The Staircase Exercise Routine for Golden Retrievers: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Let My Puppy Near a Single Step
Protect your Golden Retriever's joints from hip dysplasia and arthritis with this complete staircase safety guide I remember the exact moment I realized I might have messed up. My Golden Retriever, Gus, was about four months old. He'd been zooming up and down our basement stairs for weeks—his favorite game was to grab a toy, sprint to the top, drop it, and chase it back down. I thought it was great exercise. He was tired afterward. What could possibly be wrong? Then I mentioned it to my vet during a routine checkup. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know. "How often is he doing that?" I told her. A few times a day. Maybe more. She didn't yell at me. She didn't have to. The concern in her voice was enough. She explained that Goldens are already genetically predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia. Their joints are developing rapidly during that first year, and repetitive stair climbing—especially the running part—puts a type of str...