The golden retriever is one of the most intelligent and beautiful dogs today. Their silky, water repellent, golden coats vary in shades from light to dark. Goldens are medium sized dogs that are usually about 21 - 24 inches and 55 - 75 pounds. Their heads are broad with bright and friendly eyes. The most popular color for golden retrievers eyes are dark brown or brownish black. Golden retrievers' ears are somewhat short with the front edge attached behind and above the eye. Their feet are round, medium sized, and have thick pads. Golden's tails are thick and muscular at the base. The coat may be straight or wavy.

Golden retrievers nutritional needs will change as they grow older. Any dog will always need to have a fresh supply of water. A puppy should eat only puppy food. Keep your puppy on the same food it was on for several days and gradually mix it in with the new food you want to use. Adolescent dogs require much more calories, protein, and nutrients. Dogs should remain on puppy food for six months to a year. Adult dog's food intake should vary by the size of dog it is, and its level of activity. Older dogs should eat food that is low in fat and protein. The three types of dog are dry, canned, and semi moist. It doesn't really matter what you use, just make sure your dog gets proper nutrition and is happy.

Golden retrievers do not require much grooming, but a little bit allows the golden to remain clean. To start off, you will need a slicker brush and a fine-toothed comb. Both of these help to keep the coat shiny and smooth. Their ears should also be checked regularly, and clean it with a cotton swab soaked in some ear cleaner. Teeth should be inspected for tartar and things stuck in them. You can clean the teeth with a toothbrush or a cloth and a little dog toothpaste. Golden retrievers should not have a bath more than once every six to eight weeks. Dogs that receive a lot of exercise shouldn't require their nails to be trimmed, but if a dog is inactive you may have to trim the nails once every two weeks or so. If necessary the fur may be trimmed when it becomes to long.

Golden retrievers are very active and enthusiastic dogs. One of the pet/owner activities you can do with your dog is obedience trials. Another activity is agility. In agility your dog should first be trained in obedience, because it contains jumping over walls and other obstacles against the clock. Field trials are also popular with golden retrievers. This tests the dog's ability to find and retrieve an object in the wild. Tracking is another sporting activity retrievers can take part in. Tracking tests cover a large area with "tricks" and obstacles along the way. One of the less active activities is showing, where purebred dogs have judges judge them on their appearance.

There are some common problems that occur in golden retrievers. One of them is cataracts. This impairs the vision of the dog. Epilepsy is another common problem where the dog has regular seizures. Hip dysplasia is a very common defect in large dogs. It is the malformation of the ball and socket joints in the hips. The last problem I'm going to tell you about is Low thyroid or hypothyroidism. This may be genetic and is usually associated with poor immunity. Some physical signs are weight gain, lethargy, and a poor coat. Low thyroid can be diagnosed with a blood test.

All dogs need yearly vaccinations to keep them healthy. They should also have regular physical exams by a vet. Another problem golden retrievers should be checked for is heart worms and other worms. Worms can cause the dog to become very ill and possibly die.