1) Feed your dog healthy food. First, this means that you must feed your Golden Retriever quality food – and here “expensive” does not automatically mean “good. Second, it means paying attention to your dog’s weight and not overfeeding him. Golden Retrievers are prone to being overweight, and dogs who are overweight die sooner. And don’t forget: Fresh water every day is an essential part of proper feeding!
2) In weight management, “the right food” goes hand in hand with “the right amount” of exercise. Puppies and young dogs get physically overworked quickly if they are asked to go on a bike ride or if walks drag on for hours.
If unlucky, skeletal and joint problems develop from such overexertion during growth. Related diseases can limit the quality of life as well as shorten its duration. Lack of exercise, however, is just as dangerous; it leads to obesity, joint, heart and circulation problems.
Being overweight increases the risk of developing diabetes and – presumably – some cancers. Exercise should always be age-appropriate for the Golden Retriever.
3) Train your Golden Retriever! Give your dog the opportunity to play and run every day. Walks should be tailored to the dog’s needs – a Golden needs more exercise than a lap dog.
Many golden retrievers like to get in the water, and learning to swim is a good way to strengthen their muscles. Visit a suitable body of water or the sea more often. If the dog is in good physical shape, his longevity will increase.
4) Challenge your golden retriever mentally. From time to time, come up with a new game, practice new commands. Hopefully, your dog lives with you in a good family and gets regular attention from “his” people.
A golden retriever can only be truly happy in a “pack” (even if it is a human pack). If a dog becomes bored or lonely all the time, it causes stress. This negative type of stress shortens a dog’s life.
5) Check your best friend’s health regularly. Hair, eyes, ears, teeth, paws – does everything look normal?
Don’t miss the day when you should go to the vet. Control ticks, fleas, ticks and other parasites. Be aware of worming and vaccination deadlines.
Source link: https://www.goldenr.de/golden-retriever-lebenserwartung/
