Golden Cocker Retriever Care

The Golden Cocker Retriever (GCR), as a hybrid of a Golden Retriever and a Cocker Spaniel, makes for a gentle, active crossbreed that's a fantastic (if sometimes timid) family pet. Overall Golden Cocker Retriever care and maintenance won't take too much work, but will need to include some daily exercise and moderate maintenance.

Below you'll find details on caring for a Golden Cocker Retriever including puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies. Get answers to your questions about raising these athletic, loving dogs in the following sections!

As the offspring of two active, athletic breeds, Golden Cocker Retriever exercise requirements are fairly high. These hybrids are basically hunting dogs, so they'll need a variety of activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). GCRs make good jogging companions as well.

Adult GCRs will need about an hour of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your GCR puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Golden Cocker Retriever exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• A leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Prone to separation anxiety; exercises should be done together with people

It's important to exercise your Golden Cocker Retriever every single day. These crossbreeds are highly energetic, and without consistent activity they'll become hyperactive, destructive, and disobedient. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: GCRs will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, your GCR will enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: These hybrids can excel at obedience or agility trials and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, balls or toys will help your GCR burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These hybrids will need moderate maintenance overall. Golden Cocker Retriever shedding is usually seasonal: fair for most of the year, but heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Drooling isn't much of an issue.

Though some variations can exist, GCRs normally have medium-length, thick, double-layered coats that shed moderately most of the time--but when they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall, the shedding is profuse. Owners need to brush their GCRs several times per week with a bristle brush, both to help collect dead hairs and to keep the coats from matting and tangling. Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary from time to time. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be required more often during shedding season.)

And a GCR may drool a bit in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous--but the drooling definitely won't be frequent or heavy like that of a Saint Bernard or Bloodhound. If your Golden Cocker Retriever is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

Golden cocker retrievers are slightly more cold tolerant than cocker spaniels. The general rule of thumb with this breed is if you're cold with a light jacket/sweatshirt then your dog will be cold as well. The breed can cope with warmer temperatures, but avoid exercising the dog during hot times of the day in summer and make sure they always have shade and ample water to cool off.