Nona K. Bauer

Grooming your Golden Retriever is about more than keeping your dog pretty or handsome. It’s also about hygiene and good health. It’s all body parts, not just the furry coat. Your own hygiene means more than a shampoo. It’s teeth, toes, underarms, and other appendages. Your dog has those same needs, too. In this article, we’ll dig out the brush and comb and groom your Golden buddy.

The average Golden Retriever lives for 10 to 13 years. That’s way too short for Golden lovers, or any dog lover for that matter. Don’t we all wish we could create a world where our dogs lived as long as we do? But even though Mother Nature is in charge, there are some important things you can do to maximize your Golden’s health, which will translate into a longer life.

If the thought of struggling through housetraining and canine puberty doesn’t appeal to you, consider the joys of adopting an older Golden Retriever. When you adopt a dog who has grown past the cute bouncy puppy stage, what you see is what you get. (The following figure shows a typical grown-up Golden who would love to join your family.

Large breeds like Golden Retrievers mark the beginning of their geriatric period at about 8 years of age. Your Golden may still look and act like a puppy, but don’t be fooled. He’s entering his sunset years.Of course, you want to make his golden years as healthy as your own, and being a smart dog owner, you know that senior dogs need special care.

The AKC has different standards for each breed of dog. The following sections describe the ideal Golden Retriever. This provides a guideline for judges and breeders to follow when assessing Goldens in the show ring, as well as their personal dogs, and their breeding potential. Please keep in mind that the language is like a canine legal document and can be difficult for the layperson to understand.

Before bringing home your adorable Golden Retriever, take steps to dog-proof your house and surrounding areas. Know the signs of a serious medical problem or pet emergency, so you can contact your veterinarian and, if needed, give the right amount of pet safe medications to your Golden Retriever. © Yuriy Golub / Shutterstock.

It's imperative when dealing with a dominant or aggressive dog that you become his leader — the alpha dog — in no uncertain terms. Use these strategies every day to remind your dog that you're the top dog in the house. Practice every day, and you'll soon do these procedures automatically: Always enter or leave first when you go inside or outside.

Dogs with allergies don't usually sneeze or get runny noses like people do. (A few do, however.) Instead, they itch and scratch, chew, lick, and rub their feet, ears, belly, and any part of their body they can reach. Left untreated, the irritated skin becomes traumatized and damaged and subsequently infected. Topical remedies can provide short-term allergy relief, but don't address the problem.