There are few things better than the relationship between us and our canine companions. Even more so, there are few things better than a furry golden retriever zooming around and curling up for the occasional late night cuddle.
When we get a dog, our main goal is to provide them with as much love and care as possible but the truth is, not everyone knows how to care for a Golden Retriever. These fun loving dogs need a lot of love and this quick guide will give you a crash course on taking care of your pup.
How to Take Care of a Golden Retriever
Here are five areas of your life with your dog that will help guide you in the right direction.
Around The House
When you bring a new Golden Retriever puppy home, you want to make sure that your house is safe for a dog. Perhaps you’ve never had a dog before; there are probably a lot of things around your home that are unsafe and you’ve never even noticed before.
Make sure you pay attention to any hanging electrical cords that your dog may chew on, put away items that can easily get knocked over, and you may have to start putting your shoes away in closets if you don’t want to find them all over the house.
Provide your Golden Retriever with a comfortable place to sleep that they can call their own. Make it close enough for them to see you throughout the day but far enough away to create a little separation.
Golden Retrievers are voracious eaters and meal time is very important to them. Make sure you get a heavy food and water bowl with rubber on the bottom so it doesn’t slide around the floor while they’re eating.
Feeding and Diet
Follow guides and consult with your vet to figure out the best dog food for your Golden Retriever. A Golden Retriever that is a year and older will generally eat between 4-5 cups of food a day split up into multiple meals to prevent them from eating too much at any point.
You’ll want to feed your Golden a high-quality dry food from well respected brands, or you can opt for making your own nutritional homemade dog food. If your Golden Retriever is a puppy, make sure you feed them dedicated puppy food.
The companies also sell large breed food which provides a lot of added nutrients for joint health which is important for Golden Retrievers.
Bathing and Grooming
You only want to bathe your Golden Retriever when you think they need it. Washing them too often can cause skin issues. Make sure to use a specific dog shampoo and rinse them off very well to prevent soap from sitting in their undercoat and irritating their skin.
Final Thoughts on Taking Care of a Golden Retriever
Caring for your Golden Retriever is a fun and exciting bonding experience. There’s a lot more to it then everything in this guide even so be sure to speak with your vet about all the best care policies for your Golden Retriever.
