Golden Retriever Breed Guide

The nutritional needs of a golden retriever depend greatly on the dog's lifestyle. Many golden retrievers are family pets who hang out on the couch. Other golden retrievers are working dogs, hunting frequently with their owners. Many goldens also participate in sports such as agility, dock diving and most commonly, field trials. As a hunting breed, field trials mimic an actual hunt, allowing golden retrievers to follow their instincts of retrieving decoys from water, often as a competition, and are great exercise.4 This extreme variability in lifestyle means different nutritional needs.

It's important to have your veterinarian check your dog's weight during their regular visits to determine what their nutritional needs are. Canine athletes often have different calorie needs than a dog that is less active, but all goldens will benefit from a complete and balanced large-breed food. For non-athlete adult dogs, a weight management food may also be a good option if recommended by your vet. Every dog is different, even if they're the same breed. Your best resource to find the right food for your golden retriever is your vet.

Feeding a complete and balanced food is the key to ensuring your dog is getting the nutrients they need. A food with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and omega-6 fatty acids will help support skin and coat health, as well as joint health. A complete and balanced dog food will include some type of protein; canine athletes may require a higher protein diet than pets.

Golden retriever puppies will benefit from a complete and balanced puppy food to help them grow up into healthy adult dogs. A large-breed puppy formula is designed to support skeletal and joint health, since skeletal issues can be common in larger dogs.

Once your golden retriever reaches 12-18 months of age, they are considered an adult, even though they might not act like it. The switch from puppy food to adult food should occur over the course of a week to let your dog's digestive system adjust. Choose a food formulated for adult maintenance.

Golden retrievers are considered senior at about 6 years old. Around this time, your vet may recommend switching to a senior dog food to help support a healthy weight and accommodate a slower metabolism.

Maintaining an appropriate weight will support overall health in your golden retriever. Make sure to check with your vet about your dog's weight. If they need to lose a few pounds, your vet can guide you on a diet plan, which may include a weight control formula dog food.

To avoid unhealthy weight gain, always measure the amount you feed them on a kitchen gram scale, limit treats to 10% of the total daily calorie count and check your dog’s body condition monthly. Your veterinarian can help you determine a healthy weight for your dog and what food is best.

Golden retrievers continue to be one of the most popular breeds in the United States for a reason. Their golden coats match their sunny disposition; they seem to always be smiling and looking on the bright side of life. These intelligent, gentle-natured dogs thrive on human connection, making them an ideal choice as family pets, therapy dogs and fetch champions. Inside and out, golden retrievers shine bright wherever they go.

Affectionate, active people who don't mind large amounts of dog hair.

Families, kids. Always monitor children around dogs.

People with allergies, apartment dwellers

Before adopting any breed of dog, it's a good idea to speak to a veterinarian to determine if their health and care needs fit with your household, budget and lifestyle.

Golden retrievers are easygoing, but they are still large dogs that require exercise. Plan on 1-2 hours of exercise daily. This could include daily walks, swimming, agility training and playtime with family. Playing fetch is in their DNA, so throwing a ball or toy and letting them retrieve is great exercise!

Golden retrievers respond best to rewards-based training. These dogs should never have any kind of vibrating or electric collar, as they sometimes can be very sensitive and stop learning. Most goldens are very sweet and eager to please — simply rewarding them for the correct behavior will typically have your golden trained quickly! Remember: treats are great, but a ball or toy can work as a reward, too.

Golden retrievers are beautiful dogs with amazing personalities, but they are prone to a variety of health issues, some that can dramatically shorten their lives.

Goldens are prone to both environmental and food allergies. These often show up as frequent ear infections, hair loss and skin infections. Of course, your local environment and exposure can affect the severity. Your vet is your biggest help at managing these clinical signs.

Golden retrievers are very prone to many types of cancer, the most common being hemangiosarcoma. While it's not yet known why this breed gets cancer so frequently, research is underway. The Morris Animal Foundation is currently studying 3,000 goldens over the course of their lives, with the hope to pinpoint the cause of their high cancer risk.

As they age, goldens are prone to developing arthritis secondary to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia or knee injuries. Keeping your dog a healthy weight will not prevent these (they are genetic), but it can help reduce the clinical signs.

There's no sugar coating it: golden retrievers shed a lot! The good news is they typically do not need to be professionally groomed. Brushing them at least 2-3 times a week (and daily during heavy shedding periods) at home is sufficient. The best tool for this is a fine-toothed comb that can reach the undercoat. The golden retriever coat was designed to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so simply brushing and combing with a bath every few months is all you need.

If joy had a face, it would be that of a golden retriever. These dogs are highly rewarding, friendly and intelligent. They’re the kind of dog that greets you like you’ve been gone for years, even if you've just stepped out for five minutes. While there are sure to be rough patches (especially during the busy puppy phase), with patience and love, you'll have a great family member for years to come.