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How to Care for a Golden

Retriever - From Puppy to
Adulthood
By Max. D Gray. Updated: June 5, 2018

Golden retrievers are a very popular breeds

of dogs. They are friendly, dynamic and playful
in their nature and have a beautiful
appearance. These factors have made Golden
retrievers a favorite for families as it is a breed
that is also friendly to children. Like any
other pet, it requires specific care that will be
dictated according to the animal's age. In
oneHOWTO we give you guidance on how to
care for a Golden Retriever so that your dog
is healthy and grows strong.

You may also be interested in: How much

Should my Golden Retriever Weigh

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Contents
1. The right amount of food
2. The puppy's weight
3. The golden retriever's fur
4. Shedding
5. Proper exercise
6. Golden retriever training
7. Specific medical conditions

The right amount of food

Watch its food. Whilst still a puppy, following
the animal being weaned, it is important to
start creating habits by establishing
mealtimes. Feed your golden retriever puppy
three to four times a day (preferably at a
similar time when you eat). If after 30 minutes
of placing the feeding bowl on the ground the
dog has not eaten, remove the bowl and wait
for its next feeding time. This will help your pet
understand that there are moments to eat and
moments for playing, something that may be
difficult for the dog to understand as it is a very
active breed.

Regarding the actual food, a question that

often arises is what amount of food to offer
the dog. In our article how much should my
dog be fed we will explain feeding in detail and
in regard to the age of the pet. It is important
you feed your dog quality food so it can grown
into a healthy adult.

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The puppy's weight

Monitor your puppy's weight. The golden
retriever has tendency towards obesity, so
you must know how to balance the amount of
food together with physical activity. Remember
that an over fed dog, in a way similar to that of
a human, can present many health problems.

It is important not to overdo treats and prizes

such as dog biscuits nor give your food to the
animal, this will avoid the dog from becoming
overly gluttonous.Take a look at the article and
chart to make sure you know how much your
Golden Retriever should weigh and know if he
needs to cut down on food.

Moreover, you should not feed your

retriever human food such as tomato or
chocolate, as there is many food that is toxic
for dogs and can harm their digestive system.

The golden retriever's fur

Groom your golden retriever. One of the
biggest attractions of these dogs is its fur,
which it is beautiful and lush, but this also
requires attention and care.

Brush daily
Among the routines necessary to care for a
Golden Retriever we find the need to brush it
daily or every two days; this will prevent your
house being full of hairs and also reduce odors
in the coat of the animal. Do so with a specific
metallic, thin brush to make sure you also get
rid of possible external fleas your dog may
have.

Accustom your pet to this action from when it

is a puppy. It will also help avoid knots forming
in the hair of the animal and you will foster a
special bond between you.

Trim its fur

Golden retrievers have double layer fur. This
means that there is one layer to protect from
water and sun and an internal layer that will
shed depending on the season. It's important
to have your dog's hair trimmed each
molting season so it doesn't lose too much
hair when shedding. You can also do it yourself
at home by following the instructions in this
step by step guide to cutting a Golden
Retriever's hair.

Do not shave your dog's fur off, this will only

cause tangling and make its shed further.

Bathing your golden retriever

To care for your golden retriever's coat, it's
also important to bathe it every month or
month and a half, a rule that must only be
broken if its fur gets significantly dirty or
impregnated in any substances which are toxic
or hazardous for the animal. Excessive washing
can damage the hair and skin of the animal,
however, you can use a dry shampoo or a
damp cloth should you want to remove dirt
from its fur. The ears deserve special care and
cleaning to prevent parasites and fungi from
growing in them. Remember to dry its fur with
a towel properly so that there is no moisture
accumulation. You may use a hair dryer, but
you will need to get your golden retriever
puppy used to it from an early age so it doesn't
get scared of the noise.

Shedding
Watch out for excessive shedding. Although
Golden retrievers naturally lose hair, if you find
that this happens in excess you should take it
to the vet as this is a symptom of health
problems that must be properly addressed.
First of all you should find out why your dog
sheds so much and then tackle the underlying
problem. It's best to take your dog to a vet so it
can be properly diagnosed in these cases.

Proper exercise
Exercise your golden retriever. In physical
terms, this dog requires plenty of exercise,
attention, cuddling and sharing with its master.
It is not a pet that is suited to being left alone
and away from the family but rather to be a
part it. It loves walks and games, so you must
find time to devote to your pet..

Golden retrievers are dogs that, despite their

size and their fur, can adapt to well to living in
an apartment but they do need exercise;
owners that live in flats must remember to
strive twice as hard to exercise their pet than
owners that have a garden or a large terrace.

When choosing a lead, we recommend using a

harness instead of attaching the lead to
the collar, it will help your dog feel more
secure and will give it a further sense of
freedom.

You should exercise it every day for at least

an hour as running and playing is very
important for this animal. You should space
out its walks into three, as it will need to
drain its energy several times a day.

During your walks it's important you play catch

with it, as the golden retriever is highly playful
and fetching a stick or ball will keep your dog
entertained and happy. If you live near a lake
or sea all the better, golden retrievers love to
jump in the water for a swim! You'll just need
to make sure it doesn't go too far off and it's
always under your supervision.

Golden retriever training

Train your golden retriever.Though golden
retrievers are on the list of smartest dogs and
are great for beginners who don't have much
experience with dogs, there are certain aspects
that you will need to work on if you want your
golden retriever to behave properly. Start
training your dog as a puppy and make sure
you get all of these right:

Potty training
Teaching a golden retriever to go to the toilet
will be a task that needs to be done very early
on. Your dog will not be able to contain itself
very long when it's a puppy, so it's important to
keep a close eye on your pet to notice
signs of needing to go and quickly take your
dog to the place where it should do its
necessities. Always take it to the same place as
a puppy, this way it will relate the place to the
necessity of having to go to the toilet. Give
your dog a treat for good behavior at the
beginning.

When at home, teach your dog to poop on

newspaper or an absorbing surface. Only tell
your dog off firmly when you have caught it in
the act. Never do so if you find poop around
the house, as your dog will not relate your
anger to the fact of doing its business in that
specific place.

Commands and mischief

As we've said, golden retrievers are very playful
and active animals, so if you are not home very
often, they may get into some trouble. Though
it is very easy to train a golden retriever to
obey commands such as sit, fetch, lie down
and shake a paw, it may still feel lonely and
bored if it spends too many hours by itself at
home. Retrievers love biting, so we
recommend you leave a kong at home so he
or she can be entertained. We recommend you
make sure it's never completely alone for
more than 4 hours straight. Golden retrievers
are great therapeutic dogs, so if you or your
children cannot be on top of him, we suggest
you take your dog to help in local therapeutic
programs so he or she can help your
community or get a nanny for it.

Puppy socialization
These animals are very friendly. However, it is
always good to make them socialize with other
animals from a young age. Remember to give
them all the love and attention they deserve,
with this and timely medical supervision your
pet will be more than happy. It is also
possible to socialize an adult golden retriever,
though it does require more hard work.

Specific medical conditions

Special medical needs. Among the actions
needed to care for a Golden Retriever we
also find those that are the same for all dogs:
the need to be taken to the vet twice a year for
a health check up. Start taking your puppy to
the first vet visit when it needs its first
vaccinations, which is roughly at 6 weeks of
age. In this first visit, it will be vaccinated for
the following diseases:

Distemper
Parvovirus
Leptospirosis
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Parainfluenza (only in some conutries)
Rabies (in some countries)

After this first vaccination, your dog will need

boosters 2 to 4 weeks after these first shots.
After the first year, their vaccination and anti-
parasitical calendar will be less full, as you
should only need to take your dog to the vet
for checkup and vaccinations once a year.

Common diseases in Golden retrievers

The golden retriever is a pedigree dog that has
been crossed for many years, which is why it
can experience many specific illnesses and
lesions related to genetic factors. This is why
you should look out for the following:

Dysplasia: This is a very common lesion in

pedigree dogs. Dysplasia refers to
malformation in the joints, and golden
retrievers are specially prone to both hip
dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
Obesity and bloating: This may not only
be caused due to lack of exercise or
excessive feeding, golden retrievers are also
prone to hypothyroidism, which is why you
should take your dog to the vet if you notice
any unusual weight changes.
Epilepsy: Believe it or not, epilepsy is not
uncommon among this dog breed, which is
why, if you detect symptoms of this
condition, you should take your dog to an
emergency vet.
Aortic stenosis: The narrowing of the
aorta and obstruction of this ventricle is a
common heart disease that can affect your
golden retriever. If you notice your dog gets
more tired than usual or has fainted, you
should take it to the vets so he or she can be
diagnosed.

Life expectancy and old age

The average lifespan of a golden retriever is
around 10 to 12 years, though there are cases
of dogs that have lived up to the age of 20
years of age. During its maturity, you may need
to lower the amount of exercise your golden
retriever needs, though you shouldn't mistake
its old age with heart problems, so look out for
abnormal breathing.

Another common problem in old aged golden

retrievers is cataracts, which is a progressive
retina atrophy. Though there are certain things
you can do in order to treat cataracts in dogs,
the only solution is operating, though you
shouldn't worry, this operation has a 95%
success rate. Make sure you take your dog to
the vet as soon as you notice signs your dog
may be suffering from cataracts, as it is the vet
who will determine the best procedure to take.

If you want to read similar articles to How to

Care for a Golden Retriever - From Puppy
to Adulthood, we recommend you visit our
Pets category.

Tips
Golden retrievers are great dogs for agility
contests as they have a big energy span.
They are greatly obedient and clever,
which is why they make great guide dogs for
the blind.

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