We adopted our new Golden Retriever a week before I gave birth to our third child. In my last post, I detailed our journey as new Golden Retriever owners and answered the question: Do Black People Adopt Golden Retrievers? If the title isn’t alluring enough, save it and come back later. Otherwise, let’s jump into some helpful tips for new Golden Retriever owners.
This post is all about Golden Retrievers.
1. Taking Care of Your Golden Retriever’s Health
Understanding your Golden Retriever’s medical needs is essential for their long-term health. Your pet will need routine vaccines and yearly wellness exams. Don’t forget to start your Golden Retriever on heartworm medication and flea and tick preventative. I’ve used several brands, but right now, we have a Bravecto subscription for every 90 days.
To ensure your pet is getting the medical care they need, establish a relationship with your local veterinarian. Your vet can make sure your new pup is in peak health and make recommendations based on your pet’s unique needs. Veterinarians are also great resources for the many questions you may have about being a new pet parent.
Like most large breed dogs, Golden Retrievers are at higher risk of developing certain medical conditions. These conditions include allergies, hip dysplasia, and certain kinds of cancer. Your pet’s increased risk is another reason why taking care of their health is so important.
I have been a member of Banfield Pet Hospital for nearly 10 years. They have saved me countless dollars and gave me peace of mind because I can schedule leisurely without the headache of an expensive vet bill waiting at checkout.
2. Choosing the Right Diet For Your Golden Retriever
Picking the right diet is another critical factor in taking care of your Golden Retriever’s health. Golden Retrievers are extremely food motivated and can become obese if their diet is not properly controlled.
When selecting a diet, look for diets formulated for large breed dogs. This will ensure your dog is getting the appropriate nutrients for its size. Additionally, it is essential to consider your dog’s stage of development. Golden Retrievers under one year of age should be fed a large-breed puppy food diet.
These diets contain specific nutrients to help your dog’s growth and development. Since Golden Retrievers reach maturity around one year of age, you can start transitioning them to adult food at this time.
Some pet food brands offer food that is specifically formulated for Golden Retrievers. While a specific Golden Retriever diet is not necessary, it is critical to make sure the diet meets your pet’s nutritional needs. The Association of American Food Control Officials (AAFCO) sets national standards for ingredients and nutrition in pet food.
When evaluating your pet’s food, look for an AAFCO approved statement on the label. This ensures that the diet meets AAFCO standards and will provide your pet with all of the essential nutrients they need.
3. Pet-Proofing Your Home
Golden Retrievers are curious creatures known for getting into things they shouldn’t. Because of this, you may need to take some extra steps to pet-proof your home. This includes keeping human food out of reach and keeping your dog out of the trash. Trash cans with lids and locks can also be helpful to ward off dumpster diving.
For many new pet parents, the idea of pet-proofing your entire home may be overwhelming. Luckily, it doesn’t all have to be done at once. Start by creating a small safe space where your dog can play and sleep. This could be an extra room or even a crate.
Crate training can be a great way to ensure your Golden Retriever is safe when they are not under your direct supervision. Likewise, baby gates can be helpful to keep your pup out of areas of the home that are not quite ready for them.
As you work on pet-proofing the rest of your home, keep things like electrical cords and toxic plants in mind. If you are unsure what plants may be harmful to your pet, you can check out the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control website.
4. Meeting Your Dog’s Exercise Needs
As you will soon realize, Golden Retrievers are high-energy dogs that require plenty of exercises. Not only is exercise important for your dog’s physical health, but exercise can also help reduce anxiety and boredom. The amount of activity your Golden requires will depend on your pet’s age and overall health.
However, most healthy adult Goldens require at least 20-30 min of exercise twice a day. Daily exercise can include a game of fetch in the backyard or a casual walk around the neighborhood.
If you have a young dog, it is critical to make sure their exercise routine is appropriate for their age. Running and other high-intensity activities can be hard on young growing dogs and lead to joint problems or other injuries. Since Golden Retrievers are at high risk of orthopedic issues, like hip dysplasia, this is particularly important for Golden puppies.
Most veterinarians recommend limiting your puppy’s exercise to five minutes per month of age. This means that a four-month-old puppy should only be getting approximately 20 minutes of exercise a day.
If you have concerns about your dog’s activity level, you should always consult your veterinarian. They can help evaluate your dog’s routine and make suggestions based on your pet’s specific needs.
5. Grooming Your Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are known for their dazzling golden hair coat. While it is beautiful, these coats do require a certain amount of upkeep. Golden Retrievers have a double coat that requires regular brushing to avoid heavy tangling and matting. Wide-tooth metal combs are helpful to brush out the feathering on their legs, chest, and tail.
In addition to regular brushing, your Golden will also need baths, nail trims, and the occasional ear cleaning. It’s critical to use pet-safe shampoos and conditioners.
Likewise, always discuss ear cleaning solutions with your veterinarian before trying a new product on your pet. Many Golden Retrievers experience ear infections, and using the wrong product can cause additional harm.
Not only is regular grooming essential for maintaining your pet’s pretty coat, but it is also essential for maintaining your pet’s health. Regular grooming will help you notice skin infections and any new lumps or bumps. The sooner you notice these issues, the sooner you can get your pet the medical attention they may need.
This post was all about Golden Retrievers.
Grooming your Golden Retriever can be a lot of work. Because of this, some owners opt to take their pets to a professional groomer. Most groomers provide baths, thorough brushing, and nail trims.
Additionally, some groomers will recommend trimming your Golden’s feathering to reduce matting and tangling. Always discuss what services your groomer provides and make sure you are on the same page about your pet’s needs.
Before you go, be sure to check out our first weeks being a new Golden Retriever owner here.
2 comments
We’re thinking about getting a Golden Retriever in the next months to a year and it’s time to do some research. We love the breed and we’ve heard great things about it until now.
We currently have 2 smaller dogs and are now feeding them a mix of store bought food and home made one. The home made food tastes awesome, has lots of veggies and protein and the combo with the dog food is just a perfect match.
Hopefully the 3 of them will get on great.
The great things you hear about Golden Retrievers are understatements. They really are great dogs, and so patient and caring.