Golden Retrievers are considered one of the best family dogs. They do well with children and have been known to play a protective role if needed. Their easy going temperament and joyful playfulness meshes well with children’s high energy level. It is common to be greeted at the door when coming home and then followed around the home as the exhibit why they are considered one of the best companion pets.
One of the most important ways to promote good health for a Golden Retriever is keeping them active and occupied. Training a Golden Retriever is a great way to start. They are thought to be one of the more intelligent breeds and making training less complicated. Their intelligence and need to be occupied lower the amount of times commands must be repeated. Golden Retrievers are considered very obedient and adaptable. They do well on road trips and instances where the maybe introduced to new surroundings. They quickly get along with new people and other animals they meet.
Although they are considered very active dogs and enjoy the company of their owner, Golden Retrievers are also very quiet, calm and realize when their owner may need some alone time. It’s as though the can sense the mood in a situation and immediately change their behavior to match the tone.
Finding activities to entertain and provide exercise for a Golden Retriever is not a difficult task. They enjoy many of the stereotypical “dog activities” including fetch, hiking and tug of war. They love the water, especially diving in and fetching floating toys. It would not be shocking if an internet search revealed a local social group for Gold Retriever owners that get together to take their dogs swimming.
Golden Retrievers also enjoy indoor games as well. This helps keep them active and occupied on days when the weather is not pleasant. Some have been trained to help clean up around the house. If a certain box has been designated to be their toy box they can be trained to put their toys away during clean up time. These dogs are also big fans of hide and seek games. Having them go on a hunt for their special treat or food bowl excites them and allows for them to use there excellent ability to seek out items by scent.
Hunting is another great activity for Golden Retrievers. Even though they are considered more of a family dog today, historically they were considered great hunting dogs. Training a Golden Retriever to hunt maybe a little more difficult, but if a hunting group can be found the activity will provide an excellent opportunity to get out into nature and be active. Their amazing patience and excellent memory make them a great choice for bird hunting where long periods of time may pass without movement and the need to remember where the bird fell after being shot.
For adult Golden Retrievers choose a diet designed for large dogs. Make sure the food is made with natural ingredients and has no artificial additives. It should be rich in proteins that come from chicken, fish and meats. Foods high in calcium and phosphorus will help keep joints healthy.
All dog breeds have certain health issues that owners must be able to detect and know what to do when a problem arises. Being aware of what is more common in a Golden Retriever will allow for the owner to respond in a timely manner, which will help keep their dog healthy. Scheduling recommended check ups will also assist in maintaining good health. A healthy Golden Retriever will be the obedient, caring, active and lovable dog, which is the reason that most own one specifically choose this breed.
