Exercise

A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk. ~O.A. Battista

As Golden Retrievers grow so fast in a short period of time, it is essential that they are not over exercised as this could produce joint problems later in life. Puppies under six months should be exercised sparingly. With very young puppies, playing in the garden will suffice. If you do wish to take your puppy out for a walk once she has had all her vaccinations, you should build up her fitness gradually doing no more than 30 minutes a day before she is six months. After six months her exercise may be increased gradually until she is a year old. Once your dog is a year old you may go as far as you like!

For a young puppy try to avoid:

Lots of jumping/ excessive running

The use of stairs

AGILITY

Before going for the puppys' first walk make sure you have a strong recall. It will be nice for the puppy to go to an area in which it can be let off the lead, so it gets used to off the lead walking early on. A young puppy is more likely to come back to you on a first walk rather than a slightly older puppy who will relish the freedom! A dog running free on its walks its completely satisfied whereas a dog on the lead is often frustrated which can show as apparent "aggression".

I CANNOT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE. A dog who does not receive enough exercise is frustrated. A frustrated dog leads to behavioural problems. As an absolute minimum a dog should receive an hours worth of exercise a day. A recommended amount of exercise is anything from 2 to 3 and a 1/2 hours a day! This should involve a few hours of walking, not just at a dog park or such but in the countryside, covering ground. A dog who receives the correct amount of exercise is happy, content and balanced. In the wild a dog should be running all day, hunting with his pack, not cooped up inside four walls. Not giving your dog enough exercise is doing him a dis-service and not letting him be the dog he really is.

The countryside is beautiful and deserves exploring!