistently reliable and responsible. For those of us who aren't, it's a bit of a wake-up call. Dogs have to be walked and fed, day in and day out, for the rest of their lives. And they need to be very well trained. I find it amazing, though, just how well dogs are able to read you; they can pick your mind. Sandy certainly looks like my old dog Jack, but he has different ways about him. Jack loved fetching — he'd have dug up a tree to get himself a stick. Sandy is an affectionate dog; just leaning against me is his version of a hug. And he has a small green dinosaur toy that he loves; if anything disturbs him, he picks it up and carries it around with him. But fetching? Well, let's just say that Sandy is a Golden Retriever who has yet to retrieve anything! As told to Roslyn Dee
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Golden Retrievers' Sad Faces Waiting for Mom's Return Have People Sobbing
Golden Retrievers' Sad Faces Waiting for Mom's Return Have People Sobbing originally appeared on PetHelpful. Dogs generally do not like to be separated from their humans. This is especially true of Golden Retrievers, who pretty much just want to be friends with everyone. So, as you can imagine, the look on a Golden Retriever's face when they realize that their human has left them alone for the day is enough to turn anyone's heart into a well of sorrow. Which is why we have to warn you, this video of two Golden Retrievers looking absolutely devastated that their human has left them alone for the day will leave you absolutely shattered. As you can see in this heartbreaking video, these two precious babies are just so sad to see their human mama go for the day. It completely pains them to watch her close the door on them. Pet camera footage shows them patiently sitting on the couch, waiting for their human mama to return. Thankfully, they have each other for company, so they don't get too lonely, but this video notes, these precious goldens 'were staring at the front door for almost an hour' after their mama left them. At the end of the video, their kindhearted human mama called out to them through the camera's speaker to let them know she would be home soon, and their faces lit right up with excitement! But don't let those sad faces for you. As sweet as these Golden Retrievers may be, they are not always so understanding when it comes to their humans. As this other video shows, when one of these Golden Retrievers 'slept in and missed her usual breakfast time,' she was not happy with her human mama one bit. What this human needs to understand is that the world revolves around this dog's schedule, and she needs to adapt to it accordingly. In other words, this dog was not late for breakfast; this human just served it too early. Always remember, this is a dog's world. We humans are just here to clean up their poop and feed them. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Golden Retrievers' Sad Faces Waiting for Mom's Return Have People Sobbing first appeared on PetHelpful on May 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on May 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wakeboarding Golden Retriever Shows Why She Is the Absolute Water Sports Master
Wakeboarding Golden Retriever Shows Why She Is the Absolute Water Sports Master originally appeared on PetHelpful. Golden Retrievers, being a very playful dog breed, love to engage in a variety of activities. But while many Golden Retrievers enjoy classic canine activities such as playing fetch or having precious zoomie outbursts, some enjoy more unique activities. Take the Golden Retriever in this video, for instance. This precious girl goes by the name of Wynn the Golden, and she loves to get out on the water to enjoy wakeboarding. And as this video shows, she's pretty darn good at it, too! At the start of this video, Wynn the Golden is just out there on her board in the middle of the water in need of a tow. Thankfully, some nearby humans are able to toss him a rope and pull him along. At first, Wynn takes it easy. She just lies down on her board and enjoys the ride as she cruises through the water. But then things pick up a little bit, and she decides to stand up on all fours and take the waves as they is where you can really see how much fun she is having. Her mouth is open, her tongue is hanging out, and her tail is wagging in excitement. Yes, this good boy is having a grand old time out on the water! If there is any doubt about how much Wynn loves wakeboarding, this video should put it to rest. In this video, her humans are telling her that it's time to wrap it up. Wynn has been on the board for a while, and it is time for other people to get a turn. However, Wynn is not happy to hear this. She looks visibly defeated as her board slows down, and she senses that her wakeboarding session is coming to a close. But don't worry, you can hear his humans in the background telling her that she will get to go wakeboarding again tomorrow. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Wakeboarding Golden Retriever Shows Why She Is the Absolute Water Sports Master first appeared on PetHelpful on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Science
- Extra.ie
Dogs 'entering new phase of domestication'
New studies have shown that our furry friends may be entering a new phase of domestication, primarily as cuddly companions, and it's all down to genetics, evolution and our human need for love and companionship. Ever since man first domesticated wolves, dogs have been used for guarding and herding, search and rescue, and also as companions. Canine domestication dates back around 40,000 years. The first wave of domestication began when humans lived as hunters and foragers, and often left food waste on the outskirts of their settlements. Pic:But scientists have recently discovered that dogs are entering a third wave of domestication and it's all driven by our desire to have pets who are calm, and gentle and enjoy our increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Just a few decades ago dogs were primarily used to guard livestock and homes and mostly lived outside, but now all of that has changed and people are now referring to their pets as 'fur babies'. The need for a dog to have a 'herding' or 'guarding' instinct has been slowly changing, as this instinct would make life difficult for a pet to handle domestic situations or even just simply interacting with other dogs in their neighbourhood. Pic: Getty Images Companionship has now become the most important thing for us humans to have with our pets and scientists have found that this shift has increased the levels of Oxytocin in our pets, a hormone responsible for social bonding in dogs, especially service dogs. The study, conducted by researchers at Sweden's Linköping University in 2017, investigated how dogs developed their unique ability to work together with humans, including their willingness to 'ask for help' when faced with difficult situations. Researchers observed 60 Golden Retrievers as they attempted to open a jar of treats by lifting the lid, which was intentionally made impossible to open. They then took DNA swabs from inside the dogs' noses to determine their levels of Oxytocin. The dogs performed this task twice, once after receiving an oxytocin nasal spray and once after a spray of saline. The study found that the dogs who reacted strongly to the oxytocin were much more likely to turn to their owners and 'ask for help' in opening the jar of treats. In other words, a dog's social skills are partially ingrained in their genetics, specifically in the genes that control their sensitivity to oxytocin. The team also timed the dogs to see how long it would take before they would give up the task and turn to their owners to 'ask for help'. These findings offer new insight into how domestication has altered the genes that influence dogs' social skills. The research has concluded that dogs' behavioural traits are undergoing a third wave of domestication and that the role our pets play in our lives has moved from worker to almost totally companion animal, and that this in turn has altered their actual biology. Dog behavioural scientists have concluded that for the happiness of dogs and their owners, humans need to train more dogs like service animals, embarking on a new wave of dog domestication to 'help them fit into the new world we have created,'
