Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are typically high-energy dogs who need lots of exercise to keep them physically and mentally healthy. They'll need daily walks, plus plenty of time and opportunity to explore, burn energy, and play. Some Golden Retrievers enjoy swimming. Like all dogs, they will need training and will benefit from daily enrichment. If you love spending active time outdoors, this breed could be a great match for you.

Things that you need to think about when exercising your Golden Retriever include their:

• age
• health
• personality.

For example, young or growing dogs might need a few shorter walks each day, rather than one long one. Older, injured or ill dogs will have different exercise needs which should be tailored to them based on advice from your vet. Some dogs will need peaceful walks without many other people or dogs around. Others will enjoy meeting new people and play dates with their furry friends.

Check with your vet if you need advice on exercising your dog.

The amount of food a Golden Retriever needs depends on their:

• age
• size
• activity levels
• fitness
• weight.

You can use the information on dog food packets as a guide, taking your dog’s individual needs into account.

Your dog's body condition is helpful for deciding how much food to give your dog. You can find more about body condition scoring from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).

If you’re not sure, ask your vet for advice.

You can teach any breed of dog new tricks! It’s all about positive learning. Find out what your dog loves so you can use this to reward them after a success. Whether it’s treats, toys or lots of praise, training with rewards is the best way for your dog to learn.

As dogs are clever animals, they need suitable mental and physical exercise so that they don't get bored. Learning useful life skills such as recall, loose lead walking and settling are just as important. This ensures that you and your dog can spend enjoyable time together, both at home and out and about.

Just like you, every dog is an individual with their own personality and prior experiences. So every Golden Retriever temperament is different. As dogs grow from puppies, they learn all about the world. They develop their own likes and dislikes and learn to respond to situations in different ways.

For example, some dogs might like meeting other dogs and some may not. Some might like new experiences and others may need to go slowly.

Every dog has their own unique personality that has been shaped by their own experiences of the world. They’ll have their own likes and dislikes and will respond to situations in different ways. However, there are some universal ways to behave safely around them and treat them with respect.