Golden Retriever Education
As Good as Gold is delighted to offer education to our members and the general public about responsible pet guardianship. The area is led by Linda Lewiston, DVM, MS, KPA-CTP. Linda brings experience as a veterinarian along with dog training credentials to this position.
Please review our Golden knowledge base below.
Golden Education Topics
Although goldens are sweet and loyal and make excellent pets, many people focus on the looks and status of a golden without thinking about the commitment that they will need. Goldens are smart, witty, and perpetual puppies. If you don’t do your homework before deciding to bring a golden in to your home, you could be in for quite a surprise.
Things to Consider Before Adopting a Golden
You’ll need to get used to tumbleweeds of dog hair, clogged vacuum cleaners and lint rollers in every room. Your favorite pair of black velvet pants will look like a muppet faster than you can imagine. Dog hair is something that you will have to deal with on an hourly basis if you bring one into your home. Worth it? Absolutely.
No, we’re not kidding. They are smart and need to go to a structured, positive-reinforcement obedience class immediately. Those goldens you see on TV? Years of training, time and effort. If you put in the time up front, you will be rewarded for years to come.
Exercise is key with golden ownership. They are active, playful dogs that like to be social. Not getting to go for walks at least every day will mean that the golden will need to find something else to do… and that something might involve chewing on items or furniture that they shouldn’t. Plenty of exercise will help your golden remain well adjusted and fit, as well as keep them out of trouble.
Not every person gets along with everyone they meet, so why should we expect that of our dogs? Contrary to popular belief, although many goldens are great with kids, big and small, not all of them enjoy the company of children. Many have had bad experiences with children whose parents were not watching them, and many have just never been socialized with them. Getting a golden does not mean that they will automatically let your kids crawl all over them. Keep in mind that goldens are dogs, and all dogs can snap or bite.
There are 4.7 million Americans who get bitten by dogs every year. Surprised? Any breed of dog can bite at any time… and that includes goldens. There are many ways to prevent dog bites. Visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website to learn more about preventing dog bites.
Health
All breeds have certain illnesses or genetic defects they are prone to. Listed below are some of the most common medical issues found in Golden Retrievers:
Hip Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia
Eye Disease
Heart Disease
Seizures
Cancer
Nutrition
As Good as Gold believes in a holistic approach to dog food. Many advertised dog foods that look great on TV have additives, sugar, preservatives, corn, grains, and sometimes even sawdust in the ingredients.
Less is more. Look for labels with fewer ingredients, and make sure that the first two ingredients aren’t corn and wheat, since many goldens are allergic to either or both of those ingredients.
Linda is willing to consult AGaG members on health, behavior and training topics. Please contact Linda by email at education@asgoodasgold.org. Briefly describe the issue you’d like help with and indicate dates and times you are available to discuss the issue and we will reach out to schedule a follow up.
Educational Articles by As Good as Gold
A Day in the Life of a Home Visit Volunteer
This is the second of a series of articles to acquaint readers with the work and accomplishments of As Good [...]
Cold Weather Tips for Goldens
Winter weather has arrived, and temperatures are dropping below freezing. What does that mean for your golden retriever? Many golden [...]
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
I am sure you have heard the term positive reinforcement training. But what does that term mean? What is positive [...]
Dog Collars, which ones to use?
There are many types of collars for your dog. Some collars are part of a positive reinforcement approach to training [...]
How Do I Know What to Feed My Golden Retriever?
There are many opinions about what to feed dogs. There are grain free foods, limited ingredient foods, designer brands and [...]
Food Allergies in Dogs
Itchy skin in dogs is more than just a minor annoyance. Red, oozing bald patches, rashes are a real discomfort [...]
September is Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Being a responsible dog owner includes caring for the health, safety, enrichment and training of your golden retriever. While you [...]
Should I Vaccinate My Golden Retriever?
Vaccines are one of the safest and most cost-effective means of controlling infectious disease. There are several vaccinations which are [...]
How To Clean Your Golden’s Ears
Your pet’s ears are very different than yours – inside and out – and many factors can lead to problems [...]
A Day in the Life of a Home Visit Volunteer
This is the second of a series of articles to acquaint readers with the work and accomplishments of As Good [...]
Cold Weather Tips for Goldens
Winter weather has arrived, and temperatures are dropping below freezing. What does that mean for your golden retriever? Many golden [...]
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
I am sure you have heard the term positive reinforcement training. But what does that term mean? What is positive [...]
Dog Collars, which ones to use?
There are many types of collars for your dog. Some collars are part of a positive reinforcement approach to training [...]
How Do I Know What to Feed My Golden Retriever?
There are many opinions about what to feed dogs. There are grain free foods, limited ingredient foods, designer brands and [...]
Food Allergies in Dogs
Itchy skin in dogs is more than just a minor annoyance. Red, oozing bald patches, rashes are a real discomfort [...]
September is Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Being a responsible dog owner includes caring for the health, safety, enrichment and training of your golden retriever. While you [...]
Should I Vaccinate My Golden Retriever?
Vaccines are one of the safest and most cost-effective means of controlling infectious disease. There are several vaccinations which are [...]
