Overview: A Few Fun Facts About The Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are medium to large dogs that are characterized by their friendliness and golden coat.
Did you know that this popular family dog comes in three types? Theres the American Golden, Canadian Golden, and British Golden.
This purebred also comes in a show dog and a working-class variety.
Fourth Step: Brush The Teeth Of Your Golden Retriever
In this step, the brushing process starts. Further, this step has subdivisions:
Furthermore, use a soft and low voice to command your Golden Retriever while brushing. If your pet continuously shows;aggressive behavior;for two consecutive days, stop brushing its teeth for few days and resume. Repeat this process until your pet gets comfortable with the brushing.
Is It Fine To Keep A Golden Retriever Puppy In Ac
Puppies cant regulate their body temperature that well during the super hot summers. So Yes, keeping a puppy in the air conditioner probably helps them to stay cool. However, as they are puppies, make sure the AC temperature is not too cold for them because if it is too cold, it can easily make the golden retriever pup sick.;
Although, if the puppies spend most of their time near the AC unit during summer, there are 97% chances that they will be sucking its air too.;
So, in that case, make sure you always keep your air conditioner vents clean, and the filters are also changed occasionally so your puppy will stay safe from any kind of airborne diseases.;
And if you clean the AC filters, it will also protect your puppy from ear infections, as it is the most common problem in dogs.;
That occurs due to the bacteria that easily get inside your puppys ear with dirty air.;
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Weight Loss Tips For Golden Retrievers
According to recent studies, 40% of the dogs in the United States are obese. Obesity is defined as being 20% over their ideal weight. The average weight for a Golden Retriever is 70 pounds. Therefore, 84 pound Golden is considered obese. With a normal weight, they will live 10 -13 years. But obesity shortens the life span to 8.5 11.5 years. Here are some helpful weight loss tips that will give your friend a long, healthy life.
Do Golden Retriever Types Have Different Growth Rates
The British, American, and Canadian Golden Retrievers do not have a significant difference in growth. Show dogs are often heavier than working dogs.
Dont be alarmed if your working dog is slightly smaller than the projected growth. As long as shes gaining weight steadily, theres no cause for concern.
Also, look at your pups parents, if they are smaller than average, your Golden will most likely be on the small side, and the opposite is true, as well.
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They Are Still Bred To Be Friendly
Today, most Goldens are bred to be show dogs or family pets instead of hunting dogs. While many show breeders prioritize a Golden Retrievers looks over their personalities, many still consider their temperament and try to breed dogs that are good-looking and friendly.;
Temperament is especially important for family pet breeders. They try to breed Goldens that are gentle, playful, and sweet so that theyll behave well with families and children. Pet owners enjoy having this breed because theyre good with other pets, young kids, and even strangers.;
Many breeders therefore choose to only breed Goldens that have wonderful personalities. These desirable traits are then passed down from generation to generation. This is why Golden Retrievers, in general, are known for being so happy and friendly!;
Health Issues That Can Influence A Puppys Growth
Certain issues, such as hookworm or ringworms, might compromise your Goldens growth. This will prevent her from reaching her full potential.
If left untreated, it can cause lasting damage to their bones, muscles, immune system, skin, and digestive system.
Being ill for an extended period might also affect her development. Your puppy may be stunted due to malnutrition.
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Why Do Golden Retrievers Struggle With Weight
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, more than 60 percent of Golden Retrievers are considered overweight or obese. The Morris Animal Foundation further built upon this by conducting a research program dedicated to better understanding why Golden Retrievers struggle with obesity more than other breeds.
The;Golden Retriever Lifetime Study;followed the lives of over 3,000 pups. It took a close look at the behavioral trends, environmental considerations, and health records of participants in order to identify canine risk factors for certain diseases.
Researchers determined there is a direct correlation between the amount of exercise a dog gets and their weight . The study showed that 74 percent of dogs reported to be very active have healthy weights, versus just 54 percent of dogs that are sedentary.
What you might find more surprising is that there is also a direct relationship between obesity and the age of a Golden Retriever at the time it was neutered or spayed.
While not all studies agreed, the Morris Foundation found that only 20 percent of Golden Retrievers that were never surgically altered became overweight. Of the pups that were spayed or neutered under six months of age, approximately 40 percent were tracked as obese. Around 30 percent of those over a year old when they had the procedure were classed as overweight.
What Influences A Golden Retrievers Weight
Your golden retrievers weight depends on more than how much puppy chow you feed it. As with humans, a few factors play into golden retrievers weights, including:
- Genetics.
- The age they were spayed or neutered.
- Lifestyle, meaning how active or inactive they are.
A dog with an active lifestyle will burn more calories. However, overexercising your golden retriever can accelerate the development of joint problems. Orthopedic issues are common among big dogs such as golden retrievers and may also impact how much exercise your dog can enjoy.
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How Much Should A 6
Meal size will vary for each Golden Retriever pup, but on average, a six-month-old puppy will eat three cups of food a day. Male Golden Retriever puppies usually need more calories and can eat up to four cups of food per day. Once a puppy is six months old, you should start feeding him two meals a day one in the morning and one in the evening.
Feeding Your Golden Retriever
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Do Golden Retrievers Shed
Yes, they sure do! That thick, double-layer coat tends to shed quite a bit, particularly in the spring and fall. That means youll need to do plenty of regular brushing to help keep shedding under control. If you have a Golden Retriever, you should also invest in a lint brush to keep your clothes free of fur and a sturdy vacuum to clean up that hair.
Give It Attention And Keep It Occupied
Youll also need to give your Golden Retriever lots of attention and to find numerous ways to keep it occupied. Below I will mention some ways that you can do so.
Tug of war
One way to keep your Golden Retriever happy is to play tug of war with it. Most Golden Retrievers love to play it so youll likely find that yours will enjoy playing it a lot. It is also a good way to keep it entertained when at home since you dont need too much room to do it.
Training
Another way to keep it occupied would be to give it training since it helps to keep it mentally and physically stimulated.
It would help to start by training it to do simple tasks such as to sit in an environment without many distractions. Then it would help to build up to training it to do more challenging things gradually.
Lots of toys
Another thing you can do to keep your Golden Retriever occupied is to give it lots of toys to play with. By doing this you will be able to keep its focus on something you dont mind it focusing on instead of something like your sofa. If your Golden Retriever is going through the teething stage then it is especially important to give it lots of toys to play with since it will naturally want to chew things at this stage.
Puzzle games
Give it chews
You could also give it chews to chew on as a way to keep it occupied. There are also some that are designed to calm it down that you might want to have around for when you think that your Golden Retriever might start to misbehave.
Doggy daycare
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Dangers Of Stunted Or Accelerated Growth
Some people prefer bigger Goldens, some like them small, like Mini Golden Retrievers. This might lead to under or over-feeding, and neither of which is ideal.
Accelerated growth can cause hip or elbow dysplasia. It can also be responsible for bone disease and arthritis.
Stunted puppies, whether by illness or under-feeding, are generally weaker, and make them susceptible to falling sick.
Golden Retrievers Need Socialization
Even though Goldens are naturally friendly and happy, without the proper training and socialization early on, they can become unfriendly and aggressive.;
One of the best ways to ensure Goldens will be friendly as adults is to socialize them while theyre puppies. Socialization is the process of exposing dogs to different people, places, animals, and things in their environment. Exposing them to new things in a positive way helps them to feel comfortable in their surroundings. It also makes them feel more confident as adults since theyre less fearful of new things.;
Goldens should be socialized as soon as you get them, especially when theyre between 8 weeks and 8 months old since this is a crucial learning period. To properly socialize a Golden Retriever, begin by introducing them to one thing at a time. Dont overwhelm them. Try to make every experience a positive one. During walks, if they want to observe something new, allow them to do so and praise them if they act positively around the new thing.;
Make sure to introduce your Golden to many types of people, such as tall people, short people, children, people with beards, and so on. Its also a good idea to introduce them to a wide variety of dogs, such as puppies, older dogs, big dogs, little dogs, and more. If possible, owners should also let them interact with other types of animals, such as horses, cats, birds, squirrels, and more, so they will feel comfortable around these species in the future!;
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Health Conditions Impacting Your Dogs Weight
There are, of course, some medical conditions that could negatively impact your Golden Retrievers weight.;Cushings disease;is a disorder impacting the adrenal glands, causing the overproduction of glucocorticoids. Dogs being treated for Cushings are often given steroids, which makes them extra hungry. The increased appetite may lead to uncontrollable weight gain, swelling, and excessive thirst.
While weight gain can be a cause of;canine diabetes,;it can also be a symptom of uncontrolled blood sugars. Dogs struggling with stress and anxiety tend to eat more, as do dogs who are having thyroid issues. Even medications for unrelated conditions can cause weight gain. In the case of female dogs, especially when they have yet to be spayed, its important to determine whether or not weight gain is associated with pregnancy.
Let Them Be A Lap Dog
Who says that a Golden Retriever is not a lap dog?! They are basically big teddy bears.
Craving human attention and affection is what they do and if that means jumping onto your lap and snuggling up with you, then that is what they will do.
I remember when Ellie was a puppy I did not want her on the couch. I even tried to put tinfoil on the couch to deter her away from it. How long do you think that lasted?? Maybe a week or less.
She would take a running leap and jump onto the couch and realize how comfortable it was, and just stay there. Nothing I could do about it, it was just easier to give in. Now I share a couch with her. She has her side, I have mine.
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Protecting Your Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever Life Expectancy Span And Lifecycle
The first thing you need to know is how long do golden retrievers live? Golden Retrievers have a life span of 10 to 12 years, and the oldest living golden retriever is 20 years old. They reach their full height when theyre 9 to 12 months of age, and are considered adults when theyre 18 months old.
Back in the old days, Golden Retrievers used to live for 16-17 years, but this has dropped to the 10-12 year-lifespan we now know.
Cancer is the largest killer for golden retrievers, and in fact, Golden Retrievers die of lymphoma, cancer of the blood vessels, and bone cancer more than any other dog breeds.
The Morris Animal Foundation launched a $25 million study into the lifespan of golden retrievers. The study has more than 3,000 golden retrievers from all over the world involved in the study.
The study will focus on reviewing the environmental factors and health conditions faced by Golden Retrievers and the results of the study are expected to benefit all other dog breeds and even humans .
They also plan on using the findings as launching points for other health studies in dogs in the future.
Even though the study was started years ago, it still hasnt yielded conclusive results till now to help with the cancer research, and scientists expect it to last for several more years before any conclusive results are published.
Here are some of the results of the Golden Retriever Lifespan Study:
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Common Health Problems In Golden Retrievers
Like any purebred dog, Golden Retrievers may encounter some breed-related health problems throughout their lives. Often, Breed Clubs will also be able to provide advice on what tests your breed may need and where to get these done. Make sure the parents of your puppy have had the relevant health screening to reduce the chances of your puppy being affected by these upsetting conditions.
Golden Retrievers are amongst a group of breeds classed as Category Two by The Kennel Club. These are breeds of dog that have been highlighted as having points of concern visible features which, if exaggerated, might potentially affect the breed in the future and cause health and welfare concerns. For Golden Retrievers, this is because they can have short legs in proportion to their body and a tendency to become overweight.
Some of the conditions Golden Retrievers are more prone to developing include: