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Golden Mountain Dog

Lisa Selvaggio
by Lisa Selvaggio
Published:  November 16th, 2016
fast facts

About Golden Mountain Dog

Weight
80-120 lb
Lifespan
9-15 years
Group
not applicable
Best Suited For
Singles and families with children and other pets living in a house with a yard
Temperament
Obedient, eager to please, intelligent, affectionate, friendly, cheerful
Comparable Breeds
Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog
Height
24-26 inches
Golden Mountain Dog Basics


Anyone who’s in search of a larger canine breed that will be super affectionate and loyal will fall in love with the Golden Mountain Dog. These attractive pooches will adore you forever, and they won’t be afraid to show you how much they think you’re the center of their universe. But they’ll expect just as much love and attention from you in return.


Active families will also enjoy the company of a Golden Mountain Dog, who won’t think twice about going hiking or jogging with you. So if you’re the type of person who has the time to devote to an attention-seeking dog, and you’re willing to take your pet on all of your adventures, this could be the perfect breed.


The Golden Mountain Dog is a cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog.


Origin


The Golden Mountain Dog is a designer dog breed whose origins aren’t entirely clear.


Pedigree

The Golden Mountain Dog is a cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog.


Food / Diet


To ensure your dog will get the nutrients he needs to thrive, choose a high quality canine appropriate food.


You can feed your dog 3-5 cups of dry food each day, but divide this amount into at least two servings. If you’re going to also feed your dog a high quality canned food for canines, simply reduce the amount of dry food that you’re providing so that your pet won’t overeat or gain too much weight.


Should you have any questions or concerns regarding how much food you should be giving to your dog each day, or what food is best, consult your veterinarian for advice.


The Golden Mountain Dog is an intelligent breed that’s easy to train.


Training


The Golden Mountain Dog is an intelligent breed that’s easy to train because it’s obedient and eager to please. You’ll notice that these dogs require fewer repetitions before they catch on to new commands and tricks.


You can even train this breed to be a working canine, and obedience training and socialization will be wonderful ways to give these pooches the mental stimulation that they crave.


Just make sure that your training sessions are engaging and positive. Be firm and establish yourself as the pack leader, but stick with using positive reinforcement techniques that include rewards, praise, and treats.


Weight


A large to giant-sized breed, the Golden Mountain Dog weighs between 80 and 120 pounds.


Temperament / Behavior

The Golden Mountain Dog is a loving breed that will thoroughly enjoy being the object of your affection. These dogs require a lot of attention, and they’re devoted, happy, friendly pooches that will always want to be near you.


If you’re in search of a protective canine that will make a good watchdog and alert you to suspicious activity, the Golden Mountain Dog is a good choice. However, you shouldn’t expect that this breed will make a good guard dog, as these canines are too friendly around strangers.


Overall, these quick learners are confident, calm, and patient. They make ideal family dogs, too, as they’ll get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets.


Common Health Problems


As with all other hybrid canine breeds, the Golden Mountain Dog might be susceptible to the health conditions that commonly affect its parent breeds. These include epilepsy, heart issues, bloat, Von Willebrand’s disease, cancer, allergies, joint dysplasia, hypothyroidism, eye conditions, panosteitis, portosystemic shunts, and osteochondritis dissecans. However, it is important to remember that there is no guarantee that your dog will develop any of these health concerns. Every dog is an individual whose long-term health can’t be predicted. Also, hybrid breeds can be surprisingly hardy and healthy.


Life Expectancy


The Golden Mountain Dog has an average lifespan of 9 to 15 years.


Exercise Requirements


Golden Mountain Dogs are active, so they do require some vigorous activity each day in order to maintain a healthy weight and remain happy. If you have an enclosed and safe backyard, you can allow your dog to run, play with toys, jump, and let his energy out in a positive way. When indoors, a variety of toys will help keep your dog occupied.


You can also take your pet to the local dog park, or you can go for a jog or a hike with him. A couple of daily walks will be necessary, and interactive play sessions will allow your dog to get the attention he craves.


The Golden Mountain Dog is a loving breed that will thoroughly enjoy being the object of your affection.


Recognized Clubs


The Golden Mountain Dog is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, as it is considered to be a hybrid breed. However, this breed is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).


Coat


Golden Mountain Dogs feature a coat that is medium to long in length. It is also dense, straight, and rough. You should brush your dog’s coat at least three or four times per week, if not daily, to keep it smooth and free of tangles, as well as to remove loose hair. This breed will shed quite a bit, so be prepared to vacuum regularly too.


Puppies


As with all other puppies, the Golden Mountain Dog will require gentle handling and care. If children will be interacting with your puppy, keep an eye on them to ensure your puppy won’t get hurt.


It’s also recommended that you start training and socializing your Golden Mountain Dog from puppyhood to ensure he’ll grow up to be a well-behaved canine who will get along with everyone he meets.

WOW
Lisa Selvaggio
Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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Perhaps you spotted tears streaming from your pet’s eyes and wondered: do dogs cry tears as an emotional response? Or is there a different explanation for this phenomenon? Well, the answer is pretty straightforward – dogs don’t produce tears because of their emotions like we humans do. They produce tears primarily to lubricate their eyes, and remove dust and other irritants. But, this does not mean that they don’t express emotions in other ways – here’s what you need to know about your teary-eyed furball.Do Dogs Cry Real Tears?If you spot tears running from your dog’s eyes, you are not deceived – they are real. However, they are not tears of sadness or emotion, as dogs simply don’t express feelings the same way as we do. The role of those tears is more of a bodily function. They are there to lubricate the eye, making sure it functions as it should. After all, dogs can just rub their eyes or place a few drops inside when needed. So, their body does the job for them, and hence the tears. Of course, an excessive amount of tears is not natural. And neither are dry and tearless eyes. So, in either one of these cases, you should schedule a visit with your vet. Dry eyes in dogs are also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or "dry eye syndrome," and can lead to discomfort, irritation, and potential complications if left untreated. In many cases of dry eyes, veterinarians prescribe artificial tears or  lubricating eye drops to help moisturize the eyes and relieve discomfort. These drops can help supplement the natural tear production and provide relief from dryness. 

AI Could Match You with a New Furry Friend Based on Personality

In a cutting-edge study, scientists specializing in canine behavior have used artificial intelligence to predict dog personality types. A multi-disciplinary research team has developed an AI algorithm that simplifies the painstaking process of evaluating canine personalities.Understanding a dog’s temperament is key not only for pet owners but also for training agencies and professionals working with working dogs. The study, which introduces a brand-new method of predicting and categorizing dog personalities, is published in the eminent journal Scientific Reports. The team that developed the algorithm hopes that it will more quickly and accurately evaluate which dogs are better suited for long-term careers, such as assisting people with disabilities and helping law enforcement. This new approach to predicting dog personalities could also be used to match owners with a new furry best friend. The new AI algorithm can help shelters place dogs in the right homes, thus reducing the number of dogs returned for not being the right fit for their adoptive families.Before this algorithm, canine behavioral experts used questionnaires and statistical analysis to determine a dog’s personality.  The AI algorithm uses data from almost 8,000 responses to the commonly used Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). The C-BARQ questionnaire has been the top resource for evaluating working dogs in the past two decades. “C-BARQ is highly effective, but many of its questions are also subjective,” said James Serpell, a professor of ethics and animal welfare emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “By clustering data from thousands of surveys, we can adjust for outlying responses inherent to subjective survey questions in categories such as dog rivalry and stranger-related fear.”The team’s new AI algorithm gathers the responses to C-BARQ questions into five main categories that essentially form the digital personality of a dog. The results showed five distinctive personality types among domestic dogs, including excitable/attached, anxious/fearful, reactive/assertive, aloof/predatory, and calm/agreeable.The study was conducted over two years by a multi-disciplinary research team consisting of Dr Mohammad Amirhosseini of the University of East London and Professor James Serpell of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. The research was sponsored by Dogvatar, a Miami, Florida-based canine technology startup.“This innovative AI-based methodology holds promise for revolutionizing the selection and training of dogs for specific roles, both for working and non-working,” said Dr Amirhosseini. Almost 50 percent of people who surrender their dogs to animal shelters in the USA say that behavioral problems are a contributing factor, and nearly a quarter say that those problems are the main reason for giving up their dog. More research is needed to understand the nuances of canine personalities. However, researchers hope to promote strong bonds between people and their dogs by designing effective training programs and customized dog-owner interactions. According to researchers, these findings could serve as a foundation to explore personality matching between dogs and their owners and how that might improve the quality of their relationship.Dogvatar and the research team plan to conduct further research into potential uses for their dog personality testing algorithm.“This has been a really exciting breakthrough for us,” said Dogvatar CEO Piya Pettigrew. “This algorithm could greatly improve efficiency in working dog training and placement process and could help reduce the number of companion dogs brought back to shelters for not being compatible. It’s a win for both dogs and the people they serve.” Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Can I Use Human Hair Shampoo to Wash My Dog?

Making sure your pet’s hygiene is up to standards is an important thing, but you have to be careful about how you go about it. There aren’t a lot of important rules to consider when doggo baths are considered, but you should pay special attention to the type of shampoo that you use. If you are all out of pet shampoo, and you are thinking that a little bit of human shampoo won’t make a difference – think again. Using human hair shampoo on your dog is not recommended, and the reasons for this are many, including negative effects on your pet’s overall health and the quality of their skin and coat. Here’s what you should know before you reach for your shampoo when bathing your pooch.Why You Shouldn’t Use Human Shampoo On DogsThe first and foremost thing you have to consider is pH balance. Human shampoos are formulated to match the pH level of human skin. However, that level is totally different for dogs. Because of this, human shampoo can greatly disrupt the natural pH levels of a dog’s skin, ultimately leading to rashes, irritation, and skin diseases. And the same goes for the ingredients in that shampoo.  Dog shampoos have totally different ingredients compared to human shampoos. The latter has many chemicals that are considered too harsh for dogs. Dogs are prone to skin allergies and sensitivities, and some of the ingredients in human shampoos could make these issues much worse. The allergies can also be triggered by the strong fragrances of human-grade shampoos, which dogs can’t really stand. You should also take into account that a dog’s coat and human hair are totally different. While human shampoos are meant to lather well on hair, they’ll be too soapy for dogs. Rinsing out human shampoo from a dog can be a challenge, and a lot of chemicals can stay trapped in the coat and absorbed through the skin. Ultimately, all of this can leave your dog’s coat damaged, their skin irritated, and their health vulnerable to viruses and skin-borne infections. 

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