How To Increase The Distance
If you are a very active person and want your puppy to participate with you, increase the distance very slowly, starting with only ¼ mile and adding ¼ mile every other week, going up to 3 miles when your puppy is at least 5 months of age. If you miss a week or two of the work, decrease your distance when starting back and gradually build up the distance again. This long distance exercise must be off-leash so that your puppy can take breaks and slow down as needed. The puppy must set the pace. Forced running on a leash is never good for a growing puppy.
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.
Grooming Your Golden Retriever
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Why Your Golden Retriever Doesnt Retrieve Or Fetch
Golden retrievers were bred to retrieve or fetch, it is kinda true but they are not born with it, it is something you train them to do.
Does that make them like every other dog? Why is their name golden retrievers if they cant retrieve naturally?;
Well, they were bred to be more easily trained to retrieve or fetch than other breeds.
So, you just need to train them to fetch or retriever and they will more than live up to their names.
Play With Golden Retriever Safely Avoiding Danger Zone
Due to differences in body language, the notation of danger for both the kids and dogs are different; dogs think the child wants to play more when he/she rolls in the ground. The dogs sign for the stop is a stiff posture which the kid does not understand. Thus, to avoid danger, you should:
- Stop the child from rolling on the ground.
- Be aware that the game does not change a dog to play mode.
- Control the game and keep it short.
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Getting A Golden Retriever Puppy
Choosing to adopt or go through a breeder for your new golden retriever;puppy is a personal choice that requires research. Thankfully, there are many resources out there to help you find a rescue or breeder that offers healthy, ethically-sourced golden retriever puppies.
Knowing what youre in for when you get a golden retriever;puppy is an important step in being a responsible pet owner. Whether you find a responsible breeder or are planning on adopting, its up to you to be prepared for an energetic and friendly addition to your household.
Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy When You Work
We all lead busy lives. And most of us dont have the luxury of being at home all day. One of the most common questions we are asked is how long can I leave my dog alone.
Many new puppy parents take time off work when they bring their puppy home. But it isnt uncommon for people to think its okay to simply leave their puppy alone in the house all day when they return to work.
This is rarely successful. Young dogs left alone for long periods tend to get up to mischief and some become distressed, destructive, or both.
And you cannot successfully house train a puppy if there is no-one there to let the puppy outside. Raising a puppy while you work full time is possible, but it takes planning and thought.
You cant leave a puppy shut in a crate all day so youll have to get help in the form of a doggy day care placement, or a professional dog walker, or a friend or relative willing to babysit your puppy for a few hours each day.
Check out this article Doggy daycare choosing and using a carer for your puppy and join the forum to talk to other puppy parents that have juggled work and puppies successfully.
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Most Recommended For Golden Retrievers
Best Golden Retriever Training Program
Our favorite: The Dunbar Academy Training Program – If you want a happy and obedient dog, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link
Best Golden Retriever Treats
I created and currently manage Pet Dog Owner, the website you can go to when you have questions about your dog’s behavior. It is my hope that you find Pet Dog Owner to be a helpful resource. It is also my hope that it will help you to improve your relationship with your dog. You can read more about me and my website here.
Learn More Golden Retriever Care Tips
Golden retrievers will give you unconditional love, support, and acceptance like nothing you have ever experienced. Its important to take care of them and treat them like a member of your extended family.
If you enjoyed these tips for golden retriever care, check out our blog for more animal-care articles like this!
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Training Questions And Answers
My challenge is that my dog play bites. He bit my 6 year olds ear today when they were playing. I am hoping when he gets neutered this will reduce drastically, but in the mean time I am needing help.
Hello Lo,Check out the article linked below. Work on teaching Leave It from the Leave It method. Once pup knows Leave It, use that command to tell pup not to bite before a bite or during mouthing to stop – if pup doesn’t stop when you say leave it, use the Pressure method as a gentle discipline for disobeying the Leave it command.Finally, teach pup and Out command. Enforce Out when pup is too wound up to listen and when your other dog needs a break.https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/When pup is really crazy, he also probably needs some quiet time with a dog food chew toy in his crate. Puppies can get really wound up when overtired and mouthing can actually be worse when pup really just needs a nap.Best of luck training,Caitlin Crittenden
Be Consistent And Develop A Routine
Golden Retriever puppies need structure in their lives. They thrive when they’re on a routine. You should establish a schedule as soon as possible to help your puppy succeed. This applies not only to training but every other activity they do.
Provide them with their meals at the same times every single day. If you take walks around the block, try to do so at a predetermined time.
This structure gives them something to look forward to and helps to establish what is expected of them. Once they’re house trained, they’ll have a good idea of when they get to go out. This can ultimately reduce behavioral problems in the long run.
When it comes to consistency, you need to do things the same way each and every time. While slight discrepancies won’t have a drastic effect on their overall progress, big changes will.
For example, if you started out with voice commands and suddenly decided to adopt whistle training techniques, your puppy will have no idea of what you want from them. Be consistent in your training and everyday lives to ensure that your pup can be successful.
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How Much Exercise Does A Golden Retriever Puppy Need
And also, are there puppy exercise limits you should be aware of?
A good rule of thumb for a puppys exercise needs is the 5 minute rule. This rule basically states:
A puppy needs no more than 5 minutes of exercise for each month it has been alive.
So a 3-month-old puppy needs only 15 minutes exercise per day, a 5-month-old needs 25 minutes.
This exercise is a proper, structured exercise. Meaning brisk walking on leash, gentle games of fetch. Its in addition to and not instead of general play.
A puppy can play as much as they wish though you do need to be careful that they dont exercise too much.
Puppies are growing fast and their bones and joints can be easily damaged by over-exercising. So take it easy until theyre more mature. Follow the 5 minute rule and encourage very little jumping or vigorous exercise!
Continue the 5 minute rule until your golden is nearing one year old. And then
Wear And Tear On Paws
Walking for a long period of time on concrete can work like sandpaper on your puppys feet.
Stopping suddenly can also scrape the bottom of the paws, causing the outer layer of the pad to wear off. It is good not to drag your dog while they are leashed, instead, be patient with them and listen to their cues.
If you look at the bottom of your puppys paws and notice tears, visible skin flaps, redness, thinning, then thats a sign that their paws have been overworked. To active puppies like Golden Retrievers, play is more important than painful feet, so theyll often run around even if their paws hurt.;
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Playing Hide And Seek
If you are concerned about giving your golden retriever too many treats, you can adjust the above game to hide yourself instead of treats.
Distract your pooch by giving them their favorite toy to play with. As soon as they get distracted, go to another area of your house and hide. They will start to run all over the place looking for you, mildly exercising themselves.
If for some reason they dont start looking, give them the come command to start the search. Suddenly the game is not only exercise, but it also reinforces training.
Choose Your Training Method And Stick To It
There are a couple of different training methods you can go with. The most common is voice commands. With this method, you’ll need to create identifiable words or phrases that you will teach your dog to remember.
Plan these commands out and write them down. Changing commands in the middle of training will only confuse your puppy and set the process back.
Another method is to use an object that produces a sound. Whistle training and click training work on the same principles as training with voice commands. However, instead of saying commands, you use the device.
Golden Retrievers are very responsive to whistle training. Whistles produce a distinct sound that can be heard from a good distance away. Though, if you choose to use a dog whistle or clicker, you’ll need to create your sound patterns and invest in a solid device that can last for many years.
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Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy The Fun Extras
We have wonderful puppy naming resources on this site. In 2016 the Happy Puppy site launched the International Dog Names Survey.
Each year we update our puppy names lists with the latest data on dog name popularity for different breeds and in different parts of the world. So youll find heaps of inspiration.
We even have a puppy names list devoted entirely to Golden Retrievers. Dont forget to add your puppy name to the survey once you have made your final choice!
Another fun part of raising a Golden puppy is the toys and games you can play with them. Here are some guides that will show you our favorite dog toys. We bet your puppy will love them too!
Now, were fully prepared for our new Golden puppy. What happens after they come home?
Running With A Puppy On Leash Should Be Avoided
Many people have plans to run with their dog, but running on a leash can be harmful to a puppys growing joints, growth plates, and soft tissue. Wait until your puppys growth plates have closed, which can be anywhere from 18-24 months. Similarly running on a treadmill or any other types of forced running are not appropriate forms of exercise for a golden retriever puppy.
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Sample Golden Retriever Exercise Schedule
Our golden retriever, Oliver, is definitely one of those goldens that naturally has a ton of energy.
In fact, as Im writing this, we just got in from playing fetch in the backyard and after laying down for five minutes, hes now sitting next to me, looking up at me, hoping to play again.
So how much exericse does Oliver get?
Heres an example of his day:
6 am: 15 minute walk
11 am: 15 minute walk
11:15 am: 15 minute training/play session
5 pm: 20 minute play session
5:30 pm: 20 minute walk/training session
8 pm: 15 minute walk
8:15 pm: 10-20 minute play session
At a year and a half old, Oliver is in his teenage phase, so hes got tons of energy.
This averages out to about two hours of physical activity per day, but if he doesnt get enough, hes sure to let us know.
Your goldens exercise needs might be different than Olivers, so dont take this schedule as a hard rule that every golden needs to follow.
And if youre feeling overwhelmed with the amount of exercise your golden needs, dont worry.
They slow down when theyre about two to four years old and need much less exercise than in their wild puppy years.
Leash Walks As Exercise For A Golden Retriever Puppy
Leash walking can be a good form of exercise when certain criteria are met. First puppies need to be trained and socialized to the environment. Second, leash walks need to be done in a certain way. Finally, leash walks for a young puppy shouldnt be the puppys only form of exercise.
Leash walking can be overdone. One of the biggest causes of growth plate and soft tissue injury in young puppies is repetitive exercise. Leash walks for puppies must be broken up with training sessions or opportunities for free off-leash play or time to sniff around on the leash. 15 minutes should be the maximum for an 8-week old puppy. If your puppy gets tired, flops down, or doesnt want to go, its time to stop. At 3 months, you can go for 20 minutes and at 6 months, you can walk up to 30 minutes. You must be much more careful with leash walking since you and not the puppy control the pace.
Leash walking provides an excellent way of combining a little bit of physical exercise with mental exercise, obedience training, socialization, and environmental desensitization. It is a fantastic way to introduce a puppy to his world. It gives a bit of exercise while at the same time giving opportunities for socialization and training. However, strolls on a leash are not enough. Puppies must have an opportunity to run and play. Again, off-leash walks are best if your goal in your walk is to provide adequate exercise.
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Playing With Your Puppy
Many people dont have a clue as to how to play with a puppy. Getting on the ground or running around with your puppy can be one of the best ways to exercise your puppy. Fetch and tug can be options if played within certain guidelines. Not only does play with your puppy provide a way to meet your puppys exercise needs, play can serve as a bonding experience between you and your puppy.
Whether you are playing tug or fetch or just running around with your puppy, there are a couple of rules that need to be followed. First of all, you need to be the one initiating the game and second of all, you need to teach your puppy an off switch.
In other words, if your puppy comes up to you demanding that you play with him in an inappropriate way, dont oblige him. Instead, ignore him. For instance, if he starts pulling on your pants legs or barking at you, dont begin the play session. Wait until your puppy is behaving. Then, once you begin playing with your puppy, periodically, stop the game and make him gain control of himself before resuming the game. Ask him to do a simple behavior such as a sit or a down. Then start playing again.