Author:

Luke Walton

Food Options For Your Golden

Posted by Luke Walton – June 17

Like many other topics relating to food and health, it’s difficult to get objective information about proper diet. Many authors seem intent on bashing large companies and more interested in politics than pet food.That means anyone interested in finding out the scientific facts about what is and what isn’t good for their Golden Retriever has to do a lot of research. A short article can’t be anything more than another voice in that dialogue.Selecting the proper food, therefore, will require the exercise of some common sense and a fair amount of diligence. Any extreme claim should be met with skepticism. Avoid being swayed by emotional appeals and horror stories.Even those opposed to the more popular, commercial dog foods agree on some basics about Golden Retriever diet. As canines, they are by nature carnivores. That means they have evolved to eat meat. All dogs, though (and Goldens in particular), have the capacity to digest some grains and vegetables.Wolves in the wild will eat not only the muscle meat, but also the internal organs of their prey. In doing so, they’ll ingest what their kill has previously eaten, which is often grasses and vegetables and other plant material. Since Golden Retrievers ultimately are descended from, and closely genetically related to, wolves they have similar capacities.There is general agreement, then, that Golden Retrievers should have a diet that contains a substantial percentage of meat proteins with a minimum of grains. And this is just what one finds in most commercial dog food, both wet and dry.Ingredients on both cans and bags are listed in order of percentage of the total, even though the percentages themselves are rarely listed.A kibble (dry dog food) that shows chicken or lamb meal will generally be in the range of 20-30% meat protein, in a form that has been dehydrated. To that has been added preservatives, sometimes Vitamin E (tocopherol), in order to keep the kibble from spoiling during the long period it is in the bag. Meat (in some form) should be first on the list.

Rice comes then.Some will use an inexpensive form called Brewer’s Rice. Those are the small, milled fragments of rice kernels. These become separated from the larger kernels during the milling process. But ground rice is preferred, since it’s of higher quality.Many commercial dry pet foods will have some corn or wheat gluten meal or even wheat flour. Some Goldens are sensitive to this, as evidenced by excessive paw licking or face scratching on the carpet or grass. They may bite the parts of their back and legs they can reach.

What diet they’re fed affects less.Like any animal, they can have an itch that is not an allergic reaction. But, sensitive or not, these ingredients should comprise a relatively small proportion of the total.

Corn gluten meal in particular should be low then.It’s a plant protein that is added in order to slow down the chemical activity of certain fats. It is created from the dried residue of corn after the removal of the starch and germ.

Meat byproducts are common to see in the list.These are the parts of chickens, lamb or cows that are not used for other purposes. Certain foods may contain parts of the neck, feet or even beaks or intestines. Avoid foods that list these as ingredients.Though the controversy over what to feed your Golden Retriever isn’t going to go away soon, you can still feed your dog without fear. Observe the thousands of dogs that are healthy who are fed popular commercial dog foods. Though the food could no doubt be improved, this is strong evidence they are not harmful. Millions of dogs eat them and live long, happy lives.

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Golden Retriever – Exercise and Training Advice for Your Golden

Posted by Kate Bass – May 17

A lot of exercise is needed by Golden Retrievers to stay fit and happy.Originally bred for game fetching, these energetic dogs can run much of the day, even late into life.

Training and exercise should start young, at around 8-10 weeks. At first the level of activity should be no more than what the pup is willing to do spontaneously. They’ll scamper around, explore bushes and wrestle with one another in between naps. But add to that by getting them to follow you in a particular direction, at least briefly. That’s the beginning of focusing on you and doing as you ask.As they mature, their legs and heart quickly become able to tackle small hills and half-mile walks. At about 4-6 months, a good half an hour hike is a possibility, provided water is available.During this period from about two to six months, the usual ‘sit, stay, heel’ routines can easily be folded into the mix. But there should be time allowed for less structured activities, as well. Goldens can be good show dogs, but they are also very free spirited and sometimes a little unfocused. Not all will excel at that kind of rigorous training. Giving them some time and space to simply run around and fetch a ball or sniff makes for a good balance.

Golden are ready to tackle more complex tasks when they are six months of age.Many are taught starting at this age (or a little younger) to be guide dogs, rescue dogs, drug search dogs and other roles requiring sophisticated skills. They’re among the most intelligent of breeds and can learn obstacle courses, complex dance routines and the like provided the trainer has the skill and patience.

Also during this early period, introducing them to other dogs and animals they may encounter or live with is a good idea. Golden Retrievers are by nature very sociable, but any dog that is isolated from other dogs, people or pets will be wary. Goldens are very loyal, too, and they can be territorial. Allowing them to safely interact with other dogs will help keep that to an appropriate time and level.A word of caution: since Goldens, especially those with parents from private owners, may not have been checked for hip dysplasia, you should discontinue exercise at any sign of hindquarter weakness. Have the dog examined. The vet will take an x-ray and check for signs of bone or joint problems. Goldens with this condition can still lead happy, healthy lives but reduced activity and special treatment is warranted.

You would spend a lot time on specialized training.At least an hour per day should be devoted for basics, more for more specialized tasks. Simple goals, like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and others can be accomplished quickly. Dance routines, obstacle courses, game fetching or other tasks may take months or years to perfect. Guide dog training and similar ‘jobs’ require intensive training for two years or more.But compared to many other breeds, Goldens will catch on quicker and execute more accurately. They’re eager to please, energetic and highly intelligent. Their trainer just needs to have the same qualities.

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