These are natural normal signs of elderly dogs, and are inevitable. Depending on the breed and size of your dog, the rate of aging can be quite different. For example at 10 years of age, a dog under 20 pounds is approximately equivalent to 56 human years. Compare the same aged dog (10 years old) that is over 90 pounds, and they are equivalent to approximately 78 human years.

Vets usually consider a small dog to be senior citizens around the 12th year. A large breed dog reaches the same stage around their 7th year. This is according to a report from Tuft’s University.

Using established guidelines to determine when your dog starts entering their golden years will help to understand any changes in behavior and health. Keeping regular checkups with your vet is also most important as your dog ages, as any irregularities can be found early.

Signs of aging and tips to help keep your senior pet as perky as possible are:

Difficulty getting up from lying down, or limping and difficulty moving could indicate arthritis. Your vet can help recommend supplements or proper modified exercise routines to relieve discomfort, and increase mobility. Usually the proper supplements such as glucosamine will relieve mild arthritis symptoms.

Although graying hair and drying skin are quite normal in aging canines, a nice daily massage and a regular grooming routine can help your senior pet’s skin condition improve. Also, because of the slowing down in daily routines for your senior dog, this can be your special bonding time set aside to make him/her feel special and also break up a boring day and give you both something to look forward too.

Certain breeds such a Labrador Retrievers are also known to be genetically predisposed to arthritis and hip problems. Every dog breed seems to have their own specific genetic downfalls that you should make yourself aware of when you adopt your puppy.

Excellent nutrition from puppy hood will help delay or decrease the speed of which the aging process proceeds. Your dog’s life will definitely be shortened if he is overweight because more diseases and illnesses are likely to be caused by obesity.

The dog’s environment should be kept clean and free of parasites, fleas, and ticks. This will certainly help increase the chances of a longer life.

Vision and hearing ultimately become diminished in your aging dog. Try not to startle your dog by changing his environment (moving furniture, changing the location of his bed, etc.). With diminished hearing you will have to attempt to get your dog’s attention in other ways, such as clapping your hands, or standing in front of him and using hand motions.

Sudden weight loss or loss of appetite needs to be checked out immediately by your vet.

Also a sudden increase in appetite, especially with no weight gain involved may indicate diabetes. Also a sudden increase in thirst is also a sign of diabetes. This also needs immediate attention from your vet.

Excessive panting in your senior dog may indicate heart disease. If this continues for more than a day this is another reason to get to the vet as soon as possible.

As with any dog, diarrhea and vomiting lasting more than a day needs to be checked right away.

And finally, and possibly the worst problems to watch out for in your aging dog are the behavioral changes. Just as when we deal with our elderly family members who have dementia or Alzheimer’s, dealing with a pet with drastic personality changes can be traumatic for both of your. Some symptoms to watch for are: Confusion, lack of attentiveness, disorientation, roaming in circles, barking for no reason, elimination accidents and being withdrawn. Also uncharacteristic aggression may start in old age. Try to keep your old dog’s environment as stable and unchanging as possible as this may help.

It is difficult to watch the deterioration slowly change our robust, vibrant and active puppy into a slow moving, tired and sometimes cranky family member. The transition to the “golden years” do not need to be traumatic if you watch carefully and notice the gradual changes. As they happen, taking care of them will minimize their severity, and your dog can be eased into senior status with minor problems. We can always enjoy our pets at any age, just as long as our expectations change with their needs.

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To start, simply fill an old sock you have with several ice cubes.  Next, put a knot in the sock and place the sock with the cubes in the freezer.  When your puppy starts to chew on things, simply give him the sock.  You can keep several socks with ice in it in your freezer if you want, so your puppy will always have a chew toy.  Although this is great to use, you should never leave your dog alone with the sock.  He could end up chewing the sock and swallowing pieces of it, which could lead to very serious health problems.

Leashes
During leash training, a lot of people prefer to attach the leash to the Golden then drag him in the direction they want him to go.  This isn’t the best way to train, as it often sends the wrong signal to the puppy.  Instead, you should first get your Golden puppy used to the collar and the leash.  You can do this by putting his collar and leash on inside the house or outside in a fenced in area, so that he can walk around and move about freely with the leash on, dragging it alongside him.

Once you have given him some time, pick the leash up, then start calling him to you.  Once he comes over to you, start praising him for it, so he knows that he is on the right track.  Always be patient when leash training, as it will take some time for him to get used to it.  If you continue to praise him when he is doing it right and continue giving him time to get used to the leash, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Digging around
Digging is something that Golden Retrievers love, as it is essential to their nature.  Digging can be somewhat frustrating if you don’t give your Golden an area to himself, as he will dig holes in your yard.  If you keep your Golden indoors, he may try to dig in the floor, on the couch, or on the bed. Digging is part of their nature, and you should never punish a Golden for digging.

To help him fill this need, you should give him an area to dig in.  You can get him a kiddie pool or sandbox, filling it with either soil or sand.  Then, try burying a treat or toy in inside, so your Golden will dig to get it out.  Once he learns this is where he should dig, he will more than likely head to that area when he has the need to dig.  Later on, when he becomes a bit older, you should invest in obedience training classes that will help him to get his digging habits under control.

The above tips can help a great deal when training your Golden Retriever puppy.  Golden’s are great dogs, although you’ll need to have a bit of patience with them.  Even though they are very smart dogs, it may take them time to learn.  Once they start learning however – they will become an integral part of your family that you couldn’t begin to live without.

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Dog Training Tip #1 – Use Positive Reinforcement – Unfortunately there are many people who try training their dog by using negative techniques, and this is not an effective way to train your dog. Instead of yelling at your dog or giving him negative attention, it is important that you positively reinforce his good behavior when you are training him. Use praise, petting, and even treats whenever he performs well. You want the training to be fun for you and your dog, so make sure you use positive reinforcement for the best results.

Dog Training Tip #2 – Use Short Training Sessions – Just like children, dogs can be overwhelmed by a great deal of new information at one time. If you try to teach them too much in one setting, more than likely they will forget a good deal of it by the next day. It is best if you only have training sessions that last about 15-20 minutes with your dog. Every time you have a training session with your dog, try to focus on only one new command and reviewing previous commands that have been learned. This will help your dog better retain the information and training.

Dog Training Tip #3 – Use a Pleasant and Firm Voice – When you are training your dog the voice that you use is very important. You should be sure that you use a voice that is pleasant; however, you also want your voice to be firm and commanding as well. Make sure that your voice reflects that you are in control, but be sure that you do not sound mean.

Dog Training Tip #4 – Have Patience with Your Dog – If you are going to train your dog, you are going to need to make sure that you have plenty of patience. No doubt it will not be easy, but you need to make sure that you show your dog patience and not frustration. If you do not think that you have the patience to train your dog, then you may want to send him to obedience school or have someone else do it for you.

Dog Training Tip #5 – Avoid Any Distractions While Training – Another important tip to remember when trying to train your dog is to avoid any distractions while you are training your dog. If you happen to own any other pets, make sure that they are not around when you are trying to train your dog. You want the area to be free of distractions so your dog is focused on you and what you are trying to teach him.

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Sizing A Training Collar

It’s relatively easy to determine the proper length of the training collar that’s right for your dog. The appropriate size of the collar is the distance around your dog’s neck, plus 2-3 inches. Since training collars are usually made in even sizes, it may be necessary to round up to find the right size. The training collar should fit snugly, but not too tight. And make sure the pressure on the training collar is instantly released whenever the leash is loosened.

Boredom Can Create Problems

If house training accidents have started to happen and you’re having a hard time figuring out what the problem seems to be, don’t overlook the possibility that your dog is bored. A bored dog will often drink excessive amounts of water, which naturally results in a need to urinate much more frequently than normal. If you notice your dog consuming large amounts of water, you’ll want to increase his visits to the established toilet area. But before it ever reaches that stage, make sure he has plenty of toys and activities to keep him busy during the day and minimize his boredom.

Desensitizing Your Dog To His Fears

Desensitization is a highly effective way to deal with phobias and fears in humans, and it can be very effective for dogs as well. Desensitization involves introducing your dog to small doses of whatever frightens him. For example, if he’s afraid of thunder, try tape recording your next thunderstorm then playing it back at a slightly softer level while he’s relaxed. Reward the dog for not responding fearfully. If he does demonstrate some fear, do not comfort or soothe him (that will simply reinforce the unwanted behavior). Instead, just ignore him.

Back And Forth Recall Game

A great game for you and another family member to play with your dog is the back and forth recall game. This is an excellent exercise for teaching your dog to come whenever he’s called by a member of the family. Dogs often learn to only respond to one person. A well trained dog must learn to respond to whoever is in charge.

In the back and forth recall game, two or more people stand approximately ten yards apart, in a safe area, such as a fenced yard. One person calls your dog, then commands him to sit and stay. Once he’s followed these commands, the next person gives the come command. When your dog responds properly, he’s rewarded with a treat. Most dogs love playing this game. Just make certain that the person who calls your dog is the only one who gives him a treat.

You Don’t Want Your Dog To Be A Chaser

Before you expose your dog to a situation where he’ll likely be tempted to chase after a car or another person, you’ll want to have him thoroughly trained to respond to your commands. The command in this instance, would be, “Off!” As with all training, make sure the training area is controlled and safe. Your dog will need to be able to focus on you without any outside distractions.

Try starting this training indoors. Your dog should be on leash. The two of you start out standing together at one end of the hallway or room. Show your dog a tennis ball, but don’t allow him to touch it. Next, roll the ball down the hallway, while using the command, “Off!” If your dog starts out after the ball, repeat the command, and give the leash a firm tug. If your dog returns at your command, reward him with a treat and plenty of praise. As with all training, repetition is the key.

Using A Head Collar

Recently, the head collar has become an increasingly popular dog training tool. Two of the most popular brands on the market are the Gentle Leader and the Halti, though there are many other brands that do an equally good job. Many people find the Gentle Leader easier to fit than the Halti. The advantage of the Gentle Leader, which fastens around your dog’s neck, is that even if your dog is somehow able to wriggle out of the muzzle, he’s still wearing a collar. This safety feature can be very important, especially during outside training or in new and unfamiliar situations. On the other hand, the Halti offers better control of your dog. For this reason it’s often preferred when working with aggressive dogs.

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Proper Diet

Good food leads to good health. A well balanced diet is essential for dogs. Feed your canine good quality dog food available at all grocery and pet stores. It is packed with essential nutrients they need. Do not supplement their diet by giving them food you eat because it can cause diarrhea. Also, avoid saving money by buying cheap quality dog food. Never compromise the health of your canine.

Choose stainless steel bowls over plastic ones, although they are more colorful. Your dog may chew them if he is prone to ripping things into pieces and end up at the clinic. Steel bowls are easier to clean and maintain, and are dog proof.
Feed your dog two small meals a day, once in the morning and then in the evening. This will give him energy to run around and exercise after eating, instead of napping right afterwards.

Exercise
Exercise is an essential but usually overlooked part of dog health. Without proper exercise, your dog will become sedentary and gain weight, which could pose a threat to its life. It is vital you follow an exercise regimen, whether it is taking your dog for a walk around the neighborhood or playing catch, fetch or frisbee in the park. Exercising your dog is good for his heart, lungs, and muscles and keeps him happy.

Teeth Care
Brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week to remove the build up of tartar that cause bad breath, swollen gums and may lead to secondary infections. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste that are especially designed for canines and contain the necessary enzymes.

Ear care
Cleaning your dogs ears regularly will avoid inflammation and infection. To do this, dip some cotton in hydrogen peroxide, squeeze the excess out and wipe around the crevices inside and outside the dogs ears. Use a fresh piece for the other ear.

Tick and Flea Prevention
Flea and tick problems are common in dogs, and can be easily avoided or prevented to maintain optimal health. There are various products available in stores or pet shops that guarantee results. Follow label instructions for application and administration to rid you pet from this parasite.

Vaccinations
From your dog’s first vaccination to boosters and other appointments for injections, keep yourself and your pet up to date to prevent infectious diseases.

Prevent heartworm by testing your canine at least once a year and administer appropriate medication by following label directions.

Tapeworms, roundworms and other intestinal parasites are often diagnosed in dogs and can pose a threat to your family as well. Send a sample of your canine feces to your veterinarian and follow up by giving preventive measure they prescribe.

Bathing
Use any dog shampoo when bathing your dog to remove grease, dirt and grime but not essential oils. Avoid using your shampoo since your canine’s skin is very delicate and can get irritated easily.

Ideally you should bathe your dog only when the coat gets soiled, but if you keep your dog indoors most of the time, and especially on your bed, or your dog has a long coat, you will need to bathe it at least once a week. Groom the coat after it has dried to prevent tangles and air the skin. Use a soft brush in the direction of the hair, and do not forget the stomach, ears and tail.

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A shiny coat on a dog means more than just looks and good dog grooming, although it certainly begins with that. Take a look at your dog, does he have a shiny healthy looking coat?

Grooming sessions can be a great opportunity for bonding with your dog and to examine his health too. Some dog grooming tips include seeing if your dog has a shiny lustrous coat of fur, as should be an indication that you dog is in good health. Proper dog grooming is very important in promoting good health in you dog.

Maintaining a Shiny Coat with Dog Grooming

With this dog grooming tip, good dog health begins with good dog grooming. You must groom your dog everyday if you want him to have a healthy coat of fur. It is not necessary to bathe him everyday, however. Bathing your dog just once a week should suffice, or maybe once every two days if you have a dog that has longer or thicker fur.

How to Bathe Your Dog

A useful dog grooming tip is when you are bathing your dog, wet him completely with a hose or a detachable shower head. Then applying dog shampoo work up a lather, going all the way from his chest to the top of his head, then go down his back and tail and then his legs. While applying the shampoo, take care not to get any shampoo in his eyes or ears.

Another dog grooming tip is to use a dog shampoo that has been formulated for dogs, not your own shampoo. Shampoo designed for human hair can be harsh and irritating to a dog’s skin. Dog shampoo is designed for the sensitivity of the skin and fur of dogs. Besides a general dog shampoo, you can also use medicated shampoo for skin conditions, or a flea shampoo or rinse.

You should rinse your dog thoroughly after you have shampooing and conditioning his fur. This is because if even a small amount of soap remains on the dog it can lead to severe irritation of his skin that could lead to eczema.

After Your Dog’s Bath

When you are finished bathing your dog, make sure to dry him thoroughly by using a towel to pat all the excess water out of his fur. If your dog has short hair, you can simply allow him to air-dry his fur out. But if have a dog with thick or long fur, you may need to dry his fur out with the use of a hair dryer instead. You should comb out any loose and matted and tangled hair with a fine-tooth metal comb. This will get rid of any burs, ticks or fleas. This should be done every day whether you a bathing your dog that day or not.

Beyond Grooming

One more dog grooming tip having to do with a dog’s shinny coat. While having a shinny coat of fur for you dog is highly desirable for you dog’s appearance the shinny coat is also a good indicator of good dog health too.

Good nutrition also plays a large role towards promoting good dog health. If a dog gets all the nutrients that his body needs, then definitely he will get a shiny coat.

There are some cheap dog food brands out there, but they are made up of low-quality ingredients. So to be sure that your dog is eating good food, do not skimp on quality dog food. You can also cook up your own dog food to feed your dog.

If after regular dog grooming and regular feeding of high-quality food and your dog still does not display a shiny coat, it means that there is something else that is wrong with his system. Your dog may not be as in high a level of good health than you may have guessed. In this case, it is time to go to the vet.

As you can see good dog grooming goes hand in hand with watching out for your dog’s health and nutritional needs if you want to enjoy your loyal companion for many years.

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Before you rush out and buy a Golden Retriever puppy, you should first take the time to learn a bit more about the breed.  You can attend dog shows, meet with various owners of Golden Retrievers, and even go to your local kennel club.  Most people who own Golden Retrievers are extremely proud of them and will be more than happy to share their enthusiasm with you.

When you buy you’re Golden Retriever puppy, it’s always a great idea to buy from a backyard breeder or local puppy mill. Backyard breeders are normally the best way to get a Golden puppy, as they know and care a lot about the breed in general.  Although you can always go to a reputable breeder, backyard breeders aren’t just in it for the money – they actually care about their dogs and want you to get the best Golden possible.

You can also visit the Golden Retriever Club of America and their local member clubs, as they can supply you with a list of breeders in your area.  If these breeders don’t have any Golden’s for sale themselves, they will be more than willing to help you find what you’re looking for.  This way, you can get a Golden from a very reliable source.

Whatever you do, you should never rush into buying a Golden Retriever.  You should always take your time, and have a little bit of patience.  When you buy your puppy, you want a healthy puppy who will grow up to be a fine testament of the breed.  By taking your time and making a careful decision, you can save yourself a lot of time and money later on down the road.

Golden puppies that are poor quality, are normally produced by breeders who just want to have a litter or breeders who are just looking for the profits and care very little about giving thoughts to looks, quality, or temperament.  If you buy a puppy from either of these breeders, you’ll more than likely end up with a puppy who has poor health, poor temperaments, and even disqualifications in breed.

When you get your puppy, you should always think long term.  Only buy from a quality breeder, and you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.  Always remember that you aren’t just buying a Golden Retriever puppy – you are buying a companion and a friend for life.

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Here are some dog health care tips to be used when dealing with worms, fleas or various poisons the dog comes into contact. Puppies need de-worming as early as two or three weeks with the procedure repeated at four or six weeks of age. Dog health care specialists claim that worm immunity in puppies does not appear sooner than six months of age, and the worm larvae pass from mother to puppies. In order to meet the dog health care requirements you need to remove all stools from your garden, keep the lawn cut short and make sure you feed your dog on thoroughly cooked meat.

Fleas are the next dog health care problem under discussion here, and to a certain extent they are responsible for the possible tapeworms they may carry. Fleas and lice are easy to deal with; thanks to the many shampoos, collars or special drops, this dog health care issue has become piece of cake. Do not use human shampoo to wash your dog as it will completely degrease the fur and afterwards the dogs skin would have to secret even more oil to compensate for the deficit. Anti-flea sprays, powders, collars or any other products can be purchased from any dog health care store. However, it is good to ask the vet in the first place too.

Make sure that you keep your dog away from any potentially harmful substances that may lead to poisoning. Dog health care specialists point out that rapid intervention in the poisoning cases is crucial for saving the animals life. If you think your dog may have ingested some toxic chemical, try to give it some fresh milk as a first aid measure and call your vet immediately.

If you live in a tick prone area, be sure to keep a tick collar on your dog at all times. Mark the renewal date on the calendar so you don’t forget to renew it. Your pet’s life may depend on it! Grass ticks cause itchy lumps that can become infected when scratched. If not removed quickly, the paralysis tick can cause death in three to five days.

If your dog seems to suddenly have weak back legs and falls over often, inspect it immediately for a tick and get it to the vet as soon as possible. Luckily, the tick vaccine works well and quickly and can save a dog that looks like it is gasping its last breath.

With attention to these few details, your pet should live a long and happy life, rewarding you with years of fun and companionship.

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Dog training can be divided into several basic forms. The first and most important part of a dog’s training is in the area of basic obedience. A dog that will stay when told or await your command to come to you will be mush less likely to cause problems around other people. These basic skills work both ways. It is necessary for you to be able to teach your dog specific actions to let you know what they need as well. This is especially good for knowing when your pet needs food or to go for a walk.

There are a number of working occupations a dog can be trained for. Whether it is a hunting dog that will help you gather food or a trained seeing-eye dog to help a blind person move about, dogs have a great capacity to learn how to be useful in our society. Many occupations have enhanced their efficiency with the addition of a well-trained canine partner. Dogs can be trained to bravery and make excellent rescue helpers.

There is a lot of enjoyment to be had from just teaching your dog how to do entertaining tricks. Whether it is merely a funny stunt or small task like fetching, the coordinated interaction between your pet and its ability to perform a task on command will help forge the bonds of affection between you. Dogs are quite intelligent and able to learn a vast repertoire of tricks and activities. With some time and effort you can train your dog to do an entire circus’ worth of different actions.

Due to the pack mentality of a dog’s nature, it will already have the instinctual predisposition to want to please you with its activities. Consistent work and reward for proper behavior is the best method of communicating your pleasure over accomplishments to your dog. Dog training is a two-way street. As you teach your animal how to perform, you will in turn be learning how to understand its moods and body language as well.

One of the most important things to remember when you are training your dog is that you have to be consistent. The reward should only be given for correct behavior. You should include a way for your dog to signal you if it is unsure as to what is expected of it. It is recommended that if you do have to discipline your dog for wrong behavior that you do not perform this punishment with your hands as this may tend to make the dog fearful of any contact through the hands. Training your dog should be geared for eliminating bad habits as much as it is for teaching them preferred actions.

A well-trained dog is usually much more confident and healthy as the contact and companionship it has received gives it a secure feeling that it is a valuable and appreciated part of the pack.

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Sadly, many dogs end up at the local pound because they never learned how to adapt to life within human society. This is often because owners don’t know proper dog training methods. When their dogs seem unable to make the transition, owners feel their only alternative is to let the dog go.

This doesn’t have to be the case for you. All it takes is knowing the right dog training techniques that work, how to apply them effectively and where to look for help.

One of the first lessons is for you.

Make dog training fun and enjoyable for you and your dog. That way, neither of you will become stressed or frustrated. Remember that dogs pick up on your emotions, the energy you emit. If you become tense, your dog becomes upset too. In this state, he is confused and unable to learn.

It takes time for a dog to learn and retain what he’s learned. He might succeed admirably on your first training session, but the next day he’s just as likely to have forgotten it. He might seem to have it down for an entire week or more and then fall back into his old habits.

He has a lot to learn in his youth. Because a dog’s natural instincts are far stronger than any training you might apply, it’s easy for him to slip back at this early stage.

This is a normal part of dog training, but it’s not impossible to overcome. Simply reassert the training as a refresher course. Don’t think that he just can’t learn, because he can. He proved it by getting it right the first time.

Puppies love to play and interact with humans. While this is fun to observe and experience, it can present a problem during training. For an especially exuberant puppy, make extra effort to calm him whenever he loses focus.

You can do this by helping him expel some of that energy. Chase him around the yard, toss the ball, play tug-of-war, and anything else that will drain him. After about 15-20 minutes, or when you see he’s slowing down, take a 5-minute rest and then begin the dog training.

Keep your training sessions short, especially at the beginning. He’ll learn much better if you keep each lesson to under 10 minutes. Take a break, an hour or so, and start again.

Here are 7 basic dog training tips that will make training fun for you and your dog.

1. Seek out trained professionals. They can shorten the learning curve for you and your pet by using only the most effective dog training methods. No guesswork, just results. Refer to any of the great dog training books that are available for proper techniques.

2. Use positive reinforcement during the dog training sessions. Negative reinforcement, such as hitting your dog, can bring the opposite results to what you’re trying to achieve. As well, negative punishment can make your dog fearful and even aggressive.

3. Make it fun! Dog training doesn’t have to be a gruelling task. Dogs love to please their owners, so if the learning environment is relaxed and fun, your dog will learn much more easily.

4. Use small treat rewards to help make the training enjoyable. Choose a special treat to use only for the training process when your dog has completed a lesson correctly.

5. Choose appropriate training products. Speak to your dog trainer or pet store professionals for advice on the proper product for your specific needs. For basic training, you need the right collar and leash, which can be a clicker collar or one of the different types of harnesses.

6. Remember that it will take time for your dog to absorb and understand your dog training lessons. Allow him the time he needs but also remember to reinforce each lesson by using the same methods every time. This will help his retention.

7. Know when to change your teaching method. While you’ll want to stick to one method, it must be one that actually works. Try different methods until you find one that gets the results you want, and then continue to use that method.

Once you see some results, you’ll realize that dog training can be a rewarding experience.

You could consider it an art form or special talent reserved for people like you who have the envious ability to connect with their dogs on a unique level.

Done well, dog training is like poetry in motion.

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