Dogs are the best friends a person can ever have and golden retrievers take the title even further by being the perfect companion one can wish for. From the time they are puppies to their adulthood, golden retrievers are an absolute bundle of pure and energetic joy! They add happiness to whichever household they become a part of.
However, while golden retrievers are amazing partners to have, they also have very specific needs which need to be taken into account if you are considering raising one. Golden retrievers are known to be very playful and energetic which affects their training, grooming and their general behavior around the house.
5 of the Best Golden Retriever Tips
If you have a golden retriever or are considering getting one, check out these golden retriever tips to help you better accommodate to your furry best friend and vice versa.
1. Pick the Right Dog Food
Golden retrievers have specialized diets because of their special dietary needs. When buying dog food, it is always a great idea to do a little research beforehand to check out which products are better suited for golden retrievers.
Golden retrievers usually eat premium dog food so they are a relatively more expensive breed of dogs in terms of upkeep. One of the best dog foods for golden retrievers is the Purina Pro Plan Sport which is high quality and offers all the right nutrients to keep your best friend healthy.
Even if you are looking for other brands, just make sure you cross check them to ensure they are good for golden retrievers and look for reviews to certify the claim.
2. Give the Right Treats and Supplements
Another way to ensure your golden retriever’s nutritional needs are met is by giving him healthy treats during training sessions and the right supplements during meal times.
Choosing the right treats can be a little tricky because they have to be tasty for the dog while also having ingredients which are healthy and suitable. Our top treat choice is SmartBones Smart Twist Sticks. It comes in 4 different flavors, healthy for the teeth and is easy to digest because it has no raw hide in its ingredients. It will make training a happy affair.
Supplements are usually more difficult because they are usually never tasteful enough for dogs to take them calmly. However, from a nutritional and taste aspect, we really like Doggie Dailies Glucosamine for Dogs because it provides for a variety of different nutritional needs. It helps keep the joints healthy, improves the skin and coat and has all the essential vitamins your dog will need.
Golden retrievers lead an active life and, therefore, it is important to ensure that the combination of diet, treat and supplements maintains their joint health and mobility.
3. Arrange Fun Training Sessions Regularly
Golden retrievers are incredibly playful and love being active. While this may sound like a fun trait to have, it does have its downsides. 2 common downsides are:
- Their short attention span
- Their 24/7 boundless energy
Because golden retrievers have a short attention span, they are prone to losing track of training if it gets too dull and monotonous. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you plan and arrange training sessions that are active and enjoyable.
The discipline training will be far more effective if they are having fun learning the rules and enjoying the treats being offered as reinforcements.
The short attention span also makes the dogs more forgetful. Hence, the best way to make trainings stick is to have sessions regularly (daily or every alternate day) to ensure your golden retriever does not forget the lessons.
4. Give Them Plenty of Water
The boundless energy and constant activity is bound to dehydrate your furry best friend. Dehydration can lead to a number of health concerns so ensure your dog drinks plenty of water throughout the day.
You can regulate their water consumption by getting a water dispenser which will help you measure your dog’s daily water intake. If they are not drinking enough, you can also mix bone broth in their meals to add hydration. Since bone broths are made from either chicken or beef bones, dogs also enjoy their flavor and are more likely to slurp them up.
5. Groom Them Regularly
One of the most important golden retriever tip is the grooming. Unlike short-haired dogs, golden retrievers have a thick coat of soft and beautiful fur. As pretty as it looks, it needs quite a bit of grooming to maintain.
Some of their regular grooming needs are:
- Brushing the coat to detangle the fur and get rid of excess and broken hair
- Baths to keep them clean and hygienic
- Checking for fleas or ticks and getting the right treatments in case they are found
- Cleaning out the ears to avoid infections
- Trimming the nails to avoid them becoming painful
- Brushing their teeth to keep them clean and healthy
These are some of the regular grooming needs of golden retrievers which need to be kept in mind to ensure they remain happy and healthy. Always make sure you are ready to care for these needs before deciding to welcome one to the family.
Our Final Thoughts
To conclude, the above golden retriever tips are some of the basic aspects of the care and training needed to ensure they lead a happy and healthy life with you. They are a relatively more expensive breed in terms of upkeep so do ensure you have time, energy and money before bringing one home.
Make sure their nutritional needs are fulfilled and they get a daily round of activity to use up their energy. Keep their trainings regular and fun to help them stick and groom them well and routinely to help them stay hygienic and active.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog. If you recently got a golden retriever puppy or are planning to get one, check out our blog about tips for raising a golden retriever puppy for a quick guide.
