Golden Retievers seem to come in two sizes; long and lean—and "ottoman." If your Golden is the fatter latter, it's time to evaluate what kind of foods he's being served or how many snacks he's getting. Remember, they can't shop for themselves and while intelligent, they have trouble getting their own meals. They depend on you!
RAGOM recommends feeding high quality dog food. If you are in the process of adopting a dog, RAGOM volunteers will provide information about the different brands of dog food. There are ratings charts available to give you an overview of ingredients, preservatives and processing. Some people prefer to feed a raw diet.
When calculating how much food to give your dog, consider her activity level. The caloric needs are quite different for a fetching fool than for a couch potato. It is also recommended that you feed twice a day, in smaller servings, which can help prevent bloat, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when dogs eat too much food too fast.
Treats are a great tool for training and bonding with your dog. Everyone knows that Goldens have perfected the art of mooch. They know you can't resist those big brown eyes! If you offer store-bought treats, read the ingredients label, avoiding treats high in fat, preservatives and chemicals. Many people use food kibble as a training treat, just reducing the portions served at mealtime. Other good treats are raw baby carrots, apple wedges (no seeds), dried cranberries (never grapes or raisins!) air-popped popcorn, raw beef bones, or, for a special treat, a bite of hot dog.
If you pill your dog, a dab of peanut butter on the end of a spoon perfectly masquerades the pill. Dogs love canned pumpkin, sweet potatoes and applesauce as well. There are also many small home-based dog biscuit bakery businesses and a quick Google search can help locate those in your area. They bake fresh, human ingredient treats that dogs love.
Even though dogs are omnivores, there are foods your dog should never have, which include onions, grapes, raisins, cooked bones, high fat foods, sugary treats, chocolate, coffee or coffee beans, macadamia nuts and some dairy products (if your dog has a known allergy, but yogurt is good for restoring the natural flora of the intestinal tract after antibiotic treatments).
Golden Retrievers are beautiful dogs, and it's essential to keep their insides as pretty as their outsides. You are what you eat and so are they. So, if you stick to a healthy diet and share that goodness with them, you'll enjoy a long healthy life with your Golden friend.