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!
Final Tips To Leave A Golden Retriever Puppy In A Crate When You Are Out Of Home
- If youve mastered the exercises expounded above, it wont be difficult for you to get a puppy to stay in the crate when you leave home.
- When you leave your puppy alone, make sure that you have already finished physical activities such as walking and letting him relieve himself outdoors, this will make it easier for him to endure loneliness and mobility restrictions.
- Please take off your dogs collar and encourage him into the crate. Again do not use force.
- Close the crate door, double-check everything for safety before going out. We recommend that if you have to crate a dog for more than 2 hours, they should have a crate mounted water bowl or bottle. So its better to buy one in preparation.
- Try not to talk to your dog about anything and head off.
- In the first phase, your dog might make noise, so make sure your neighbors know and understand so you can avoid any further trouble.
- Remember to gradually do this, In the first instance be away for one to two hours, so on and so forth. If you are stuck in a desperate situation and need to go somewhere, its wise to ask someone to check up on your dog every once in a while around your absence.
Note: Puppies cannot be crated for even 4 or 5 hours, because they dont have the physical maturity to hold their bladders for this length of time.
Its believed that the time your puppy can spend in a crate without going out can be calculated by the formula:
Age in months + one month = number of hours
How To Keep Your Golden Retriever In Shape
Just like humans, your dog also needs to stay in shape to be healthy and grow properly, hitting all the necessary milestones when it comes to weight.
Developed originally as a sporting breed, the Golden Retriever was able to go through an entire day of hunting with no issues. This means that your dogs exercise habits should show the same sort of energy.
When it comes to exercising regularly, your dog should be consistently exercising around 20-30 minutes, twice per day. This can help not only keep your pup healthy but help them expend any excess energy they may have pent up.
Also Check: How Much Food To Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy
So Which Type Of Crate Is Best
No crate is best, exactly, as it totally depends on what you need it for.
I will say that wire crates give you the best value for money and theyre the most practical. This is because they can be collapsed for easy storage, theyre transportable, and you can just buy one and use dividers.
For travel – particularly on airplanes – plastic crates are the best choice, and these can also be used at home.
If you want the best of both worlds, you can always purchase a wire crate for home use and keep a plastic crate handy for your travels together.
What Is A Good Crate Size For Golden Retrievers
Most of the time, fully-grown Golden Retrievers will require a large or extra-large crate size. In many cases, this means purchasing a crate thats around forty-two to forty-eight inches long.
If you dont want to purchase two separate crates for a puppy and an adult, you can look for a crate that includes a divider. These dividers allow you to section off parts of the crate as your Retriever continues to get bigger. As they grow, you can section off less and less of the crate until your Golden Retriever can use the entire space.
However, if theres more than enough room for your Golden Retriever to walk around, the crate might be just a little too big. Unnecessary large crates can inhibit house trainingyour Retriever may be tempted to use the bathroom on one side of the crate and then lay on the other side.
Read Also: Golden Retriever Puppies Wa
What To Put Into A Crate
- You might want to consider putting up a comfortable dog bed inside the crate, that is not too bulky and made up of breathable and waterproof fabric
- Always keep your dog hydrated in a crate by providing a special water dispenser bowl
- In cases with minimal supervision, you may also want to put his favorite toys to cope up with anxiety and boredom. Snuggle toys with heartbeat are an excellent solution for puppies at night.
New World Metal Dog Crate
The New World metal dog crate is very similar to the iCrate and AmazonBasics. Its slightly cheaper, but only because it comes in a one-door option . For that reason, weve ranked it number 4.
This also does not come with a divider , which I think is such an awesome feature for dog crates. But if youre getting a crate for a full grown Golden Shepherd, then a divider may not be necessary.
The New World Dog Crate Overview
- What to Get: The 42 inch.
- Reviews: 1400 +
- Highlights: Single door, metal construction, foldable crate, removable tray.
Best Features
Although this crate only comes with a single door, its large enough for your Golden Retriever to get in and out with no problems. Security is always important with crates, which is why the New World crate comes with slide-bolt latches to ensure your dog is safe in the cage.
The frame is built with high quality metal thats both durable and relatively light. Fortunately, Golden Retrievers arent heavy chewers and likely wont gnaw through the wired frame. In fact, Golden Retrievers much prefer to chew on socks!
Like the first two options, this dog crate is foldable and can collapse in a few seconds. Whether youre taking the puppy to grandmas house or storing it in the garage, the process is simple.
New Worlds crate also comes with a removable tray. Although its made from plastic, its thick and durable. Easily slide out the tray and hose it down or wipe it clean with ease.
What Golden Retriever Owners are Saying
Recommended Reading: Do Golden Retrievers Like Cats
Know Your Dogs Current Size
If you havent received your puppy yet, ask your breeder or dog professional about your pups weight, height, and parents size, if known. Per the above, if youre only crating while your dog is a puppy, ask how much they expect your pup to grow in its first 2-3 months. If you dont have access to a dog professional, you can research your dogs breed online to find its approximate puppy size.
If you already have your puppy, you can weigh and measure your puppy yourself, or you can bring him or her to a vet or trainer.
Tips to measure your dogs height:
Tips to weigh your dog:
Tips For Initial Crate Training A Golden Retriever Puppy
You May Like: Golden Retriever Colores
How To Help Your Golden Retriever Lose Weight If He Is Overweight
Before helping your Golden Retriever lose weight, ensure that the weight gain is not caused by a medical condition. Once your vet has ruled out any conditions, you can help your puppy lose weight at home through the following steps:
- Food reduce the amount of your you are feeding your puppy by about 10% and if the weight is not coming off, reduce the amount by another 10%. Ensure that the food you are feeding your puppy is high in quality and rich in nutrients.
- Exercise start exercising your puppy with a slow 20-minute walk and then slowly increase the intensity once they are comfortable with it. Swimming is one of the best ways of exercising your puppy.
- Reduce treats treats can add unnecessary weight to your puppy. Therefore, ensure that the treats are less than 10% of their food daily. You can also swap the treats for vegetables and fruits such as bananas, celery, and carrots.
Are They Officially Recognized
Miniature Golden Retrievers are not a member of the American Kennel Club but a certain mix of them is recognized by the Designer Dogs Kennel Club the Golden Retriever x Goldendoodle.
Responsible breeders are clearly committed to work towards the recognition of the breed and the enforcement of best breeding practices for Mini Goldens/ small golden retrievers. This usually translates to puppies sold already neutered, microchipped, with an ID tag and a health certificate.
As with any breed of dog, its imperative that you choose to buy from a reputable breeder in order to ensure the good health and longevity of your new pup.
Read Also: Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Connecticut
What Our Customers Say
We dont like to brag, but we dont mind when our customers do. Here are some of the testimonials we have received from our wonderful pet owners.
SO HELPFUL
Just purchased a 48 inch dog cage and got a pleasant shock at the quality and price and the ease it was to put it together.
Kimberley my sales assistant was so helpful and friendly I will recommend Somerzby to all my family and friends.
ROD TILL
Best Budget Crate: Petmate Provalu Dog Crate
Best Budget
If you are on a budget go with the PetmateProValu Dog Crate. However, as of the writing of this article you would only save about $5 when purchasing this over the MidWest Homes Crate, so be sure to check prices.
As stated above, this crate is almost the same as the MidWest Homes crate, but it uses thinner wire. The wire is still adequate, so going with this crate is still a great option, but if you have the money, an upgrade is worth the small fee.
Key Features:
- Slide bolt latches for safety
- Folds Flat
- Comes with divider panels for a puppy
- Removable plastic tray
Read Also: How Much Does A Trained Golden Retriever Cost
Read Also: What Size Collar For Golden Retriever Puppy
Why Crates Are Important For Golden Retrievers
When you adopt a Golden Retriever, chances are you have adopted a little pup who has yet a long way to learn things. Crates are not only important, they are necessary for these little energy bombs. You have adopted the dog to be with you but the fact is you guys cant be around each other 24/7. What will your dog do when you are not around? Where is he supposed to go?. Who guarantees his behavior? Well, to address these concerns, focus on buying a crate for your Golden Retriever puppy.
How To Find Out Litter Size Of A Pregnant Retriever
Any ultrasound or X-ray can be performed to know the number of puppies inside a pregnant retriever. An X-ray can identify pups inside the retrievers belly only once the bones have developed. This normally occurs about 49 days into the pregnancy.
Ultrasound can also help in determining the litter size. The test is performed about 22 days of the gestation period. But the technique does not reveal the exact size of the litter. Still, this technique is less harmful to the puppies and the mom as compared to X-Rays.
You should consider waiting until the 55 days of gestation before conducting tests to confirm pregnancy. By knowing about the expected number of pups in the womb, you can better prepare for the arrival of the little retrievers.
Read Also: When Do Female Golden Retrievers Stop Growing
Golden Retriever Size Predictions By Age
Friendly, intelligent, and devoted, Golden Retrievers, despite holding on to their puppyish ways long after theyre full-grown, make incredible work dogs and especially excellent service animals. They are extremely bright, easy to train, and are real people pleasers.
Golden Retrievers are great with kids of all ages from 0 to 92. They love being around their people this is when they are at their happiest. All they ask in return is lovely long daily walks, a nice garden to enjoy, opportunities to swim , and plenty of love and affection.
As Golden Retrievers are a fairly old and established breed, we know a fair bit about their appearance and characteristics, as well as about their size and growth patterns. Every dog is different, but Goldies tends to hit the same milestones at roughly the same time.
Heres what to expect from your pup in their first year:
| Age | |
| 20 24 inches | 21 24 inches |
*Keep in mind that a dogs height is measured to its withers. This is the space between the shoulder blades.
When it comes to your Golden Retrievers weight, they will reach around 30% at three months, 60% at six months, and 93% at a year old. In terms of height, this will go a little faster. They will likely have exceeded 50% of their adult size before 3 months, and although they will have reached their adult height at 12 months, they will continue to increase in weight until around 16 months.
The History Of Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers have an interesting history.
As legend has it, Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland wanted to create a hunting dog that could retrieve shot-down birds from both land and water.
His solution was to breed a wavy-coated retriever with a Tweed water spaniel, thus creating the first litter of golden retrievers in 1868.
Now although theyre common family dogs today, the fact that golden retrievers were originally bred for retrieving birds all day in the wilderness has left some lasting physical and personality traits that we see in them today.
- They have lots of energy because they were bred to hunt all day
- They are athletic because they were bred to swim in lakes and rivers and run through fields
- They have a tendency to be mouthy because they were bred to hold birds in their mouths
So what does this have to do with the different types of golden retrievers?
Everything!
Knowing where golden retrievers came from can help us understand where we are today.
So now lets dive into the supposed 8 types of golden retrievers and discover the truth about each one.
You May Like: Golden Retriever Breeders In Western Pa
How Big Should The Dog Crate Be
When buying a crate for their pooch, dog owners mistakenly think that a bigger crate is better. It will not offer the secure, safe, and cozy feeling a Golden Retriever requires while occupying the crate. A bigger crate means that the Golden Retriever rattles around inside a large open space. They wont love being in this crate.
A crate should be big enough for your Golden Retriever to stand up easily without hitting its heads on the top, allowing it to move around comfortably. The crate should provide enough room for your pooch to lay down with its paws stretched. If the crate is any smaller, it would be uncomfortable for your Golden Retriever. However, it doesnt mean that it should very large. Now, if you are going to look out for the requirements that we just mentioned, youll need different dog crates for a puppy, an adolescent dog, and an adult Golden Retriever respectively. If you are raising a Golden Retriever puppy, this could get very expensive. However, well share a money-saving tip thatll be of great help.