20-25 lbs
10-12"
United States
The Goldenshire is a mixed breed dog. Its parents are the friendly Golden Retriever and the spunky Yorkshire Terrier. The Golden Retriever truly personifies man’s best friend. Highly intelligent and loyal, the Golden Retriever is a friend to anyone he meets. He does have a tendency to shed, much like the other parent breed – the Yorkshire Terrier. Goldens need a moderate amount of exercise, and they need to live inside with their family. The Yorkshire Terrier is a very small dog, usually weighing no more than seven pounds at adulthood. This means that the Goldenshire will be a medium-sized dog, and may look somewhat like the Yorkiepoo in appearance.
The Golden Retriever came to be on the Scottish estate of First Viscount Lord Tweedmouth who is credited with developing this one of a kind hunter and retriever. Bred to be a companion suited to the home, the land and the water, this canine had what is called a “soft mouth” meaning that he could retrieve the catch and bring it home to the hunter in full form and not damaged in any way. Nous was the dog that Lord Tweedmouth bred to a Tweed Water Spaniel, then further breeding the descendants to more Tweed Spaniels, Retrievers of both the flat and wavy type, as well as with the Red Setter.
Today, the Golden Retriever excels at search and rescue and is a service dog, as well as carries out more duties suitable to his intelligence and docile nature. He joined the American Kennel Club in 1925. Scottish people came to England to work as the result of the Industrial Revolution, and when they came, they brought their pets as well. At that time, a favorite dog was the Clydesdale or Paisley Terrier (a breed that is now extinct). The Paisley, used for catching vermin in factories, was interbred with the English Black and Tan Toy Terrier and the Skye Terrier. In addition, experts believe the Waterside Terrier, a long-haired terrier with a blue-gray coat, may have been bred with the Paisley as well. Huddersfield Ben, considered the father of the modern Yorkshire Terrier, was a popular show dog in the late 1800s. The first Yorkshire Terrier Club was formed in England in 1872, and, in 1874, the British Kennel Club recognized the Yorkie.
Because of the large difference in size between the two parent breeds, it is very hard to determine the exact outcome of the mix. Methods used for the breeding (meaning artificial means) may be necessary, and parental genetic dominance will play a part as well. The Goldenshire is typically larger than the Yorkie but smaller than the Golden normally is. His head is generally covered with medium to long hair; his medium-sized muzzle features a black or brown nose, or like the Golden, the nose may be the color of the coat. If the coat is long, the fine, silky hair generally falls equally on each side of his spine. Colors may be gold, yellow, black and tan, or it may be a steel blue and tan color. Puppies are often born sporting brown, black, and tan; his coat color changes as he grows older.
The Goldenshire may require a fair bit of maintenance, depending on the length and texture of the coat. If the coat is long as it often is with this hybrid, he will need daily brushing with a pin brush, otherwise matting may occur. Combing gently after the brushing will remove the fine tangles. Long coats require hours of grooming; the best idea may be to consult a groomer for advice as to how to handle his coat. He will need daily care for his teeth if possible; at the very least brush them two to three times a week. His nails should be trimmed bi-monthly. If you start your Goldenshire early in age, getting him used to the grooming routine, he will soon look forward to it as a bonding experience.
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The Goldenshire is alert, energetic, and adventurous. Highly affectionate toward his owner, he makes a wonderful companion. Sometimes though, due to the Yorkie genetics, he may have a bit of an attitude and will want to rule the roost. Kind but firm leadership will be needed with this mix. Once he has that, he will take his place behind you, the “pack leader”. He is typically good with children, although may let small children know he has had enough even though they still want to play and interact. Always supervise their time together. The Yorkie in your Goldenshire may lead to a tendency to bark, making him a good watchdog, alerting you to the goings on of the household. Overall, he loves his family and is happy to be included in every outing or activity.
Your Goldenshire will be happy to accompany you on all the walks you like. He loves to be outside and to take a walk about the neighborhood. Remember, he is a social, friendly canine and will enjoy perfecting his social skills at the dog park, in obedience classes, and maybe even in the agility ring. He is smart and doesn’t mind proving it. Let him accompany you when you run errands or go for a jog. He can adapt to apartment living, however, his idea of a great time is a home with a back yard in which to explore and investigate. Do not leave him outside alone though, he wants to be with the family at all times.
Written by Kathleen Egger
Published: 11/30/2017, edited: 01/03/2022
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