The Golden Retriever is a loving and passionate family dog. This dog has a beautiful golden coat and wavy or straight. If you have a Golden Retriever or plan to have one, you will need to know the specific needs of this species, including how to feed, groom, comfort, train and protect it.
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Method 1 of 5: Feeding the Golden Retriever
Step 1. Choose high-quality foods
When looking for dog food to feed, you need to make sure the product is nutritionally “complete and balanced”. This means that the product has passed a series of tests to ensure the food provides all the nutrients that Golden Retrievers need to stay healthy.
- You can buy specific species of dog food. Some dog food companies specifically produce food for large dog species, such as the Golden Retriever.
- Look for products that list meat as the first two ingredients and contain no wheat or grains in the first five ingredients. Meat is the most important source of nutrition because dogs are meat-eating animals. If the first ingredient listed is grains or offal, avoid those products.
- If you're having trouble deciding on the best food for your Golden Retriever, ask your vet or breeder for advice.
- You also need to consider the age of the dog when choosing food. For example, if he is young, your dog will need a special puppy food. If he is old enough, he needs food for adult dogs.
Step 2. Create a feeding schedule
The frequency of feeding will depend on the age of the dog. You will need to feed your Golden Retriever more often when he is young than when he is an adult. Talk to your vet if you're not sure about the right feeding schedule for your dog.
- Puppies aged 8-12 weeks need to be fed 4 times a day.
- Puppies aged 3-6 months need to be fed 3 times a day.
- Puppies aged 6 months to 1 year need to be fed 2 times a day.
- Dogs over 1 year old only need to be fed once a day.
Step 3. Provide fresh clean water
Make sure your dog always has a bowl of fresh, clean water. Change the drinking water at least once a day.
- Place the water in an easily accessible or accessible place.
- Stainless steel bowls tend to have less bacteria and last longer, so you can opt for them instead of plastic or ceramic bowls.
Step 4. Provide healthy snacks
Snacks make the perfect gift for a Golden Retriever. However, you should not give him treats too often so that the dog does not become overweight. If you want to give your Golden Retriever a treat, you can prepare:
- Sweet potato slices that have been cooked/boiled
- Small carrots
- Rinsed canned beans
- Frozen peas or blueberries
Step 5. Do not give toxic human food to dogs
You should never give certain types of human food that could cause the dog to get sick or die. Some of these types of food include:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Wine
- Raisins
- Walnuts, almonds, pecans and macadamia nuts
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Yeast
- Xylitol, a sweetener contained in chewing gum.
Method 2 of 5: Grooming the Golden Retriever
Step 1. Trim your dog's coat every day
Golden Retrievers have long coats that may be wavy or straight. Due to their long coat, these dogs require regular brushing to prevent dull coats or reduce hair loss. Get your dog into the habit of brushing from an early age and make brushing a part of your daily routine.
- Use a natural bristle comb to comb the Golden Retriever's fur. You'll also need a wire bristle brush or comb and a greyhound comb to deal with tangled hair.
- Trim every hair on your dog. Comb the back, sides, belly, tail, chest and ears every day. While combing, check for fleas on your dog's coat.
- Watch for scabs, claw sores, skin redness, bumps, or cysts on the skin. If you notice a strange area of skin, observe the area for a few days. If it doesn't go away, gets bigger, or the condition gets worse, contact your veterinarian.
- Don't shave your dog's hair to keep him cool. The double coat of the Golden Retriever serves to protect it from various weather conditions, including heat.
Step 2. Clean and examine your dog's ears
Golden Retrievers have drooping ears which put them at greater risk of ear infections. Check and clean your dog's ears regularly, especially after swimming.
- To clean his ears, wrap your finger in a moistened (not wet) cotton gauze and wipe or wipe the inside and the earlobe.
- Do not use earplugs or put the gauze too deep in the dog's ears.
- Check your dog's ears periodically for dust or dirt buildup.
- If dirt starts to build up, or if he has a strange smell or other discharge coming from his ears, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Step 3. Trim your dog's nails
Trim your Golden Retriever's nails when they get long. A "click" sound when your dog walks on a hard surface indicates that his nails are long. Slaughtering may need to be done more often if the dog is not exercising or exercising much. On the other hand, slaughtering doesn't need to be done very often if your dog is exercising a lot.
- Avoid getting the flesh under the nails when you trim the dog's nails. This section has blood vessels under the nail, and will be painful and bleed if cut.
- To avoid cutting the flesh under the nails, cut the nails in small sections and check the surface of the trimmed nail. If you start to see circles on the surface of your trimmed nail, don't trim the nail again. The meat is just below the circle.
Step 4. Brush your dog's teeth
Brush your Golden Retriever's teeth and check their condition regularly. It's a good idea to start brushing their teeth when they're young, but adult dogs can also be trained to like brushing.
Never use human toothpaste on dog teeth! Human toothpaste contains ingredients that are toxic to dogs
Method 3 of 5: Entertaining the Golden Retriever
Step 1. Try to train him often and invite him to exercise
The Golden Retriever is an energetic dog species that requires regular exercise. Make sure you take him for a quick 20-30 minute walk, twice a day, or take him out to play in the backyard for an equivalent amount of time.
Keep in mind that younger dogs need more exercise than older dogs
Step 2. Play catch and throw with the dog
The Golden Retriever loves to play catch and throw so this game can be a part of his playing time. Prepare a Frisbee or tennis ball to play catch and throw with your beloved dog.
Make sure you play in a safe and fenced area so your dog won't be distracted by birds or other small animals and run away
Step 3. Take your dog swimming
Golden Retrievers are great swimmers, so look for opportunities to take them for a swim every now and then. For example, you can take your dog to the lake or let him swim in your home pool (if you have one). Make sure the water area used is safe for him and always supervise your dog while swimming.
Step 4. Give your dog a stimulating toy
Golden Retrievers are intelligent dogs so make sure you give them plenty of stimulating toys to keep them happy. For example, you could give him a puzzle toy that requires him to use his problem solving skills to get him a treat.
Change the toys provided daily to ensure your dog is always entertained. Try picking up one toy each day and replacing it with another option
Method 4 of 5: Training the Golden Retriever
Step 1. Train your dog to defecate outdoors
If you have a Golden Retriever puppy, you will need to put a lot of time and effort into training it to go outside. When giving practice, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Never yell at him or hit him if he goes to the bathroom in the house. Just pick him up and take him out of the house.
- Clean up the feces as soon as possible so that your dog doesn't go back to the same place to defecate. Use an enzymatic cleaning product instead of an ammonia-based product to clean the soiled area.
- Use a litter pad or newsprint as a toilet in the house in case he needs to go to the bathroom when you're not at home.
- Take your dog to the same place outside the house every time he needs to go to the bathroom.
- Give him lots of compliments and caresses if he manages to pee outside.
Step 2. Try giving your dog some crate training
Cage training is a great way to provide a safe place for your dog to hide when he's nervous or lonely. The cage resembles a cave or nest so the dog will feel safe when entering it.
- Place a bed or some blankets or folded towels in the dog kennel.
- Never put a dog in its crate as a form of punishment! The cage is used as a safe place for your beloved dog.
Step 3. Teach some basic commands
Teaching basic commands is a great way to stimulate your dog's brain and strengthen his bond with you. Start teaching your beloved dog to sit, rock, lie down, be still, and walk beside you. You can teach these commands alone or through a group practice class.
- Make sure you only use positive reinforcement when training your dog. Don't hit or scold him while teaching him the command because the punishment won't make him learn anything. Instead, give him treats, praise, and affection when he successfully follows orders.
- Set the exercise in short duration, but with a fairly frequent frequency. Dogs don't have long attention spans, so 10 minutes of exercise is ideal.
- After learning the basic commands, you can teach other, more complex commands.
Step 4. Socialize your dog early on
Socialization helps prevent fear of certain situations or people. Golden Retrievers are fun family dogs, but it's a good idea to keep socializing them when they're young (before they reach 20 weeks). Even so, you can still socialize it as an adult. To socialize him, take him for walks from a young age, take him on outdoor adventures, and invite people over to your house. Make sure you keep your dog on a leash when outside and calm him down if something scares him. Try exposing your dog to:
- Children and babies
- People of different gender, body size and ethnicity
- Another dog
- Cat
- People wearing hats, wearing boots, holding umbrellas, etc.
- Loud voices and crowded places
- Cars and bikes
Step 5. Enroll your puppy in a socialization class
To make sure your Golden Retriever is well socialized and give him the opportunity to play with other dogs, you can enroll him in a dog "kindergarten" class. These classes provide a good start by exposing dogs to a variety of sounds and visual objects in a controlled environment.
The best time to socialize a puppy in class is after he has had his first vaccine (around eight weeks of age)
Method 5 of 5: Protecting the Dog
Step 1. Keep your dog indoors
Golden Retrievers love to be around other people, so it's a bad thing to keep them out. If you don't like letting your dog roam indoors, it's a good idea to opt out of the Golden Retriever.
Provide a dog bed indoors and take him outside to walk, play, and just pee
Step 2. Attach a leash with an identification tag to your dog
When your dog runs out of the yard, anyone who finds it can call you. Make sure your dog always wears a collar with an identification tag. This bookmark should include your contact information, such as address and phone number.
You can also attach a tracking chip to your dog's body so it can locate him when he escapes from the yard
Step 3. Take your dog to the vet for regular checkups
After bringing your dog home from the breeder or shelter, you have a responsibility to provide him with veterinary care. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to provide the vaccinations and other care needed to keep your pet healthy. Some of the things a Golden Retriever needs include:
- Heartworm prevention medication at eight weeks of age (and every month thereafter).
- Lyme disease vaccine at nine weeks, followed by an additional vaccine at 12 weeks.
- Rabies vaccine at 12 weeks of age.
- Neutralization surgery at six months of age.
- Annual check-ups and booster vaccines from one year of age.
- Examination twice a year from the age of eight.
Step 4. Ask for a medical test to find out the diseases that usually affect the Golden Retriever
Like any other breed of dog, the Golden Retriever has some special ailments. You can ask your veterinarian about the tests and examinations available for early signs of the condition/disease. Some of the conditions or diseases that are commonly experienced by Golden Retrievers include:
- Cancers, such as osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, and mastocyte tumors
- Hip dysplasia (can trigger arthritis)
- Elbow deformity
- Heart disease
- Allergy
- Skin and ear infections
- Lyme disease
- Nephritis
Tips
- Always check your dog for fleas after walking him in high grass or woods. Body parts that need to be examined include the legs, under the tail, armpits, and ears.
- Have lots of toys ready so your dog doesn't get bored.
