Golden Retrievers are eager-to-please pups that love to please their owners. They’re also generally friendly with children, other pets, and strangers.
This energetic breed must get two to three hours of exercise daily. It will also help your puppy avoid weight gain and related health issues like arthritis.
Grooming
Golden Retrievers have double coats, and regular grooming can keep them healthy and looking great. Rather than relying solely on professional groomers, you can learn to handle your pup’s primary care at home, including brushing, bathing, and trimming. It can help you save money and get to know your Golden retriever like the back of your hand.
Grooming your dog regularly can help prevent matting, tangling, and staining of their soft, beautiful coat. It also stimulates and redistributes the natural oils that give their skin its luster, so brush them every few days, especially around their ears and tail, where matting is more likely to occur.
When it comes to bath time, it’s essential to make your Golden Retriever puppies comfortable with the tub as early as possible. You can begin by introducing them to the water and their bathing supplies with treats and a calm voice. It’s also a good idea to place a rubber bath mat in the tub before adding water, providing them with traction and reducing any falls or injuries (human and canine).
After bathing, thoroughly clean your pup’s ears, as they are more susceptible to infection than other breeds of dogs. You can use a gentle, non-sudsy ear cleaner.
Dental Care
Keeping your pup’s teeth in tip-top shape is essential to their health. A routine of brushing their teeth, using dental chews and treats, and a professional cleaning twice a year will help your pet maintain healthy teeth and gums. It prevents gum disease and tooth loss, reduces foul breath, and may even extend their life by several years.
Teething is a stressful time for puppies, so it’s essential to provide them with appropriate chew toys and soft or moist foods that won’t damage their emerging adult teeth. A diet high in protein, calcium, and other nutrients is necessary for strong bones and teeth.
It’s best to start brushing their teeth as soon as they erupt and to continue regularly throughout their lifetime. You can add to this routine by giving them dental treats and chews to break down plaque and tartar, as well as wet or dry food specifically formulated for oral health.
Lastly, your pup should take supplements specially designed to promote dental hygiene, such as a joint supplement with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, organic apple cider vinegar, ginger root extract, and Yucca Shidigera extract. Choose products made in the USA since these will likely contain ingredients regulated by the FDA and other governments, unlike supplements formulated or manufactured overseas.
Nutrition
Your Golden Retriever’s diet is one of the most critical aspects of their health and well-being. They require high-quality protein, healthy fats, fiber-rich vegetables, and berries to get all the nutrients to stay healthy and active.
High-quality proteins from lean meats, fish, and eggs should be a staple of your Golden Retriever’s diet. Providing your pup with food that contains essential amino acids is crucial as it helps build muscle and maintain vitality. Additionally, a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is necessary for your dog’s skin and coat health. Therefore, when selecting a food for your retriever, choose one that includes fish oil or flaxseed.
Choose treats and chews made with natural, wholesome ingredients, and avoid those containing artificial colors, flavors, fillers, and preservatives. Limit the number of bones and raw foods you give your dog, as they can lead to weight gain and gastrointestinal problems. Choose dental chews with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of approval, as they can help prevent plaque and tartar.
A consistent feeding schedule can help you manage your dog’s appetite and behaviors around food. Suppose they are overeating or exhibiting aggressive or protective behavior around their food. In that case, you can work with your veterinarian to identify the issue and create a plan to address it.
Exercise
Retrievers are a breed of active dogs that require ample exercise to maintain their overall well-being. Puppies love to play outside but should always be supervised to prevent them from chasing cars or running away. Dog parks and safe fenced-in yards are great places to burn energy. They also need frequent walks to avoid becoming bored or overexerting themselves (and getting into things they shouldn’t).
As puppies, Goldens will put just about anything in their mouths – including cigarette butts, dog poop, socks, shoes and furniture. It can lead to gastrointestinal issues, a weakened immune system, and other problems. To help prevent this, take your puppy on regular thirty-minute walks and keep an eye on them when they are on a walk.
The most common health issue in Golden Retrievers is hip dysplasia, which occurs when the femoral head of their thigh bone doesn’t fit smoothly into the socket of their pelvis. It can cause abnormal wear on the joint and undue stress on the attached ligaments. Most puppies can recover from hip dysplasia with proper diet, weight reduction, physical therapy, and joint supplements.
Another problem that affects many large breed dogs, including Golden Retrievers, is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which weakens the heart muscle and causes it to fail. Responsible breeding helps to prevent this condition by selecting healthy parents. Signs of the disease include coughing, breathing difficulty, lethargy, and fainting.
