The golden retriever is an energetic dog who loves being in the family; it also has very nice fur which can be wavy or straight. If you have one or are considering getting it, you need to know some aspects of its needs and know how to feed it, how to take care of its grooming, make it entertained, train it and protect it.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Feed him
Step 1. Choose good quality food
When looking for an appropriate food for your faithful friend, you need to make sure it is a "complete and balanced" product; this statement indicates that the food has passed the tests and meets all the nutritional needs to keep the dog healthy.
- You can also consider purchasing a product made specifically for this breed; some companies in fact produce specific foods for large animals, such as the golden retriever.
- Choose a food that has meat as the first ingredient on the list and that does not contain grains in the top five. Meat is the main nutritional source for the dog, because it is a carnivorous animal; if the first substance listed in the ingredients is cereals or animal by-products, you do not have to buy that food.
- If you are having trouble choosing the right food for your wagging friend, ask your vet or a dog breeder for advice.
- When choosing the right product for the dog, you must also take into account its age; for example, if it is still a puppy, it has specific nutritional needs for young specimens, while if it is old, you have to take care of the specific needs of this age.
Step 2. Establish a meal plan
How often you feed him depends on his age; when he is a puppy he must eat more often than when he becomes an adult. Talk to your vet if you are unsure of a nutrition plan for your four-legged friend.
- 8 to 12 week old puppies need to eat four times a day;
- From three to six months they have to feed three times a day;
- When they are from 6 months to one year old, it is necessary to feed them twice a day;
- After one year of life they have to eat once a day.
Step 3. Provide plenty of fresh, clean water
Make sure she always has a bowl of clean water available to drink whenever she wants and change it at least once a day.
- Keep the bowl in an area of your home that is easily accessible.
- Steel bowls are more resistant and tend to retain less bacteria, so you should choose this material instead of plastic or ceramic.
Step 4. Offer him some of his favorite food from time to time, as long as it's healthy
It's a perfect treat for the pet, but you don't have to overdo it or it may put on too much weight. If you'd like to give him some tasty morsels, choose from the ones described below:
- Sweet potatoes, cooked and peeled;
- Baby carrots;
- Rinsed canned green beans;
- A handful of frozen peas or blueberries.
Step 5. Don't give him human foods that are toxic to him
There are some foods for human consumption that are harmful and dangerous for the dog and could make him sick or even kill him; among these consider:
- Alcoholic beverages;
- Avocado;
- Chocolate;
- Grape;
- Raisins;
- Walnuts, almonds, pecans and macadamia
- Onions, garlic and chives;
- Yeast;
- Xylitol, a sweetener found in chewing gum and other confectionery.
Method 2 of 5: Take care of your grooming
Step 1. Brush the fur every day
The golden retriever has a long coat that can be wavy or smooth; it must therefore be brushed regularly to prevent knots and reduce the fall. Get him used to the procedure from when he is a puppy, making it an ordinary part of the daily routine.
- Use a natural bristle brush; it may also be necessary to get one with metal bristles and a specific comb for dogs, useful for eliminating tangles that form in the fur.
- Proceed by brushing the entire surface of your body. Treat your back, hips, abdomen, tail, chest and ears every day; during the procedure, pay attention to the possible presence of fleas and ticks.
- Also check for scabs, scars, scratches, redness, lumps, bumps, or cysts. If you notice any unusual looking areas, monitor them for a couple of days; if they don't go away, get bigger, or still seem worrying to you, contact your vet.
- Do not shave their fur in an attempt to keep them cool. The golden retriever has a double coat of fur that protects it from all weather conditions, even the heat.
Step 2. Clean and check his ears
This dog has pendulous ears, which carry a greater risk of infections; you must therefore check and clean them regularly, especially if the animal has been swimming.
- To proceed, wrap a damp (not soaked) piece of cotton gauze around your finger and use it to wet the inside of the ear and the entire pinna.
- Do not use cotton swabs or gauze sticks to penetrate deeply.
- Check their ears often to see if there is any dirt or wax build-up.
- If you notice earwax, smell bad, or see discharge, take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
Step 3. Take care of her nails
You have to cut them whenever they seem a little long. A good clue to when it is time for the "manicure" is the sound of nails on the ground when the dog walks on a hard surface. If your pet doesn't do a lot of physical activity, you need to cut them more frequently, but the more active they are, the less need for a cut.
- Be careful not to incise the living dermis. This is the central area of the nails which contains the blood vessels and which could cause a lot of pain to the animal if you cut it by mistake.
- To avoid this risk, cut a small piece of nail at a time and check the surface as you go. If you start to see a circle on the cut surface, do not proceed further; the live dermis is just below this circle.
Step 4. Clean the dog's teeth
You have to brush and check them regularly; ideally, you should start from a young age, but you can also teach an adult to enjoy this moment.
Never brush his teeth with human toothpaste, as it contains substances that are toxic to dogs
Method 3 of 5: Make him have fun
Step 1. Get him to do a lot of physical activity
The golden retriever is an energetic dog and needs regular exercise. Make sure he does 20-30 minutes of brisk walking twice a day or try to play with him in the yard for the same amount of time.
Keep in mind that a young dog needs to move more than an older dog
Step 2. Play the fetch game
They like this game very much, so you should consider it as an activity to play regularly when you play together; to do this, get some Frisbees or tennis balls.
Play in a safe and fenced area so your dog is not distracted by birds or other small animals and can run away
Step 3. Take him swimming
Golden retrievers are very fond of swimming, so you should find opportunities to give them this opportunity. For example, you can take him to the lake or allow him to swim in the pool if you have a private one; just check that the water is safe and check it all the time.
Step 4. Offer him some stimulating toys
They are intelligent animals and to make them happy you need to provide them with activities and games that entertain them. For example, you can offer him toys like Kongs, which help him use his skills to overcome difficulties and be able to eat a candy.
Alternate and replace games every day, to make sure your faithful friend always enjoys something new; take out a toy every day and put on a different one every time
Method 4 of 5: Train it
Step 1. Teach him to use the bathroom correctly
If you've brought a puppy home, you need to spend a lot of time and effort getting him to go to the toilet. During the training, you have to take into consideration several aspects:
- You must never scold or hit him if he gets dirty in the house, just pick him up and take him out immediately;
- Clean the "accident" area as soon as possible to prevent it from returning to the same "bathroom" and to collect the dirt use an enzymatic product instead of an ammonia-based one;
- Use absorbent pads or newspaper to offer him a place to defecate or urinate indoors in an emergency and if you are not at home.
- Always take the puppy to the same area of the yard every time you let him out to "go to the bathroom";
- Praise him and caress him a lot every time he uses his "toilet" properly.
Step 2. Consider training him to use the cage
This is a great way to give him a safe space to retreat to when he feels nervous or wants to be alone; the cage is a kind of den for him, in which he should feel protected.
- Place some folded blankets or towels inside the enclosure to make it more comfortable.
- Never keep it in the cage as a form of punishment! Remember that it must be experienced as a safe and comforting space.
Step 3. Teach him basic commands
This form of training is also a perfect way to stimulate his mind and strengthen the bond with you. Start by teaching him to do certain things, such as sit down, paw, lie down, stand still, and on his hind legs. You can proceed to the lessons yourself or you can sign up for a course together.
- Make sure you only use positive reinforcement when training; do not try to teach him basic commands by hitting or scolding him, because he will not learn anything. Instead, offer him his favorite food, praise him, and show him a lot of affection when he successfully obeys your orders.
- Proceed with short and frequent lessons; dogs cannot maintain concentration for a long time, so you should do sessions no longer than 10 minutes.
- Once your little friend has mastered the basic commands, you can proceed with the more complex ones.
Step 4. Have him socialize since he is a puppy
In this way, he learns not to be afraid of certain situations or people. The golden retriever makes a great family dog, but it is best to start familiarizing them with their surroundings when they are still small (before they reach 20 weeks), although this is also possible when they are grown up. To train him to do this, take him with you when you go out and invite friends into the house; be sure to keep him on a leash when you are outdoors and reassure him if you notice that he is scared. Get him in touch with:
- Children and babies;
- People of both genders, of different ethnicities and builds;
- Other dogs;
- Cats;
- People wearing hats, boots, holding umbrellas and so on;
- Loud noises and crowded places;
- Cars and bicycles.
Step 5. Enroll your wagging friend in a puppy-specific socialization class
If you want to make sure he learns to socialize properly and has the opportunity to play with others of his own, you need to sign him up for lessons suitable for dogs of his age. These courses are a perfect way to start from an early age to expose yourself to different types of sounds and places in a controlled environment.
The best time to start the socialization process is when the puppy has already undergone the first round of vaccinations, when he is around eight weeks old
Method 5 of 5: Protect it
Step 1. Keep it indoors
The golden retriever loves to be surrounded by people and it is therefore cruel to leave him outside; if you don't want to keep it indoors, you shouldn't get this dog.
Keep a warm bed inside your house and take it outside only for walks, to play or to go to the bathroom
Step 2. Put a collar with the identification tag around his neck
By doing so, if the animal should leave your property, anyone who finds it will be able to get in touch with you. Make sure you always wear this collar; the tag should contain your contact information, such as your address and phone number.
Consider having it implanted with the detection microchip to find it if it gets lost
Step 3. Take him to the vet regularly for follow-up visits
After you bring him home from the kennel or breeder, regardless of whether he is a puppy or an adult specimen, it is your responsibility to provide him with all the medical care he needs. Make an appointment with your vet to get your pet vaccinated and other treatments needed to keep it healthy. Here are some medical procedures that the golden retriever needs:
- Medicines for the prevention of Dirofilaria immitis infestation at 8 weeks of age and once a month thereafter;
- Lyme disease vaccination at 9 weeks of age, followed by a booster 3 weeks later;
- Anti-rabies at 12 weeks;
- Castration or sterilization at 6 months of age;
- Annual visit and vaccinations from one year of age;
- Six-monthly visits from 8 years old.
Step 4. Ask for tests for your breed specific diseases
Just like other purebred dogs, golden retrievers can suffer from diseases related to their own. Ask your vet what tests and tests are available to spot early symptoms. Here are some typical diseases of this dog:
- Carcinomas such as osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and mast cell tumor;
- Hip dysplasia that triggers painful arthritis
- Deformity in the elbows;
- Heart disease;
- Allergies;
- Dermatological infections and ear infections;
- Lyme disease;
- Nephritis.
Advice
- Always check the animal to rule out the presence of ticks after a walk in tall grass or in wooded areas; do not neglect the spaces between the toes, under the tail, underarms and behind the ears.
- Keep plenty of toys handy to keep your dog from getting bored.
