Introduction
I know you love your Golden Retriever, but there are some things you might be doing that are accidentally hurting them.
Skipping some steps while grooming them, overfeeding them, and giving them the wrong toys are a few of these easily-made mistakes.
See the rest of them in this video.
Get the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook here: bit.ly/3Bcsyj7
Watch “10 Mistakes First-Time Golden Retriever Owners Make” next: youtu.be/uzHpvyTMzkk
See our favorite harnesses for Golden Retrievers in this video: youtu.be/Ym30ua-H4Bw
Video
I know, you love your golden retriever and you'd never do anything to hurt them.
But there are some things you might be accidentally doing that hurts them without you even knowing like feeding them too much.
Yes, golden retrievers, absolutely love food.
And how can you say no to those pleading puppy dog eyes, but goldens as a breed are known for easily gaining too much weight.
This can cause all sorts of health problems, they're already susceptible to joint and heart issues.
And being overweight could make these issues even worse and it's, not exactly hard to give your golden too much food, a few table scraps here training treats there and some toys with treats in them.
All add up, even though you're golden may look at you like they're, starving stick to feeding them, an appropriate amount of food to keep them at a healthy weight.
Next up is another thing your golden probably loves, but could be dangerous for them, letting them stick their heads out of the car window.
Many goldens love car, rides they're going on an adventure with you, and they get to stick their head out of the window and get loads of new smells.
But the issue with this is that rocks or other debris could easily hit them in the face and hurt them that makes sense right? So maybe you only roll down the window when you're going slow.
But I've heard lots of stories of dogs jumping out of the window when the car is going slow.
So if you're going to do that, you might want to have them on a leash or buckled in or maybe only crack the windows a little bit looking back on it.
This mistake is kind of obvious, but that's, not the case with this.
Next one, you might accidentally be hurting your golden by not having a routine, although many goldens do like to go on adventures with their owners, having a consistent routine the rest of the time helps them relax when they know when they're going to get to eat potty play and sleep.
They won't be worried about doing those things.
And this is especially helpful for goldens because anxiety is something many golden retrievers struggle with us.
Golden parents are usually guilty of spoiling our pups, but you might accidentally be hurting your golden by giving them the wrong toys and bones.
One of the most popular, but potentially dangerous things is cooked bones after dinner, your gold may be eyeing that big old beef bone, and you love your dog.
So you want to give them the things that they like, but cook bones are a definite no-no because they're, cooked they're more brittle, and they can easily splinter into little pieces that can hurt your dog's insides.
If they swallow them and be careful about giving your golden toys that are easily destroyed.
Because if your pup swallows a piece, they can choke on it, or it can cause an obstruction in their tummy.
Yes.
This includes plush toys, keep an eye on your dog when you give them a plush toy and take it away from them before it gets ripped apart.
So that they don't get the chance to swallow the stuffing or the squeaker next up has to do with something.
I've seen a lot of golden retrievers wearing you might accidentally be hurting your golden by getting the wrong.
Harness for them.
Harnesses are great, because they take pressure off of your dog's neck and harnesses with the front clip, can even help them pull less hard, which is a common problem.
Golden retriever, owners struggle with, but not all harnesses are made equal some harnesses.
Go across your dog's front legs and actually restrict their movement.
If they wear this type of harness for too long over time, it may change the way they walk and the way their muscles develop.
So when choosing a harness choose one that goes in between your dog's front legs, not across them.
We made a video about our favorite harnesses, which I'll link to down in the description.
And speaking of walks, you might accidentally be hurting your golden by not giving them enough exercise.
I mentioned earlier that goldens easily gain weight.
Well, one way to help prevent that is to make sure they get enough exercise.
This will also help keep their muscles and joints healthy, plus it could save your relationship with your golden here's.
What I mean by this one of the biggest struggles people have with their golden retriever is that they have too much energy.
They want to play all the time and they jump and pull and chew and just act crazy in your home.
This may cause some people to want to give up their dog.
But if you give your pup enough mental and physical exercise, this probably won't be as big of a problem.
And you may find some of these unwanted behaviors seem to get a lot better.
So if you want a well-behaved golden, give them plenty of exercise speaking of behavior problems.
The first 30 days of bringing your pup home are crucial and can either make things a lot easier or a lot harder for you.
We put together the golden retriever, puppy handbook to give you a game plan for those first 30 days, and you can learn more about it in the link down in the description.
Next up is something that busy people may accidentally do you can hurt your golden retriever by leaving them alone for too long and too often goldens are social dogs.
All they want to do is be with their families.
And I know you have your life to live, but your golden will be happiest if they can be included for as much of it as possible.
One of the causes of separation anxiety is leaving your dog alone, too frequently for long periods of time.
And I know you don't want your pup to have to go through that.
Now goldens are one of the most beautiful dog breeds, but all that beauty doesn't come without some work on your part.
Goldens need a lot of grooming.
And these next few mistakes are all ones that are easy to make when grooming your golden.
Even if you take your golden to the groomers, the first is bathing them too much your golden retriever's coat does more than just look pretty and be soft.
It actually helps regulate their body temperature and protect their skin.
It has natural oils that help it do its job.
But when you bathe your golden too much, you can remove those oils if this happens, their skin can get dry and irritated so try to bathe their golden about once every two months.
And after bath time, don't make this next mistake, leaving shampoo in their coat.
They have really thick coats and it's hard to fully rinse them off and get all the shampoo out.
But you need to take the time to do it.
If you don't, the leftover shampoo can irritate their skin.
And speaking of shampoo, make sure to use a dog, friendly shampoo, human shampoos have a different ph balance and may contain fragrances and chemicals you probably don't want on your dog's coat, just like leaving shampoo in your dog's coat can bother their skin.
So can leaving them with water in their coats.
You might accidentally be hurting your golden by not fully drawing them after bath time or swimming.
I know it takes a lot of effort to get them dry because of their thick double coats.
But if water gets trapped under their coats and on their skin, it may lead to hot spots.
These are red, oozy, painful sores that are common in golden retrievers.
So don't, bathe them, too often.
But when you do be sure to get all the soap out of their coat and dry them off completely in between baths are when these next few mistakes happen, you can accidentally hurt your golden by not brushing them enough don't, just let the groomer take care of brushing.
Your pup goldens need to be brushed.
A few times per week to keep them from getting mats in their fur mats are tangled knots that can be painful and cause skin problems.
But regular brushing does a good job at preventing them.
You can also hurt them by not clipping their nails enough long, nails can put pressure on your dog's feet when they're walking.
So they may mess up their toes or their feet, plus they're, also more likely to get snagged and say, the carpet or cracks in the road.
You can accidentally hurt your golden by not cleaning their ears.
Their ears are cute because they're so floppy and fuzzy, but that's, also what makes them problematic.
They easily trap moisture and heat, which is an ideal breeding ground for ear infections.
So be sure to clean their ears once or twice a month and dry them after swimming or bath time.
Okay, we've got one more grooming mistake.
Then we'll get to a controversial mistake.
You might accidentally be making.
You can hurt your golden without realizing it by not brushing their teeth.
Many people don't brush, their dog's teeth.
But it's important.
If you don't, they can easily develop dental diseases, which can cause several different health issues, pet, md, recommends that you brush your dog's teeth at least two to three times per week, additional ways to keep their teeth.
Clean are giving them, chew toys, rope toys, which kinda act like floss and treats made for dental health.
Your vet might also clean their teeth.
Every few years, depending on how they're doing now here's something I'm surprised.
Some people are still doing these days yelling at your dog can hurt them without you realizing it even if they did something wrong yelling is not the way to let your dog know about it.
Golden retrievers are sensitive people pleasers.
And they hate it when you're mad at them, plus they respond best to positive reinforcement yelling at your pup could hurt your relationship with them, which may make teaching them what you want them to do even harder in the future, and they usually don't understand what they did wrong.
So it's, not fair to yell at them there's, a lot that you can accidentally mess up when raising your golden.
And you can watch this next video about 10 mistakes.
First time, golden retriever owners make.
So you can avoid them and raise your puppy right.
Thanks for watching and I'll.
See you in the next video.
FAQs
The adolescence period starts about the age of 5 months and lasts until they are about two to three years old. The most difficult is usually between 8 and 18 months (which is when most dogs are surrendered to rescues and shelters).
What are Golden Retrievers weaknesses? ›
4 Cons of the Golden Retriever
This breed gets big (55-75 pounds) and will gladly get bigger if overfed. Needs vigorous exercise (and a lot of it). Daily workouts of 40-60 minutes are a must for this breed. Without it, they can become restless, overweight, and chewy.
Can Golden Retrievers tell if you're sad? ›
Overall, it seems that dogs can determine human emotions using only their ears, at least for happiness, fear, and sadness — using the right side of their brain for processing negative emotions and the left side for positive ones.
Do Golden Retrievers get their feelings hurt? ›
Dogs spend their entire lives being surrounded by their humans. As dog owners, how you act towards your dogs leaves a significant impact, whether emotionally or physically. Your dogs may not be capable of feeling the same way as humans would, but dogs can still feel happy, sad, or hurt.
At what age do Goldens calm down? ›
When Do Golden Retrievers Calm Down? Golden Retrievers are a hyper dog breed, however, like most dogs, they tend to calm down after their puppy phase, around 2 or 3 years old. Golden Retriever females of the breed tend to mature faster obedience-wise than males, so they are more likely to be calmer overall.
Do Golden Retrievers have a favorite person? ›
For example, grey hounds, Shiba Inus, Cairn terriers, and Basenjis often bond strongly with one person, while Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, poodles, and beagles like to spread the love more equally.
Do Golden Retrievers miss you? ›
It's not unusual for dogs to grieve the loss of a person they've bonded with who is no longer present. While they might not understand the full extent of human absence, dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who's no longer a part of their daily lives.
What are Golden Retrievers sensitive to? ›
Allergy To Pollen, Grass, & Dust
Pollen, grass, and dust allergies (inhalant allergies) are common in dogs, especially Golden Retrievers. These allergies are caused by the immune system overreacting to environmental allergens such as trees, grass, and weed pollens, mold spores, and dust mites.
Do Golden Retrievers have a temper? ›
The golden retriever is even-tempered, intelligent and affectionate. Golden retrievers are playful, yet gentle with children, and they tend to get along well with other pets and strangers.
Do dogs know when you kiss them? ›
According to Animal Behaviorists, 'dogs don't understand human kisses the same way that humans do. ' When kissing a young puppy, you may not notice any signs of recognition at all because they have yet to associate kisses with affection.
On this note, research shows that dogs can sense depression, and many of them even respond lovingly to their humans in an attempt to cheer them up. In the same way that we pay attention to their behavior, dogs also pay attention to our actions to determine our “energy” that day.
Why do Golden Retrievers put their head on you? ›
Reasons Your Dog Might Bury Their Head in You. Some dogs show their love with a wagging tail or jumping, and others show affection by burying their head in the person. The burrowing makes it easier for your pup to smell you, and since their smell is their strongest scent, it helps them bond with you.
Do Golden Retrievers turn on their owners? ›
So to answer the question 'is aggression common in Golden Retrievers, the answer is 'no, Golden Retrievers are not aggressive. They are loving, playful, calm, friendly, smiling, amiable dogs.
Why do Golden Retrievers put their head between your legs? ›
The behavior you describe isn't uncommon, and it could be due to excitement or anxiety. A scared dog may try to “hide” somewhere he thinks is safe. Your pup has been through some big changes over the past year, and he could be a little nervous as a result.
Why doesn't my Golden Retriever listen? ›
When people say their dog does not listen to them, it is often because of inconsistent standards. Dog's don't understand inconsistency. They want and need boundaries. If you want your dog to listen to you and behave, be consistent with your standards.
Are Goldens clingy? ›
Velcro Dog
If you don't want that much togetherness, a golden isn't for you! They must be near their humans to be happy. Be prepared to do a lot of hands on petting with your golden – they love it. Some goldens are downright needy in their desire for attention from their humans.
What is the mental age of a Golden Retriever? ›
According to several behavioral measures, Coren says dogs' mental abilities are close to a human child age 2 to 2.5 years.
What do golden retrievers love most? ›
Not only are Golden Retrievers gentle, they love children and are very intelligent and stable. Golden Retrievers love to run around and play outside. They love water and tend to jump in whenever they get the chance! Golden Retrievers also love to tug on things with their mouths, whether sticks or toys.
How do dogs choose alpha human? ›
Dogs choose their favorite people based on positive interactions and socialization they have shared in the past. Like humans, dogs are especially impressionable as their brains develop, so puppies up to 6 months old are in their key socialization period.
What is the best trait of a Golden Retriever? ›
Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs, and relatively easy to train. They take a joyous and playful approach to life and maintain this puppyish behavior into adulthood. These energetic, powerful gundogs enjoy outdoor play.
Dogs are wonderful and loyal creatures. Of course, this doesn't mean that they don't get jealous from time to time – especially when their person is showing affection to someone else. Dogs are affectionately known as Man's Best Friend.
How do golden retrievers show they love you? ›
Your dog might jump on you, lick your face, and they'll definitely wag their tail. Being excited and happy to see you is one way you can be assured they love and miss you. They seek physical contact. This can come in the form of a quick nuzzle, a cuddle, or the famous lean.
How traumatic is it for a dog to change owners? ›
The American Kennel Club says changing owners can be traumatic for dogs. Losing their owners can make dogs stop eating, lose weight, lose interest in physical activity, and exhibit symptoms of canine depression. That's why you must take any decision to re-home dogs seriously.
What is toxic for golden retrievers? ›
Toxic food for dogs
- Onions, garlic and chives. The onion family, whether dry, raw or cooked, is particularly toxic to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. ...
- Chocolate. ...
- Macadamia nuts. ...
- Corn on the cob. ...
- Avocado. ...
- Artificial sweetener (Xylitol) ...
- Alcohol. ...
- Cooked bones.
The science is in, and the answer is a resounding YES—dogs can smell fear. Dogs have olfactory superpowers that can detect a human's emotional state by the scent that a human emits. That's right—you can't hide fear from dogs.
How often should you bathe a Golden Retriever? ›
You can bathe golden retrievers every 4-6 weeks or as often as necessary. Bathing them too often could inflict major harm on their double coat. Instead, focus on regular brushing and grooming to remove loose hair, dirt, and debris.
What type of person owns a golden retriever? ›
The breed is known for its friendly, tolerant attitude which makes it well-suited as a family pet, while its intelligence makes it a highly capable working dog. According to The Kennel Club study, people who rank more emotionally stable and are positive and happy are best suited to Golden Retrievers.
Why is my golden retriever suddenly aggressive? ›
The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression.
Do dogs understand crying? ›
One research study conducted by University of Lincoln's School of Psychology found that dogs truly recognize emotions in humans and other dogs as a result of combining what they hear and see when a human is crying.
Why does my dog stare at me? ›
Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.
Previous research has shown that when humans cry, their dogs also feel distress. Now, the new study finds that dogs not only feel distress when they see that their owners are sad but will also try to do something to help. The findings were published today (July 24) in the journal Learning and Behavior.
What do dogs do when you cry? ›
They can't respond to your emotional state in the same way you're expressing it, but they know exactly what default you react to. In other words, their closeness, the nudging of their nose, their unwavering, deep gaze, and their overwhelming warmth make soothing your sadness a possibility.
Why do dogs cry when they see you? ›
Dogs can cry tears of joy when they are reunited with their owners, a small study has found. Canines may be genuinely thrilled when they see their human companions after a long period of absence, Japanese researchers have said. The tears are believed to deepen the bond between dogs and their owners.
Do dogs remember if they did something bad? ›
Research suggests that dogs with a guilty look do not show evidence that they are aware of having engaged in misbehavior. One would not experience guilt if one were unaware that a crime had been committed.
Do dogs remember if you hurt them? ›
Will My Dog Remember That I Hit Him? Most dogs have a fairly short memory of a one-off event. However, your dog may remember being hit if it happens on repeat occasions. They might form a negative association with the circ*mstance in which the hit happened.
Where do goldens like to be petted? ›
1. Dogs generally like being petted on their upper chest, hips, and butt. They also may enjoy being petted on the side of their face or under their chin. And they may love gentle ear rubs, including the tips of their ears.
Do Golden Retrievers like to sleep with their owners? ›
They enjoy sleeping with you because it makes them feel safe and comfortable. Sleeping together gives dogs an emotional connection to their owners. Dogs feel love and gratitude towards you, just like you feel towards them.
Why does my Golden Retriever follow me everywhere? ›
If your dog follows you everywhere then it's most likely a sign that they love and adore you. When dogs interact with someone they like, the hormone oxytocin is released. Oxytocin is often referred to as the 'love hormone' and makes you feel that warm glow when you're around someone you like.
What is the hardest age for a Golden Retriever? ›
The adolescence period starts about the age of 5 months and lasts until they are about two to three years old. The most difficult is usually between 8 and 18 months (which is when most dogs are surrendered to rescues and shelters).
Do Golden Retrievers sense sadness? ›
These signs show that our dogs respond to our emotions and behavioral changes. Although canines can not determine exactly what “sadness” means, they are able to pick up on our verbal and non-verbal cues and recognize the negative feelings that we may be experiencing.
“When a dog bumps or nudges you with their nose, it is usually because they want your attention or they want something from you.” Your dog probably learned to bump you with his nose. If you pet him every time he nudges you, he'll learn that it's an effective way to get your attention.
Why do golden retrievers lick your face? ›
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
Why do golden retrievers rub on walls? ›
Frequent bathing or using the wrong shampoo may dry out the protective layer of oil present in your dog's fur and skin causing it to become dry and itchy. To relieve the itch, your dog will walk and rub against anything, from walls to furniture, your car, and even your legs.
What is the hardest stage of a puppy? ›
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.
What is the most difficult dog age? ›
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
Are Golden Retrievers difficult as puppies? ›
Golden Retrievers have a reputation for being intelligent and eager to please. They're quick learners and are one of the easier breeds to train. Nonetheless, owners of this dog breed say it will take time and patience.
What is the naughtiest puppy age? ›
Undesirable behaviours such as barking, chewing, counter surfing, house-soiling and jumping up commonly begin to occur at around 3-6 months of age. Your puppy will not grow out of these behaviours.
What is the awkward stage of dogs? ›
Between six and eight months, many puppies have a "lanky" and awkward look that is quite adorable.
What age do puppy crazies stop? ›
When do puppies start to calm down? Most puppies start to calm down as they approach their maturity age, which is usually around 12 months, but for larger breeds it can be more likely to occur between 18 months and 2 years.
What is the average IQ of a Golden Retriever? ›
The average dog's IQ is about 100. Based on the results done to test a dog's IQ, it turned out that dogs, even the average ones, have the IQ same as a 2-years old human.
Golden Retrievers have a high chance of getting cancer. About 60% of golden retrievers die because of cancer. In the 1970's, their lifespan was between 16 and 17 years old, and now they live until 9 or 10 years old. We recommend taking your Golden to the vet at least twice a year to make sure everything is ok.
Do male or female Golden Retrievers live longer? ›
Overall, male and female Goldens have the same life expectancy, reaching anywhere between 10 and 12 years. In some cases, both male and female Golden Retrievers can even live between 14 and 15 years.
At what age are dogs most disobedient? ›
Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months). During this time, they'll often test their owners, seeing what they can get away with. Being firm and consistent with your training will help establish boundaries.
At what age do dogs try to dominate? ›
Although dominance issues do occasionally occur in younger puppies, it most often develops as the animal reaches maturity, between eighteen months and three years of age, and is much more common in male dogs than female.
What breed of dog is hardest to own? ›
Some of the toughest dog breeds are also the hardest to train, including Rottweilers, Siberian huskies, and American pit bull terriers. What's the most aggressive dog breed? Some of the most aggressive breeds include German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and American pit bull terriers.
Is it hard to control a Golden Retriever? ›
The good news is that golden retriever training is super easy as they are eager to please, especially when it comes to high-value puppy treats. It is important to get the best puppy training treats, whether you're teaching your puppy to lie down, sit, or potty train.
Are golden retrievers disobedient? ›
The intelligence and mild manners of the Golden Retriever makes them excellent assistant dogs. They can even be trained for more complex tasks and situations and may show selective disobedience when necessary.
Are golden retrievers clingy? ›
Velcro Dog
If you don't want that much togetherness, a golden isn't for you! They must be near their humans to be happy. Be prepared to do a lot of hands on petting with your golden – they love it. Some goldens are downright needy in their desire for attention from their humans.
