Golden Retriever Puppy...?

Question

What to expect when getting a golden retriever puppy, food, weight, walks, training etc?

Answer 1

you will have a big responsibility maybe if you want to know more go to www.google.com and type in golden retriever  

Answer 2

HOPEFULLY, you've done your research and you're going to be getting a puppy from a responsible breeder, OR your rescuing one from a shelter.

Golden retrievers are HIGH energy dogs.  They are very, very smart and require lots of interaction from their families.  My golden is known by my friends as "Velcro" because she's always very close by to me.  I take her everywhere, make sure that she's properly socialized with people and with other dogs.

Enroll your puppy in a puppy training class, preferably in a group setting to help aid in socialization.  Walk your puppy daily...a tired golden retriever is the best golden retriever.  Playing in the yard is good, but it does not substitute a good, long walk.  

Get a high quality puppy food (Nutro, Royal Canin, Wellness) and start your puppy on a meal program.  Getting him used to meals will help combat the weight issues that many goldens have.  They aren't REALLY as hungry as they look most of the time.  

A suitable amount of food for my 4 year old adult golden is 2 cups per day of Natural Balance Duck & Potato.  She walks two miles per day and swims three times per week.  She's titled in AKC Rally Obedience, and is an AKC Canine Good Citizen.

They are an awesome dog if you've got the time to spend with them.  I will warn you, though, young goldens have a HIGH energy level.  Start training as a young puppy and keep up with it.  There's nothing more insulting to our happy go lucky breed than a frustrated, neurotic, jumping, barking, out of control dog.

Answer 3

Hi,

its nice that you decided to go for a GR pup.

He / she should be 1.5 to 2 months old ideally when you pick him/her up.

If from a breeder - and if there are more that one pups in the litter - let the pup choose you rather than you choosing a pup.(which means - the pup which runs to you first - the most active guy - the one which notices your arrival first.....

The weight of a GR pup must come normally to about 1.5 - 2 kg around this age.

Do not pick up pets with pot bellies - could have worms - and always have a look of his s*****m ( if a male pup) - should have 2 balls inside.

Also examine for eye discharge and smell both ears - check for any bad / offensive smell

Some key tips

Feeding - 6 times daily - also supplement with biscuits, rasks and chews - helps develop good teeth.  - Slowly reduce this frequency of feeding to 1 meal per day by the age of 1 year.

Never feed him with whole milk - always dilute milk with equal quantity of water and add ample amounts of sugar ( they love sweetness) which helps compensate the high energy requirement of young pups

Bathing - Never before he is 3 months of age, and after that ideally once in 15 days.

Vaccination -  Take him for a regular health check once you get him. Your vet would usually deworm him and give him a flea treatment and  would advice when to return for vaccinations.  - --Rabies first dose - 2 wks later - Multicomponent(first dose) - 2 wks later - Rabies booster - 2 wks later - Multicomponent booster.

Groom him daily - spend at least 1/2 hrs for this - this helps growth of a good coat and most importantly - a good relation b/w you and your pet.

The best time to start training would be between 4 and 6 months ( this is what i recommend )

Hope this helps -  

Answer 4

First of all, congrats on deciding to consider getting a dog! They bring so much into our lives and are great companions. To answer your question:

Food- Choose a quality dog food for your dog. Go to www.Dogfoodanalysis.com for a list of dog foods. They are rated one to six stars, try to pick a five or six star food that contains no grain, as grain is not a natural part of a dog's diet. Many of these good dog foods are actually the same price as lower-quality dog foods. Pick a brand that has both puppy and adult dog varieties, so you don't have to switch. Feed your dog the amount that it says on the package.

Weight- As long as your dog gets the right amount of food and exercise, you don't have to worry about its weight. For a larger dog, you should be able to just barely feel their ribs, but not see them. Golden Retrievers can be in varying sizes, so there's no real ballpark weight.

Walks- Dogs get easily bored in a house, so try to give it a walk every day, but start out with short walks, and gradually make them longer as your puppy matures. Since Golden Retrievers have a thick coat, you should give them only a short walk in hot weather, or choose a shady route.

Training- A puppy training class is a great way for a dog to socialize and learn basic commands. I would strongly recommend enrolling your dog in one.

One extra note- As there are so many unwanted dogs in shelters already, one of the best things to do would be to adopt a dog from a  local animal shelter. They have many puppies and adult dogs. If you don't mind either a young adult Golden Retriever or a mixed-breed puppy, you could find a great dog at a shelter.