Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin When I adopted my first dog, his breeder gave me a book called "Behavior, Development, and Training of the Dog: A Primer of Canine Psychology" by Frederic J. Sautter and John A. Glover. This book is incredible. The copyright is 1978, but if you are able to find a copy anywhere, I highly recommend picking it up and reading it cover to cover. As a first time dog owner, ...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin When is a Golden Retriever considered a senior? Usually the answer is they become a senior canine citizen between the age of 8 and 10. Their needs are changing and their activity levels are decreasing. This special page will address some concerns and highlights of our Golden Retriever's senior years. Nutritional Needs I found that Winger's nutritional needs c...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin My first two Golden Retrievers have had more than their fair share of Hot Spots. Hopefully you are luckily enough to have a Golden Retriever who has never had own of these awful things, but if you do have a dog that is prone to them, or if you think your dog might have a hot spot, please read on: What is a hot spot? A hot spot is a moist, smelly, raw area of the...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin Many health problems in both humans and our pets can be caused by poor nutrition. Please ensure optimum health for your Golden Retrievers by educating yourself about proper nutrition. If you choose to feed your dog kibble, you are fortunate that there are more and more nutritious options available for your dog than there were just a few years ago. There are many...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin After reading about Winger's experience and death due to mast cell cancer, Matt wrote me a similar heart-wrenching story about his special dog Maggie. Here is his email: Lisa, I read your article today about your dog Winger, and I am sad to say that I read it because I had to put my 11 year old Black Lab down this morning. Myself nor the vet were never 100 % su...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin Blastomycosis, or "blasto" for short, is a fungal disease found in humans, dogs, and other mammals, occasionally cats. It is commonly misdiagnosed, often as cancer, Valley fever, Lyme disease, and other viral infections. It lives as a mold in warm (room temperature), acid, sandy soils near water. Once in the body, it lives as a yeast. It is contracted most often by in...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin Laika Myriosa Water Off A Ducks Back CD, WC, Am/Can TDX; therapy dog 16 September 2000 – 15 August 2005 Last month, with my “puppy” lying at my feet, I would never have believed I would be writing this note so soon. Laika was such a big part of my life, and I had hoped we would have many more years together before it was time for her move on to the greener ...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin My Golden Retriever, Winger, had hip displasia. I have read a lot to deal with his condition. Here is some important information worth sharing. What is Hip Displasia? Hip displasia can be a terrible, painful, degenerative disease. A dog can be affected in one hip or both. Basically, hip displasia means a disfigurement of the hip joint. A displastic hip socket is t...

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010 by admin BACK: The portion of the topline between the loin and the withers. CROUP: The muscular area above and around where the tail connects to the body. DEWCLAW: A fifth claw which is located in the inside of the front feet, and is higher than the other toes. Some dewclaws are removed as a puppy to prevent injuries (dewclaws can get ripped or torn - always keep you...