Golden Retriever Puppies: Everything You Need To Know
Apple pie, football, and golden retrievers? This golden dog is a popular addition to many American households. In fact, golden retrievers rank number 3 in the American Kennel Clubs popularity rankings. Not surprisingly, golden retriever puppies are often seen on many calendars, greeting cards, and posters as the ultimate symbol of canine cuteness.
As much as they are celebrated in the US, golden retrievers werent discovered there. In the mid-1800s, they were bred and raised by gamekeepers at an estate owned by Lord Tweedmouth in Scotland. Its said that he crossed his yellow retriever Tweed Water Spaniel , an Irish setter, and a bloodhound. This new golden retriever was trained to hunt in the great outdoors.
Golden retrievers are so renowned, two United States presidents owned them while in office. President Fords golden retriever was named Liberty, and President Reagans dog was Victory.
How Many Puppies Do Golden Retrievers Have
I remember when my Golden retriever was pregnant, I was so afraid. I didnt know what was about to happen, nor if I could care for so many little babies. How do I take care of my dog? Should I help my dog in the birthing process, what do I need to prepare? There were so many questions in my head.
My fear got even bigger when I found just how many puppies a Golden retriever could birth! It was a real shock for me!
Generally speaking, the average litter size of a Golden retriever is around eight beautiful puppies. However, your Golden retriever can give birth to up to 12 puppies!
Its so many, I know!
However, then I remembered that my dog could sense my anxiety, and that it was probably not really good for her during that time. So I calmed down and did some research.
First, I want you to know that, yes eight puppies does sound like a lot, but I know you can do it! Secondly, humans are not usually needed for help in the birthing process. Of course, it is good for you to be there, so your Golden retriever doesnt feel left alone.
Inbreeding Effects On Dog Fertility
One of the most forgotten factors affecting the size of a puppy litter is the influence of a high coefficient of inbreeding.
The Institute of Canine Biology published a chart illustrating the comparison of data taken from the litter size of six particular breeds of dogs from the records of the Swedish Kennel Club: English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Finnish Hound, and the Swedish Elkhound.
Although the results are relative, it clearly shows that the more inbred the puppies are, the smaller the puppy count will be. Usually, when a dog breeder uses a close inbreeding or , it is to fix some desired traits but the price to pay is a much smaller litter.
Finallyour Golden Retrievers First Litter Size
We havent talked too much about Raven here on the blog, but were fostering her for a breeder and in exchange we get to keep some of her puppies to raise as service dogs.
A few days before Ravens due date we were told we could bring her in for an X-Ray to see how many puppies she would have in her first litter.
However, the day we planned on bringing her in for an X-Ray her temperature dropped which was an indication she was close to giving birth.
Rather than risk her giving birth in my car on the way to the vet we opted out of the X-Ray.
Raven went into labor on Wednesday November 9th, 2016 and at
I waited with Raven and her puppies for 4 more hours monitoring and making sure everyone was okay.
I heard there could sometimes be hours between puppies.
When Ali came home from work she took over the watch, but no puppy #7.
So the answer to our question: What will be our Golden Retrievers first litter size? SIX!
At least that was the answer for Ravens first litter.
What about you guys?
Do you have experience with litters of puppies?
Specifically a Golden Retrievers first litter?
If so what was the size of your Goldens first litter?
If youre expecting a litter of puppies you might want to check out our to make sure you have everything your need before your puppies arrive.
Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.
Guess what? Raven had her second litter of puppies.
Dont Buy Golden Retrievers At A Low Price
- Selling cheap dogs will lead to other problems. A few of the most common are no vet checks. This means that the vets will not perform any deworming or vaccinations.
- If a dog is selling for less than what it was worth, the problem will be solved. You shouldnt assume that all dogs selling at a lower price are bad. But you need to do your research.
- The lowest price you can pay for a Golden Retriever is not the best, as these puppies are unlikely to receive the necessary assurances.
- These services will then be paid by you, which will increase your upfront cost. It might cost more to buy a Golden Retriever puppy directly from a trusted breeder, but youll be able to save significantly over the long-term.
- I recommend that you visit the AKC marketplace to purchase your dog. This will help you save time, stress, money, and ensure that everything is legal.
- Whats the average cost for a golden retriever?
- A standard price for a puppy in the Philippines is about £500 . These pets can also be bought at a later age for around a million dollars.
- Price of a Golden Retriever will vary depending on whether or not you buy a pedigree from a reputable breeder. These dogs can be quite expensive.
- According to a 2016 survey, the Golden Retriever is the 16th-most expensive dog breed. A mature Golden Retriever costs £4,300 more than the French Bulldog. They would also be less expensive to keep over a lifetime at £17.095 .
How Much Should I Feed My Golden Retriever Puppy
A Golden Retriever puppy will have to be fed three meals a day until he is six months old, at which time you can feed him twice a day. Meal size can vary from one puppy to the next, but the average three-month-old Golden puppy will eat two cups of food a day. At this time, you should divide the food into three meals and serve it in the morning, noon, and evening.
Golden Retriever Size Chart
To help you evaluate your Golden Retrievers growth process, weve included this chart down below, separating the growing stages of both the male and the female Golden Retriever.
If youre a first-time Golden Retriever owner, youll want to make sure youre using the chart correctly, to be able to check whether or not your pup is hitting the average weight according to their ageor at the very least, hitting the minimum sizes.
On the left side of the chart, youll find the column dictating the age of your Golden Retriever, which can be measured in weeks.
Since the first seven weeks of your pups life are pretty standard and unpredictable in growing times, the chart first starts at this week number, where they should be reaching the standardized sizes.
At seven weeks, a Golden Retriever male puppy should be weighing at the very least 4 lb, whereas the female puppy actually has a bigger stature at a 5-pound minimum.
As the weeks progress, youll notice the minimum weight going up just a few pounds to even as much as almost 20 pounds at certain stages!
We would recommend consulting with your veterinarian about any particular questions you may have about your specific puppys size.
How To Tell If Your Golden Retriever Is Pregnant
You can tell whether your pet retriever is pregnant by looking at some signs. The typical gestation period of dogs is significantly shorter as compared to humans. A golden retrievers gestation period is just 9 weeks or about 63 days. Some female retrievers may go into labor a few days earlier or later.
A lot of changes happen inside the female retriever during the short period she is pregnant. The fertilized eggs move to the uterine horn during the first few days of pregnancy. Once the eggs enter the uterine horn, they embed in the uterine lining and begin the development process.
A fetal heartbeat will be felt after about a month into pregnancy. The development process during the second month and the embryos turn into puppies that can be identified by a veterinarian.
The puppies are ready to be born during the third month. So, you need to be ready for the delivery of the pups. The good news is that, unlike humans, dogs dont require a nurse or midwife when giving birth!
The Biggest Dog Litter Of All Time
Of course, not every dog sticks to the average. Sometimes dogs have more than eight puppies the largest litter size on record for any dog is 24 puppies. We can almost guarantee your golden retriever will not have 24 puppies, though if she does, at least you can get into the Guinness World Records!
Why Does My Dogs Breath Smell Fishy
Every dog owner has gotten a whiff of their dogs bad breath. While we cant expect them to have minty-fresh breath every time they greet us, stinky breath could be a sign of a medical issue.
Halitosis, or chronic bad breath, is a symptom of gum disease. A fishy smell coming from your dogs mouth is probably not originating in their mouths at all unless they just ate a big bowl of salmon-flavored kibble.
Its more likely that the odor is being caused by anal glands secretions that get into the dogs mouth when they clean themselves. Its not pleasant to think about and no amount of teeth cleaning will get rid of the odor if it is being caused by these secretions. You will need to take your dog to the vet for treatment of the glands.
How Much Does It Cost To Own A Golden Retriever
With the upfront cost of a Golden Retriever being around $500-$2,000 from a breeder, you can expect to pay that price for the original purchase of your new dog.
However, this price may vary depending on where you get your dog fromwhich can vary if from a pet store or home breeder without AKC documentation.
Signs & Symptoms That Your Golden Retriever Is Pregnant
If you think your dog may be pregnant but are not quite sure, look out for these signs and symptoms. It is vital you are there for your pregnant pooch during this time. Unlike humans, a Golden Retriever’s gestation period will last an average of 63 days. The earliest they seem to go into labor is around 2 or 3 days early, and may go 2 to 3 days late. She will go through many similar changes just as a woman would.
Symptoms include:-
- Enlarged nipples
- Vaginal discharge
Loss of appetite may be the first noticeable sign of your dog’s pregnancy. She may even lose weight initially before she gains it back. However, during the middle of her pregnancy, her appetite will return with a vengeance!
Early on in her pregnancy, your Golden Retriever will probably have no interest in exercise and be sleeping much more than normal.
When pregnant, most Golden Retrievers become extremely affectionate. There can be some exceptions who wish to be left alone. This change in behavior usually only lasts the first few weeks.
After only a few weeks, you may notice weight gain. As the puppies grow inside your Golden Retriever, her stomach will bloat. The size of her belly depends on the position of the puppies. On rare occasions you may not be able to tell your dog is pregnant until the last 10 days of gestation.
What Are The First Signs Of Pregnancy In A Dog
Unfortunately, there arent many early signs that will indicate that your dog is pregnant. In most cases, youll have to wait about three to four weeks before the signs of pregnancy become apparent.
Some of the most common signs that indicate pregnancy include:
- About one month after mating, your dog may produce a mucous-laden vaginal discharge.
- A pregnant dogs teats will begin to swell and change color a bit about one month after mating.
- Some dogs will begin exuding a semi-clear fluid from their nipples about one month after mating.
- During the third or fourth week of pregnancy, many dogs experience morning sickness. This may include vomiting, changes in appetite, lethargy or behavioral changes.
- Around week four, your dog will likely begin to gain weight. Most dogs end up weighing about 50% more than their original weight by the end of the pregnancy.
- Around the 40th day of the pregnancy, your dogs belly will likely begin to bulge a bit. However, this is not always obvious, particularly for dogs carrying small litters.
- Your dog will likely exhibit an increased appetite during the second half of the pregnancy.
Of course, if you suspect that your dog is pregnant, the best way to know for sure is to make a trip to the vet. Most breeders recommend visiting the vet about two to three weeks following mating anyway.
How Many Puppies Do Goldendoodles Have
Goldendoodles are a highly popular breed. In recent years, many families have found themselves inquiring about adding one to their home for them to love and care for.
Although there are many breeders, there seem to be long waiting lists at most of them.
The demand for this dog breed has led many to search worldwide for a Goldendoodle puppy to add to their family.
This situation leads to the question how many puppies do Goldendoodles have?
Table of Contents
A Regular Schedule Will Help Your Lab Or Golden Stay Healthy
If you have a house-trained or crate-trained retriever, she will do everything in her power to wait until you let her out.
The best-case scenario, if you forget to give your dog a potty break is some carpet cleaning. .
The worst-case situation, however, is that you can actually cause a condition called
If you have a regular exercise routine, you will notice that one of the first things that your dog does is empty her bowels and bladder.
That is because her body knows that she is about to be running and jumping around. She does not want that extra weight. Better to just leave it all behind.
My schedule for my Labradors is to get them out for exercise first thing in the morning. The very first thing I do is walk them over to the part of my property where I want them going to the bathroom.
Once they have completely relieved themselves, then we go play. Sometimes is a bike ride. Other times we just play fetch in the park across the street from my home.
Then we repeat the process about an hour before I want to go to bed.
And, as a result, my 8-year-old Labrador takes a poop in the morning and another between 7 and 8. They hit the average of one to two poop breaks every day.
Create A Bedtime Schedule
Like for daytime sleep, create a nighttime schedule. This will help train your puppy on its bedtime routine, which will help both of you have a great undisturbed night sleep. Some hours before bedtime, have a playtime and cuddle session with your puppy. Take it out for some potty time to avoid any disturbance during the night.
Right Time For Brushing
There is no right or wrong time of day or night to clean your dogs teeth. The important thing is that you choose a time when your dog is calm and relaxed.
As far as the frequency of the cleaning, it is recommended that you brush your dogs teeth two or three times per week for about two minutes at a time. They will also appreciate a nice treat or playtime afterward as a reward.
Do Golden Retriever Types Have Different Growth Rates
The British, American, and Canadian Golden Retrievers do not have a significant difference in growth. Show dogs are often heavier than working dogs.
Dont be alarmed if your working dog is slightly smaller than the projected growth. As long as shes gaining weight steadily, theres no cause for concern.
Also, look at your pups parents, if they are smaller than average, your Golden will most likely be on the small side, and the opposite is true, as well.
Physical Activity & Health
To help your pup stay at a proper weight for its size and age, youll need to make sure that youre engaging him or her in regular activity.For a Golden Retriever, whether growing or fully grown, its important that they get at least one walk per day, but can definitely benefit from two!
Try and get your walks to be around a half-hour to an hour-long if youre able to fit it into your schedule! This can also be beneficial for your health and activity level.
If you dont have the time in your busy day, you can also consider hiring a dog-walker to get your pup the exercise it needs to be healthy and grow properly.
If Youre A Couch Potato Then This Dog Is Not For You
Golden Retrievers have high energy levels and they need to burn this energy off. Give your dog one or two hours of exercise every day otherwise shell mess up your home. Theres plenty of activities you can do, as Goldens are great companions for walking, running, playing in the park, , and even hiking.
Besides running, Golden Retrievers need mental stimulation to thrive. You can teach her obedience training by yourself, as these dogs are known to be among the most obedient breeds. Other stimulating activities where Golden Retrievers register great results are canine freestyle and agility training.
Golden Retrievers were bred to work, so they need to be active to stay happy. Furthermore, the lack of exercise will generate a series of medical problems, including and other related issues, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or problems with ligaments and tendons.
Size Of The Gene Pool
Breeding in limited gene pools, such as dogs coming from smaller breeding groups where genetic diversity is very limited, is known to produce a smaller litter size of puppies.
Many traits have high heritability, but fertility is definitely not one of them. Heritability has about a 10-15% influence over litter size, this means that one cannot rely on genes for increasing the size of the litter alone.
On the other hand, it is useful for dog breeders to know inheritable traits in dogs such as:
- Coat color
- Eye color
- Size
You cannot put two parents who produced large litters previously and expect the puppies to also produce large litters two years down the line.
You Shouldnt Leave Your Golden Retriever Alone For More Than 4
Goldens create strong bonds with their owners, meaning theyre great family dogs. Theyre willing to please their humans and love being around children of all ages because kids are always ready to play.
Leaving your Golden by herself all day will only make her suffer, which in time can generate depression, separation anxiety, and in some cases destructive behavior.
Hiring a pet walker or taking your Golden to dog care during the day can help, but none of these solutions replaces your presence. Only buy or adopt one of these dogs if you or other family members have time to play with her every day.
How Much Does A Golden Retriever Cost
One of the most common yet imperative sides in buying a dog is that How Much Does a Golden Retriever Cost? A Golden Retriever puppy can cost anywhere from $700 to $2,000, with the average price at $1,000. First year costs are $3,270. The cost of the puppy will increase to $1,945/year . The average cost of owning an Golden Retriever for the entire life span is $22,720.
Litter Size For Other Golden Retrievers
If your dog becomes pregnant again, she may not have eight puppies, but you can safely assume the number will fall somewhere between six and 10. Unless your dog has health issues, she will probably birth multiples. The more, the merrier and welcoming a half-dozen puppies into your home ensures a lot of merriment.
How Many Puppies Do They Usually Have
The average litter size of a healthy Golden Retriever is eight puppies. Yet their litter size can vary between four to twelve puppies. The best thing to do in preparation is to ask the vet to estimate litter size. You can also arrange an X-ray after 45 days of pregnancy, which will give you a good indication.
Sometimes when your pet is about 4-5 weeks along, you can feel her puppies. And if you watch carefully, you can sometimes see the puppies moving or feel them if you touch the uterus area. It is a very exciting time!
The Glamorous Black Color Makes Them Strikingly Different Than Other Golden Retrievers
Golden puppies have a short attention span and require a. How many puppies can a golden retriever have. Litter sizes vary from four to 12 puppies and humans are not usually needed for help in the birthing process. Its also common to feel overwhelmed at the amount of information related to breeding Golden.
A Golden Retriever puppy will have to be fed three meals a day until he is six months old at which time you can feed him twice a day.
How Many Puppies Can A Golden Retriever Have
One of the most lovable dog breeds around, the Golden Retriever is a true family friendly dog. Whether you are hoping to expand your furry family or perhaps you are unsure your dog is even pregnant, oneHOWTO are here to help. Although the average litter size of a healthy golden retriever is eight puppies, there are factors that can affect this number. Keep reading to find out how many puppies can a golden retriever have.
How Many Puppies Can a Husky have?
How Long Do Dogs Teething Last
Teething is an expected part of being a puppy. Its a process where the initial set of teeth are replaced with the permanent set of adult teeth. The process can be painful for puppies and usually lasts for a period of between two and four weeks after the new teeth start coming in. The puppys adult teeth will begin replacing puppy teeth at around four months.
Giving puppies chew toys that were designed for puppy teething will help them through this process.
Birth 3 Weeks Neonatal
From birth to the first three weeks of their lives, your Golden Retriever will be in the neonatal stage, which will be quite a developmental stage in their lives. During this fragile period, the Golden Retriever is actually quite helpless in nature and should be kept with their mother.
No matter if your Golden Retriever is a female or male, your pup will typically be measuring under five pounds.
During this earlier stage of life, the pup will encounter various milestones, including learning how to open their ears and eyes, having their first baby teeth come through, and even learning how to crawl or walk awkwardly.
In every litter, there also tends to be the runt of the litter, which is the smallest one. This specific pup needs to be handled with care!
Week Old Golden Retriever Puppy
A 2 week old golden retriever puppy is going to just have opened his eyes for the first time to see the world around him. At this age, he will not be able to walk far as he is still uncoordinated with his front and hind legs.
His food source should entirely be his mother, who should have easy access to her puppies, in addition to being well-fed herself. Nursing mothers need a high-calorie diet.
If you notice that there are pups in the litter not gaining weight as quickly as others, talk to your vet about supplements.