18 Essential Golden Retriever Supplies & Products: 2024 Update
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Bringing a new Golden Retriever into your home is an exciting time, and you’re sure to enjoy many years of love and amusement from your golden pup. Retrievers are excellent dogs for families, and they always seem to be happy and full of energy.
Raising a dog is a significant responsibility, and we’ve selected some of the essential supplies you’ll need to keep your pup healthy and active.
Essential Golden Retriever Supplies & Products
Essential Golden Retriever Supplies & ProductsFood and Feeding Supplies
1. Food
- Our Pick: Ollie Fresh Dog Food
With so many options, it’s challenging to find the perfect dog food for your retriever. Whether you have an adult or a young pet, providing a brand appropriate for the dog’s age is essential. Retrievers have a working dog heritage and need high-quality meals to fuel their endless energy. Avoid brands with artificial preservatives and flavors and look for companies that perform long-term tests to ensure their meals are safe.
Luckily for your golden boy, we are experiencing a great pet food revolution! Commercially available fresh food delivers the best quality nutrition right to your doorstep. Human-grade ingredients are used instead of rendered meat meals. Providing complete and species-appropriate nutrition prevents a lot of trips to the vet.
After all, food is the basis of good health. There are several interesting brands in the market, but we particularly love Ollie, which offers four delicious recipes made with natural ingredients. This dog food gives your pup everything they need to thrive at every life stage. In short, they have you covered!
2. Water and Food Bowls
- Our Pick: Laiwen Elevated Dog Bowls
Mealtime is your retriever’s favorite time of day, but feeding a dog can create quite a mess when using poorly designed food and water bowls. Bowls are made of several materials, but we suggest using stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead of plastic.
Plastic can become scratched over time, and the small craters can harbor bacteria that are difficult to remove. Stainless steel and ceramic products are more durable and easier to clean. Our favorite food bowls for Golden Retrievers are the Laiwen Elevated Dog Bowls. Most elevated bowls are designed for small pups, but the Laiwen bowls are deep enough for your Golden.
Grooming Supplies
3. Dog Brush
Golden retrievers are heavy shedders, but you can reduce shedding and the large clumps of hair on your furniture with daily brushing. Retrievers have thick, waterproof coats that can become tangled and unhealthy without proper grooming. You can find several grooming tools online, including slicker brushes, deshedding tools, grooming gloves, and pin brushes.
Slicker brushes, like the Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Dogs, remove loose hair and keep the coat shiny and healthy. If your pup is anxious during grooming sessions, you can provide a treat before and after the brushing to relieve any fears.
4. Nail Clippers
Retrievers who spend most of their time playing outside typically wear their nails down faster than indoor pets, but every dog needs their nails trimmed to keep them healthy. Most dogs need their nails trimmed every 3 to 4 weeks. If your pet spends little time walking on hard pavement, you’ll probably have to clip the nails more often.
Some pet parents use guillotine-style clippers or electric nail trimmers, but the spring-loaded models, like the Safari Professional Nail Trimmer for Dogs, are ideal for retrievers’ thick, large nails.
5. Dog Shampoo
- Our Pick: Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo
Active breeds like the golden retriever seem to have no trouble finding ways to get dirty. If you brush your pet daily and keep their coat clean, you’ll only have to bathe them occasionally. Bath time with some breeds can be frustrating, but you’re lucky to own a water-loving dog likely to enjoy the bath.
Avoid buying discount brands with chemical fragrances or artificial colors when shopping for dog shampoo. Although it features an all-natural formula, Burt’s Bees Oatmeal shampoo is an affordable and effective option.
Walking Your Dog Supplies
6. Collar
Even dogs that love their families can escape their homes to explore the neighborhood. A dog collar labeled with your name, address, telephone number, and email address is vital for returning your pet safely when it wanders away. When you adjust your pet’s collar, ensure you can fit your thumb between the collar and the dog’s skin.
A collar that’s too tight can cut off circulation, and one that’s too loose can get caught on something and possibly strangle the animal. Our top pick for dog collars is the Blazin’ Safety LED USB Rechargeable Nylon Dog Collar, which stays illuminated for safer night walks.
7. Leash and Harness
Leash training is not always a pleasant experience for dog owners, but luckily, the Golden Retriever is an intelligent, outgoing pup that’s relatively easy to train. Although many pet parents rely on the traditional leash and color setups for their dogs, more dog lovers use harnesses to prevent neck injuries.
A dog harness puts pressure on the back or chest rather than the neck, and some models, like the Mighty Paw Padded Sports Reflective No Pull Dog Harness, have extra padding to prevent chafing.
8. Poop Bags
- Our Pick: Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags, Refill Rolls
A leisurely walk around the neighborhood provides exercise and mental stimulation to your dog, but it can be embarrassing when your dog squats on your neighbor’s prize-winning lawn. Instead of leaving your dog’s mess on the neighborhood grass, carry a scooper and poop bags with you on every walk.
Dog excrement can damage lawns, contaminate groundwater, and infuriate your neighbors. You can order poop bags that are biodegradable and ones that mask the foul odor with fragrance.
9. Pet Carrier
- Our Pick: Sport Pet Travel Kennel Dog Carrier
Whether or not you plan to crate-train your golden retriever, you should buy a durable carrier to keep your pet safe in your vehicle. Pet carriers are also essential if you plan on transporting your dog in an airline.
Before flying with your dog, check the airline’s policy on carrier sizes and ensure you have a crate, like the SP Travel Kennel Dog Carrier, approved for air travel. Line the carrier with a soft towel and provide toys, food, and water to keep your canine happy and relaxed during the trip.
Comfort Supplies
10. Dog Bed
Your retriever may be happy to share your bed and furniture, but they need a bed that’s comfortable and easy to access. Your dog may have more problems accessing taller mattresses and chairs as they age. Look for a bed that offers enough support for your large dog and is easy to clean.
You can spend thousands on dog beds that resemble premium human furniture, but we suggest buying a durable product that will not break your budget, like the FurHaven Plush & Suede Orthopedic Sofa. Some dogs will not use a bed if they find it unappealing, and you may have to return it if your dog never uses it.
11. Dog Ramp
Golden retrievers are not afraid of leaping out of your SUV or truck when visiting the dog park. Healthy dogs are less likely to be injured from jumping from a vehicle, but your pet may need a stable platform to climb when they're older. Dog ramps can be attached to a car or used to access a couch or bed. When shopping for ramps, look at the product’s weight capacity closely.
Some companies only make ramps for small breeds, and they cannot support larger breeders like golden retrievers. We recommend the PetSafe Happy Ride Telescoping Dog Car Ramp. It has a high-traction walking surface and can support 400 pounds.
12. Dog Gate
- Our Pick: MyPet Paws Portable Pet Gate, Light Gray
Young retrievers like to explore their environments, but they get into trouble when they enter rooms off-limits to dogs. You can keep your pup out of your office or bedroom with a dog gate like the MyPet Paws Portable Pet Gate.
It expands from 26 to 40 inches and includes rubber bumpers to protect your wall or base molding. If you dislike the spring-loaded gates, you can try a folding model or fixed gate that you attach with screws.
Treats and Toys Supplies
13. Chew Toys
- Our Pick: Nylabone Puppy Chew Toy
Like all breeds, golden retrievers like to chew on objects, including shoes, remote controls, and undergarments. Providing durable chew toys will minimize the damage to your belongings and satisfy your pet’s urge to chew. If you have a puppy, wait until they're at least 12 weeks old before giving them a chew toy.
Between 12 and 24 weeks old, the puppy needs to chew on something safe to relieve teething. We recommend the Nylabone Puppy Chew Starter Kit Triple Pack Puppy Chew Toy. It helps puppies transition from a softer chew to a firmer one for adults.
14. Treats
Providing treats for your retriever is an excellent way to reinforce training methods, and most dogs quickly learn the phrase, “Do you want a treat.” Although you may be tempted to serve your pup scraps from the dinner table as a reward, some human foods like grapes and chocolate are toxic to dogs.
Feeding from the dinner table can encourage begging, and giving your dog too many treats can contribute to obesity. Since over 50% of adult dogs are obese, it’s wise to talk to your vet about appropriate treats for your dog. For puppies, you can use Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Soft Biscuits Natural Puppy Dog Treats, and for adult dogs, you can try SmartBones SmartSticks Peanut Butter Chews.
15. Interactive Toys
- Our Pick: Outward Hound Brick Puzzle Game Dog Toy
Intelligent breeds like the golden retriever can become bored if their minds are not challenged, but you can provide interactive toys for mental stimulation. Some interactive products are simple chew toys that hold treats, but you can give your pet a real challenge with the Outward Hound Hide N’ Slide Puzzle Game Dog Toy.
It has several compartments for storing treats, and your dog has to figure out how to open each panel to expose the food. Interactive feeders also help dogs slow down when they consume their food too fast.
Cleaning Supplies
16. Enzymatic Cleaner
Potty training is a critical part of early training sessions with your retriever, and you’re likely to clean a few messes before your pet learns to go outside. Dog feces and urine are not only unpleasant to your nose, but they can also stain furniture, carpet, and wood.
Manufacturers produce several cleaners for cleaning pet stains, but some are more effective than others. Some cleaners only mask the smell but do not eliminate the proteins causing the odor. However, the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator Spray attacks stains and odors at a molecular level. It works on carpets, fabrics, furniture, floors, and more!
Disclaimer: You might have guessed this product is our own, but we love it, and so we bring it up in the hope that you get to own one, too.
Prevention Supplies
17. Flea and Tick Medication
- Our Pick: Bravecto Chew for Dogs
Although outdoor dogs are more exposed to the pests that target them, indoor dogs also need protection from fleas and ticks. You can use topical treatments for parasite protection, but some dogs try to lick the ointments.
However, chewable medications like Bravecto Chew for Dogs can be hidden in pill pockets or food if your pet does not eat the chew by itself. Bravecto provides tick and flea protection for 12 weeks, but some of the other brands only last for 6 weeks.
18. Microchip
Some shelters and rescue organizations microchip their dogs, and the fee for the procedure is usually included in the adoption price. Microchipping is a quick outpatient procedure that helps locate your pet when it’s lost.
Inserting a microchip is inexpensive compared to other veterinary procedures. Returning your lost pet is one reason why microchips are useful, but the device can also prevent your dog from being put to sleep at a shelter.
Conclusion
The affectionate, intelligent golden retriever is one of the world’s most popular pets. Raising a retriever is an incredible experience, and you’re sure to enjoy several years of happiness with your beloved canine. We hope our list helps you select the best supplies for your golden beauty, but it’s okay to expand the list if you want to spoil your dog a little.
Once you've stocked up on the basics, there's one more pet supply you may want to consider: pet insurance! A personalized plan from Spot may be able to help you keep your pet and wallet healthy and happy.
Featured Image Credit: SasaStock, Shutterstock
