Learn How To Spot A Good Golden Retriever Breeder
Its a good idea to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder. This helps to avoid lack of health test certificates, poorly puppies, and other disappointments.
Home bred puppies can be very nice if the owners have taken the trouble to health test and raise their puppies responsibly. Whatever you do, avoid puppy mills and pet stores.
Reputable breeders will treat their own dogs well. Their dogs and puppies will be healthy, with all the up to date vaccinations needed, and no signs of problems like fleas, skin issues, or malnourishment.
Good breeders like this will care whether their puppies are going to the best homes. So, expect lots of questions from a reputable breeder.
The best breeders will answer all questions you have, and wont mind you spending some time with the puppies and parent dogs.
They will also be able to show you proof of health testing, and provide you with all of the relevant documents that you need.
Golden Retriever Puppy Socialization
Every new puppy owner will hear about the importance of puppy socialization. But not all puppy owners carry out this important process effectively.
Socialization means introducing your puppy to many new experiences before they reach the age when they become shy of strangers and strange objects. That age is surprisingly young and most dogs need to be socialized fully before they are 13 weeks old.
That means you need to get going right away with your new Goldie pup!
Your puppy needs to meet lots of different men and women, in different situations, children, other dogs, trains and lorries, and much much more. All from the safety of your arms. And all before he or she is four months old.
Puppy socialization is vital because it helps to prevent dogs becoming aggressive and increases the retention rate of puppies in their homes.
You can find an excellent puppy socialization plan and lots of useful information on The Puppy Plan website provided by the Kennel Club in association with international charity The Dogs Trust
Golden Retriever Puppy Biting And Chewing
All puppies bite. Even Golden Retrievers! Biting is linked to teething, but its also an important part of play between puppies and other dogs.
Biting down on fur isnt too painful. But biting on skin really hurts and puppies have to learn not to do this.
Play biting is commonly mistaken for aggression because puppies snap and growl when they are playing. For this reason, biting is by far and away the most common reason for new puppy parents to seek help in our support forum.
Our complete guide to stopping puppies biting will help you quicky through this phase in your puppys development.
Its a phase that all puppy owners will experience. But, rewarding calm behavior and ignoring biting will encourage the phase to pass more quickly.
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Training Golden Retriever Puppies
Because theyre so intelligent and eager to please, most Golden Retriever puppies are extremely easy to train. Theyre quick learners and adapt to almost all situations easily. These dogs crave physical and mental stimulation and enjoy tracking, agility training, field-training exercises, obedience training, and playing active games.
Early socialization and puppy training classes will help your Golden learn proper behaviors so he can grow up to be a well-adjusted dog. Goldens respond well to positive training methods and there is never a need for harsh punishment.
Theyre also social dogs who want nothing more than to be with their families. They shouldnt be kept outdoors or left alone for long periods of time. While this breed generally has very few behavior problems, they can be prone to separation anxiety.
Golden Retriever Puppy Zoomies
At first, it might not seem like zoomies should be anything to worry about. But all puppy owners can tell you just how destructive these random bursts of energy can be.
Especially with a relatively large breed like the Golden Retriever.
In fact, it can lead to broken ornaments, ripped fabric, muddy pawprints all over the house, and knocked over children. It can be quite distressing for new puppy parents!
Running after your puppy can often make this worse as it seems like a fun game to your puppy.
Instead, encourage calm behavior by rewarding your puppy when theyre relaxing peacefully.
You wont be able to avoid the zoomies altogether, but you can try to minimise them by ignoring this behavior and rewarding calmness.
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Golden Retriever Puppy Waking At Night
Another problem that a lot of new puppy owners experience is night time waking.
There are a number of reasons puppies wake at night. They may be scared, in pain, or hungry.
Puppies may also wake at night because they are lonely and want attention, or because they need the toilet.
For the first few nights after you bring them home, keep your Goldens crate by your bed. This will reduce the risk of them waking out of fear and loneliness because they will see you and know they arent alone.
Puppies will need the toilet through the night when they first come home. So, if you arent using puppy pads, youll need to take them outside throughout the night to pee.
Try not to make nighttime trips out to the toilet too exciting. Otherwise, your puppy may start waking up and crying for your attention.
What Good Breeders Prioritize
Reputable breeders breeding companion dogs have two priorities:
If a breeder seems to prioritize any other quality above that then they might not be what youre looking for.
Reputable breeders care a lot about their dogs so theyll be asking you a ton of questions.
To help further decide on whether or not a breeder is reputable, the next section covers a big list of questions for you to ask a breeder.
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Reasons To Choose A Reputable Breeder
I touched on this in the intro, but here are five reasons to choose a reputable breeder:
What Are The Golden Retriever Colors
The breed was first considered to be a yellow variety of Flat-Coated Retrievers but was recognized as a separate breed, the Yellow or Golden Retriever, in 1912. A few of these dogs had come to America by way of Lord Tweedmouths sons by 1900, but the AKC did not register them as a separate breed until 1927.
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Questions To Ask About The Breeder Themselves
Why did you choose to breed golden retrievers?
You want a breeder that truly has a passion for the golden retriever breed.
How long have you been breeding golden retrievers?
At what age do you start to breed your dogs?
Goldens must be two years old to receive final clearances on their hips and elbows, so if a breeder tells you they start to breed their dogs before two years old, watch out.
Do you provide registration papers?
They should provide AKC registration papers for you.
Do you participate in any dog sport or activities?
Most good breeders are involved in something other than just breeding.
Their dogs participate in sports, shows, or are even therapy dogs.
Is there a contract when I buy the puppy?
There should be a contract that covers costs, refunds, responsibilities, etc.
Do you require the puppies to get spayed/neutered?
If they do, this will be in the contract.
What happens in case something goes wrong?
See if theres some sort of health guarantee as part of the contract.
This is also a good time to feel them out and see if this has ever happened before.
Do you have any references I can talk to?
Good breeders will have previous happy customers.
Are you a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America or any local golden retriever clubs?
Golden Retriever Puppy: Finding And Raising Your New Friend
November 16, 2020 By Pippa Mattinson
Bringing home your Golden Retriever puppy is such an exciting moment. But, raising a Golden Retriever puppy can prompt lots of questions.
Over the next few weeks youll be socializing, potty training, and making a start with puppy obedience training. This guide has top tips for this, and will also be looking at raising a golden retriever puppy while you work.
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What Makes The Golden Retriever Dog So Popular
The breed was valued for the hunting abilities so ably produced by the careful blending of foundation stock, and only later became popular as a pet. After the Golden Retriever made the transition, however, this dogs rise to the height of popularity was meteoric and remains one of the most popular of all breeds in America.
Whats So Bad About Puppy Mills
A post shared by Annabelle Lee on Apr 19, 2017 at 8:55pm PDT
People will often say, I bought my puppy from a pet store, but shes a wonderful pet. While this may be true, unfortunately, the problem of puppy mills extends far beyond the individual dog.
Because of poor breeding and care conditions, puppy mill puppies will end up in pet stores and new homes with parasites, kennel cough, pneumonia, and other infirmities. Also, they may have behavioral problems, fear, and anxiety from being separated from their mothers and littermates too soon.
In addition to harming individual dogs, puppy mills are also harmful to the breeds they reproduce. Because puppy mills are focused on making money, they often breed dogs with no regard for genetic quality. That leads to puppies prone to congenital and hereditary conditions, like heart disease and respiratory disorders.
Puppy mills also take homes away from animals in shelters, rescue groups, and reputable breeders. Although an individual puppy mill puppy can grow into a happy, beloved family member, the fact is, puppy mills are harmful to a great many dogs. Puppy mills place profit over animal welfare.
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Where To Get Help And Advice
Puppies are great fun, but they can also be hard work. At times youll benefit greatly from the support of other new puppy parents.
We used to be able to help new puppy parents by answering questions in the comments on this website. But there are now so many that we needed a better way.
Do check out our support forum. Youre welcome to simply browse and read the answers to other peoples questions. Or you can join in and ask your own.
Its free and wed love to see you there!
Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy Puppy Proofing
Another key element of setting up for your puppy is to puppy proof areas that they will have access to. This can mean their puppy zone, the garden, or any other room that you plan to let your puppy access.
This means removing anything that your puppy could swallow or choke on. Cover up any exposed wires that your pup could chew or scratch at.
If there are chairs or benches that your puppy could climb on, make sure the surfaces near them are clear. Otherwise, your puppy could eat things it shouldnt.
Remember that puppies like to pee on soft surfaces so theyre more likely to do this on carpet than hard floors. And hard floors are much easier to clean. So, supervise your puppy in carpeted rooms.
Also remove anything that you dont want your puppy to destroy by chewing, scratching, or toileting on. This can just mean moving it higher, out of your puppys reach.
Make sure there are no poisonous plants in your puppy proof rooms, or in the garden. In fact, you may choose to restrict your puppys garden access to a small part of the garden, or just to a large pen.
Puppies are curious and playful, so dont be surprised if they try to dig up your plants given the chance.
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Expectations And Questions To Ask
All puppies are hard to resist, and cute can cloud judgement, so its usually wise to learn about the breeder and the litter by phone or email before planning a visit. This document should help guide your evaluation, and may be printed to take notes initially when talking by phone and later when you meet in person.
Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy Settling In Time
It could take a while for your puppy to settle in properly to your home. It can be stressful for puppies.
After all, theyre leaving their mother, siblings, and the only home theyve known to come and live somewhere completely new and unknown.
You can help your puppy settle in faster by keeping them by your side so they arent ever alone and scared, and showing them how great their new life is.
It can also help to follow a routine for a while. This will include feeding your Golden puppy, training them, and socializing them.
Some common problems that new puppy owners face in those first few weeks include: biting, potty training accidents, waking at night, and over-excitement.
So, lets take a look at each of these issues next, and the best ways to establish a routine.
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More About This Breed
It’s no surprise that the Golden Retriever is one of the top ten most popular dogs in the U.S. It’s all good with the Golden: he’s highly intelligent, sociable, beautiful, and loyal.
He’s also lively. The Golden is slow to mature and retains the silly, playful personality of a puppy until three to four years of age, which can be both delightful and annoying. Many keep their puppyish traits into old age.
Originally bred for the physically demanding job of retrieving ducks and other fowl for hunters, the Golden needs daily exercise: a walk or jog, free time in the yard, a run at the beach or lake , or a game of fetch. And like other intelligent breeds who were bred to work, they need to have a job to do, such as retrieving the paper, waking up family members, or competing in dog sports. A tired Golden is a well-behaved Golden.
As well as giving your Golden Retriever physical and mental exercise, you should also be prepared to include him in your family activities. The Golden Retriever is a family dog, and he needs to be with his “pack.” Don’t consider getting a Golden unless you’re willing to have him in the house with you, underfoot, every day.
There’s one other potential drawback to the breed: He’s definitely not a watchdog. He might bark when strangers come around, but don’t count on it. Most likely, he’ll wag his tail and flash that characteristic Golden smile.
How To Find A Puppy And Avoid Puppy Mills
If youre looking for a purebred puppy, start by contacting reputable breeders and breed-specific rescue groups in your area. The best way to find a reputable dog breeder is to get a referral from friends, your veterinarian, or an official breed club in your area. The AKC website offers a guide and directory to find a responsible breeder.
Responsible breeders provide a healthy, loving environment for their dogs. They seek the same in a new family for their puppies. Responsible dog breeders:
- Will introduce you to the puppys parents and show you where they live
- Will explain the puppys vaccine and medical history and give you vet contact info
- Will not have puppies available year-round may keep a waiting list of interested families
- Will answer any questions you may have about the puppys background and care, as well as their breeding practices.
- Will ask about you: your familys lifestyle, why you want this kind of puppy, how you will care for and train it, etc.
- Will not use pressure sales tactics. Ethical dog breeders and rescue groups are not in it to make money. Rather, they believe in maintaining and furthering the breed, and finding a good fit for every dog.
If you want a puppy, but dont care what breed it is, your local animal shelter or rescue group is a great resource!
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Looking At Your Lifestyle
There are situations where it might be better to wait before buying a Golden puppy.
This doesnt mean youll never be able to get one! But, bringing a Golden Retriever puppy into a home that isnt ready can cause stress, frustration, and lead to puppies ending up in rescue centers.
If you have very tiny kids remember that Goldens are fairly large dogs and are very boisterous when young. Picking up a toddler and drying their tears for the tenth time before breakfast can become wearing.
Think about the exercise needs of an active dog. If you cant walk very far, this probably isnt the breed for you.
If you have a very small home, or live in an apartment, think carefully before adding a big dog to the mix.
These large dogs also need plenty of companionship. Theyre social, and can become depressed or anxious if theyre left alone for long periods of time.
What You Should Expect To Pay For A Golden Retriever
The price of a golden retriever varies depending on where you live, what the dogs are bred for, and other factors.
Most golden retriever puppies go for $500-3,000.
If a puppy is close to either of those end ranges, youll definitely want to ask why.
For instance, why are the puppies $500?
Is it because the breeder is inexperienced and just trying to get started?
Are they skimping out on vet bills or feeding their dogs cheap food?
Or why are the puppies $3,000?
Is it because they come from champion bloodlines?
Is the breeder is experienced and takes their time to properly care for the mother, socialize and stimulate the puppies, feed them the best food, and take them to the best veterinarian?
Or is it because the breeder is a good salesman and can charge a premium for their puppies?
No matter what the price is, its a good idea to understand why the puppies are priced the way they are.
Check out this article to learn more about how much golden retrievers cost.
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