Grooming Your Golden Retriever
Highly Recommended Training Course
For a detailed program to follow in the form of a video library, including a step-by-step roadmap for raising a puppy from 8 weeks old all the way to a confident, well-trained and happy adult dog, you could do a lot worse than checking outThe Online Dog Trainer.
This program contains over 250 follow along videos of an NZ SPCA endorsed professional dog trainer, covering all aspects of dog training, solving behavior problems in real life scenarios, explaining the;theory, giving practical advice and more.
Dans methods are positive, force free and effective. You can see him getting real results in real-life consultations with his clients, so if you ever have a behavior problem you need to solve, you can follow along for almost guaranteed results.
Of course, we are developing a fantastic training resource here at TotallyGoldens.com;for free, but there are times when instructional video just hands down beats the written word, and thats why were happy to promote the course.
Click here to learn more at TheOnlineDogTrainer.com.
Socialization Is A Huge Part Of Your Pups Early Life
The first 12 weeks of your Golden Retriever is his critical socialization time. It means that during this time, you should pay close attention to your dogs socialization. There are a few ways that you can do so. First, you can introduce your pup to your family and friends. The more people your dog meets, the more he gets to know them and develops his social skills.
In addition to meeting other people, your dog also needs to be introduced to new things and other breeds of dogs. To do this, you can take your dog with you on a trip to a pet store or to a supermarket. Your puppy will get a chance to look at various different things.
Regarding meeting other dog breeds, it is recommended that you take your dog to a weekly dog class. In this class, professionals provide training for your dog, and he will get the opportunity to meet and greet other dogs as well. In some areas, dog parks are available and lots of dog owners tend to take their dogs there but in fact, dog parks are not truly safe for your puppy. The first reason is that dog parks are usually packed with many dogs. Some of them are healthy, while some are not. Thus, it can be dangerous to take your puppy there as he would be prone to many unknown illnesses. Another reason is that too many dogs can be overwhelming for your puppy. Of course, not so many breeds are friendly, so dog parks are not an ideal place for his socialization.
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Who Is The Best Human For A Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are a tried and true family dog. They love swimming , running, and playing in a big backyard. Theyre highly social, so a large and active family household works well for them. They also need plenty of affection and snuggles. Due to their hunting heritage, they love to play fetch! Looking to please you, theyre relatively easy to train.
Theyre great with children and seniors alike. Golden retrievers do best with plenty of companionship, and so despite their activity level, often do very well with retirees who can devote plenty of time to them.
Choosing A Golden Retriever Puppy
If you havent chosen your puppy yet, you may be undecided between a male and a female. There are a few differences in their needs and care, but not as many as you might think.
In some breeds there are greater tendencies to aggression in males compared with females. And people do worry that a male dog might be more likely to fight or bite.
However in a study released in 2008, Golden Retrievers were among the breeds least likely to show aggression to other people or dogs.
We have not seen any evidence that male Goldens are any less likely to be good tempered than females. And its reasonable to assume that your male Goldie is likely to be as friendly and affectionate as his sisters.
Female Golden Retrievers need a little more care than males unless and until they are spayed. Thats because female dogs come into heat every six months.
During this time, they need careful protection from males to ensure that they dont become pregnant.
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Start Training Early And Hire A Professional
Sullie was my first pup 10 years ago and while we did an okay job training her, we definitely could have done better. While she is overall the sweetest and most well-behaved pup ever, she is still no fun to walk on a leash. I did the Petsmart Puppy Kindergarten with Sullie and while it was okay, I knew I didnt want to go that route with Zoey. I dont agree with some of their training techniques and I wanted a deeper dive into training.
We made the investment to hire UberDog here in Charlotte to help us with training Zoey. They did several in-home session and we have lifetime group classes . It was totally worth the investment for us. Before choosing a trainer or training program, make sure that you agree with their training method and beliefs. Im in the positive as possible camp when it comes to training so UberDog was a great fit for us.
Make sure youre committed to doing the work you need to do for training your dog. Theyre not going to learn everything they need to know through one training session with a trainer or a class every week. Its day in and day out work at home. Also, take responsibility for some of your dogs bad habits. Case in point, Zoey still jumps up on the counter and eats things. While I get mad at her, its mostly our fault for failing to do the proper training to stop the habit.
Dogs are so smart and they want to make you happy. You just have to train them!
Make Your Home Senior
Orthopedic dog beds can be soothing to older bodies and joints. They even make warming pads for beds.
Make sure your dog stays warm and away from drafts. If you live in a cooler climate, your golden may even need a coat or sweater when winter comes.
Your golden may need to remain on one level of your house if he can no longer use steps.
Raise your dogâs water and food bowls. You can place his current ones on blocks or purchase some that are elevated. This will make eating easier on his neck and spine.
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A Tired Puppy Is A Good Puppy
Regular play sessions and walks are great for wearing puppies out but you also want to mentally stimulate them as well. Zoey would sleep for 3 hours after a 30 minute session with her trainer. It wiped her out! So remember, physical AND mental stimulation. In addition to training activities, there are all sorts of toys that you can purchase that mentally stimulate them too.
How Do I Keep My Golden Retriever Busy
How to keep your Golden Retriever entertained
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Care Of Your Golden Retriever
When You Bring Your New Puppy Home! Caring for your Golden Retriever Puppy
Finally, the day dawns when you collect your new puppy from its breeder and you bring him or her home!First, show puppy where to toilet and praise him when he performs. It s a good idea, for the future, if you say a certain word when the pup is actually doing it so that he can then learn to associate that word with toileting as it will help with house-breaking and general training.Your puppy will be tired after the journey so show him his bedImmediately after puppy has eaten, bring him out to toilet, this is what he will have been used to when with his mother. Also do this when he wakes up from sleep.Let puppy get used to his new home and you in a calm manner and start as you mean to go on if he chews at the furniture tell him No! in a sharp tone and gently remove him from the chair-leg etc.
Puppy will be teething hard and it s preferable to give him suitable toys to satisfy his craving to chew rather than let him loose on the leather suite! Never leave him with toys unsupervised.Your puppy needs plenty of sleep little naps during the day as well as a full night s sleep. Ensure puppy can sleep as much as he needs without the children disturbing him.
First thing after he wakes, hell need to go to the toilet!
How To Pick A Golden Retriever Puppy From The Litter
Im going to be honest here
There are no tricks to getting the perfect puppy for you.
The most important thing is to find a breeder that breeds parents that resemble the dog you want.
Do you want a sweet, calm golden?
Then look for a breeder that breeds sweet, calm goldens.
Do you want a dog to go hunting with?
Then look for a breeder that breeds hunting dogs.
After finding a good breeder, talk with them and tell them what you want.
For instance, when my wife and I went to pick up our golden retriever, Oliver, we told the breeder that we wanted a big, calm golden.
It was obvious to see which of the puppies were going to be big, and from being with these puppies the previous eight weeks, they were able to help advise me on which ones seemed to be on the calmer side.
Here are a few other tips for picking a puppy:
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Taking Care Of A Golden Retriever Puppy: What To Know
Often known as Americas Sweetheart, the golden retrievers are playful, trustworthy, and bring their puppy-like attitude into adulthood. Golden retriever puppies might be friendly, but they do require a lot of socialization and training to better prepare them for well-mannered adulthoodwhen theyre much bigger, but they still want to sit on your lap.
Size Golden retrievers weigh between 55 and 65 pounds for females and between 65 and 75 pounds for males. They hit heights between 21.5 inches and 24 inches on the shoulder.
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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Is Your Golden Retriever Happy
1. Like humans, dogs are very smart and forward-thinking animals. Therefore to have a much better idea of what is up with your dog, you should educate yourself by reading books such as;
Or check out the brain training for dogs online course to learn in-depth training on obedience for your dog.;
2. One factor that you can use to tell you if your dog is happy is eating habits. Its common knowledge among veterinarians that dogs who are not eating are usually suffering from stress or anxiety in most cases.;
3. The energy levels of your dog is also an important factor to look out for, a happy dog will continue to behave in their usual way such as running around in the field when you take it out as well as messing around at home. If your dog suddenly doesnt want to play or go for their regular walk, then it may be worth looking into things further.;
4. Always keep an eye out for how your dogs eyes look and whether they become lethargic or slow at any point in time. These are all good indicators as to whether your dog is fit and well or not feeling up to scratch.
A few other signs include your dogs tail being flopped down or their ears sitting much lower than usual. These can all be good signs that there is something wrong.;
Let Them Be A Lap Dog
Who says that a Golden Retriever is not a lap dog?! They are basically big teddy bears.
Craving human attention and affection is what they do and if that means jumping onto your lap and snuggling up with you, then that is what they will do.
I remember when Ellie was a puppy I did not want her on the couch. I even tried to put tinfoil on the couch to deter her away from it. How long do you think that lasted?? Maybe a week or less.
She would take a running leap and jump onto the couch and realize how comfortable it was, and just stay there. Nothing I could do about it, it was just easier to give in. Now I share a couch with her. She has her side, I have mine.
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How To Find A Golden Retriever Breeder
If you want a happy and healthy puppy, the best thing you can do is get your puppy from a good breeder who breeds happy, healthy adults.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of irresponsible breeders , so it will take some research to find a good one.
Heres why you should purchase a puppy from a responsible breeder:
- Health is largely inherited from a puppys parents
- Temperament is largely inherited from a puppys parents
- Socialization is one of the most important things to raise a well-adjusted puppy and the breeder will be the first one to socialize the puppy
- If anything goes wrong, youll want to be working with a breeder that has integrity and will do the right thing
And here are six tips to finding a good breeder:
Click here to learn more about finding a reputable golden retriever breeder.
Now, once youve found a breeder, youll need to know how to pick the right puppy from the litter when you go to pick them up.