How to care for Golden Retrievers

A Golden Retriever is a medium-large gun dog that was bred to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and game birds during shooting parties. It was named “retriever” due to its ability to retrieve shot game undamaged due to their soft mouth.

The males weigh around 29-34 kg with a height of about 56-61 cm. The females weigh around 25-29 kg with a height of about 51-56 cm.

How to care for Golden Retrievers

Choose a high-quality feed.

When choosing a dog feed, always make sure that you get a feed that is “complete and balanced.” Complete and balanced means that the feed provides all the necessary nutrition needed to keep the golden retriever healthy.

It is also important to get a feed that lists meat as the first ingredient because the meat is the most important source of nutrition for dogs.

In case you have a problem choosing the best feed for your Golden Retriever, it is always wise to consult a veterinarian.

Another critical consideration in choosing the best feed is the age of the dog. For example, if the golden retriever is young,

Another critical consideration in choosing the best feed is the age of the dog. For example, if the golden retriever is young, you should go for puppy food.

Brush your golden retriever’s teeth

It is important to brush your retriever’s teeth and inspect them regularly. For this, it is ideal to start cleaning the teeth when the retriever is still a puppy.

Never use human toothpaste to brush the retrievers’ teeth because human kinds of toothpaste have ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

Avoid feeding your golden retriever toxic human foods

Human food like alcohol, avocados, grapes, raisins, onions, yeast, and chocolate may make the retriever ill or even kill them.

Provide clean and fresh water

Always make sure the golden retriever has easy access to a bowl of fresh water at all times. It is advisable to use stainless steel bowls because they hold fewer bacteria.

Trim its nails

Trim your golden retriever’s nails whenever they look long. It is easy to notice as you will hear them producing some sounds whenever the retriever walks on a hard surface. When trimming the nails, avoid the quick, a blood vessel inside the dog’s nails, as it may cause bleeding.

Clean and inspect its ears

Golden retrievers are always at high risk of getting ear infections because of their floppy ears, so it is still advisable to examine the ears regularly.

To clean the ears;

Wrap a piece of damp cotton wool on your finger and wipe the inside of golden retrievers’ ears. Do not draw your fingers so deep.

If you notice a lot of wax, a discharge or a foul smell, take the retriever to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Brush your retriever’s coat daily

Golden retrievers are known to be fluffy, so their coats may either be wavy or straight. This aspect of them makes it a requirement to regularly brush them to prevent matting and to reduce shedding. It is important to starts doing this in their early stages so that they can grow is used to the brushes. To do this properly;

Always use a natural bristle brush to brush the retriever’s fur. You may also need a greyhound comb for the tangles.

Brush the back, stomach, sides, tail, chest, and ears daily. As you do this, check for fleas and ticks.

Also, watch for some abnormalities like redness, lumps, bumps, and scabs. If you notice any of these, watch them for some days, and if they persist, contact a veterinarian.

Best Golden Retrievers Treats

Treats are always a great way of rewarding, and they don’t apply to humans only. Golden retrievers can also be treated with good quality treats, but you should not overdo it as they may grow to be overweight. Some of the best treats are;

Baby carrots

Rinsed canned green beans

Sliced cooked sweet potatoes

American Journey Peanut Butter Biscuit Dog Treats

The Honest Kitchen Joyful Jerky Beef Filets Dog Treats

Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Beef & Filet Mignon Recipe Dog Treats

Bones & Chews All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks

Blue Buffalo Health Bars Dog Treats

Pedigree Dentasix Large Original Dog Treats.