New Puppy Pointers

Continue to use the same puppy food they are accustomed to eating for at least 1-2 weeks before you switch foods.  You may want to start with 3 small meals at first.  If you see runny, bloody stools you are probably overfeeding.  Occasionally put your hand in front of puppy's mouth while eating or take away the food while eating.  This will help prevent aggressive eating behaviors later.

Never pick up the puppy with his front legs.  Lift the puppy from his belly and support his whole weight in your arms.  Protect their young joints by limiting time on stairs or avoiding jumping from high places like a couch or chair.  Remember, they are quick!  If you are not paying close attention, they can jump from a table, counter tops or your arms before you know it.

Your puppy needs a safe space to call their own.  A crate can provide a place to sleep as well as rest from play or too many visitors.  Make the crate a fun place with a toy, a few treats and soft bed.  Slowly introduce the crate with the door open and let the puppy go in and out.  Gradually they will go in the crate on their own.  Do not leave a puppy alone in the crate at first for more than 30 minutes at a time as they are becoming used to the crate.  Make sure the puppy has been to the bathroom before you crate the puppy.  If they bark and cry uncontrollably, speak softly to them but do not open the door until they are quiet, if enen for a minute.

Golden retrievers love water so they will probaly love a bath. But puppies have sensitive skiin and bathing can dry their skin.  Avoid bathing a puppy more than once a week.  Use a puppy shampoo or Johnson's Baby Shampoo.  After six months you can try a whitening shampoo that helps with the white coat.

We cannot stress how important this step is in the life of a happy well-trained dog.  Take your puppy with you everywhere you can.  Let them experience people, situations, weather, travel, animals.... If a dog never gets out of his house, he will be timid and afraid of new situations and people.  Start early, but work safely.  Introduce new things slowly.  Children may love a puppy, but they can be rather rough in their handling.  Teach children to approach slowly and let the puppy come to them.  Other pets can be intimidating.  Keep the puppy in a safe place while slowly introducing a new pet.

Breeders should be responsible for the first round of puppy shots at 6 weeks of age.  You should schedule a vet visit within 3 days of bringing your new puppy home.  The next puppy shots will probably be due at 9 weeks.  Your vet will give you a schedule of puppy vaccinations required.  Keep your new puppy away from other dogs and public places where other dogs may have been until all vaccinations have been given.

Be ready for a sad puppy.  They will miss their litter mates so they may cry their fist night away from the breeder.  Do not be tempted to take the puppy to your bed or let it run loose in the house.  they need to understand that their bed is their crate. The crate can be beside your bed if you think you can sleep better taht way.  The puppy will certainly be happy to be beside you.  They will have to be let out a couple of times during the night for the first 1-2 weeks.  Their little bladders cannot last for 6-8 hours.  Gradually, they will be able to stay for longer periods in teh crate.  *Take away the water bowl a coupl of hours before bed.

Golden Retrievers love to chew! on anything! If you do not want your shoes destroyed, deep them off the floor.  Keep you floor clean of anything they can find.  Provide lots of chew toys to keep them occupied.  Also keep toys in their kennel area or crate.  Do not provide toys that look like something you would not want destroyed in the future such as gloves or shoes.  They will not be able to tell the difference in their toy and YOUR shoe.

There are many theories on potty training.  Talk to your vet or a trusted fried who has been throught this process.  Everyone will choose something different dependingon your lifstyle and what you need from your pet.  (crate trainign, doggie doors, pee pads, sectioned off rooms)  One thing to know for sure, puppies pee a lot!  Probably once an hour. If they wake from a nap, they will go.  If they play hard, they will go.  If they stand up from resting , they will go.  The first few weeks, you will be making many trips outside.  Try to make this a quick business-like action.  Do not play outside or speak to the puppy othr than to give it the command to 'go potty".  Then praise them for the action and return inside.  Puppies will usually poo after eating a meal, so be ready to go outside.

Begin training your new puppy at 8 weeks of age to understand basic commands.  Teach one command at a time.  Start with 'sit'.  Work on this gradually over a few weeks.  The puppy will catch on quickly and you can move to a new command such as 'stay'.  It is important that your puppy learn good manners.  A well-mannered dog is a joy to be around.  A dog that jumps on your guest is not welcome!