I am sure you have heard the term positive reinforcement training. But what does that term mean? What is positive reinforcement? Positive reinforcement training involves reinforcing your dog for the things they do right. There has been a lot of scientific research involved in dog…
Itchy skin in dogs is more than just a minor annoyance. Red, oozing bald patches, rashes are a real discomfort to dogs. The underlying cause needs to be determined so that these symptoms can be dealt with appropriately. Food allergies are one of the itchiest…
Being a responsible dog owner includes caring for the health, safety, enrichment and training of your golden retriever. While you no doubt already perform many of the actions listed in this article, read on to see if there might be a few more you want…
Vaccines are one of the safest and most cost-effective means of controlling infectious disease. There are several vaccinations which are considered core vaccines. The other vaccine options are considered non-core and should be recommended based on risk factors, life stage and lifestyle. This article will…
Your pet’s ears are very different than yours – inside and out – and many factors can lead to problems with your dog’s ears. Allergies to things in your dog’s environment (pollen, dust mites, mold, grass, etc.), also known as canine atopy; food allergies or…
Heartworm disease is caused by a worm (Dirofilaria immitis) that is about 14 inches long. Dogs become infected through mosquito bites. The mosquitos carry the larva that they acquired from biting other dogs or coyotes. Heartworm live on the right side of the heart which…
Most dog bite victims are children. In many cases, the dog that bites is their own, a friend’s, a neighbor’s or a babysitter’s dog. There are many things that a parent can do to reduce the risk of a dog bite. Some of the ways…
Warmer weather is finally here. No more snow. Now we must protect our goldens from extreme heat. Summer days can be very hot and humid. Our goldens like to run and play and can easily get overheated. This article will give you some warning signs,…
There are many golden retrievers who suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy is defined as seizure activity that is repeated over weeks, months or years. A genetic basis is presumed based on pedigree analysis in golden retrievers. Most dogs with genetic epilepsy will develop seizures between 1-4…
Plaque is a slime comprised of bacteria, saliva and food particles which adhere to the teeth. Without preemptive care, this plaque mineralizes and forms tartar, which is the brown rock-like deposits seen on teeth. If plaque is left untreated, your pet can experience pain and…
