Ways To Dry Your Golden Retriever
Here are 11 efficient and effective ways to dry your golden retriever after a bath:
For my complete guide to bathing your dog, check out my post on how and when to bathe your golden retriever here.
Why Do The Ingredients Of A Food Matter
Of course, your golden is a highly intelligent and sociable dog. Hes very lovable and everyones his friend.
Unfortunately, goldens have a higher-than-average incidence of cancer. Many factors, including genetics and nutrition, determine a dogs health.
All dog foods are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration . They must also meet the Association of American Feed Control Official nutrient standards for the correct life stage.
But AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles consist only of minimum values for all the nutrients required by dogs and maximum values for just a few nutrients that can be toxic if consumed in excessive amounts.
As long as a food meets the minimum nutrient values expressed in the profiles, and doesnt exceed the maximum values, it can be labeled as complete and balanced.
But, even with such regulation, not all foods are created equal.
Feeding a food with low-quality ingredients may contribute to chronic inflammation and obesity. And chronic inflammation can contribute to arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and infection.
Foods should be made from wholesome, natural ingredients with no fillers, by-products, or artificial additives.
They should be rich in high-quality animal sources such as poultry, meat, and fish. They should also name the specific protein sources such as chicken, duck, beef, lamb, not a generic meat label.
If your dog becomes obese, you can even ask your vet about prescription weight-loss diets.
Brushing Your Goldens Teeth
A 2018 study carried out in dog breeding facilities to estimate the prevalence of periodontal disease among 42 breeds found that, of the 445 dogs, a whopping 86.3% had periodontal disease!
The previous fact should make one thing clear: dogs need regular dental care. However, an alarming number of owners dont for whatever reason. Ill admit, I was one of those owners for so many years!
According to PetMD, brushing at least two to three times a week is recommended for all dogs, including Golden Retrievers. Professional dental care should also be sought at least once a year, if possible.
Neglecting your Goldens dental care exposes them to the same dental problems that affect humans, including gingivitis, periodontal disease, and gum recession. With a few minutes a week, you can prevent this unnecessary costs and pain.
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How To Get Your Golden Retriever Used To A Dog Dryer
If your Goldie is scared of the dog dryer, you should do the following steps first:
- Let the dog sniff it. Whether its a dog dryer, a brush, or a crate, you should always let your pet sniff and lick it. This way, the pooch will become familiar with the equipment and realize that its harmless.
- Turn it on, but dont use it just yet. Once your dog is comfortable in the presence of the dog dryer, turn it on using the lowest setting. Let the dog acclimate to it again as part of desensitization. Over time, you can increase the setting as your dog adjusts.
- Mind the distance. You should always point the tip of the nozzle at least 6 inches away from your dogs body. For high-velocity drying, you can take it as far as 8 to 10 inches. Remember that bringing the nozzle too close may hurt your dog.
- Start early. Getting your Golden Retriever desensitized to the dog dryer as early as possible will make the process easier. You can turn the dryer on regularly, even if you dont have to use it, just so the dog will get used to the sound.
- Rewards, rewards, rewards. One way to associate the dog dryer with something positive is to give treats while using it. This will make your dog cooperative, and it will teach him that drying is a rewarded experience.
- Watch out for the heat. As much as you want to dry your dog fast, you should never push the heat setting to the limits. Your dog can sustain burns and coat damages if you use a very hot airflow.
How Often Should I Bathe My Golden Retriever
Bathing is an essential part of golden retriever grooming, but how often to do it depends on your dogs lifestyle. Goldens can sometimes go up to six weeks without a bath, but if you notice them getting dirtyits time. On the other hand, you often wont need to bathe your golden more than once a week. Too much bathing might strip the golden retriever coat of its natural oils, possibly drying the skin and dulling your goldens shine
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Essential Nutrients For Golden Retrievers
If you have ever been on a diet, the chances are that you will either or lose some weight or gain some calories. The same is the case for your pet.
The calories in your dogs food come from vital nutrients that play an active role in growth and development. Their body needs these nutrients in adequate quantities to thrive.
However, the amount of nutrients your pet needs depends on your dogs height, age, level of activity, etc. So whether you are feeding your dog with wet or dry foods, you need to check to make sure that the meal contains the balanced nutrients your pet needs.
Your pet needs the right amount of carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water to reach its full potential. And you should keep this in mind when choosing a pet food brand.
Lets count the necessary macros for your Golden Retriever.
Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for your pet. It provides enough calories to keep your dog healthy. Proteins also help your pets to
- Build and repair body tissues and muscles and body
- Grow new skin cells, hair, hormones, and enzymes, etc.
So if you are buying commercial food products, you should go for dog foods with at least 30 percent protein content. However, if you are keen on homemade foods for your Goldie, you should consider meals with protein sources like lambs, chicken, turkey, fish, beef, yogurts, and cooked eggs.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates double as sources of energy and glucose supply for optimal brain activity.
Do They Require A Lot Of Grooming
Golden Retrievers are a very active breed. A bath and a blowout are necessary to keep the shedding under control and maintain healthy skin and coat. Regular grooming should be done every 4 6 weeks. Make it a habit to spend some quality time brushing your dog to keep the coat separated and divided which, in turn, will allow the skin to breathe.
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What Happens To Your Dogs Skin When You Give It Temaril
Your dogs skin and coat health are indications as to whether your dog is experiencing adverse reactions to an allergen. Itchy and irritated skin in dogs will worsen when dogs scratch and bite the affected area of the skin surface. This exacerbates the skin inflammation and sometimes leads to bleeding.
How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers usually weigh from 55 to 75 pounds and reach their full height and weight when they are 12 to 18 months old. Keep in mind that every dog is an individual and that it can take more or less time for your Golden puppy to reach his adult size. However, your Goldens caloric needs will greatly decrease when he reaches 12 to 14 months and he will no longer need the same amount of food as before.
An adult and active Golden will need to eat between 1,300 to 1,700 calories per day. However, keep in mind that age, weight, activity level, health problems, and overall lifestyle will determine how many calories your Golden needs per day.
For example, nursing mothers and dogs that perform heavy work will need more than 2,000 calories per day in order to maintain their weight and stay healthy. On the other hand, if your pooch is more of a couch potato type than an athlete he will probably need around 1,000 calories a day in order to maintain a healthy weight.
During adulthood, your Golden Retriever feeding schedule should consist of two equally spaced meals ideally, you should feed your dog in the morning and evening. If you opt for feeding high-quality large breed dog food, an optimal Golden Retriever food amount will be:
- Females: 2 to 2 ½ cups a day
- Males: 3 to 3 ½ cups a day
- Active Males: 4 cups a day
- Nursing Females: 5 to 6 cups a day
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Praise And Treat Your Dog
After cleaning the ears, praise your dog for a job well done and give them a treat. Let them associate this experience with a positive reward.
Regular ear cleaning is a must for Golden Retrievers. Because of the pain of infection, and potential hearing loss, cleaning your Goldens ears is a part of the grooming process you should not neglect.
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Purina Pro Plan Large
The top five ingredients are chicken, rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, and poultry by-product meal. The dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32 percent protein.
It also contains 15 percent fat and 45 percent estimated carbs. This yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47 percent.
Its listed as a time-proven field-tested formula with balanced calcium levels ideal for large and giant breed puppies.
This is a budget-friendly food that many people recommend. This formula is highly-ranked and has been a favorite with consumers.
Purina Pro Plan is what we are currently feeding our guide dog puppies.
But, as is true of the adult Pro Plan food listed above, please note that it contains poultry by-product and soybean meal, both of which are often considered to be inferior ingredients.
But apparently many consumers have found that their dogs are doing well on this food.
Do Golden Retrievers Smell
Just like any other dog breed, Golden Retrievers can smell bad. There are many different causes that could lead to a bad smelling dog. The causes of the smell may include:
- Natural metabolic secretions
- Yeast infection
- Rolling in smelly substances
It is essential to determine the cause of the smell before looking for a solution. Once you have determined the cause, you can use various techniques to prevent and eliminate the odor.
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Make Sure Your Golden Retriever Is Comfortable
The first thing you want to do is make sure that your golden retriever is comfortable. Not only will this decrease their stress level, but it will also make drying them so much easier for yourself. If youre using a hair dryer for example, then it can scare a lot of dogs that dont like loud noises.
How To Choose The Best Dog Food For Your Golden Retriever
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You love your golden and want whats best for him. But there are so many choices.
The pet food industry has exploded in recent years.
Its so confusing when you go to the pet store or look on-line to choose a specific food for your special pup.
Of course, theres more than one food that will help your dog grow properly, be healthy, and thrive.
Ill discuss some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a great food.
Ill also recommend some foods that have been highly rated for large-breed dogs.
Remember though that, if you intend to switch your dog to a new diet, do so over the course of seven to 10 days to help avoid intestinal upsets or diarrhea.
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What Is A Dog Wash Station
A dog wash station is nothing more than a designated where you wash and clean your dog. There are many dog wash stations you can buy. Some are made of stainless steel and have more options while others are made of plastic and are considerably cheaper. You can also build one, but that is out of the scope of this article. In this article, we will learn how to use a self-service dog wash station.
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Breed Health Nutrition Puppy
Golden Retrievers, like all large-breed puppies, are disposed to malnutrition and developmental orthopedic diseases, including osteochondrosis , hip dysplasia, hypertrophic osteodystrophy , and panosteitis. Although there is a definite genetic element to these conditions, there are nutritional risks that play a large role during the puppy years. These include an excess of calcium intake and rapid growth.
Its essential that large-breed pups are fed a diet that prevents these issues, which is why we think the best dog food for Golden Retriever pups is Royal Canin Golden Retriever Breed Health Nutrition Puppy. Everything about this formula meets the needs of this awesome breed.
The mineral balance and calorie content are ideal for preventing joint and bone issues and the kibble is even designed in such a way to suit Golden Retrievers teeth. They have whats called a scissors bite, with a long snout and mouth. Royal Canin kibbles are thin and square-shaped for optimal digestion and chewing.
Because theyre a slow maturing breed, its recommended to feed Goldens this food until theyre around 15 months old.
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The Head Comes Last In Dog Bathing Tips
Last but not least, wash his head. Put cotton balls in his ears to keep out excess water, then carefully wet down his head. Put some shampoo on your fingers and apply gently to his skull, ears and muzzle. Keep soap away from his eyes.
Another dog bathing tip is to apply a bit of shampoo to a washcloth and use that to gently wash his head, ears and face.
What To Expect With A High
You can expect to get your dog dry in less time. With towel drying my dog is never completely dry even after using multiple towels and quite the arm workout he is never completely dry.
The dryer is exactly what the names suggest its a highly powerful blow dryer and will blow the water and loose fur right off your dog. Having a golden retriever that loves mud and water made this a must for our family.
He also started developing skin issues related to not being completely dry if your dog is developing skin issues such as hot spots or skin yeast infections. Getting a high-velocity dryer may help you solve the issue.
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Tooth Brushing: Step By Step
You can introduce tooth brushing to your dog by first making the dog used to feeling your finger in his or her mouth. Once theyre comfortable with that, it will be easier to open the dogs mouth and introduce a toothbrush.
Follow these four steps to brush your Goldens teeth:
- Place a small amount of pet-safe toothpaste on a toothbrush designed for use with dogs.
- Lift the Goldens lip to expose the gums and teeth.
- Use gentle motions to brush the teeth and gum, just as you would with an infant.
- Ensure you reach the molars and premolars because they are most prone to cavities.
As long as you use toothpaste made specifically for dogs, your Golden can ingest it without running any risks. And if your dog is anything like mine, hell try to eat the toothpaste.
For most dogs, its not going to be easy in the beginning. So, dont forget to reward your Golden after the brushing. Rewarding them with a treat or a good girl/boy message will make brushing easier next time. Positive reinforcement is key!