Synopses & Reviews
Celebrating the most friendly, talented, and affectionate dog on the planet, the Golden Retriever, this Smart Owners Guide, created by the editors at Dog Fancy magazine, offers the most up-to-date and accurate information every dog owner needs to become a well-informed caregiver for his dog. Illustrated with color photographs of adorable puppies and handsome adults, this easy-to-read primer is designed in a modern, lively manner that readers will find user-friendly and entertaining.
Each Smart Owners Guide offers a description of the breeds character and physical conformation, historical overview, and its attributes as a companion dog. The reader will find informative chapters on everything he or she needs to know about acquiring, raising, and training this remarkable purebred dog, including: finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy; preparing for the puppys homecoming, shopping for supplies, and puppy-proofing the home; house-training; veterinary and home health maintenance; feeding and nutrition; and grooming. Obedience training for basic cues (sit, stay, heel, come, etc.) and solving potential problem behaviors (barking, chewing, aggression, jumping up, etc.) are addressed in separate chapters, as are activities to enjoy with the dog, including showing, agility, therapy work, and more.
Entertaining tidbits and smart advice fill up colorful sidebars in every chapter, which the editors call Its a Fact,” Smart Tip,” Notable and Quotable,” and Did You Know?” Real-life heroes and rescue stories are retold in full-page features called Pop Pups” and True Tails.” Recipes, training, and care tips are highlighted in the Try This” feature pages.
The Smart Owners Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a breed-specific online club hosted by dogchannel.com. At Club Gold, owners of the breed can find forums, blogs, and profiles to connect with other breed owners, as well as charts and checklists that can be downloaded. More than just 20,000 pages of solid information, theres a host of fun to be had at the club in the form of downloadable breed-specific e-cards, screensavers, games, and quizzes.
The Resources section of the book includes contact information for breed-related organizations and rescues, as well as practical guidance on traveling with dogs, identification, and locating qualified professionals to assist the dog owner, such as pet sitters, trainers, and boarding facilities. This information-packed Smart Owners Guide is fully indexed.
Synopsis
Smart Owners Guide Golden Retriever is the first interactive breed book of it kind to offer owners a fun way to learn about caring for their loyal companions. The book contains easy-to-read information full of smart tips, notable quotations, fun facts, and more than 100 adorable photos of your favorite breed that will keep you flipping through the pages. Golden Retriever also offers online support with instant access to Club Gold™ where owners can meet and interact with other dedicated Golden owners, download charts and checklists, play Golden-specific games, create their Golden Retriever avatar, take quizzes, and send Golden themed e-cards. Besides the online component, Smart Owners Guide Golden Retriever has two bonus DVDs one from Comfort Zone with D.A.P. on training and building the bond with your dog with dog trainer, Andrea Arden; and the second, a compilation of tips, do-it-yourself projects, and cooking videos from Dog Fancy and DogChannel.com. This comprehensive package is a must-have for every Golden owner.
About the Author
Written By:
The experts from Dog Fancy® magazine, the worlds most widely read dog magazine for almost 40 years, brings you the ultimate series of dog breed books. With the collaborative minds of Dog Fancy® Editors resulting in the creation of this exceptional line of up-to-date, interactive and information-packed books that will set the standard for all breed books.
Table of Contents
K9 Expert Education 4
By Susan Chaney, Editor, Dog Fancy magazine
Fourteen Karat 6
The Golden Retriever has the temperament of a wonderful family companion, service dog and lifelong best friend. Its no wonder Golds are such a good investment!
The Retriever Report 20
Our simple two-page guide gives you all the necessary information about the Golden Retriever in 300 words or less!
Of Golden Times 22
The Golden Retriever has a long and fascinating history, beginning in England and striking it rich in America.
Finding Gold 34
Find out how to choose a reputable breeder and pick a healthy puppy, or maybe youd like to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization. Either way, there are plenty of Goldens out there waiting for homes.
Home Essentials 48
You need to puppy-proof, or Golden-proof, your house, as well as
make sure that you have all the things he requires to be comfortable, such as bedding, toys and lots more.
Successful Housetraining 64
Your first job is getting your Golden Retriever to do the doo where you want him to. Using a crate aka a modern-day den will expedite the process.
Vet Visits and Everyday Care 76
Selecting a veterinarian means doing some research and planning your Goldens first visit.
Also, learn what to do when everyday bumps and bruises come about.
On the Topic of Health 88
Learn how to deal with external and internal parasites, skin problems, and common medical and behavioral issues.
Retrieving Dinner 100
With proper knowledge and know-how, you can feed your Golden Retriever a sound
diet so he wont end up a pudgy pooch.
Grooming Goldilocks 112
From nail clipping instruction to brushing and bathing basics, well have your
Golden Retriever looking like Fort Knox.
Time to Train 126
Every retriever needs to learn the basics of sit, down, stay and come, and
additional training advice will make your dog obey without hassle.
Changing Bad Behavior 140
A well-behaved Golden isnt born that way. When problems arise, prompt
training will turn bad habits into appropriate behavior. Teach your dog that there
are better ways to get attention, and youll save yourself a lot of headaches.
Golden Games 154
The high energy of the Golden demands exercise and attention, and his athletic and
strong body makes him perfect for dog sports, from agility to dock jumping.
Resources 166
Index 174