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Preservatives are in almost everything we eat these days. As research improves, the potentially harmful health effects of the artificial chemicals that we use to keep food fresh are being revealed. For those who choose not to introduce these possibly toxic elements into their own bodies, it is important to realize that your pets food is also loaded with preservatives. Dry pet food, just like any human food, will begin to decay quickly when exposed to air, bacteria, or moisture. While there are all-natural dog foods available that do not contain artificial preservatives, these foods have much shorter shelf lives. So does that mean that keeping your pet healthy requires buying fresh food every week for the rest of your life? It doesn’t have to, if you use proper pet food storage. A quality pet food storage container will seal out the elements that cause pet food to become rancid, moldy, or unpalatable. With a small investment in such a storage container, you can make smarter health choices for your pets without sacrificing convenience or time. There are tons of brands and designs to choose from for these particular cat and Dog Supplies, so you can get the storage space that makes sense for you. Don’t let this great idea “expire”- go out and get yourself a pet food storage container today.
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The Golden Retriever is a highly intelligent, people loving dog. She is the fourth most popular pure bred dog in the United States. She is loyal, eager to please, takes obedience like a champ and loves children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog. She is generally good with other dogs and makes a great family pet.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Golden Retriever is 22 to 24 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 60 to 80 pounds. The female ranges from 20 to 22 inches to the withers and 55 to 70 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Golden Retriever is no exception. Be on the look out for Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), epilepsy (common in dogs), allergic skin problems (immediate Veterinary care required), congenital eye defects and Von Willebrands disease (a problem with blood clotting), kidney problems, Lymph Cancer. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Golden Retriever has a dense and firm, water repellent outer coat and a medium inner coat. She is a shedder so brush regularly but only bathe when necessary. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
*Life Span. The Golden Retriever can live between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Golden Retriever comes from Great Britain. A Lord Tweedmouth was said to have interbred Yellow Retriever to a Tweed Water Spaniel to develop the Golden Retriever. Some say that the Newfoundland and possibly Bloodhound were also involved. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1925.
Some Registries:
* Golden Retriever Club of America
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 6 to 10 Golden Retriever puppies
Category: Gundog, Sporting Group
Terms To Describe: Powerful, active, kind, self-confident, eager, alert, reliable, friendly, trustworthy,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
They make a medium watch dog.
Sensitive to moods of owner.
Wants to please.
Wants to be friends with everyone.
Very gentle.
Very obedient.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
They make a poor watch dog.
May shed a lot.
*Other Names Known By: Yellow Retriever, Golden Flat-Coated Retriever
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
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This article which you are about to read has been written by somebody who is passionate about Golden Retrievers, and I want to pass on a few hints and tips that I have learned over the years.
We all know that Golden Retrievers are beautiful, obedient, and make great family pets and hunting dogs. Goldens also make great guide dogs for the blind, narcotic detection dogs, and even tracking dogs for finding missing people. Although there are many other dog breeds out there, Golden Retrievers remain one of the most versatile and most astonishing breeds that you can get.
Before you rush out and buy a Golden Retriever puppy, you should first take the time to learn a bit more about the breed. You can attend dog shows, meet with various owners of Golden Retrievers, and even go to your local kennel club. Most people who own Golden Retrievers are extremely proud of them and will be more than happy to share their enthusiasm with you.
When you buy your Golden Retriever puppy, it is always a great idea to buy from a backyard breeder or local puppy breeder. Backyard breeders are normally the best way to get a Golden puppy, as they know and care a lot about the breed in general. Although you can always go to a reputable breeder, backyard breeders are not just in it for the money, they actually care about their dogs and want you to get the best Golden possible.
You can also visit the Golden Retriever Club of America and their local member clubs, as they can supply you with a list of breeders in your area. If these breeders dont have any Goldens for sale themselves, they will be more than willing to help you find what your looking for. This way, you can get a Golden from a very reliable source.
I have had a number of Goldens for many, many years, and I have always bought from a backyard breeder, that is, somebody who loves their Golden and who has a litter perhaps once a year and sells the puppies. It is not a business for them, it is something they love doing.
Whatever you do, you should never rush into buying a Golden Retriever. You should always take your time, and have a little bit of patience. When you buy your puppy, you want a healthy puppy who will grow up to be a fine testament of the breed. By taking your time and making a careful decision, you can save yourself a lot of time and money later on down the road.
Golden puppies that are poor quality, are normally produced by breeders who just want to have a litter or breeders who are just looking for the profits and care very little about giving thoughts to looks, quality, or temperament. If you buy a puppy from either of these breeders, you will more than likely end up with a puppy who has poor health, poor temperaments, and even disqualifications in breed.
When you get your puppy, you should always think long term. Only buy from a quality breeder, and you should not have anything to worry about. Always remember that you are not just buying a Golden Retriever puppy, you are buying a companion and a friend for life, and what a wonderful friend they are.
Let me finish this article by saying that there is a lot of information available to you to help you as you make this important choice. Your local bookstore, your local library, and indeed the internet are all sources of information on Golden Retrievers. Enjoy your purchase, I know you will.
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Many of us would like to own a golden retriever. Therefore it is important to choose the right puppy. Now we do not know what the puppy would turn out to be in future. To ensure that you pick up the right one, which may turn out to be physically and emotionally stable, you need to opt for a puppy from a reputable breeder.
What are the characteristics of a reputable breeder?
Make sure you purchase your golden retriever from a reputable breeder. Following are certain options you would like to consider while finalizing the golden retriever puppy -
1. Dealer or pet shop - To be very honest, pet shops are not the ideal place to select a puppy from. Most pet shops look at high profit and returns. Unfortunately, they may not give enough attention to the quality of the breed.
2. Backyard Breeders - Again this may not be one of the best choices. A backyard breeder also may not be aware of the characteristics of a reputable breeder. Backyard breeders usually own a few golden retrievers and look forward to breeding their females for puppies.
They may be doing it for money or fun, or possibly both. One cannot also pay a high regard to their knowledge about the breed in general. Usually backyard breeders are also not aware of problems associated with breeding.
3. Hobby Breeders - This is the best option so far. Hobby breeders are committed and loyal and they really consider this to be more than their hobby. Hobby breeders care a lot about quality and are really aware of the characteristics of a reputable breeder.
While they are aware of the commercial gains that would ensue from the transactions, they would probably take better care in ensuring that you get a fine golden retriever puppy to take home. Besides, they accept responsibility of the golden retrievers puppies that they breed.
What you need to do
- Ensure that you see the mother, and if possible the father as well. This will give you a fair idea of the pedigree of the golden retriever.
- Ask the breeder for health certificates of both the mother and the father, to ensure that the breed does not have any health problems. This is one of the most important ways to check the characteristics of a reputable breeder.
- A golden retriever puppy is usually confident and inquisitive. It also grows up to be a 70-pound easily trainable dog that can socialize with all.
- A golden retriever puppy from a reputable breeder usually has a lighter coat. The color varies a little when they are fully grown. If you would like to check the color when you are buying the puppy, check the fur on the ears. Also a look at the parents will give you an estimation of the true color
- It is also important to ask more about the puppy when you are purchasing one. Also documents like health certificates and kennel club registrations need to be in place.
A simple search on the Internet can provide you with more details on the characteristics of a reputable breeder. So, what is stopping you? Go ahead and adopt golden retriever for you and your family.
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In case you haven’t noticed, dogs aren’t like humans. It stands to reason, then, that they learn in different ways. Dogs don’t choose to behave according to abstract concepts like good and bad or right and wrong. Rather, they know what feels good and what feels bad. Whether its a physical or emotional sensation, dogs respond to what they feel. That means they respond to their owner’s actions and behavior toward them. They learn to do what their owners smile about, and they learn not to do what makes their owners unhappy.
Golden Retrievers are very loving, energetic dogs. They thrive on attention and affection and will work hard to get those responses from you. So when your Golden Retriever does the right thing, reward him with praise, smiles, laughter, or treats. This positive reinforcement will make your Golden more likely to do the same thing again in the same situation. As you might expect, you should not reward unwanted behaviors or disobedience. Withdrawing your attention and praise is an effective way to discourage bad behavior. In some situations, scolding your Golden with a stern “No!” may do the trick.
Goldens are smart dogs, and they will quickly pick up on your cues and body language. When you’re trying to teach your Golden something, whether it’s a new trick or discouraging a bad habit, you shouldn’t hesitate to communicate your approval or disapproval. Disciplining your Golden Retriever five or ten minutes later will not work - your dog must associate your actions with his behaviors, and your actions must occur immediately or they’ll be wasted.
Another important point is that you must be patient and consistent. If your Golden is slow to pick up on a command or direction, don’t give up or change what you’re doing. Plug along, consistently giving the same verbal or visual cues over a period of time. For example, if you see your Golden chasing a car, stop him immediately. Be sure he understands that your discipline is directly related to the car. Even when he doesn’t pick up your message right away, repeat the same action every time you see him chasing a car. You might try a verbal cue like “No Car!” to help with the repetition. Hold your ground. Golden Retrievers can be strong-minded and stubborn. Your Golden may be trying your limits. Be the pack leader and let him know you won’t back down.
Praise should also be immediate and directly related to the behavior. If you wait until your Golden stops the behavior to offer praise, he will have no idea that the behavior was wanted. He may even think the praise is for stopping the behavior!
For the most part, Golden Retrievers are easy to train. They want your love and affection, and they are willing to please their owner. If you have trouble training your Golden, it may be because he’s not getting enough exercise or attention in general. This will lead to rowdiness or overly timid behavior. Due to the over-breeding that has resulted from their popularity, modern Goldens may have some behavior problems that were rare in the past. Your Golden may also have some health problems that could influence his behavior.
If your Golden Retriever is not responding as you would like to you, you might consider joining an organized class or taking him to a professional dog trainer. But before you do that, you should take him for a visit with the vet. Many behavior problems stem from pain or illness. Be careful to rule out a physical condition that could be easily treated before you look to training as the answer.
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Today I fell into a trap that I should never have allowed myself to get into. I actually trusted my dog, my Nikki, a 3 year golden retriever.
Nikki is an amazingly affectionate dog, even more than normal for a golden retriever. She is gentle, good natured and behaves pretty well.
She loves going out for car drives, and she is a very well behaved dog in the car. She sits beside me, head hanging out the window and gently watching the world go by. She never gets agitated, restless or excited, even when she spots another dog out the window.
The other day, I took both Nikki, and Benny my black lab out for a drive. This time Benny was sitting in the front. Nikki was in the back. As usual I had the back and front window open.
I drove around the corner, and pulled into my driveway. And, what do I see…Nikki, sitting by the front gate. She must have jumped out the back window as I was pulling around the corner and ran to the gate.
I had absolutely NO clue she had even jumped out. Never before did she ever show any signs of jumping out.
Needless to say I was freaking. I mean, with a little imagination, I could imagine what could have happened.
Rule number one: Don’t trust your dogs. No matter how well behaved your dogs are, they are still dogs. Look out for their safety. Always make safety your first priority.
I should have known better. I try to make dog safety and dog training and dog nutrition my priorities. I have 3 dogs, 2 black labs, and my Nikki, a golden retriever. Dukie, one of my black labs is blind. Oddly enough, when I walk my 3 dogs and my neighbor comes and joins me with her dog, Dukie behaves the best. He loves walking and going for car rides. If you are observing him, you would never know he is blind.
The Labrador retriever (”Labrador” or “Lab” for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, and are the most popular breeds of dog (by registered ownership) in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The breed is exceptionally friendly, intelligent and good natured, and as a rule these qualities mean that Labs love people, handle children well, and therefore make excellent family and service dogs. Benny, my black lab and Nikki are both Certified Therapy Dogs. They visit the elderly in homes.
Labradors are relatively large with males typically weighing 60 to 80 lb (27 to 36 kg) and females 50 to 70 lb (23 to 32 kg). They are energetic outgoing dogs, and are black, yellow, or brown (called “chocolate”) in color, in that order of frequency. Their fur is usually fairly short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong. The otter-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador retriever make him an excellent swimmer. Their interwoven coat is also waterproof, providing more assistance for swimming. The tail acts as a rudder for changing directions. Yellow labs can have black or pink noses; chocolate and black labs’ noses match the coat color.
As with some other breeds, the English and the America lines differ slightly. Labs are bred in England as a medium size dog, shorter and stockier with fuller faces than their American counterparts which are bred as a larger dog. I have both, one English, My Benny, and one American, my Dukie.
Famous Labs
• U.S. President Bill Clinton’s pet labrador was called Buddy.
Reasons to train your precious lab and golden
Here’s a Small Sample of What You Should Learn:
1) Make sure your dog knows why you are trying to correct him? Learn how to make him understand what you want of him.
2) Learn from the Pros. You can teach your dog at home, but learn from the pros. Do not learn mistakes from amateurs with opinions.
3) Teach your dog NOT to fight with other dogs
4) Curb your dog’s aggressiveness, before it even has a chance to start.
5) House train your dog without getting aggravated
6) Teach your dog NOT to jump up on people.
Remember, a well trained dog is a happy dog and a safe dog. A well trained dog is received with joy by neighbors and friends. Don’t let your puppy/dog become an aggravation; teach him to be a socially well behaved dog.
And, if you have the time and inclination, look into dog therapy visiting with your dog. It is an extremely worthwhile activity. And guldens and labs are wonderful at this job. Just do a search on the internet for “Dog Therapy” groups and organizations in your area.
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Regardless of what kind of dog you are looking for you may want to consider a lab mix puppy. The only type of dog that really does not work for a lab mix puppy are dogs from the toy category. In general these dogs are desirable because of their small size, but when you mix them with a Labrador they will no longer retain that tiny size. However, just about every other class of dog will work in for a lab mix puppy.
Black Dog Omen
Black dog syndrome is used by people who work or volunteer in animal shelters. For some reason, all black dogs, even purebred black Labrador Retrievers are almost always passed over in favor of other colored dogs. Any other color dog does better - even if they are the same breed. This also happens to black Labrador Retrievers, especially in shelters. A golden, yellow, white or chocolate Labrador Retriever will almost always be picked over black Labrador Retrievers.
Superstition
Although we claim to not believe in superstitions, our subconscious proves we do. Quite often, we pass over anything black because of the negative bias towards the color black. The only things that seem to escape this bias are diamonds and horses. However, there are a lot of myths, legends and stories about black dogs being somehow bad. One of these is that vampires can change into black wolves - or black dogs (even black Labrador Retrievers).
Probably the most famous bad black dog was the Hound of the Baskervilles, which went after the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Many scholars and psychologists think the reason why the Hound of the Baskervilles is so famous is because a large black dog fits our subconscious idea of what an evil creature looks like, even a dog with floppy ears like a black Labrador Retriever.
Hecate And Paganism
In some pre-Christian pagan religions, black dogs were seen as sacred. One of the most powerful and respected Goddesses (still worshipped by modern day Pagans) is Hecate (or Hekate), known as the Goddess of Witches. One of her symbols was the black dog. It was said that She could appear to people in the form of either a black snake, a black mare or a black dog.
Whenever Christianity overtook paganism, anything associated with the old Deities was immediately demonized. This is probably what happened to all black dogs, even in this modern day and age, causing the black dog syndrome seen today in pet rescues and animal shelters.
A Good Dog Is Never A Bad Color
If you are considering adopting a dog (and good for you), then please be sure to take a second look at all of the black dogs in the shelter. Perhaps they will look ordinary, but that’s only on the outside. If you specifically want to adopt a Labrador Retriever, be sure to tell the breed rescue or animal shelter that you would accept a black Labrador Retriever. You will certainly gain not only the shelter worker’s respect, but the friend of a lifetime.
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It is unfortunate that one of the most favored pets, the Golden Retrievers are high risks for eye and heart diseases. These can be hereditary and also non hereditary. Some of these are irreversible, and require constant attention to check the onset, and if possible some treatment can be prescribed. The heart is also afflicted by heart disease.
In cases of the Golden Retrievers having one or more of these diseases, it is recommended that they should not be exposed to breeding, because these defects can be passed from generation to generation.
Eye and Heart Diseases are common to the Golden Retrievers. Mostly, it is hereditary, and cataracts develop as a common problem. While this may not result in significant loss of vision, in some it does cause considerable loss, and sometimes total vision is affected.
This disease also is caused by other factors, apart from hereditary factors. Only a certified veterinarian will be able to judge how serious the cataracts are really. Apart from this eye disease, some families of this breed carry genes for central progressive retinal atrophy, which means that the retina on which the image is reflected for the brain to pick up and show the 3D image, shrinks, and will result in permanent blindness, often, at even young age. The severity of the cataracts can only be judged by a qualified veterinarian. It is recommended that a veterinarian ophthalmologist examines your pet, since he would have the experience and equipment to correctly identify the progression of the disease.
Some of the problems with eye lend themselves to surgical repair, such as eyelids rotation, inside or outside, eyelashes rubbing the eye, experts strongly recommend that breeding should not be allowed, and they are not allowed to participate in the American Kennel Club shows.
Another disease which afflicts most of the Golden Retrievers is heart disease. During the annual examination, or if you notice anything peculiar you should take your pet to the veterinarian to check for heart disease by a cardiologist, who will carry out tests to rule out heart disease. The most common heart disease seen in this breed is the Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis, which means simply that the heart function is affected, and sufficient oxygen, the author is subject to correction, is not being absorbed by the blood and subsequently, it spread rapidly
It is strongly recommended to the owners of the Golden Retrievers that in the event of any of the above disease is present, they should not, repeat consider breeding their pet. There is every possibility that it may turn out to be a disaster, either by the carrying forward of the disease, or resulting in fatality for your pet.
Itis better to be safe rather than sorry later. It’s a great pity, but who can cavail against nature? At the moment there is no remedy. We can only hope that your pet does not suffer too much and cause anguish and pain to you. We understand your pain and can share it somewhat, but we can never feel the same level of anguish and pain that you have, even though we are equally fond of Golden Retrievers. Having been through that trauma, we can at best commisserate with you.
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Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, mixed retriever breeds as well as all water dogs can have more enriched lives by learning training techniques used by duck hunters.
Once the owner of a retriever has learned the skills to teach his dog all he can be in the field a new world opens up. Training your retriever can become a highlight of family activities and at the same time give the retriever all the exercise he needs.
Too often retriever owners make the mistake of assuming only hunting dogs need to be taught marks and lines. But it is these exercises that keep the dog exercised and at the same time fulfills the basic need to retrieve. Not just throwing a toy a few feet but rather retrieves from a distance. This is referred to as a mark. The dog watches the dummy as it is thrown and then marks the location of the fall. Training dummies are used for this activity and can found at dog supply stores.
A single mark is the best exercise to teach the dog to mark. You will need a helper to throw the dummy. It is best to start with one person helping. Having two or more helpers in the field can cause the dog to gaze back and forth and disrupt his marking ability.
Double marks can motivate the dog to return quickly to retrieve another mark. Have your helper throw a dummy in one direction (approximately 50 feet to begin) and another helper throw a closer mark. Having your dog retrieve the last mark thrown is the usual order of pick up. Place the helpers so that there is no chance of going to the wrong mark. The more distant mark is often referred to as the memory mark. The dog will learn to judge distance if you vary the location of the helpers at each new marking lesson.
You will have a very enjoyable training session as long as each participant knows his job. Here are the steps to keep in mind. The handler places the helper in the field and decides where the starting line should be. He then heels his dog to the line holding him by a rope attached to the collar. He signals the helper with his free arm to throw. The dog must follow the flight of the dummy until it lands and only when the dog is intently fixed on it does the handler send the dog. The helper should remain silent facing the mark as the dog makes the retrieve.
When you are first beginning, find a park-like area with mowed grass and always try to use white dummies since dogs do not see red. Initially, do short marks about 50 feet or less. After a few weeks the training exercises can include water work. So if you are at a pond, lake, or river you can have lots of fun with marking retrieves across the water giving the dog a chance to do what he was bred to do. Once your retriever has successfully retrieved a mark it can be repeated without the helper. This is referred to as giving the dog a line.
The requirement to accomplish the above exercises is basic obedience. This must include the ability to return to the hander to deliver the dummy. Fun short marks can be introduced as early as four months old. Most dogs need a number of months to prepare for marking lessons.
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The trend is sweeping the nation as more people discover the wonderful world of horses. Participation in horse events is at an all-time high. Nearly 2 million Americans own horses, and millions more would like to.
In fact, a recent survey found three out of five adults would be happy if they were given a horse as a gift. And, a majority is interested in horseback riding while on vacation, attending a rodeo and going to a horse race.
With interest in horses on the rise, it’s no surprise that more Americans are finally getting involved. They are taking vacations at dude ranches, going on relaxing trail rides to de-stress after work, skipping gym workouts to fulfill fitness routines on horseback, and even using horses to teach kids responsibility and confidence.
And more importantly, they are finding affordable options.
“Getting involved is easier and less expensive than you might think,” said Bill Brewer, executive vice president of the American Quarter Horse Association. “With our nationwide network of professional horsemen, AQHA can connect people - regardless of interest level, age or income - with horses. It’s what we do best.”
Brewer mentioned several cost-effective options for enjoying horses without the cost of ownership, such as leasing, time-sharing, vacationing at a ranch or taking lessons.
“With these affordable options, there has never been a better time to get started,” he said.
AQHA is making it easier than ever to get involved by offering a gift set for $30. The set includes a Breyer model horse, a book about American Quarter Horses and a certificate good for one free riding lesson from a local professional trainer in your area.
“This gift is an easy way to make a dream for a horse come true,” Brewer said. “A lesson on a dependable breed like the American Quarter Horse, which we call the ‘golden retriever of the horse world,’ is a fun and safe way to be introduced to the joy of a life with horses.”
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