Keeping Your Red Golden Retriever Happy And Healthy
The energetic Red Golden Retriever is happy to work and will be very obedient but training should start at a young age. As these dogs have been bred to retrieve waterfowl they love to use their mouths, especially as a puppy.
While they dont bite to hurt, the Red Golden Retriever will need a variety of chew toys to keep them busy.
Thankfully because they love to have a job to do, your Red Golden Retriever puppy will be easy to train, excelling at tasks such as agility and obedience training.
They will also love to play fetch and their active drive means they require more intense exercising than a show Golden Retriever.
In addition to dog sports and playing fetch, the Red Golden Retriever will love to run and makes for a great sporting partner, requiring at least 60 minutes of exercise every day.
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.
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Vital Stats Double Coat Requires Weekly Grooming Exercise: Coatexercise2+ Hrslife Span10+years
Golden Retriever Temperament & Personality
Naturally intelligent with a soft side, these dogs are a consistently popular family pet. They’ll offer a warm greeting to whoever they meet, rarely showing aggression, although their exuberance can be a little overwhelming for young children. They are attentive and easily trained, meaning you and the kids can have hours of fun teaching them tricks and games.
- One of the UKs most popular family pets, Golden Retrievers gentle, loving nature makes them a great choice for families with children of all ages.
- Due to their gundog breeding, Golden Retrievers are eager to please and intelligent making them easy to train and ideal for novice owners.
- These highly active dogs will thrive in busy, active households with lots going on they love long walks and adventures so suit outdoorsy households.
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There Are Three Types Of Golden Retrievers
While you might think all Golden Retrievers look very similar, the breed actually has three different colors — golden, light golden, and dark golden — as well as three different types — English, Canadian, and American. There are subtle differences between the types of Goldens, but they all fall under the same breed.
How do you know what type of Golden Retriever you’ve got? Check their build and coloring. Canadian and American Golden Retrievers tend to have the same build however, Canadians have a thinner coat than the Americans. English Golden Retrievers have a stockier build than the other types, and also tend to have a light golden to white color. To get an idea of what color coat your Golden Retriever puppy will have when it matures, take a look at its ears. The tip of the ears usually show what color the pup will be after they lose their puppy coat. No matter which type of Golden you have, they’ll have an even, enjoyable temperament. Goldens are renowned for their calm, playful, and friendly disposition.
Ideal Human For A Golden Retriever
A Golden Retriever is a high energy, active dog who needs daily exercise. The ideal pet parent for this breed of dog is also active and willing to be there for the daily exercise this dog craves. Golden Retrievers enjoy swimming, running, walking, and a good game of fetch.
Since theyre so active and crave time with their families, Golden Retrievers are ideal for similarly energetic owners who have plenty of time for a dog BFF.
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What You Need To Know About Golden Retriever Health
Golden Retrievers look beautiful, but are they healthy? An individual Golden certainly can be, but the breed as a whole can be affected by a number of health problems.
At the top of the list of health concerns in the breed is cancer, including hemangiosarcoma, lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumors and bone cancer. Some veterinarians call Goldens “Cancer retrievers,” and treatments for this disease can be emotionally and financially devastating. It’s not known to what extent all these forms of cancer are genetic or exactly how they’re transmitted from one generation to the next, but the sky-high rate of cancer in Golden Retrievers is suspected to be at least partly inherited. The Morris Animal Foundation and the Golden Retriever Foundation have teamed up to do a major cancer study that will focus on Goldens and may eventually benefit other breeds, and people, as well.
Goldens also suffer from a high incidence of the painful genetic hip deformity known as hip dysplasia, which develops when the head of the thigh bone doesn’t fit properly into the hip socket. Serious hip dysplasia can lead to crippling arthritis and requires costly surgical treatment.
Golden Retrievers can also have genetic elbow deformities. Eyes are another problem area in the breed, so make sure the parents have been examined by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist and certified by the Canine Eye Registry Foundation.
Two Presidents Enjoyed Golden Retrievers As Pets While In The White House
Both President Ford and President Reagan enjoyed Golden Retrievers while in office. President Reagan’s Golden Retriever, Victory, was one of six dogs the president owned. President Reagan also enjoyed a stable full of horses at his ranch.
President Ford had a Siamese cat and a mixed-breed dog in addition to Liberty the Golden Retriever and Liberty’s puppy, Misty.
Goldens are also popular as celebrity pets. Celebs who own Golden Retrievers include Miranda Lambert, Jimmy Fallon, Emma Stone, Adam Levine, and Oprah.
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Golden Retrievers Delight In Life
These days, Goldens enjoy hunting, hiking, swimming and ball chasing. A delightful family dog, the Golden is above all an athlete. They thrive on sports such as dock diving, flyball, agility, rally and scent work. Many Goldens improvise homemade games as well. Most of these sports involve sticks, balls and almost certainly water . Bred to work for people, Goldens are also eager and successful obedience students.
Although Goldens are multi-talented, theyll likely fail guard dog duty. A Goldens bark is typically more of a greeting than a warning. The breed isnt sold on the concept of stranger danger. Most will play with anyone tossing a ball! Goldens usually view new dogs as potential playmates, not rivals. Some Goldens chase cats, but most often playfully.
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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How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live
On average, Golden Retrievers can live anywhere from 10-12 years. Like other dog breeds, a Goldens lifespan can be affected by many factors, including their overall health, living conditions, diet and exercise, and if they have any pre-existing conditions. Some Goldens who have a clean bill of health have even lived well beyond 12 years.
Golden Retriever Shed Hair
And how! There seems to be an ever-lasting supply of hair on them. They shed and shed and shed some more but this is seasonal only about twice a year. You will come to expect the shedding season and will be ready for it. Be prepared to put in extra hours of grooming and extra cleaning the house. It goes without saying that this must be one of the important things to know about golden retriever before you get one.
Combing and brushing regularly will reduce the amount of loose hair flying all around in your house. That being said, a Goldens house is never free of hair all year round. They shed continuously all the time little by little and then profusely about twice a year.
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Getting A Golden Retriever Puppy
Choosing to adopt or go through a breeder for your new golden retriever puppy is a personal choice that requires research. Thankfully, there are many resources out there to help you find a rescue or breeder that offers healthy, ethically-sourced golden retriever puppies.
Knowing what youre in for when you get a golden retriever puppy is an important step in being a responsible pet owner. Whether you find a responsible breeder or are planning on adopting, its up to you to be prepared for an energetic and friendly addition to your household.
Double Trouble Why A Golden Retriever Might Be The Best Choice For A Household With Little Children
One of the most popular dog breeds across the world, golden retrievers have won our hearts and a place in our homes with their docile, friendly nature and lovely personalities. If you live in a household with children and are wondering if a golden retriever would fit your lifestyle, here are a few reasons to convince you of why you should definitely get one.
Once you have successfully adopted your golden retriever, it is essential to set up a general wellness and healthcare plan with a vet to help your new pet lead a healthy and happy life. Or better yet, get in touch with Vets on Call and get access to a mobile vet in your area who can eliminate the stress of vet visits by giving your dog the care he or she needs in the comfort of your home.
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How To Stop Bad Behavior In Your Golden Retriever
There are several ways to fix bad behaviors in dogs, but this article is going to cover these four:
- Satisfy their needs
- Give them a job to do
- Remove the temptation
- Dont reinforce bad behavior
First, well talk about these four overall strategies and then well get into the specifics of how to stop certain behaviors.
Do Golden Retrievers Like To Cuddle
Yes, golden retrievers love to cuddle, they usually bond with their owner by cuddling.
Golden retrievers are incredibly loyal and friendly so they love nothing more than spending some quality time with their loved ones.
So if you ever feel that your golden retriever is feeling down, just cuddle with them and they will immediately cheer up.
If you like this article, you can share it with your friends and family, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me here.
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Golden Retrievers Love Water
But they hate to bathe. This is contrary but the fact is if you want to get your pooch into your bathroom for a bath, chances are that it will run away. Go to a nearby pond or lake or beach or a swimming pool, and he will happily take a dive and enjoy the cool waters. Come bath time, and you will be at your wits end to drag him for a refreshing shampoo shower.
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 & Elbow Dysplasia, Cataracts, Epilepsy, Hypothyroidism, Heart Disease, and Skin Conditions like Allergies. This is just to name a few, and not all goldens will have all of these problems, or have any of these problems.
If you are considering this breed, you need to be aware of the health issues that affect them.
When buying a purebred puppy, it is important to find a good reputable breeder and ask for the health clearances of the puppys parents. Health clearances show that a dog has been tested and cleared for a certain condition.
For more questions to ask a breeder, and to find out how to pick a puppy from a litter,
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Dog Bites Are Rare In The Golden Retriever Really Rare
I cant say Im surprised that Google had nothing to tell me about Golden Retrievers and reported bites. Ive been around dogs my entire life, and I worked at a vet for 7 years where the Golden Retriever was quite popular and I have only seen one bite in all of that time. I put bite in quotations because it was more of a nip from a super scared dog.
Since the data shows next to nothing which is a good thing I want to take a look at Golden Retrievers, their personalities, and what goes into a dog bite.
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More traits and characteristics of Golden Retrievers
If I was considering a Golden Retriever, I would be most concerned about…
To help you train and care for your dog
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Can A Golden Retriever Protect You
Golden retrievers can be wary of strangers. When training Golden Retrievers to be capable guard dogs, you may need to be more consistent and patient. Some of these responsibilities are in direct opposition to their personalities and dispositions, so dont give up too soon!
Golden Retrievers can be great watchdogs. They are big, protective, and intelligent enough to guard your house and family with little to no training. This is owing to their devoted and submissive attitude.
They will, without a doubt, be less effective guard dogs than other breeds due to their extremely friendly temperament and inherent protectiveness .
When it comes to guarding their humans, their obedience, intellect, devotion, size, loud bark, and prey drive can be beneficial.
However, if protectiveness is high on your list of qualities to search for in a breed, theyre probably not the breed for you because theyre quite friendly and not generally aggressive.
You Shouldnt Leave Your Golden Retriever Alone For More Than 4
Goldens create strong bonds with their owners, meaning theyre great family dogs. Theyre willing to please their humans and love being around children of all ages because kids are always ready to play.
Leaving your Golden by herself all day will only make her suffer, which in time can generate depression, , and in some cases destructive behavior.
Hiring a pet walker or taking your Golden to dog care during the day can help, but none of these solutions replaces your presence. Only buy or adopt one of these dogs if you or other family members have time to play with her every day.
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Golden Retriever Temperament & Personality
They’ll offer a warm greeting to whoever they meet, rarely showing aggression, although their exuberance can be a little overwhelming for young children. They are attentive and easily trained, meaning you and the kids can have hours of fun teaching them tricks and games.
- One of the UKs most popular family pets, Golden Retrievers gentle, loving nature makes them a great choice for families with children of all ages.
- Due to their gundog breeding, Golden Retrievers are eager to please and intelligent making them easy to train and ideal for novice owners.
- These highly active dogs will thrive in busy, active households with lots going on they love long walks and adventures so suit outdoorsy households.
Golden Retriever Training & Exercise
Always ready to play, with an instinctive love of water, Golden Retrievers make an ideal companion on a country or park walk.
- Intelligent and eager to please, Golden Retrievers relish the chance to learn and are quick to pick up commands.
- This affable breed responds best to positive reinforcement methods and will respond to your tone of voice. Since life is a game for these big, affable dogs, they respond well to upbeat training methods using your voice and positive reinforcement.
- Whether its swimming, running, chasing, even playing hide and seek these dogs just love burning off energy in the great outdoors.
- Golden Retrievers are natural born swimmers and this is a great form of exercise for older dogs or dogs with joint issues.