Birth 3 Weeks Neonatal
From birth to the first three weeks of their lives, your Golden Retriever will be in the neonatal stage, which will be quite a developmental stage in their lives. During this fragile period, the Golden Retriever is actually quite helpless in nature and should be kept with their mother.
No matter if your Golden Retriever is a female or male, your pup will typically be measuring under five pounds.
During this earlier stage of life, the pup will encounter various milestones, including learning how to open their ears and eyes, having their first baby teeth come through, and even learning how to crawl or walk awkwardly.
In every litter, there also tends to be the runt of the litter, which is the smallest one. This specific pup needs to be handled with care!
When Will My Puppy Become An Adult
Typically it will take approximately 18 months for your Golden Retriever to become an adult dog. Even though they can reach their full height at anywhere from 9 to 12 months, it will usually take them longer to fill out to their full weight. Remember that there are wide variations in size within the Golden Retriever breed.
Dont be too concerned about your puppys weight unless theyre way off the average. If this is the case, you should contact your veterinarian to seek advice. Its most important to know your puppy so that you can tell if theres a problem.
Do you have a Golden Retriever puppy? Please tell us about them in the comments!
Make sure you also take a look at our guide to puppy baths for a happy, clean puppy!
Is It Okay To Trim A Golden Retrievers Coat
Giving your Golden a light trimming is just fine, but giving your Golden an all-over haircut is not recommended as you risk damaging the coat and doing more harm than good.
Golden Retrievers have a double-coat, each acting as a layer of protection from the elements.
The overcoat is water repellent and consists of long guard hairs protecting your dog from dirt, debris and UV rays.
The undercoat is soft, fluffy, and dense, and acts as a layer of insulation to keep your pup warm in the winter. The undercoat is what sheds heavily twice a year, and in the summer your Golden will be left with a much lighter and less dense undercoat that will help keep him cool.
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Physical Activity & Health
To help your pup stay at a proper weight for its size and age, youll need to make sure that youre engaging him or her in regular activity.For a Golden Retriever, whether growing or fully grown, its important that they get at least one walk per day, but can definitely benefit from two!
Try and get your walks to be around a half-hour to an hour-long if youre able to fit it into your schedule! This can also be beneficial for your health and activity level.
If you dont have the time in your busy day, you can also consider hiring a dog-walker to get your pup the exercise it needs to be healthy and grow properly.
Month Old Puppy And Beyond
Many female dogs will be neutered once they have completed their first season. Read up on neutering before you take this important step, for dogs of either sex.
Once your dog is a year old he can participate in more strenuous activities and sports.
Now is the time to think about the kinds of activities you would like to do with him go jogging together for example and if necessary, to start to get him fit.
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Adverse Effects Of Shaving A Golden Retriever
Shaving the Goldens coat can lead to some pretty severe health problems. Anytime a double-coated canine us shaved, the chances of developing coat-funk are far higher.
Coat-funk occurring from the absence or destruction of the guard coat is a general term used to refer to different skin diseases. These include, but are not limited to:
- Black Skin Disease
- Sebaceous Adenitis
- Post Shaving or Clipping Alopecia
Although medical researchers arent sure as to exactly the reason, there is no limit of evidence that coat-funk has a very high incident rate as a result of shave-downs. Shaving simply for cosmetic reasons or as a means to reduce shedding is completely unacceptable.
Months 16 Month Sexual Maturity
As your dog reaches sexual maturity, a Golden Retriever will grow to its full size during this period of development. If the dog has not been yet neutered or spayed, he will reach sexual maturity and entering heat cycles as well as mating behavior.
This can lead to territorial behavior. During this period, your dog will also start to grow quite quickly in his legs, ears, and nose.
This rapid growth in particular areas leaves the Golden Retriever quite vulnerable with their bones, which can lead to injury if not taken care ofwhich means that you should help your dog avoid excessive pressure on the joints.
As you can see in our Golden Retriever weight chart, your Golden Retriever can reach up to 90 lbs during this stage.
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What Should I Feed My Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers should be fed a high-quality dog food thats appropriate for their age. Your veterinarian can offer recommendations and advise you on a healthy feeding schedule. Be careful not to overfeed your Golden Retriever. Use a measuring cup to make sure youre providing the right amount of kibble, and dont go overboard on treats, which can be high in calories.
Its important to help your Golden Retriever maintain a healthy weight to avoid problems like joint pain, heart disease, and liver and kidney issues. Like other large breeds, theyre also prone to conditions like hip dysplasia and arthritis, which can become more painful if theyre carrying extra pounds.
Illness And Puppy Growth
If a puppy has been seriously ill for a prolonged period, it may affect their ability to grow normally. Being heavily infested with intestinal worms like hookworms and roundworms can leach calories and ultimately affect a puppys growth. However, once the puppy is free of worms, they should continue to grow at a normal rate. If youre concerned about your puppys growth rate, its best to contact your vet to make sure there isnt an underlying medical cause.
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What Are The Common Health Problems Of Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers are known for their loyal, protective nature. They are known for their intelligence and endurance. However, dogs can also appear to suffer from some common health issues such as heart diseases and cancer.
Golden retrievers are very popular dogs. Dogs, like golden retrievers, have been used for many different purposes throughout history and these dogs have been used for pulling carts, pulling boats, pulling carriages and pulling noiselessly.
However, due to the fact that Golden retrievers live an active, independent life and this independence could affect their health. Some common health problems faced by Golden Retriever dogs include cancer, arthritis, kidney disease, and allergies. These are some of the problems that you can expect to face if you choose to adopt a Golden Retriever from a pet shop or a breeder.
Are They Healthy Dogs
While Golden Retrievers are generally considered healthy dogs, they are susceptible to a number of conditions, such as:
Elbow Dysplasia
This is an inherited condition common in larger breeds where the bones that make up the elbow joint develop abnormally. It can be very painful and result in lameness.
Hip Dysplasia
This is also an inherited condition where the thighbone doesnt fit properly into the hip joint. Like elbow dysplasia, it can cause pain and lameness.
Hypothyroidism
With this disease, the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone that helps regulate metabolism. This can lead to weight gain, skin issues, and heart problems. Luckily, it can often be treated with prescription medication.
Cataracts
Like humans, these dogs can get cataracts as they age, causing a cloudy film to form over the eye. Cataracts typically need surgical correction.
Heart Disease
Golden Retrievers are prone to heart problems, particularly a disorder called sub-aortic stenosis, which causes a narrowing of the aorta and can lead to sudden death. This makes it especially important to schedule annual check-ups, so your veterinarian can listen for heart murmurs and other signs of this disease.
Cancer
Skin cancer, bone cancer, and other variations of this disease can be common in Golden Retrievers. Our illness coverage includes cancer, which can be very helpful since treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can be costly.
Allergies
Skin Problems
Ear Infections
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Impact Of Nutrition On Breed Puppy Growth
Puppies that dont get enough to eat or are fed a low-quality diet may not grow properly. However, in developed countries, its far more likely that a dog is being overfed. Neither of these scenarios is healthy for a puppy.
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Larger breeds like the Golden Retriever are more at risk for growth disorders than small breed dogs. Its important to remember that both the type and amount of food are key.
Golden Retriever Puppy Too Fat Or Skinny
The easiest and fastest way to get an idea if your puppy is too fat or skinny is simply to look and feel your puppy and determine this.
Look at your puppy from above and determine if he has a waistline. A dog at ideal weight should have a waitlist and not a round belly.
Another way to determine a healthy weight is to put your hand on your puppies ribs on both sides, you should be able to feel the rib when applying light pressure. If you cant feel the ribs at all your puppy could be overweight.
Also important in the ribs are too visible your puppy could be under weight.
Golden retriever have a history of being over weight and even obese it is say almost 63% of adult golden retrievers are obese.
Below we have added some data that we have collected from breeders. You will find female and male weight and height charts. These charts will show weight and height from 8 weeks up until a year old.
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Wouldnt It Make More Sense To Just Shave A Golden
I always thought it would be a lot smarter and easier just to shave the pup to make him more comfortable in the summer months and reduce the mess around the house. It didnt take very long for me to learn, and that there is no good reason to shave a Golden.
In addition to the obvious benefit of that thick coat keeping the dog warm during the winter months, it also acts as an insulator to keep him cool and comfortable in the hot summer months.
Mother nature provided all that hair for a reason! It will protect the delicate skin that lies beneath from getting sunburned as well.
If you are still concerned with the heat affecting the dog, there are different protective measures to be taken. Keeping your Golden indoors or providing ample shade during extreme heat is much better.
Always be sure your dog has plenty of drinking and water as well. In fact, its a great idea to fill a kiddie pool with water to provide swim time.
When You Should Start Grooming Your Golden Retriever
You should start grooming your golden retriever when he or she is in the puppy stage. This is because these dogs shed a lot of hair! This is something that happens all year round, but it tends to occur even more when its late in the spring and fall.
This happens because during spring your golden retriever will be shedding his heavy winter coat to get ready for the hot months. Then, this light coat will be shed in fall just before winter arrives so that the thicker coat can keep him warm.
Although golden retrievers shed a lot of fur, you need to be aware of signs that your dogs shedding is actually a sign of a health condition.
If you can see that your golden retrievers shedding a lot of fur out of season and its leaving bald patches, this could be as a result of medical conditions such as a bacterial infections, allergies, fungal infections, external parasites such as mites or fleas, or an endocrine disorder such as hypothyroidism.
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How To Groom A Golden Retrievers Feet
Between the soles of the feet, the hair grows over the soles of the feet. This hair is usually cut short to align with the soles of the feet themselves, which gives a cleaner image but is also more pleasant for your Golden. Dogs sweat through the soles of their feet, so it is better and more comfortable for them when their feet and soles are free of long hair.
In the winter, these long hairs can also cause ice formation between the soles of the feet that will irritate the dog. In the Spring and Summer, long hairs on the feet and paws can pick up grass spikes, which can be very irritating and even dangerous for your dog if they are not picked out of their hair quickly.
For cutting the feet, you use straight scissors, the size does not matter much, but a small pair of scissors is more pleasant due to the small surface. To prevent accidental damage to the skin, make sure you cut with the scissors blade, not with the tip.
Keep the blade flat on the section to be cut and the tip directed outwards. This way, youll cut the hair between the soles of the feet and the outer edges. For the largest, upper sole, bring the hairs down, from top to bottom. The hairs, which fall over the sole, need to be cut away on that line with the straight scissors.
A few short snaps on your Golden Retrievers foot and then drop the coat again and see if more needs to be cut away. You can use a normal comb to lift the hairs. The overall look must be natural.
Consult With Your Veterinarian
If you are at a loss as to what is causing your Golden Retriever to appear smaller than what is normal, you may need to consult with your veterinarian to get a professional assessment.
There could be an underlying illness that can be preventing your Golden Retriever from eating the proper amount of food or having the desire to exercise. A veterinarian would be able to diagnose such an issue.
A veterinarian could also have some ideas as to why your Golden Retriever appears smaller than normal, especially if your dog is still in the growing process.
If your Golden Retriever is actually a miniature Golden Retriever, your vet can perform tests or consult manuals to look for signs that your dog is not a purebred Golden Retriever.
You would be surprised at how many people think a miniature is a real Golden Retriever. Knowing that there is a difference between the two can help you figure out if your Golden Retriever is naturally small or not.
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How Long Does It Take For A Golden Retriever To Get Its Full Coat
Golden Retriever puppies are tiny little balls of yellow fluff that tend to look more like a Yellow Lab than Golden. There is no denying that they are cute.
When a Golden reaches about three months of age, their coat begins to transition from fluff to a more mature adult coat.
Starting at the tail, youll notice some darker long hair begin to appear. This is the beginning of what is often referred to as feathering. These feathers will eventually cover the legs, stomach, and tail of his body. The transition is usually complete by around 18 months.
While most breeds will shed their puppy fur, this is not true of Golden Retrievers. As the darker adult coat begins to come in, it pushes the fluff aside, and the fluff actually becomes the undercoat. This undercoat will thicken over time until the pup reaches roughly eighteen months of age.
Although you may think you have gotten off easy avoiding puppyhood shedding, youre not out of the woods yet! Adult Golden Retrievers are notorious shedders who require their fair share of grooming.
What If Your Golden Retriever Is Overweight Or Underweight
youve consulted the chart and have concerns about whether your Golden Retriever is over or underweight, there are a few steps to take to be able to evaluate your dog.
If your dog is at a healthy weight, then you should be able to easily feel his or her ribs. If your dogs stomach has visible signs of sagging, that should mean there is too much fat on your dogs body and appropriate measures should be taken to help them get to a better weight.
Your dog should actually have a sort of hourglass figure. If there is no slight curve in your dogs waist, that could mean that your pet is potentially overweight. A rounded face or visible folds of skin are also indications of an overweight Golden Retriever.
And finally, if your dog has a lack of desire for exercise and is extremely uncomfortable in warmer weather, this could mean that they are overweight.
On the other hand, if you can see your dogs ribs and spine, has a severe abdominal tuck or have no fat at the base of his or her tail, these can be signs that they are underweight.
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At What Age Do Golden Retrievers Grow Hair
Golden retrievers as puppies have short and fluffy coats, but over time the hair grows long and shiny.
When a Golden reaches about 3 months of age, its coat begins to transition from fluff to a more matured coat.
This phase is referred to as Feathering.
Around 3 months of age, you will start to notice long hair growing in your puppys tail. Once this happens, the feathering process has started. Your golden pup is about to become a golden adult.
It starts from the tail and starts to travel up to the body to the head in a gradual process. Their legs and under the stomach are the places the long hair will be noticed early.
The new hairs are easy to notice since they are darker than the light hair puppies have. The transition is usually complete by around 18 months depending if your pup is a late or early bloomer.
The longer adult hair grows on top of the puppy hair and serves as the overcoat.
The puppy hair then becomes the undercoat. With time, the undercoat begins to grow thicker as the overcoat grows in.