So, you read THE WATCHER a dozen times, you’ve seen Golden Retrievers working as guide dogs, and now you want to buy a Golden Retriever puppy of your own. However, before you bring one of these cuddly yellow fuzz balls home, you need to be sure a Golden Retriever is really the right dog for [...]

Golden Retrievers gradually became among the most popular dog breeds around. The reasons are not far to seek: they’re intelligent, friendly, eager to please and beautiful to look at.
But Goldens do require a bit more care and attention than some other breeds. Anyone considering one of these magnificent animals should think carefully.
Though it’s sometimes overstated, [...]

The image of a friendly, active Golden Retriever is familiar to anyone who has seen a magazine ad or TV commercial. And there’s a good reason that breed features prominently in so many of them: it’s all true!
Golden Retrievers are one of the most easily trained breeds because they are smart, active and sociable. They [...]

Housebreaking is something anyone will want to do no matter the breed of dog they own. Fortunately for the human companions of Golden Retrievers, that’s a much easier task with these intelligent, eager to please pups.
Beginning as early as four weeks for some, but certainly no later than eight weeks of age, Golden Retriever pups [...]

Some dog owners don’t have to worry too much about grooming. Short haired breeds can use the occasional bath and toe nail trim, but the effort required to care for them is much less. Golden Retrievers, on the other hand, require a bit more care to keep them healthy and looking good.
Proper coat care takes [...]

Any dog owner will want to take the best possible care of his or her companion. For Golden Retrievers, that can be a challenge. Because of their popularity they’ve had a long history that has involved a fair amount of inbreeding.
Mating a bitch with a stud that is too closely related increases the odds of [...]

Golden Retrievers are among the more active breeds and require a lot of exercise 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 [...]

Apart from hip dysplasia, there are half a dozen common conditions or diseases that Golden Retrievers tend to suffer from. That’s not to say most Golden’s are unhealthy. They suffer no more than any other breed. But there are a group of afflictions that are more typically found among them than some others.
Skin diseases and [...]

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 [...]

Most dogs have their favorite toy. But Goldens have some unique requirements that make selecting the right gear a little trickier.
Leashes, Collars and Harnesses
Since they can get relatively large, a good leash or harness is a must. But what is ‘good’ in this case? The average male Golden is 22-24 inches (56-61 cm) in height [...]

Tragically, one of the more common afflictions that a Golden Retriever may suffer from is hip or elbow dysplasia. A University of Columbia study found that as many as 30% had the condition. Dogs examined by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, http://www.offa.org), which has a screening service to certify the presence or absence of [...]

Neutering a male Golden Retriever may be common practice, but it is still serious surgery and carries risks and benefits. Weighing them carefully will result in the best decision for you and your pet.
Neutering (’spaying’ is the procedure for females) is a surgical procedure that removes the testicles. That act has a number of consequences.
Neutering, [...]

Many dogs are deliberately not socialized - guard dogs, some guide dogs, drug sniffing dogs and others who have specialized duties. Many others simply live with people who don’t regard it as important enough to bother about. Many animals from shelters have had unpleasant experiences, making the task more difficult.
But socializing your Golden Retriever is [...]

Since surgery is involved, the decision to spay your female Golden Retriever is a very serious one. There are benefits and risks whichever option you pick.
Spaying is essentially performing a hysterectomy on your dog, removing the uterus and ovaries to prevent pregnancy and menstrual cycles. Female Goldens have a ‘heat’ about every six months, during [...]

Like much else today, whether to give your dog vaccinations is a matter of some controversy. Getting objective information is difficult because there are so many advocates on both sides of the question. Some even sound reasonable. Those who might be concerned about the issue will want to do their own research to get as [...]