One special golden retriever named Augie, short for August, recently celebrated a milestone birthday. She turned 20, making her the oldest of her breed in the entire world! The adorable pup was born on April 24, 2000 and while she was rehomed twice, she’s now living out her senior years with her loving parents, Jennifer and Steve Hetterscheidt of Oakland, Tennessee.
- Golden retrievers have an average lifespan of 10-12 years. However, that’s by no means a hard guideline! With proper nutrition, exercise, and veterinary care, many in the breed live beyond 15. However, Augie is the first in history that we know of to reach the age of 20, making her the oldest. What an honor!
- Augie was adopted when she was 14. The Hetterscheidts loved her from the moment they met her, and they’ve been lucky enough to share six incredible years with Augie so far! During that time, they’ve taken her on RV trips around the country and she gets plenty of time to go swimming in the pool and play with her other dog brothers and sisters, Sherman, Belle, and Bruce.
- Considering her advanced age, Augie is doing incredibly well! Jennifer reports that while she’s initially shaky upon standing, Augie still gets around pretty well and even goes on walks every day still. She did have some kidney issues when they first adopted her, but with a mixture of wet and dry Hill’s Prescription Diet and some supplements for her joints and her kidneys, she’s in good health and spirits.
- Senior dogs have so much love to give. Augie may be extra special because she’s the oldest golden retriever, but all senior dogs deserve affection, attention, and a comfy, safe home to live out their final years. To check out more of what GoldHeart does, you can check out their website HERE. For more information specifically on Golden Retrievers, you can read Jake and Oliver’s website HERE.
