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How To Pick Golden Retriever Puppy

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How To Pick A Golden Retriever Puppy

Dog Breeds : How to Select a Golden Retriever

Dogs sleep at the foot of their owners beds. They wait patiently near the dinner table, hoping for a tasty treat to be tossed into their mouths. Even when no one else is, theyre always a part of the welcoming committee that waits at the front door. Dogs are companion pets that beautifully fit into and enhance the lives of their owners.

One of the most popular breeds is the Golden retriever. Before selecting a Golden retriever puppy to love and welcome into their home, the prospective pet owner should first become familiar with the traits and characteristics that will impact their new puppys ability to fit into their home and lifestyle.

Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy Setting Up

Before your puppy comes home, you should work to set up everything that theyll need. Its much easier to do this before you have an excited puppy running around your feet at every turn.

Three of the most important things to set up are your crate, your puppy zone, and any baby gates that youve bought.

Make sure your puppys crate is big enough for him to turn around in, and sleep comfortably in. But, remember that if its much bigger than this, your Golden may try to use one end as a bed and the other as a toilet.

If your crate is too big when your puppy comes home, you can use a crate divider to create a smaller bedroom area.

A puppy zone is an area in your house that is puppy proof. It usually contains your puppys crate, some toys, and fresh water. You may choose to feed your puppy in their puppy zone too.

Some people create a puppy zone within a playpen. But others like to dedicate an entire room, like the kitchen. If you want to do this, its best to use baby gates on the doors, so that you can get out easily without releasing your puppy.

How To Choose A English Golden Retriever Puppy

Every body and their mother have their opinion on what is the correct way to choose a puppy. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject. Many will say with goldens you can never go wrong. Ive heard people tell me, have you ever seen a bad golden. As if all goldens are perfect. Actually I have seen some bad ones , but Ive seen some hyper ones, and some very vocal ones. However, I believe that was due to lack of training and attention.

Ive been around hundreds of goldens, whether from American lines to English lines. My exposure has led me to see many types of temperaments. English lines do seem to have a calmer temperament. However, Im not trying to say American goldens are bad by any means. Ive just been lucky enough to be around both sides.

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Does The Bloodline Matter

Oh yes,; the son of a king is a king himself. Along with some genetic insight, a dog inherits the traits of his parents too. Before adopting a Golden Retriever dont forget to scrutinize his parents. The puppy will be very much like them.

Although you cant measure the degree of how much the puppy will resemble the parents but the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. Contact a good breeder that will provide you what you are looking for.

Selecting A Puppy From The Litter

How To Pick A Golden Retriever Puppy From The Litter (6 ...

When we went to pick our puppy from the litter we knew exactly what we wanted: a big, calm, sweet boy.

The big boy with the red collar was incredibly cute, calm and sleepy, and kept snuggling into my wifes lap, so we knew he was the one.

What we didnt consider was that another family had just picked up their puppy before we got there.

He had probably worn himself out trying to impress them because two days later we were wondering what happened to that calm puppy as a fluffy little tornado was tearing around our apartment!

That just goes to show that what theyre like when you meet them is not always accurate of how they will turn out to be.

This is why its important to talk to the breeder, but here are six tips to help you decide which puppy is right for you:

  • Watch how your puppy reacts with their littermates. Are they submissive? Dominant? This might give you some insight into their personality.
  • Take note of their energy levels. Obviously this didnt work with Oliver since he was calm and sleepy, but if a dog is barking a lot and running around, that might be a warning sign if you want a calm dog. Its at least something to talk to the breeder about.
  • Consider how your puppy interacts with people. How are they with you, whoever is with you, and the breeder? Are they fearful? Curious? A friendly dog will be outgoing and interested in you.
  • Toss your keys or a toy.;A puppy should at least watch a toy with their eyes, if not try to go follow it, to show that theyre alert.
  • Also Check: 2 Month Old Golden Retriever Puppy

    How To Pick A Golden Retriever Breeder

    Youve said yes to the commitment of a new little companionnow what?

    Its time to start the process of finding a;trusted;breeder and were going to take you common signs that youre dealing with a reputable, high quality and experienced breeder below.

    • Experience. Experience in breeding is important and your chosen breeder should have an excellent track record with plenty of referrals from past clients.
    • Expertise. A great breeder is a tried and true expert of the breed. They answer any questions and understand the heritage, genetic disposition and intricacies of the Golden Retriever.
    • The breeder ask you questions.;A great breeder isnt eager to sell or give a pitch; rather, they truly care about their puppies. ;They want to find the best possible homes for them. When a breeder asks you questions and wants to meet your family, thats a great sign.
    • Authenticity.;Does the breeder allow you on his/her premises to pick out a puppy? ;Be wary of a breeder who insists on shipping/delivery, and comes up with excuses to not allow you to see the home where the pups were raised.
    • Cleanliness and environment.;Are the puppies raised in a humane, sanitary, happy environment? Ideally, you want to find a breeder who takes pride in the environment he provides for his/her dogs and puppies.

    Naming Your Golden Retriever Puppy

    Whatever you decide to name your puppy, make sure you like it, because you sure are going to be saying it a lot.

    There are no real guidelines, although most people try to at least avoid intense names, like Killer, because golden retrievers are well, golden retrievers.

    Some people go with human names, like Doug, others go with plant names, like Aspen, there are food names, like Cashew, and there are the names of other animals, like Bear.

    If you need some name inspiration, check out our giant list of golden retriever names here.

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    What To Do Before You Get A Golden Retriever Puppy

    There are a lot of big decisions youll have to make before bringing your puppy home, including where to get them from, how to pick a puppy, and what to name them.

    These next few sections will cover all of those decisions in detail, but theres one thing that you need to make sure of before continuing on.

    Do you really want a golden retriever puppy?

    Yes, theyre sweet, adorable, fluffy balls of joy, but theyre also a lot of work and theyre not cheap.

    Our Complete Guide To Golden Retrievers is a good place to start if youre unsure about committing to a golden.

    But if you are sure, heres the first question to ask yourself

    How To Socialize Your Puppy

    Puppy Picking: English Golden Retriever Watson

    Dr. Pachel, whos a veterinary behaviorist, has a very simple way of socializing your puppy.

    Every day, separate out five special treats for your puppy.

    Youll give them one of these treats in a new situation.

    For example, you might let your neighbor give your puppy a treat, or maybe you take your puppy to a bus stop and when the bus goes by you give them a treat, or maybe you introduce them to a cow and give them a treat.

    The treat helps them have a positive experience with these new things and people, plus it helps you easily remember to expose them to lots of these new things.

    Do this for the first four weeks of their life and before you know it, your puppy will have been exposed to 140 new dogs, people, things, or environments, and will be well on their well to becoming a well-adjusted adult dog.

    Also Check: When To Neuter A Golden Retriever Puppy

    Golden Retriever Puppy Growth

    As a medium to large breed, Golden Retriever puppies carry on growing up to and beyond their first birthday. In fact growth isnt complete until the middle of the second year.

    However, those last few months are mainly about filling out and your Golden puppy will have reached close to their maximum height at between 9 and 12 months of age.

    You can read all about puppy development stages and puppy growth in our guide:

    Its full of fascinating puppy growth facts!

    How To Find Dog Groomer For Your Golden Retriever

    If possible, I dont recommend just opening the phone book or doing a random internet search to find a groomer.

    Its better to get some type of recommendation when beginning your search.;

    Even though the groomer that someone recommends might not be best for grooming your particular dog, it provides a starting point in your search for the best groomer.

    Recommended Reading: Best Toys For Golden Retrievers

    How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever

    Golden Retrievers usually weigh from 55 to 75 pounds and reach their full height and weight when they are 12 to 18 months old. Keep in mind that every dog is an individual and that it can take more or less time for your Golden puppy to reach his adult size. However, your Goldens caloric needs will greatly decrease when he reaches 12 to 14 months and he will no longer need the same amount of food as before.

    An adult and active Golden will need to eat between 1,300 to 1,700 calories per day. However, keep in mind that age, weight, activity level, health problems, and overall lifestyle will determine how many calories your Golden needs per day.

    For example, nursing mothers and dogs that perform heavy work will need more than 2,000 calories per day in order to maintain their weight and stay healthy. On the other hand, if your pooch is more of a couch potato type than an athlete he will probably need around 1,000 calories a day in order to maintain a healthy weight.

    During adulthood, your Golden Retriever feeding schedule should consist of two equally spaced meals ideally, you should feed your dog in the morning and evening. If you opt for feeding high-quality large breed dog food, an optimal Golden Retriever food amount will be:

    • Females: 2 to 2 ½ cups a day
    • Males: 3 to 3 ½ cups a day
    • Active Males: 4 cups a day
    • Nursing Females: 5 to 6 cups a day

    Golden Retriever Puppy: Finding And Raising Your New Friend

    How To Pick Up Best Golden Retriever Puppy From A Litter?

    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.

    Read Also: How To Train A Golden Retriever To Stay

    There Are One Or Two That I Really Like What Should I Look For

    After assessing the litter as a whole, focus on a single pup. Separate him from his siblings and give him a closer look. Pay attention to these areas.

    1. Eyes. Eyes should be clear with no redness or drainage. There should be no hair loss around the eyes. The pup should not squint or rub at his eyes.

    2. Ears. Ears should not have an odor or discharge. The ear flaps should be covered in healthy hair. Scratching at the ear is a sign of trouble.

    3. Nose. It is okay for the nose to have a slight clear discharge, but discolored drainage is not normal. The pup should breathe easily and noiselessly from his nose.

    4. Head. The top of the head may have a small soft spot. If the soft area is larger than a dime, this could indicate future problems associated with open fontanelles which are openings between the bones/plates of the skull.

    5. Mouth. The pups gums should be moist and healthy pink in color. The top and bottom teeth should align, although some breeds commonly have a breed-specific under-bite .

    6. Body Wall. Look at the pups belly for a protrusion around the navel. This could indicate an umbilical hernia. If anything pokes out in this area, it could mean surgical correction may be necessary.

    7. Skin. You already looked at the puppies’ coats while surveying the litter. Now take a closer look at the individual puppy. There should be no areas of hair loss, no pustules , no redness, and no flaking.

    Identifying A Golden Retriever Based On Physical Appearance:

    Not every time the legal document is handy or even important. You can spot a Golden Retriever if you know what to look for. The Golden Retriever has an energetic and charismatic personality. They are friendly even in the presence of another pet. You will notice their happy aura and their urge to play with you. They will have a moderate temperament and high intelligence levels.

    A Golden Retriever can have varied tones of Golden. It could be light,; dark,; cream,; red or white Golden. While looking at physical appearance,; also observe their tail which should be on point. Their tail should extend to hock. However, the thickness of the tail may vary. Golden retrievers have two fur coats, the less dense upper coat and a heavy undercoat. Also, their ears are short and folded.

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    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.

    The Different Personalities Within A Litter Of Pups

    Picking up our Golden Retriever puppy & our first week

    When it comes time to choosing your puppy from a litter, you will want to take your time and watch each puppy closely, to see how they play with each other and how they act.

    Each puppy has a different personality that can be judged in the early weeks, and the personalities that puppies show will be signs of what their future personality and temperament will be like.

    The following are the different personality types of puppies:

    The Boss Puppy

    This puppy will likely be the largest puppy of the litter, and may already show signs of being the alpha puppy in the group. This puppy will push the other puppies out of the way in order to get food, and will instigate games and play fighting.

    The boss puppy will likely be the puppy that is trying to climb out of the enclosure to escape. This shows determination, intelligence and will power.

    This puppy will likely grow up to be a bold and outgoing dog, and will need a confident and experienced owner, that has time to challenge this puppy.

    The Rebel Puppy

    The rebel is a quick thinking, energetic and fun-loving puppy. Just as playful and full of energy like the boss puppy, but more sensitive and less aggressive.

    Rebel puppies turn out to be personable, without being stubborn or headstrong. They make a good match for active owners, or families with children.

    The Independent Thinker

    This type of puppy can be seen interacting and playing with the rest of the litter, and also happily playing with a toy on its own.

    Eager To Please Puppy

    Read Also: How To Properly Groom A Golden Retriever

    The Puppy Should Be Healthy

    Be sure to look at each puppy to check their overall appearance and health. Puppies should have clear, bright eyes, with no discharge. Their ears, teeth and gums should be clean as well. There should be no discharge coming from the puppys nose, and a puppy should not be sneezing or coughing.

    The puppys coat should be clean, and shiny. There should be no bald spots, or red irritated areas.

    A healthy puppy will have a sturdy body, not too skinny and not fat either. The puppy should have a playful energetic behavior. Playfulness has a lot to do with personality, and each puppy will be different, but a puppy that shows no interest in you, or its surroundings may be sick.

    Check the puppys hearing by clapping your hands, or dropping something on the ground behind them to see if they react. Do a vision test by putting a toy, or treat on the ground near them, and make sure that they can see it and find it.

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