Mary Allen
Golden Retrievers are built for exercise and love to romp outside. If you like hiking or jogging, your Golden will be happy to accompany you. And if you want to throw a few balls in the garden, he’s happy to be there too; True to their name, Goldens love to retrieve.
#1 Tire your dog with enough exercise for 20-30 minutes twice a day to keep a happy, balanced dog indoors. Reluctance to exercise the dog could lead to behavior problems.
#2 Like other retriever breeds, Golden Retrievers are “lousy” by nature and love having something in their mouth: a ball, a soft toy, the newspaper, or best of all, a smelly sock.
#3 You need to be extra careful when training a Golden puppy.
These dogs grow enormously between four and seven months of age, making them prone to bone disease. Don't let your Golden puppy run and play on very hard surfaces, such as cobblestones until they are about two years old and their joints are fully grown. Normal play on grass is safe, and so are puppy agility classes.