Golden Retrievers are one of the friendliest and happiest dog breeds in the world. They are blessed with long, and beautiful coats which can withstand strong winters. But can Golden Retrievers survive in India?
Golden Retrievers can survive in India. While they enjoy Indian winters and monsoons, they may need extra care in hot Summers. As we know Indian summers can get really hot, they must not be allowed to go out in the afternoon.
Further in this article we will understand the nature of Golden Retriever and go through various things you can do to deal with Indian Summers.
Origin of Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland in the 19th century. They were used for multiple purposes like hunting, playing, fetching, and as watchdogs. The name “retriever” refers to their ability to retrieve objects. Their duty was to retrieve foul games and birds from ponds for their owners.
The climate of Scotland is generally cool and wet. That’s the reason Golden Retrievers have long double-coated fur.
Indian Climate
Unfortunately, Indian summers are too hot and humid for Golden Retrievers. They have double layers of coats on their body. The inner coat grows faster and sheds easily, and the out coat is longer and tends to grow slowly.
Their bodies are designed in a way, that helps them insulate their body against the harsh winters of Scotland and not the heatwaves of Indian.
Climate is something that we can’t control, especially in India.
On an average summer day, the temperature can rise to 41°c and the ideal temperature for Golden Retrievers body is 26°c. You see, there is a huge difference and this can lead to overheating in their body. Sometimes overheating can cause heatstroke, which is a big NO-NO for dogs.
However there are cerntain things you can do to help your Golden Retriever withstand Indian Summers.
1. Keep the Room Temperature Low
During the afternoon when the temperature is the highest, keep your Goldie inside the house in an Air Conditioned room or under a fan. You can even consider to buy a cooler.
Most pet parents believe that cutting their golden’s coat will allow a better flow of air and will help their dog cool. It’s definitely not a good idea, this messes up with their coat and can permanently ruin it. There are a lot of grooming styles available, that allow the dogs to have better hair circulation.
2. Ice treats and water beds
You can definitely use some ice treats to cool down their body on a hot summer afternoon. Just pour some chicken broth inside the ice try with their favorite treats in them and put them in the freezer. Voilà! Yummy cool ice treats are ready.
Water beds are perfect for golden retrievers, it keeps their body cool and allows them to rest. An affordable option could be an inflatable pool bed. Fill it with some water and let your Goldie get into it.
3. Change Walk timings
It is best to take your dog for a walk in the evening or at night. During that time the temperature can easily drop up to 29°c.
This is ideal for golden retrievers and there are fewer chances of overheating in their body. They can play freely without stressing about the heat.
4. Keep them hydrated
Keep easy access to water bowls. Place multiple water bowels or bottle stands all across the house. Carry a water bottle during the walks or a spray bottle to sprinkle some water from time to time.
Safety in India
Indian streets can be dangerous for dogs. The crowd, the traffic, the crazy vehicles, all these facts can make the streets dangerous for any dog.
Your dog must be fully leashed while going on a walk. Golden Retrievers are usually obedient and follow commands, but they are also very curious about things. If they find something that stimulates their brain, they might just start exploring or running behind it.
There are so many reports on a daily basis on animal abuse and the last thing any pet parent would want is their dog getting lost. They can put themselves in great danger once they are lost. This can be risky for these naive souls, so make sure your dog is fully leash trained.
Final Thoughts
Now that we are towards the end of this video we can conclude that golden retrievers CAN survive in India.
Only a few factors need to be taken into consideration and some tips need to be followed. Just make sure in the end, you shower them with all your love and affection.
