Dont Let Your Puppy Get Overly Tired
When you notice your puppy is tired, do not allow it to continue to play no matter how much its enjoying playtime. Overstimulation and exhaustion contribute to erratic behavior, which could be hard to correct later on. Instead, encourage your pup to sleep to get the rest it requires for the next playtime.
Best Golden Retriever Activities
Fortunately, Golden Retrievers are up for almost any activity within reason of their athletic ability. Theyre truly fun-loving and energetic dogs. All they really want is to spend time with the owner.
After surveying owners and deep-diving dog forums, weve found some of the most popular and best activities for Golden Retrievers. We recommend introducing them all to your dog but sticking with the few they enjoy the most.
How Much Exercise Does A Golden Retriever Dog Need
Considering to own a Golden Retriever and want to know how much exercise does a Golden Retriever Dog need?According to a prominent dog association, Golden Retriever Dogs score out of 5 in the scale of dog breeds that need daily exercise.
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Great Exercise Ideas For Your Golden
While going for walks together is fun, going to the same places can get a bit repetitive.
Here are a few great ideas to keep your dog active and busy:
Always remember, a tired dog is a happy dog. Giving your dog an appropriate level of exercise will also help improve their health.
Exercising Your Golden Retriever Off
If a golden retriever has a strong recall and returns quickly when you call them, wandering off the leash at the dog park is a perfect way to wear out your golden. Generally, golden retrievers are obedient and typically have a strong recall if they are trained correctly. Proper dog training is the key to being able to successfully let your golden run off-leash.
Alternatively, you can use a retractable dog leash to allow more flexibility while still retaining control during walks. For a golden retriever, youll need to make sure you have a strong retractable leash like the Tug 360 Heavy Duty Leash . A leash like this will give your golden plenty of room to run and explore, while staying in your control.
If you have a golden retriever you just cant seem to wear out, you can try adding some resistance to the walk by using a weighted jacket or dog harness like this one on Amazon. To be safe, make sure the added weight is no more than 10 percent of their total body weight. Doing this is more than enough to fatigue a dog with endless energy, and it will help to strengthen their muscles without overworking them.
Another option to increase resistance and wear your dog out is by walking on sand or adding an uphill route on the walk. Choosing a walking route with some challenges will increase the amount of exercise your dog gets from an outing.
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What Is Bad About Golden Retrievers
They Are Prone To Many Health Problems As with any purebred dog, Golden Retrievers have their share of health problems. Some health problems that a golden can be prone to include: Cancer, Hip & amp Elbow Dysplasia, Cataracts, Epilepsy, Hypothyroidism, Heart Disease, and Skin Conditions like Allergies.
Puzzle Toys Or Hiding Treats
This is a mental stimulation Exercise, and Golden Retriever needs this kind of exercise to improve their training. They love treats and you can use this advantage to exercise your dogs during rainy days. Take some of its favorite treats and hide them in different places around your home. Your dog is likely to get tired searching for the treats and get a great exercise in the process.
Your retriever may even get sufficient exercise with a toy that dispenses treats when it solves a puzzle, but it depends on the dog breed. Dont forget to restrict yourself to a sensible amount of treats. When you give your dog too much treat can make them sick or defeat the purpose of the exercise by gaining weight.
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Labradors Are A High Energy Breed
The Labrador Retriever is a high energy working breed, initially bred for very physically demanding work retrieving game for hunters.
This would involve all day hiking, running and swimming in sometimes difficult conditions.
So Labrador Retrievers were bred to have lots of energy and be very active. And though their main role in life today is as a family pet, they still have those same genetics that made them suited to their original role.
This means they have a body built for and one that craves a lot of physical activity and if you dont provide a way for them to release their pent-up energy, they may very well find a release for it themselves.
QUICK TIP: One of our favorite inexpensive toys for exercising our Labs is the Chuckit! Dog Ball Thrower. Yes, you can throw a tennis ball extra far with the Chuckit, but two reasons why I love it: 1. You dont have to touch a slobbery ball and 2. You dont have to bend over to pick up the ball .
Does Your Dogs Breed Dictate Their Size
We mentioned earlier that your dogs size is influenced more by their age, overall health, activity level, and perhaps size but this does not mean that breed does not play a role. Many of the factors above are directly related to your dogs breed. For example, golden retrievers are large dogs with high EQs and moderately high energy levels.
It is not so much a dogs breed as the characteristics and physical qualities that make up a dog that influence sleep.
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Running Biking Or Skating With Your Dog
The faster your dog is moving the more energy they will release. Try running, biking or skating with your dog to really get them moving. As Golden Retrievers have good levels of stamina and can go for long distances, they can make great running partners. Just be sure to build up the distance and intensity of the activity over time to prevent causing injury to your dog. Read Running with your dog for more on this.
How Old Do Golden Retriever Puppies Have To Be To Exercise
Puppies under three months old probably dont have their vaccinations, so exercise in public should be avoided. One way to help your puppy get exercise is by having them on a leash with you. Walk at a normal pace. Walk the amount of time required for the puppys age. Stop to rest if your puppy keeps sitting down and continue when they get back up.
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Creating A Consistent Feeding Schedule
Golden retrievers are one of many breeds that have no qualms about eating until they burst and thats why you should know how much to feed a Golden Retriever puppy before you adopt one.
If they have access to food, often they will just eat endlessly. This is why having a consistent feeding schedule for your golden retriever is so important.
Having a set amount of food given on a set schedule will help train your puppy to know when to eat. Controlling the amount is key in ensuring that your puppy does not put on any excess weight. This will also help keep his digestion regular, reducing the amount of gastric upset he might experience.
Tug As A Form Of Exercise For A Golden Retriever Puppy
Tug is a very good exercise for dogs of all ages except for during the stage when puppy teeth are coming out and new adult teeth coming in to replace them. Teach your puppy to play tug early and he can enjoy it until he is about 3 1/2 months. Make sure you stop before he looses his first teeth at around 4 months. Tug can then be resumed when all adult teeth are in.
The most current training recommendations for tug no longer include the idea that the dog can never win and that you must always be in charge. Puppies need to win the battle for the toy when they give a good tug at it. If the puppy never wins, hell loose his motivation to play the game.
Old fashioned traditional trainers claimed that you must always be the pack leader and that letting a dog win a game of tug would make him believe that he was in charge. This is not true.
Consider a child racing his Dad down the street. The Dad lets the child win and the child beams. Does it undermine the Dads authority? No. It gives the child confidence and makes him want to be faster and better.
The same holds true with puppies. Let them win when they do a good job!
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How Much Exercise Does An Older Golden Retriever Need
As a dog gets older they become less active and have lower energy levels. However, it is still important that they remain reasonably active to keep their joints and muscles mobile and to manage their weight. Read Dog exercise for a senior dog to learn more.
Many dogs develop arthritis as they age. Exercise for them becomes a balancing act. It is important to keep their joints mobile and manage weight, but too much can make them sore. Read How to exercise an arthritic dog to learn more.
Golden Retrievers are also a breed that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia as they age. Read Exercise for a dog with hip dysplasia to learn more.
Importance Of Exercise And Physical Activity
The importance of exercise and the influence it has on the Goldens physical and mental health cant be overstated. Regular exercise will keep your Goldens energy levels and weight in check. Physical activity is also engaging, and your dog will be entertained and happy during walks or playing games.
On the other hand, lack of exercise and physical inactivity can cause serious health and behavioral issues. Golden Retrievers are prone to obesity. This condition can cause a wide range of other health issues. Most commonly joint issues, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
Lack of exercise can also cause behavioral problems in Golden Retrievers. A Golden that is physically inactive will indulge in destructive behavior. Due to the high amounts of unused energy, the dog becomes bored and needs to find a way to release that energy. Unfortunately, this will usually manifest itself through destructive chewing, digging, and running like crazy. Some Goldens will even run away from home to decrease energy levels.
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Golden Retrievers Are Prone To Obesity
Because of their genetics and need for physical activity, golden retrievers tend to eat often, whether they are getting exercise or not.
That makes golden retrievers prone to experiencing obesity. When a golden retriever gets obese, its very likely that its owner is doing the following:
- Allowing the dog to have too many extras, like treats and table scraps when begging. Some owners have difficulty turning down their golden retrievers big, begging eyes.
- They are not taking their golden retriever outside often enough for exercise.
Just like people, golden retrievers become obese when they consume more calories than they burn, and theyll continue to gain weight. Golden retrievers arent the type of dogs to turn down food.
So, if youre putting food in front of your golden retriever, its very likely that its going to eat it. If youre mixing too much food with not enough exercise, your dog might become obese.
When a golden retriever becomes obese, it can experience other health problems. Those health problems include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and elbow joint and hip joint damage.
So, be a responsible pet owner and watch what your golden retriever eats. Then, make sure you give your pooch plenty of exercises.
How Much Exercise Does A Golden Puppy Need
A puppy is new to this world, and i seriously think if any form of exercise is really necessary for his cute little legs. But many Golden Retriever owners ask me about their Golden Retriever puppy walking and other forms of exercise.
But is it a good idea to strain his little legs at such a tender age? No, not at all. Hence i do not recommend any form of exercise pattern for your little one until he is at least 3 months old.
Let him play, let him explore the world. The little exercise in the form of play is more than enough for your little Golden Retriever until 3 months of age.
Then what after 3 months? Remember this Five-minute rule. This is called the Golden Retriever exercise 5 minute rule. 5 minutes for every month of age, which means 15 minutes for a 3-month puppy, 20 minutes for a 4-month puppy.
Even though this is not a strict timing, this Five-minute rule can be followed until your Golden attains an age of 1 year. Always remember that your puppy should not be over-exercised which can cause skeletal developmental issues. These issues can lead to various skeletal problems in the later stages of your Goldens life.
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What Does Science Say
According to ScienceDaily.com, veterinarians claim owners need to exercise their canines specifically based on the dog`s particular necessities in order to prevent obesity.
But not only canines require physical activity to fight weight gain, dog owners as well. As already outlined above, there are so many different types of exercises that owners and dogs alike can do to improve both their bond and health.
Just like humans, canines reap lots of advantages from exercise, both mental and physical gains.
Growth Plates And Exercise
We have mentioned quite a few times on this page the importance of limiting certain activities with your puppy until his growth plates are closed. Some of you might be wondering what growth plates are and why they matter with regard to exercise.
What Are Growth Plates?
Growth plates are soft areas that are at the ends of the long bones in puppies. They contain rapidly dividing cells that allow a puppys bones to get longer. These growth plates gradually get thinner until they completely close. The closure of growth plates is brought on by hormonal changes during puberty. When growth plates close, they harden as they calcify and the rapid cell division stops. The growth plates become what is called an epiphyseal line. The epiphyseal line is sturdy and not so prone to injury as the growth plates.
What Causes Growth Plate Injuries in Puppies?
A dogs bones are held together with muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These are collectively referred to as soft tissue. In an adult, when there is a soft tissue injury, a sprain will result. However, in a puppy, the soft tissue is stronger than the growth plates. An injury that would only cause a sprain in an adult dog could cause an injury to the growth plate in a puppy. The soft tissue can actually pull the growth plate apart.
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Why Does My Golden Retriever Put His Paw On Me
The main reason to tell why Golden Retrievers put their paw on you is just simply they desire social interaction attention. By pawing at you, it tries to draw attention away from what youre currently doing. They probably try to tell you to pet them, play with them, look at them or even talk to them.
Puppy Exercise Safety Tips
A few tips from the American Veterinary Medical Association that can help keep your puppy safe during exercise are:
- Teach your puppy to walk with a leash.
- Begin with short walks, taking frequent breaks.
- Increase the length of the walk gradually.
- Avoid walks during the hottest and coldest part of the day.
- Walk on softer ground, avoid rocky or sharp surfaces.
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