5 month old female golden

Question
Hello i have a 5 month old female golden retriever, she weighs 16 kilos, would just like to know if thats a good weight for her age?
Also whenever she is on the leash and she see's another dog she starts to bark, when some dogs try to get near her to smell and greet she gets really scared and pulls away? what could i do to make this better? i have socialised her with other dogs and she gets on fine with them but just on the leash and on the street she acts that way.

thank you
Amy

Answer
Dogs vary greatly.  I can't say if that is a good weight for her, but I can help you learn to judge for yourself.Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest. You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them. Each dog is different. Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog must have its food and exercise adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide, http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx  You should be feeding an all life stages food now. Switching to an adult chow for the larger breeds at 4 months, slows growth and helps develop sturdier joints.

The leash problem is more difficult.  Obedience training will help.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat.

Try to remain relaxed and confident when you encounter other dogs.  She will sense any stress on your part and will attribute it to the other dog.  She needs a calm, confident handler that she respects and trusts.  You might try distracting her with treats.