What To Watch For
Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Golden Retriever needs help.
Brushing Your Golden Retriever
The golden coat that gives this breed its name is both gorgeous and fluffy. This coat has a double layer: the extensive inner layer and the thick and water-repellant topcoat .
Golden Retrievers shed heavily two times per year and moderately throughout. Their undercoat thickens to adapt to the winter cold, and the outer coat sheds to weather the summers heat.
Daily brushing helps, but shedding all over the house is just part of owning a large hairy dog. Our Goldens arent too bad most of the year, except in spring when they blow their coats.
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If you want to rid the coat of loose fur and keep the dog properly groomed, you should perform regular brushing at least once every week. More frequent brushing is welcomed but weekly should be the bare minimum.
If you brush more frequently, make sure to be gentle. While brushing is great for the coat, it can be rough on the sensitive skin of Golden Retrievers.
You should consider brushing your Golden Retriever outside the house so that loose fur doesnt cover the floor of your home. Trust me, there will be a lot. Vacuuming the fur can be difficult especially if you have a carpet.
Question 3how Can I Find A Trusted Breeder
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Things You Should Know Before Getting A Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a dog breed that originated from Scotland, bred to retrieve shot waterfowl, like ducks or other upland game birds. Its a medium to large dog at about 20 to 24 inches tall, weighing between 55 to 75 pounds. The lifespan of the Golden Retriever is around 10 to 12 years.
Golden Retrievers are some of the most popular dogs both in the US and worldwide, thanks to their beautiful appearance and their nice characters.
I wrote this article about some of the things you should know about Goldens, because many of them end up in shelters, abandoned as soon as their owners have realized what having a dog really means.
Contents & Quick Navigation
Top Ten Reasons To Not Get A Golden
Thinking about a Golden Retriever as a pet?
Top 10 Reasons NOT to get a Golden Retriever Printed with Permission – Cheryl Minnier
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Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy Puppy Proofing
Another key element of setting up for your puppy is to puppy proof areas that they will have access to. This can mean their puppy zone, the garden, or any other room that you plan to let your puppy access.
This means removing anything that your puppy could swallow or choke on. Cover up any exposed wires that your pup could chew or scratch at.
If there are chairs or benches that your puppy could climb on, make sure the surfaces near them are clear. Otherwise, your puppy could eat things it shouldnt.
Remember that puppies like to pee on soft surfaces so theyre more likely to do this on carpet than hard floors. And hard floors are much easier to clean. So, supervise your puppy in carpeted rooms.
Also remove anything that you dont want your puppy to destroy by chewing, scratching, or toileting on. This can just mean moving it higher, out of your puppys reach.
Make sure there are no poisonous plants in your puppy proof rooms, or in the garden. In fact, you may choose to restrict your puppys garden access to a small part of the garden, or just to a large pen.
Puppies are curious and playful, so dont be surprised if they try to dig up your plants given the chance.
Golden Retriever Lifespan And Its Association With Size
The life expectancy of a Golden Retriever will depend on a number of factors. The way that you raise your puppy and manage their weight, is one of them.
Obesity in dogs is increasingly common and keeping your dog a healthy weight will protect their joints and reduce the risk of a range of life limiting health conditions.
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Are Golden Retrievers More Prone To Cancer Than Other Breeds
Cancer is the most common cause of death in golden retrievers. Over 66% of all male goldens and 53% of female goldens develop cancer at some point in their lives.
One study conducted by professors from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, studied the causes of death of 72,000 North American dogs between 1984 and 2004.
As a result, researchers ranked golden retrievers second on the list of 82 breeds most likely to die of cancer.
The studys findings were proven by another research conducted by a professor from the University of Cambridge, focusing on breed predispositions to cancer in purebred dogs.
Interestingly, the study found that cancer accounts for 27% of all canine deaths in the U.K.
The risk of developing cancer is significantly higher for golden retrievers than for most breeds, but they arent the only purebred dogs susceptible to the condition.
Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, boxers, beagles, great Danes, poodles, and Bernese Mountain dogs are also prone to cancer.
Youll Have To Hide Your Shoes Because Goldens Love To Chew
These dogs like to carry things and, often when theyre bored, will start moving your stuff around the house. Theyre famous for their chewing habits so provide her with resistant toys, specially made for heavy chewers, and dont let her get too bored during the day.
Lock up your shoes, telephones, remote controls, games, kitchen utensils, clothes, and small pillows, or theyll meet a very messy end. Also, move your garbage can inside a cabinet or in a place your dog cant access.
She should never go through your dinner leftovers as eating human food can harm Golden Retrievers. For safety reasons, hide all electric cables before bringing your puppy or new dog home.
The crate is a good way to keep your dog away from temptations when youre not around. This way shell be in a safe place and you wont have to worry about the Nintendo youve forgotten on the sofa before going to bed.
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The Responsible Hobby Breeder
Now youre on the right track! Dedicated hobby breeders take responsibility for every puppy produced and stand behind every dog they have bred, for the life of the dog. They have carefully researched pedigrees, double-checked health clearances, nurtured the dam, and raised the puppies in their homes. Their goal is to produce superior animals perfect for companionship and the various dog sports. In short, they have put their hearts and souls into breeding YOUR puppy.
Bull’s Eye: From Retriever To Agility Fan
With the development of firearms, hunters were able to shoot game at long distances. This changed the demands on their dogs the animals had to retrieve the shot prey safely and over longer distances. This was the hour of the Golden Retriever, which we owe to the breeding efforts of the Scottish Baron Tweedmouth from 1864 onwards. The nobleman crossed the Wavy-Coated Retriever, the Tweed Water Spaniel and the Irish Setter. The Golden Retriever owes its talent for retrieving to these ancestors. The Golden Retriever has been an officially recognised breed since 1913. It belongs to the FCI group 8, section 1 of retrieving dogs. Its eagerness to work and its intelligence make it a sought-after colleague of the police, the rescue services and drug investigators. Thanks to its friendly, people-oriented character, it is also a wonderful therapy dog and companion dog in work with the disabled. But the Golden Retriever also finds its niche as a loyal and loving family dog and is equally devoted to every member of the family.
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When Do Goldens Grow Up
Physically, Goldens are completely mature by 2 years of age. Mentally, well, that depends on the individual, but usually not before 3 years of age. Even though Goldens are physically mature by 2, you may notice changes in them well past that time. Remember, by nature Goldens are fun-loving and happy-go-lucky, so their perceived maturity may be less because of it.
Miniature Golden Retriever Size
A full grown Mini Golden Retriever will be smaller on average than a standard Golden. Thats because they are a mixed breed with either Cocker Spaniel or Toy Poodle lines as well. Its very hard to predict the height and growth rate of a Golden Retriever mix unless the other parent is a dog of similar size, such as a Labrador. They can fall anywhere along the vast range of 20-65lbs in weight!
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So Is A Golden Retriever The Right Fit For You
I hope I havent completely spoiled this breed for you but opened your eyes to some of the harsher realities of Goldens. I believe its healthy to research all sides of any decision so you can make an educated choice knowing all of the facts.
Overall, they are incredibly loving, fun, and loyal pets that will give you more of their hearts then almost any other breed Ive ever met.
If after reading all of the negative parts of this breed, you still want one as your fur-baby, I say youve absolutely earned the right to do so! Im sure your heart is in the right place, especially after being made aware of all of the downsides.
Follow your souls tug in whatever directions your instincts deem as right. Golden Retrievers will make stunning additions to any family, but did I mention they shed?
Walk With A Friends Dog
Remember that friend with the lovely dog whos been coming to see your puppy? Lets call them back. Youre going to go for a walk with them now. Fun!
How to do it
Not going to lie, this is going to be a hard exercise for your puppy. You cant blame them for being so excited! Keep up the frequent rewards to keep them as engaged and focused as possible.
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Taking Care Of Your Golden Retriever At Home
Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Watch her diet, make sure she gets plenty of exercise, regularly brush her teeth and coat, and call us or a pet emergency hospital when something seems unusual . Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her. This is when well give her the necessary check-ups and test for diseases and conditions that are common in Goldens. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs.
Shampoo Massage & Blow Dry
Regular bathing keeps your pet`s skin healthy and his coat clean and shiny. It also helps to remove loose hair and your pet smells fresh. Pets should be brushed thoroughly before bathing, and shampoos that are specially designed for dogs should be used. Human shampoos have a pH level that can be harmful to your pet.
Through our state-of-the-art facilities and our experienced, compassionate veterinary team, we offer world-class healthcare for your animal companion. We provide: Urgent Care Wellness Services Advanced Care Other services including behavior consultations We will provide you and your dog or puppy the highest level of veterinary care
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Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy Settling In Time
It could take a while for your puppy to settle in properly to your home. It can be stressful for puppies.
After all, theyre leaving their mother, siblings, and the only home theyve known to come and live somewhere completely new and unknown.
You can help your puppy settle in faster by keeping them by your side so they arent ever alone and scared, and showing them how great their new life is.
It can also help to follow a routine for a while. This will include feeding your Golden puppy, training them, and socializing them.
Some common problems that new puppy owners face in those first few weeks include: biting, potty training accidents, waking at night, and over-excitement.
So, lets take a look at each of these issues next, and the best ways to establish a routine.
Nutrition & Coat Health
Okay, this isnt technically a grooming essential, but it isessential to a healthy golden coat. Without the proper nutrition, your Golden can experience excessive shedding, which can be a scary thing.
According to Roy Cruzen DVM, the number one reason for excessive shedding in dogs is a poor diet, or rather, a lack of essential nutrients. He says that most of the cheap dog food products barely meets the minimal requirements.
Some owners even opt to give extra nutritional supplements for their dogs. And one of the best for Golden Retrievers is salmon oil. This super fish oil will help keep the golden coat soft and smooth.
Other than a shiny coat, there are many more benefits to fish oil. Some of which, include better joints, healthier heart, better skin and a stronger immune system.
While there are proven benefits to this supplement, you should be aware of the potential negative side effects. As long as youre aware, the good far outweighs the bad. However, Id still consult with a vet prior to introducing any extra supplements into their diets.
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Why Do Two Goldens Look So Different
The Golden is supposed to be a mid-to-large size dog, suitable for sitting in a duck blind all day, while small enough to haul over the side of a boat all wet . The standard has a range of acceptable sizes, for females it is 21 1/2-22 1/2 inches at the shoulder, for males it is 23-24 inches at the shoulder, with an inch allowance either way. So, just in size, if you have a small female and a large male there is a BIG difference. Now, if you add variations in coat, which may come from the type of breeding, you can get quite a physical difference. Through the years, breeders have bred for different qualities. Some breeders are interested purely in physical appearance for show purposes. Since big and hairy looks stunning in the show ring and wins, these breeders have bred for those characteristics. Other breeders have bred only for field ability. Since the smaller dogs have been the ones that are faster and flashier in the field, these breeders have tended to breed for those characteristics. There are other types, as well, but these are the most common. Just because a dog is of the conformation type does NOT mean that it cannot work in the field, just as being of the field type does NOT mean that that dog cannot win in the show ring.