Golden Retrievers are built for action and love outdoor romps. If you like to hike or jog, your Golden will be happy to join you. And if you feel like tossing a ball in the backyard, they’d be more than happy to join you; true to their name, Golden Retrievers love to retrieve.
Tiring Golden Retrievers out with 20-30 minutes of vigorous exercise twice a day will keep your dog mellow when he’s back inside. Slacking on the activity, however, could lead to behavioral problems.
Like other retriever breeds, Golden Retrievers are naturally “mouthy,” and they’re happiest when they have something to carry in their mouths: a ball, soft toy, newspaper, or best of all, a smelly sock.
You’ll need to take special care if you’re raising a Golden Retriever puppy. These dogs grow very rapidly between the age of four and seven months, making them susceptible to bone disorders. Don’t let your Golden Retriever puppy run and play on very hard surfaces such as pavement until he’s at least two years old and his joints are fully formed. Normal play on grass is fine, and so are puppy agility classes. Feeding a properly formulated LARGE BREED PUPPY food is also important while they grow.
Feeding
Recommended daily amount: 2 to 3.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
NOTE: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don’t all need the same amount of food. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you’ll need to shake into your dog’s bowl.
Keep your Golden Retriever in good shape by measuring his food and feeding him twice a day preferably than leaving food out all the time. Some people prefer to free-feed. If you’re unsure whether he’s overweight, give him the eye test and the hands-on test.
First, look down at him. You should be able to see a waist. Then place your hands on his back, thumbs along the spine, with the fingers spread downward. You should be able to feel but not see his ribs without having to press hard. If you can’t, he needs less food and more exercise.
You’ll need to take special care if you’re raising a Golden puppy. These dogs grow very rapidly between the age of four and seven months, making them susceptible to bone disorders. They do well on a high-quality, low-calorie diet that keeps them from growing too fast.
Coat and Grooming
Golden Retrievers have a dense, water-repellent outer coat with a thick undercoat. Some coats are wavy, some are straight. Golden Retriever’s fur feathers on the back of the front legs and underbody, with heavier feathering on the chest, back of the thighs, and tail. Golden Retrievers come in all shades of gold, from light to dark gold. As the dog ages, the coat may become lighter or darker, and the face and body may whiten.
Golden Retrievers shed moderately in the winter and summer, and heavily in the spring and fall. If you live with a Golden, you’ll need to adapt to a certain amount of dog hair in your house and on your clothes.
The Golden Retriever’s thick coat means lots of grooming. Daily brushing is recommended to prevent tangling, and once a week is minimum. Your Golden Retriever will also need a bath at least once a month, often more frequently (they love the mud), to keep him looking and smelling clean.
Brush or wipe your Golden Retriever’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath. You might want to also provide dental sticks or dental chew bones/toys to help reduce tartar
Trim nails once or twice a month if your dog doesn’t wear them down naturally. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re too long. Short, neatly trimmed nails keep the feet in good condition. Dog toenails have blood vessels in them, and if you cut too far you can cause bleeding — and your dog may not cooperate the next time he sees the nail clippers come out. So, if you’re not experienced trimming dog nails, ask a vet or groomer for pointers.
Fold-over ears create a warm, dark environment for bacteria or fungus to grow in, and breeds that have them — such as the Golden Retriever — are prone to ear infections. His ears should be checked weekly for redness or a bad odor, which can indicate an infection. Check them every time he gets wet, too. When you check your dog’s ears, wipe them out with a cotton ball dampened with gentle, pH-balanced ear cleaner to help prevent infections. Don’t insert anything into the ear canal; just clean the outer ear.
Begin acclimating your Golden Retriever to being brushed and examined when he’s a puppy. Handle his paws frequently — dogs are touchy about their feet — and look inside his mouth. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards, and you’ll lay the groundwork for easy veterinary exams and other handling when he’s an adult.
Children and Other Pets
The amiable Golden Retriever isn’t bothered by the noise and commotion of kids — in fact, he thrives on it. He’s a large, strong dog, though, and he can easily knock over a small child by mistake.
As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he’s eating or sleeping or to try to take the dog’s food away. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child.
The Golden Retriever’s attitude toward other pets is the more the merrier. He enjoys the companionship of other dogs, and with proper introductions and training, can be trusted with cats, rabbits, and other animals.
Trainability
Golden Retrievers are a breeze to train. They are people pleasers and will do anything for a bit of praise and some food. This makes them an excellent choice for first-time dog owners. Golden Retrievers should always be treated with a gentle hand, as they are sensitive creatures who don’t respond well to harsh tones and discipline. The biggest problem people have in training this breed is walking on a leash. They should be taught proper leash etiquette early on, otherwise they can – and will – pull on a leash. Their trainability has made them a number one choice for service and therapy dogs, and in recent years they have been a favorite choice of police forces, who utilize them as drug and bomb sniffers and in search and rescue teams.
Behavioral Traits
While Golden Retrievers are generally even-tempered and well behaved, potential owners should do their research before settling on a breeder. Golden Retrievers are popular, and this has led to indiscriminate breeding practices which means puppies with unstable temperaments. All the exercise and socialization in the world can’t undo a bad bloodline, so always adopt from a reputable breeder.
This is a social breed of dog who adores people and thrives on companionship. If left alone too long, especially without proper exercise, Golden Retrievers can develop Separation Anxiety which usually means destructive chewing. In fact, well-adjusted Golden Retrievers are big chewers, so they must be provided with plenty of their own chew toys and bones, otherwise they will run off with shoes, books, pillows and other household items.