DOG FAQ - Why does my Golden Retriever scoot on the floor or chew on his rear end at the base of his tail?

There could be two reasons for this. Your Golden Retriever could have tapeworms or their anal sacs need to be emptied. The first thing to check is their stool. Tapeworms look like little pieces of white rice and are visible. If they have tapeworms you will need to see your vet for treatment. If you do not see tapeworms then you may need to take your dog to the vet to see if his or hers anal sacs need to be emptied.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Are Goldens good guard dogs?

No, most Golden Retrievers will bark at strangers but most of the time they will greet the stranger at the door with their tail wagging and a toy in their mouth ready to play. They will most likely show them where all the silverware in the house is.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Why does my Golden Retriever not retrieve?

Some dogs are born with more drive than others, a puppy that is not properly socialized generally will not retrieve. Some puppies have no play drive which allows them to learn to retrieve on their own. It generally has to be encouraged by either the puppies siblings (as in "take away games") or by the owners engaging the dog in play and praising the dog for the retrieving behavior. Shaping the behavior by using praise when the puppy goes after the thrown object , more praise when he touches the object or picks it up, more when he takes even one step towards you with the object, etc.

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DOG FAQ - When do Golden Retrievers grow up?

Golden Retrievers are usually physically mature by 2 years of age. Mentally, it depends on the dog but usually not before 3 years of age.

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DOG FAQ - Do Golden Retrievers need exercise?

Yes, letting your dog out for potty breaks only is not considered enough exercise. They are a sporting breed and as such need plenty of exercise. Throwing tennis balls, swimming and romping with other dogs is great exercise. You do need to be careful exercising your Golden Retriever under the age of 18 months old. They need exercise but it must not be forced. You should refrain from jogging with them until they are fully grown because you can damage their joints.

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DOG FAQ - I can't handle all the hair! What is your opinion on shaving a Golden?

Do not shave your Golden Retriever. An undercoat rake and a steady routine of brushing will solve the problem. Golden Retrievers actually have two coats of hair. Their coat is designed to keep them comfortable and protect them in both winter and summer. During the winter, the undercoat grows, and in the spring they being to blow that coat. The undercoat rake is designed to remove all of the dead undercoat. When first using one, it will take a few sessions of raking and brushing to remove all of the dead coat, but once you have done that, a weekly routine of brushing and using the undercoat rake will keep shedding to a minimum. The first time you use it, you will be shocked at the amount of hair you remove.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Do Golden Retrievers shed?

Yes they do! Golden Retrievers shed most all year round and there are least two times a year that it is a lot. You can expect dog hair everywhere if you own a Golden Retriever. They need to be brushed daily and regular use of an undercoat rake will significantly improve the shedding. Daily brushing also keeps them from matting. If you do not like dog hair in your house a Golden Retriever is probably not the dog for you.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Why should I neuter my Golden Retriever?

Neutered pets can’t develop testicular tumors and have a lower incidence of prostate cancer. If you neuter your Golden Retriever early you will have less chances of medical problems, territorial aggression, leg lifting, roaming, behavioral problems, mounting & possessive aggression.

The biggest reason for spaying or neutering your dog is dog responsibility. Males who escape their yards can sire litters without their owner’s knowledge. Millions of unwanted dogs are euthanized everyday. The primary cause of this is people who fail to spay or neuter their dogs, and who abandon or give up dogs because of lack of commitment to training a dog.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Why should I spay my dog?

There are many reasons you should spay your Golden Retriever.
If you have your female spayed before her first heat cycle you are protecting her against mammary tumors, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer. Spayed pets will not have heat cycles that soil your rugs. Sterilized pets behave better.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Do all males mark territory and lift their legs?

No, if they are neutered early enough, 6 months to 1 1/2 years, they do not become territorial markers or leg lifters. They will squat like a female Golden Retriever.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - Is it true that females are calmer and more affectionate?

Absolutely not! Males in most cases are much more affectionate than females. Males are big loving teddy bears. Female Golden Retriever are generally more independent than males.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

DOG FAQ - What is the difference between males and females?

Other than the obvious, the difference between the male and female Golden Retriever is predominately size. Females are normally between 50-60 lbs and males are 65-80 lbs. Of course this can vary because of genetics.

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DOG FAQ - How long is the life span of a Golden Retriever?

The typical life span of a Golden Retriever is 12-15 years.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

PUPPY SELECTION

Puppy Selection : Don't let a breeder laugh off his puppies' timidity with assurances of, "Oh, they just haven't been handled much." Lack of socialization means laziness or ignorance on the part of the breeder. You do not want a Golden Retriever puppy from a lazy or ignorant breeder. If he can't even socialize properly, who knows what else he screwed up in breeding or raising these puppies?


Shy puppies become shy dogs.Golden Retriever puppy who hide or tuck their tails or shrink away from you are not safe choices as pets. Don't try to convince yourself that you can "bring them out of their shell." You don't know what's going on in these puppies' genes. Shy puppies usually become shy dogs who may snap defensively at anything that startles them.

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GOLDEN RETRIEVER AND CHILDREN

Golden retrievers are known to be gentle around children, and are also highly intelligent and obedient dogs. Golden retrievers are more commonly thought of as family pets, however, due to the fact that they are not used as guard dogs or police dogs – so they don’t give the impression that they might be potentially dangerous.

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TRAINING

Basic golden retriever training should begin the moment your dog is bought home especially if he is still a puppy. Good early habits endure and will result in a well behaved golden retriever in the future. These tips are for training your Golden Retriever :

1. Always begin your golden retriever training inside the home where your dog stays. Your dog will learn faster when he/she is in a familiar environment.

2. Work on one new command or trick per training session. This will allow your golden retriever to learn, understand and familiarize each new training better and faster.

3. Make sure you always use and repeat the same word or command for each particular training.

4. Train you golden retriever in short, frequent sessions. Dogs have a short attention span and will get easily distracted or bored.

5. End the training with a positive note or with your golden retriever wanting more. This will allow your dog to look forward to the next training session.

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FEEDING

Recommended feeding daily amount: 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.

Feed your golden retriever depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Golden retriever 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 golden retriever and the less of it you'll need to shake into your dog's bowl.

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HEALTH INFORMATION

Purebred dogs too have their share of health problems, which are inherited genetically. Generally Golden Retrievers tend to suffer from minor health problems which are quite common in nature, and can be easily cured if looked after carefully. Your vet can help you with this problem.

Similarly, distemper virus is a common health problem of Golden retrievers and is an airborne disease. Symptoms include cough, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. You should take golden retrievers to the vet immediately if it manifests any of these symptoms.

Heart worms are among the most common health problems of Golden retrievers, and can grow up to 12 inches in the heart or lung arteries in all dog breeds. It may sound tough to believe, but another common health problems of Golden retrievers is heat stroke. One of the most serious health problems.

Golden retrievers face is rabies. It has a very serious affect on your dog’s nervous system. To prevent this, you should make sure you get your dog rabies shots periodically as per the vet’s instructions.

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TEMPERAMENT

The Golden Retriever has a kind, friendly and confident temperament. They are not "one man dogs" and are equally friendly with strangers and those familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed and is considered a serious fault. Nor, should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous.

The typical Golden Retriever, is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please. They are excellent with children and this, along with their other qualities, has made them a favorite family pet.

As the name suggests, the Golden Retriever loves to retrieve. Whether it's a thrown stick, tennis ball or flying disc, retrieving can keep a dog of this breed occupied and entertained for hours, particularly if there is water involved. They might also pick up and retrieve any object that is near to them when greeting a human friend. Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock.

Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, their calmness and willingness to learn. Because of this, they are commonly used as guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

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GROOMING

Matting, shedding and hot spots are the hurdles for the Golden Retriever owner when it concerns Golden Retriever grooming. Not only that, puppies should be accustomed to Golden Retriever grooming supplies at an early age so they will welcome grooming sessions as they mature. Young puppies do not need grooming yet you should groom the puppies anyway with the array of proper Golden Retriever grooming supplies. Regular Golden Retriever grooming will prevent and reduce the occurrence of matting for feathery-coated Golden Retrievers. The correct smooth coated Golden Retriever is also prone to matting if its undercoat does not receive regular brushing. A thorough session of Golden Retriever grooming takes one half hour to perform. An owner with a feathery-coated dog should devote time to daily grooming to prevent matting. Once a week, a thorough grooming should be done for smooth coated Golden Retrievers.

During shedding season, these dogs will shed a large amount of hair, which can be controlled with daily grooming. Hot spots are an irritated skin condition to which Golden Retrievers are prone. Regular Golden Retriever grooming will help with matting problems. Unless a mat is cared for with thorough Golden Retriever grooming, it will grow larger and more painful for the dog as it pulls at more hair and skin. This can irritate the dog’s skin. As well, fleas are attracted to the matting. For dogs with an abundance of feathery hair, mats can appear overnight. It is important that feathery-coated dog owners include Golden Retriever grooming in their daily schedule.

You will need a few Golden Retriever grooming supplies to deal with mats. A mat must be carefully untangled with a wide toothed comb by starting at the edges and then working into the mat. Plain water will tighten the mat so you may use oil or detangle formula conditioner to untangle the mat. A mat can be cut away easily and safely with a mat breaker. Try to avoid using sharp edged scissors on a mat, use rounded edged scissor if necessary. Use the services of a groomer as necessary. With the right Golden Retriever grooming supplies, you can groom your dog well. With the right Golden Retriever grooming supplies and regular grooming sessions, you can effectively control any shedding, matting and skin conditions for your dog. Frequent checks for matting and the immediate removal of particles will control potential problems.

Two brushes will be good additions to your Golden Retriever grooming supplies toolkit. The slicker brush has a wide head with short bristles and can be used on a wide area. The pin brush has wide set long bristles for feathering. Give your dog a thorough brushing before a bath or wetting its coat. Tangles will worsen when wet with water. Detergent based shampoo will remove natural skin oils and can irritate sensitive skin. Oil can be gently worked to detangle a knot. The undercoat can be lost if too much bathing occurs. To avoid this, brush out dirt and wash the legs and underside with plain water.

During regular Golden Retriever grooming, check for hot spots while using a flea comb to inspect the skin beneath the undercoat and to detangle the undercoat. Gently check and clean your dog’s ears and nails once a week. Trim nails as necessary as a part of your Golden Retriever grooming schedule.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover