Like much else today, whether to give your dog vaccinations is a matter of some controversy. Getting objective information is difficult because there are so many advocates on both sides of the question. Some even sound reasonable. Those who might be concerned about the issue will want to do their own research to get as clear a view as possible.

What is indisputable is that prior to the development of vaccines, many Golden Retrievers and other breeds died of infectious diseases. After their development and widespread use, deaths due to viruses were reduced.

The controversy is less over whether or not to vaccinate, but when, how often and with what.

Puppies have immature immune systems, but not entirely so. During gestation they receive a blood supply from the mother that helps them fight disease. That process is continued and strengthened as they receive the mother's milk. But that maternal contribution is temporary.

By about 5 months of age, the antibodies supplied by the mother have completely faded. At this stage, they are vulnerable to harmful (and potentially fatal) viruses. There's no guarantee they will come into contact with any of them, of course. But the consequences are so severe that most people opt to get vaccinations for their Golden.

Those shots typically start at about 6-8 weeks of age, as the maternal antibodies start to wane. Through the injection of live or killed viruses, the puppy generates a response by producing its own antibodies.

Which is the better type of vaccine, live or killed virus, is an area of ongoing research. Live viruses stimulate a greater response, but represent a greater risk of inducing the disease the vaccine is designed to protect against. Killed vaccines are safer, but they stimulate a lesser response in the pup and therefore may create the need for more (or more frequent) shots to gain the same effect.

Most vets today will use killed or modified virus-based vaccines, since they're safer. The shots continue every month or two (every vet has a slightly different recommendation) for about four more months. Then, the recommendations become more divided. Some advocate continuing yearly, others say that's unnecessary. The science is still uncertain.

There are several common viral diseases that vaccines are used to combat, and some of the vaccines are 'combos' that are designed to guard against more than one. Parvovirus and Leptospirosis are two of the most common. Bordetella, an organism that causes 'kennel cough' is about equally common, as is distemper and corona.

Most vets will recommend vaccinations for these and, provided a quality vaccine is used, the shots are safe and effective. Some side effects do occur in Goldens and precautions should be taken to react quickly to them.

Facial swelling within half an hour after the shot is received occurs in some and treatment with Benadryl should be immediate. That swelling is a sign of a problem, and a potentially very serious one. In extreme cases, anaphylaxis (producing breathing difficulties, possible vomiting and other consequences) is possible. In any case, be prepared to see your vet instantly when symptoms are observed.

Rabies vaccines are possibly the most controversial. Though it's very rare these days for a dog to get rabies, because of past experience and the seriousness of the disease (both for pet and human) most states require the shots. Shots are typically required at six months, then every two to three years thereafter.

After the first year or two of vaccinations, current research suggests that the effectiveness and/or need of vaccines is considerably reduced. The dog's immune system builds up antibodies which remain in the system for several years.

How many years is still a matter of research, but 6-10 is not uncommon, according to some studies. Since the higher figure is at the low end of the Golden Retriever's lifespan, shots later in life is probably unwarranted.

Ongoing studies may give a definitive answer to the value versus potential of vaccines within the next several years. Until the issue is settled, only your vet can advise you properly. Only you can weigh the risks and benefits.

The image of a friendly, active Golden Retriever is familiar to anyone who has seen a magazine ad or TV commercial. And there's a good reason that breed features prominently in so many of them: it's all true!

Golden Retrievers are one of the most easily trained breeds because they are smart, active and sociable. They take readily to any sort of outdoor activity because they enjoy anything that gets them moving. From their beginning as a derivative of Russian circus dogs in the mid-19th century, they've been bred to retrieve. Fetching a tennis ball, jumping short fences and other such activities are a natural extension of retrieving game.

They're easily socialized and friendly with people and (usually) other animals. Individuals vary, but they typically adapt well to children and other pets. But proper socialization does take a modest amount of training. Golden Retrievers can be territorial and will bark at or chase animals and people who are not part of their regular environment.

In general, they don't make good watch dogs or guard dogs despite their ready bark. They will definitely alert on the approach of the delivery person, but they also will bark at random movement. Teaching them to tell the difference can be a big challenge. They may bark at a stationary car outside the front screen door or a rabbit darting across the grass outside. Too many false alarms make most of them unsuitable for that role.

Also, since they're so friendly by nature, they will almost never attack a person. Training them to do so is not consistent with their nature. Though they bark, they rarely bite. Their bark is a greeting, not a warning or a sign of anger. And though they can be mouthy, owing to their breeding history, biting in anger or protection is almost unknown.

They're among the most intelligent of breeds, though, and can learn a wide variety of behaviors with only modest effort. They're easily housebroken and will give clear signs (after initial training) that they need to be let outside to eliminate. Training them to fetch is almost automatic, but they can also be taught easily to sit, stay, roll over and more.

Reducing leash tugging for a Retriever, as with many large breeds, can be a challenge. But since they're eager to please they can be taught to patiently wait at your side, or walk along without pulling forward. Like any training program, this will take a few weeks with most individuals and is best carried out young.

Since they're so active and energetic by nature, it's important to give them plenty of room to run and lots of exercise. Inside the house, they can get into trouble without intending to. Their tails wag often because they're generally a happy and active breed and this is how they express it. That can cause objects to get knocked off the coffee table, or anywhere else low enough for them to reach.

They prefer company and being left alone for long periods is not healthy. If there's no person at home during the day, having at least one other dog as a partner is best.

They're best for people who want an active, friendly dog, one they're willing to devote time and attention to.

Since surgery is involved, the decision to spay your female Golden Retriever is a very serious one. There are benefits and risks whichever option you pick.

Spaying is essentially performing a hysterectomy on your dog, removing the uterus and ovaries to prevent pregnancy and menstrual cycles. Female Goldens have a 'heat' about every six months, during which time they're fertile and eager to mate. Removing those sex organs eliminates the possibility of pregnancy. But it also causes her body to reduce the hormones that cause heats as well.

The reduction of those hormones is one of the chief health reasons that so many vets recommend spaying. Unspayed Golden Retrievers have about a 25% chance of developing breast cancer tumors. Spaying reduces the odds to about 6%, if the young female is spayed just after the first or second heat. Beyond tumors, there are other conditions that can represent a health risk. The odds of getting endometritis, for example, can be reduced by spaying.

There are other health-related reasons to consider spaying. Mating and pregnancy bring their own risks.

When a female is in heat, she sends out a pheromone (a biochemical attractant) that can be scented by males for a mile or more. Larger males can, and will, often leap a fence to get to the female. But mating with a larger species dog (or any other) can represent an unwanted pregnancy that puts your Golden at risk.

While it's certainly a natural process, pregnancy is somewhat more difficult in some respects for dogs than for humans, especially when they're larger than purebred Goldens. Litters number around eight pups. The odds of all surviving and being healthy are about 50-50. The effort puts a definite strain on the mother and the human who assists.

But there are factors beyond health to consider.

Females in heat ooze blood during their cycle just as other mammals do. That can be messy and inconvenient to clean up. This lasts for about two weeks. The total cycle is roughly three weeks. The first few days she'll release a scent that attracts males, even when you can't see anything.

Having to keep males away, or just tolerating their behavior, during this time can be an annoyance. Even when they're physically barred from access, in fact even more so because of it, they'll become real pests. They whine, they wander back and forth along the fence, scratch doors and exhibit other actions to show interest.

With all that said, spaying is surgery and carries some risk. The procedure is carried out by vets every day and most are experienced. But removing major organs that have evolved for a purpose is always a difficult choice. And, some Golden Retriever owners may want to undertake the perfectly legitimate process of mating their Golden.

Most pregnancies, with the proper care, can proceed with relatively little difficulty. For those with the skill and time, pups can be well cared for. Many healthy litters are born every day. The minor inconvenience of a dog in heat twice a year may be worthwhile to some.

Weigh the pros and cons carefully and arrive at the choice that is best for you and your loved companion.

Many dogs are deliberately not socialized - guard dogs, some guide dogs, drug sniffing dogs and others who have specialized duties. Many others simply live with people who don't regard it as important enough to bother about. Many animals from shelters have had unpleasant experiences, making the task more difficult.

But socializing your Golden Retriever is not only easy, it leads to a better adjusted dog and higher safety for you and your pet. Fortunately, where Goldens are concerned, socializing your dog is relatively easy. Like any animal, in the absence of exposure while young to other dogs, animals and humans they can be wary and territorial.

Goldens are naturally curious, intelligent, active and eager to please. They play with other pups in the litter, making a game of dominance activities and exploration. You can build on that in-built social nature to acclimate them to pets of other breeds or species in the home and outside it.

Start socializing your Golden at a young age, approximately 8-10 weeks. Take proper precautions, though. You want to carry out the process safely and there are two major sources of risk. The first is physical injury, the second is disease.

Goldens are not particularly aggressive, relative to many other breeds. They prefer to play. That puts them at a disadvantage when other dogs or animals attack. Carrying out socialization safely will first require the ability to control the environment and any movement that your dog and another animal can make. Use of enclosed areas and/or proper leashes or harnesses are the minimum safeguards needed.

Next, ensure that your Golden is properly vaccinated and that they're exposed only to other animals that are too. Kennel cough and other, more serious, infectious diseases are common in many environments. When exposed, vaccination makes the difference between becoming infected or not.

Once you're in a safe place, with the proper restraints and the absence of surprises or distractions, you can easily socialize your Golden. The initial phase takes only a few weeks, though the process should ideally be carried out continuously for life.

Firmly grasp the leash and allow your dog to use its natural curiosity to explore the other animal. The other animal, needless to say, should be similarly restrained. Most young Goldens will want to 'play nice'. They're friendly and eager to explore this new phenomenon.

Individual responses will differ somewhat, since even among Goldens there are alpha dogs and omega dogs, those who are assertive and those who hold back. But even shy dogs can welcome contact if they're made to feel there is no danger, and that the alpha (that's you, in this case) is in control.

First contact should be relatively short, a few minutes at most. Gradually work up to longer exposure and a wider variety of humans and animals. Those who grow up together will usually not require any special considerations, but outsiders should be introduced slowly.

Firefighters trying to put out a huge fire at an apartment in the southeastern Idaho town were amazed to see a live rat huddled in a charred cage, the AHN website reported.

After being rescued, Halo the rat received oxygen with a special cone-shaped animal resuscitation mask.

Halo was not the only lucky one rescued from blaze. Firefighters also rescued four of five cats in the apartment.

No one was home at the time of the fire, which officials blamed on an electrical fault.

Link

Neutering a male Golden Retriever may be common practice, but it is still serious surgery and carries risks and benefits. Weighing them carefully will result in the best decision for you and your pet.

Neutering ('spaying' is the procedure for females) is a surgical procedure that removes the testicles. That act has a number of consequences.

Neutering, of course, removes the ability of the male to produce sperm making successful mating impossible. At the same time, however, it causes the body to reduce testosterone and other hormones that motivate mating behavior. Males don't get aroused, and the standard behavior is lowered or eliminated altogether.

Female Golden Retrievers in heat produce a pheromone (biochemical scent) that males can sense from far away. That induces several behaviors in the male, apart from the obvious desire to mount. It incents males to lick the female's ears and vulva. If unable to reach the female, males will wander back and forth in her vicinity. They'll even forego food and water for long periods.

Altering the male's hormone levels by neutering changes all that. Males will still show an interest in a female in heat, but the reactions are very subdued. Ear licking may still occur, but they never try to mount and arousal is very rare.

Neutering removes the possibility of testicular tumors and lowers the risk of prostate disease and other conditions. These are influenced by the level of testosterone in your Golden.

When the male is neutered also makes a difference.

Males neutered very early in life may never acquire certain typical attributes and behavior. Assertiveness is reduced right away. Males neutered later may take some time for hormone levels to reduce and will have acquired some habits that may change only slowly.

Unneutered males will mark territory by urinating on trees, lampposts and even other dogs' markings. Intact males are more assertive and may engage in rough behavior with other, competing males. They often engage in stereotypical (and often comical) fake mating behavior - on your leg, a pillow or other handy objects. All those may take time to fade if males are neutered after sexual maturity.

Neutering a male has other effects that more directly impact your relationship with your male Golden Retriever.

Since a female in heat gets most of the attention, your dog will become distracted and unresponsive if unneutered. Whining and agitation are common at those times. They're more likely to try to assert dominance, often a problem with males in any case, as many will strive for alpha status. That makes training more difficult during those twice-yearly, three week periods.

But neutering, while a common medical procedure, is not without risks and possible drawbacks. Any surgery carries some discomfort and possible health impact. Assertive behavior can still persist despite the procedure. And, some people will want to make the perfectly justifiable choice to mate their males with other dogs.

Since the decision is irreversible, consider it carefully.

Housebreaking is something anyone will want to do no matter the breed of dog they own. Fortunately for the human companions of Golden Retrievers, that's a much easier task with these intelligent, eager to please pups.

Beginning as early as four weeks for some, but certainly no later than eight weeks of age, Golden Retriever pups have the mental capacity and bladder and bowel control to receive potty training.

Some owners will follow the pup around or use crate training to prevent 'accidents' on the carpet. For some those methods may work well. Others will use a technique that is not generally recommended: paper training.

Paper training involves watching the dog carefully then moving it to spread out newspapers and allowing the dog to eliminate inside the house on the papers. There are also commercially available paper-like 'rugs' made of material that is supposed to attract the dog and minimize odors. This technique can help reduce rug cleaning and odors, but it builds in a bad habit early on that is more difficult to alter later on. The dog learns to eliminate in the house.

Also, once a dog urinates or defecates in a certain spot, rug or newspaper, they tend to return to the same spot. This can be a problem especially if the dog missed the paper by a few inches. It also de-emphasizes the need for the pup to give you a sign that they need to go outside. This short-term solution creates a larger, longer-term problem.

Golden Retrievers don't require this kind of training. They learn quickly and are eager to please. Watch for signs of backing up, circling or squatting and quickly whisk them outside. Give lots of verbal praise and a nice pet when they go outside. Don't strike the dog for going inside - never hit them for something they can't control.

It's equally important not to press their nose in it, since that has an effect the very opposite of its intention. Goldens will simply regard it as a normal smell and repeat the behavior. They don't find feces offensive. In fact, Goldens will sniff and roll in other animals' feces readily.

Just as important is avoiding pressing on their hind quarters to encourage them to squat. Though the problem is sometimes overstated, Golden Retriever's are (like many large breed dogs who have been inbred over decades) prone to hip dysplasia. Don't encourage any weakness of the hindquarters by stressing the dog's rear end.

Most Golden Retriever puppies will learn quickly to defer their need to urinate or defecate (for a few minutes at least). This usually takes only a few days training. Some will require a couple of weeks to become consistent. If it takes longer than this, the dog may have developed some unfortunate habits, such as seeking out the same place inside the house. In those cases, a little extra 'un-training' will be needed. Commercial rug cleaners can help reduce the smell that attracts them to the same spot.

Even if your dog stays outside almost all the time which is not the best circumstance for Golden Retrievers, who enjoy human companionship you'll want to make the effort to housebreak. Even older dogs will eliminate indoors if they haven't been trained as pups.

Eric Derossett, 16, received his first fainting goat, Ruby, for Christmas a few years ago. But what started for Derossett as a pet grew into a hobby and is now a part-time business.

He sells some of the goats, but out of care for the animals screens prospective buyers to ensure they don’t intend to make meat of them.

“They eat grasses, vines and small shrubs, and they love to eat leaves,” Derossett said. “When they see leaves falling they’ll all start running out to tackle the leaves before they hit the ground.”

“Myotonia is the condition which causes them to stiffen up or fall over when they’re scared.” Derossett said. “It lasts for just a few seconds, and then they get right back up and start walking, although they might still be a little stiff.”

The goats appear to be pretty friendly on first visit. Derossett said that they are very playful and gentle. Jack, a 2-year-old billy goat, was especially friendly after receiving a few head rubs and nuzzle scratches.

Link

Tragically, one of the more common afflictions that a Golden Retriever may suffer from is hip or elbow dysplasia. A University of Columbia study found that as many as 30% had the condition. Dogs examined by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, which has a screening service to certify the presence or absence of the condition, found hip dysplasia in 21% of adult dogs.

Even at the lower figure, the odds are high. Professional Golden Retriever organizations and breeders are taking steps to try to breed out the weakness, but that effort is a long-term solution. The average lifespan for a Golden Retriever is between 10-13 years, so changing inherited characteristics will take a long time.

Hip dysplasia is a genetically influenced condition in which the bone socket isn't well formed and the head of the femur bone not properly rounded. A similar condition called elbow dysplasia affects elbows rather than hips, but is essentially the same problem.

The result is friction when the ball of the bone moves inside the socket, with subsequent unhealthy wear on the joint. The condition is debilitating and painful. Over time, the dog has weakness in the hindquarters and eventually extreme difficulty or an inability to walk.

The diagnosis is fairly straightforward. Your vet can take a simple x-ray and a radiologist will analyze the result and provide a report detailing the presence and degree of the problem, if any. Diagnosis is only worthwhile after about six months, but most are done at around two years of age.

There's no cure, short of experimental and expensive joint replacement, which may or not be a long-term solution. But there are several things a Golden Retriever owner can do to mitigate the problem.

Step number one is to make efforts to adopt a pet that doesn't have a propensity for the condition in the first place. The AKC (American Kennel Club, http://www.akc.com) and the OFA provide a means of certifying that the parents of pups offered do not suffer from the condition. Since it's genetically dependent, the absence of the condition in the bitch and sire is a good indication the pups will be free of it.

When adopting a privately bred dog or a rescued dog from a shelter, those options may not be available. But there are still actions the owner can take to minimize the problem.

First is to discover if it exists. At two years (older, if the dog was adopted at later age), have the dog examined. If the condition is found, keeping the dog's weight as low as possible is the first line of defense.

Though underfeeding a dog is unhealthy for the dog and cruel, many dogs are overfed. They are given far more calories than they need, especially if their activity level is low. Reducing the amount of, say, dry food given by 10-20% will not endanger the dog's overall health but will help keep their weight lower.

Some activity is good, in order to keep joints in condition and muscles toned. Healthy muscles help keep bones firmly in the proper alignment, and movement causes the flow of fluids that keep the joint well-lubricated. But for a Golden Retriever with hip or elbow dysplasia, a reduced level of activity is a must.

There's no cure, but a Golden Retriever that is well cared for can still enjoy a long and happy life.

Lori Yonts hugs Printz on her farm for neglected and abandoned animals. This horse is missing an eye. (Catoosa News/Paul Tucker)

Lori Yonts has run her farm as a sanctuary for abused, neglected and injured horses and pets for 20 years.

The 60-acre Sunkissed Farm in Trion, Ga. currently is home to 32 horses (including at least one from Catoosa County) and a handful of house pets.

"I do it out of love for the animals," Yonts said.

Many of the horses have been abused, neglected or not cared for properly.

"If a horse is suffering from some type of ailment, it is not always neglect, but it is because the owner did not possess the means to take care of them," Yonts added.

Yonts runs the farm with some help from her husband, but does the majority of the work herself, as in the case of having to rebuild the barn that was destroyed.

She believes that taking care of horses makes a person more emotionally connected to an animal. She has her own philosophy about what she does for the horses.

"You’ve never owned a horse if you haven’t rescued one."

Link