Alaskan Golden Retriever | The Brave & Faithful Dog Breed
Alaskan Golden Retriever is a very interesting and wonderful dog breed of the dog which is a cross breed of Golden Retriever and Alaskan Malamute. This cross has the friendly and affectionate temperament of the Golden Retriever and also the muscular strength, stamina and cold climate tolerance of the Alaskan Malamute. Alaskan Golden Retrievers are playful, loyal and loving dogs that are well suited to an active family or an individual who would like a pet that is both a sporting companion and a home companion. If you are thinking of getting a new pet in your home, then the Alaskan Golden Retriever can be a perfect choice.
History of the Alaskan Golden Retriever
The Alaskan Golden Retriever is a relatively new breed, which was bred to have qualities of the Golden Retriever and the Alaskan Malamute. The Golden Retriever, which was developed to retrieve game during shooting sessions, is famous for its high intelligence and trainability, and friendly character. On the other hand, Alaskan Malamute was bred for strength and stamina and its working in extreme cold weather as it is a sled dog bred for pulling heavy sleds in the Alaskan environment.
The purpose of developing the Alaskan Golden Retriever was to have a dog which had the temperance and geniality of the Golden Retriever while possessing the strength, endurance and cold tolerance of the Alaskan Malamute. This is a good breed for any person who would wish to have a companion that is playful and also has the ability to endure long periods of exercise.
Classification of the Alaskan Golden Retriever
By Purpose
The Alaskan Golden Retriever is originally raised as a family pet but because of its endurance and high intellect, it can be trained for a number of tasks. The following are some of the uses of this breed:
Family Pet: As with the Golden Retriever, the Alaskan Golden Retriever is friendly and loyal and will do well with children or other animals.
Physical Attributes: This breed of the dog is active and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and swimming. This breed has inherited its energy and stamina from the Alaskan Malamute that makes it suitable for those who are physically active or have an active family who likes to go out in the wilderness.
Therapy and Service work: Due to it being an intelligent and gentle breed, the Alaskan Golden Retriever is also suited for therapy or service dogs to help those who require some help in terms of physical or emotional support.
Uses: While this breed is not frequently seen, it is still capable of performing tasks in areas that demand pull and stamina such as in pulling sleds and in farming.
By Size
The Alaskan Golden Retriever usually has a medium to large bone structure and is muscular due to his hybrid origin. The size of this breed can be described as:
Size: The size of the breed varies in height from 22 inches to 26 inches at the shoulder and male dogs are larger than the females.
Coat: They have a dense, double coat, which is due to the genes of the Golden Retriever and Alaskan Malamute. The coat is useful in areas with cool climate and can be of golden or cream coloration and the fur is both fluffy and sleek.
Most Popular Traits of the Alaskan Golden Retriever
Alaskan Golden Retriever is a cross breed between the Golden Retriever and Alaskan Malamute which has many good qualities that make it one of the most wanted hybrids:
Friendly and Devoted: As it is the case with Golden Retriever the Alaskan Golden Retriever is friendly and devoted. It requires constant interaction with people and enjoys their company thus making it a good family companion.
Energetic: Alaskan Golden Retriever is quite energetic, and this breed needs to be exercised daily. Some of the things that make it a good jogging or a hiking buddy are that it has the Malamute background hence it is powerful and loves the outdoors.
It is a friendly dog with children and other pets, including cats, and it also gets along well with other dogs and children. It is also recommended for homes with children since it is not aggressive.
Alaskan Malamute genes make the Alaskan Golden Retriever a powerful and sturdy breed that can endure the most demanding tasks.
Intelligent and trainable: The Golden Retriever breed is intelligent and this is passed on to the Alaskan Golden Retriever and thus the dog is easily trainable. This breed is particularly good at obedience trials, agility and other related activities.
Factors to Choose an Alaskan Golden Retriever
Alaskan Golden Retrievers are excellent pets for families and therefore before bringing one to your home, there are several factors that you should put into consideration.
Exercise Requirements: The Alaskan Golden Retriever is an active breed of the dog, which requires regular training sessions and plenty of exercises to be content. This breed is a result of Alaskan Malamute and therefore requires a lot of exercises and playtime. Exercise activities include:
Daily walks of at least an hour or more.
Walking or jogging with the owner.
Activities such as hiking or swimming that are participated in outside the normal living environment.
Play or activities like fetching or agility to keep it mentally engaged.
This breed of the Alaskan Golden Retriever requires a lot of exercise; the dog may get bored, and this may lead to the destruction of property.
Grooming and Coat Care: The Alaskan Golden Retriever has a very dense double coat and should be groomed frequently to ensure its health and appearance. Some grooming tips for this breed include the following:
Ear and eye care: to prevent infections, the dog ears should be cleaned frequently while the eyes should also be checked frequently especially if the dog is very active in the field.
Health Considerations: Like any other breed of dogs, the Alaskan Golden Retriever is not exempted from health problems. It is therefore necessary to familiarize oneself with these conditions to be able to check on your dog’s health. Some common health concerns include:
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: Some of the large breeds such as the Alaskan Golden Retriever are prone to these diseases, which may need surgery.
Hypothyroidism: This is an abnormality of thyroid gland, its symptoms include; obesity, weakness, or skin rashes.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This is a hereditary disease that affects the eye and causes gradual vision loss, and therefore, the dog should be taken for eye check up regularly.
Training and Socialization: The Alaskan Golden Retriever is an intelligent breed, and the ideal way to train this breed is through positive reinforcement. It is therefore important that a dog is taken through the process of socialization from a tender age to ensure that it grows up to be well disciplined. Here’s how to approach training:
Sensitization: You should take the puppy to different people, places, and other animals so that it can gain confidence and minimize the level of shyness.
Obedience training: You have to teach your dog simple commands such as sit, stay and come. Praise and rewards are well received by the Alaskan Golden Retriever and helps the dog to learn very fast.
Pavlov’s theory: Be consistent in the commands and rewards that are given out so as not to confuse the dog.
How to care of Alaskan Golden Retriever
Here are some tips that will help you to keep your Alaskan Golden Retriever happy and healthy:
Exercise to avoid getting bored and to keep fit to avoid the risk of getting a huge size.
Provide the dog with appropriate food that should be of good quality and appropriate to the level of activity of the dog.
It is also important to take your vet recommended your pet for check up frequently to ensure that it is in good health and to identify any abnormalities.
Training and socialization are very important for a dog, so that he or she can be a good citizen and behave as it is expected.
Fun Facts About the Alaskan Golden Retriever
Loves snow: Owing to the fact that this breed originated from the Alaskan Malamute, Alaskan Golden Retrievers are known to have a preference for cold weather and snowy activities.
Guardian: This breed is very attached to his family and may develop the tendency to guard them.
Perfect for an active families: Regardless of whether the family is fond of hiking, jogging, or swimming, the Alaskan Golden Retriever will enjoy it and will be active together with the family.
Where to Find an Alaskan Golden Retriever
When choosing an Alaskan Golden Retriever for sale, one should look for a breeder who has the best interest of the dogs at heart. Do not forget to request for health clearances as well as details of how the breeding was done. In addition, one may check with various breed specific rescue groups because some Alaskan Golden Retrievers might be up for adoption.
FAQs about the Alaskan Golden Retriever
Conclusion
The Alaskan Golden Retriever is an exceptional dog breed that has the positive attributes from both the Golden Retriever and the Alaskan Malamute. It is an athletic breed, loyal, and displays affectionate behavior, making it the best choice for families with an active lifestyle. Whether you need a hiking companion or a friend to cuddle with, the Alaskan Golden Retriever will prove to be a great friend and thus is ideal for any home.