Golden Retriever
Popular Dog Breeds
All about the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a calm, gentle, active, adorable, elegant and very friendly dog. This dog loves to please its owners and can become one of the most loyal companions to a family. It is great with children and it will do well with other pets too.
This breed is intelligent and easy to train. It is cautious towards strangers and barks loudly when they sense any danger, which makes it a good watch dog.
This fantastically loyal dog needs plenty of human attention in return for its loyalty and can sometimes come across as a needy dog so it is not recommended for people with very little time on their hands.
Grooming a Golden Retriever
Hair type: The Golden Retriever has a heavy, water resistant undercoat which is prone to matting, and strong outer coat. It will also have an untrimmed feathering on the underbelly, back of the legs, front of the neck and underside of its tail.
Daily coat care: Combing and brushing your Golden Retriever’s coat using a firm bristle brush is essential and should be done a few times a week, with particular attention being paid to its undercoat. Golden Retrievers are prone to skin allergies, which may develop into eczema or infection. ’Hot Spots’ can also affect your Golden Retriever.
Recommended groom frequency: Golden Retrievers are extremely prone to matting and for this reason should be fully groomed every 4-6 weeks. In addition to managing their coat, skin checks are also a big part of your groomer’s service.
At Petmania Grooming Studios we have a full range of treatments available for your Golden Retriever. If you get puppy, we recommend our Puppy’s First Visit at around four months, once your puppy has received all his vaccinations.
Diet
Depending on the size, age and activity level of your Golden Retriever, you can expect to feed between 300g and 500g of dry food per day, split into two meals.
Golden Retrievers are prone to skin disorders called “hot spots” as well as being a breed which is at risk of developing heart problems. Both these ailments can be managed by choosing food a balanced nutritious diet.
To help you choose the right food, our Pet Care Advisors are instore to answer all your questions and offer their free advice.
Activity Level
The Golden Retrievers are relatively active indoors and do best in an average sized area. They need lots of daily exercise like long walk, jog etc. If sufficiently exercised they can do okay in an apartment, although lack of exercise may lead to behavioural problems in the dog. Like other retrievers, Golden Retriever matures slowly, both physically and mentally.
Where to get a Golden Retriever
There are lots of places offering dogs or puppies for sale in Ireland, but we would always ask that you consider adopting a dog first. Our animal rescue partners have 100’s of rescue dogs and puppies seeking a forever home and would be delighted to introduce you to them.
However, if a rescue dog is not for you, we do recommend that you choose a registered breeder and seek Irish Kennel Club registration papers which will confirm that the dog has been bred to their strict code of ethics.
