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 (Hurry-Up or Pish-Wish etc) 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 bed
Immediately 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 (as he will!) 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 (nylon bones, hard rubber chews etc) 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 (just like a human baby) 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, he’ll need to go to the toilet!
Puppy will have little accidents don’t scold or push his nose in it because he forgets immediately afterwards whatever it is that he s done he has a 3-second attention span. By bringing him outside at the correct times and saying your chosen word when he’s performing he’ll eventually learn! Most puppies learn very quickly.
The first night in his new home puppy will be on his own, probably, for the first time in his life so try to make things easy for him. After his last feed and his toileting, a gentle play-session to ensure he s tired enough to sleep but not hyped up enough not to be able. A last chance to toilet and then, with a hard biscuit offered to him in his bed (to occupy him for a while), lights out and shut the door quietly. (It s a good idea to put a well-wrapped-up, warm hot-water-bottle under his bedding to give him the idea that he s snuggling-up to his litter-mates for the first night!) He may cry a little but try to resist the urge to rush in and cuddle him.
If puppy has his bed in the kitchen or utility room, spreading some newspaper on the floor at the back door will help the inevitable accidents until his bladder grows big enough to be able to hold it in until the morning.
His breeder will have socialised him to all the normal household sounds but no harm to remember to check your puppy when you run your vacuum, washing machine etc for the first time to see that he s not affected by the noise everyone has different machines and some are louder than others. Don t tip-toe around puppy, he’ll soon get used to the rhythm and routines of your household.
Puppies need food, sleep, play and love not necessarily in that order! Just remember, the more effort you put into your puppy, the more you will be repaid in owning a well-trained, a pleasure-to-be-with dog for many years into the future and remember, Golden Retrievers love you unconditionally!!!
Care Of Your Adult Golden Retriever
On reaching maturity your Golden Retriever will continue to need a great deal of care and attention. The basic requirements of a ready supply of fresh water, two nutritious meals per day, regular grooming and twice daily exercise are all necessary for his or her continued well being. The Golden Retriever fits readily into the home environment, but like most animals it is essential that your Golden Retriever receives adequate mental stimulation and this can be provided by spending quality time each day with your dog, for example playing or retrieving. The more time you spend with your dog the more rewarding the experience will be.
Annual boosters and regular worming, to protect the immunity of your dog from infection are essential. Please consult your vet and take their advice on these matters.
Care Of your Elderly Golden Retriever
It is not uncommon for Golden Retrievers to live to 13/14 years of age or even longer. As they grow old, just like humans, Goldens need that little bit of extra care and attention. More regular check-ups with your Veterinary Surgeon are so important helping with normal aging problems such as tooth decay, stiffness and aches, joint pains and can also ensure early detection of the more serious conditions like disease of the kidneys, heart and lungs etc.
Particular attention should be paid to providing the older dogs with good bedding which will keep them warm and dry. Ideally the bed should be slightly raised off the ground, located in a draught free position and be of thick padding such as ‘’Veterinary bedding’’. This will allow moisture through, will keep your dog dry and comfortable at all times. After a walk or if your old one has been out in the rain, it is important that they are towel dried.
As your dog ages it is a good idea to use a ‘’senior diet’’ which is lower in protein and it is also recommended that the daily intake of food is spread over 2 or 3 meals. Never allow your dog to get overweight. Exercise is very important to keep joints free in movement. It will also reduce the risk of obesity and related illnesses. Shorter walks a couple of times a day will also keep your dog mentally stimulated. It is so important as they get older that you help maintain their interest in life such as taking them in the car, swimming, retrieving etc, albeit at a much slower pace.
Goldens Retrievers, as they age can become quite demanding. Human companionship is probably the greatest thing you can give to your Golden especially in their last few years. These years are the most precious of all for both dog and owner