ABOUT GOLDEN PUPPIES.....
Puppies (any breed!!) require a lot of time and patience. Crate/Kennel training is strongly recommended and our pups are introduced to kennels at a young age helping them to become very comfortable when in one. When a pup is out of the kennel it will need constant supervision to avoid accidents and inappropriate chewing. Confining a puppy to a particular area in the home might work but beware that pups can chew on cabinets, furniture, walls or trim when left in such an area unsupervised. Confining to a larger area will also very likely slow the progress of potty training. Potty training takes a lot of time and consistency and crate training is a great tool to aid in potty training. A lot of pups catch on early but full bladder control cannot be expected until they are 6 months of age. If you work long hours, leaving your pup in a crate all day is a not acceptable. Having someone quick stop by to let them out for just potty isn't enough. Somebody needs to be around to take them potty, give them some play time and food and water. Can you work from home or bring them with you? Do you have someone who can take their time in stopping by to do puppy care?
Puppies cry. No matter how well adapted to the kennel they are they will cry and whine and bark at some point. Live in an apartment or town home? Your neighbors are not going to appreciate a crying barking puppy and complaints can lead to evicting you or your puppy. Live on an upper level? Making it outside to go potty before they have an accident is going to be extremely challenging. Goldens grow quick and you will only be able to carry them to get outside for a short while, after that expecting them to hold it until you make it outside is very likely unrealistic. Remember it can take until your puppy is 6 months old before its potty trained and by then a Golden will be 40-50 pounds. Dogs and puppies can be very destructive. They can scratch up floors, chew carpet, trim, cabinets and even walls and of course they have accidents with urine or feces. If you rent, your landlord will likely not tolerate those damages and you or your pup could end up evicted. Choosing a smaller breed is usually more appropriate to those living in an apartment but still challenging with any puppy or dog. If you rent most breeders and rescue groups are going to require that you have proof of permission to have a dog from your landlord.
There's no way around it, if you've never had a puppy/dog (or really any pet) then you should know they can be gross. They lick their butts and private parts. Dogs have anal glands which can leak or express and cause a rancid fish smell that makes you gag (usually these glands are what drives them to do drag their butts across your rug). They might vomit or have diarrhea. They have accidents. They might roll in dead stuff and eat poop. They shed, they drool, they get muddy feet. Some breeds are worse than others but overall having a dog means to some degree having a less clean home.
Golden Retrievers have great temperaments and are pretty tolerant but all interactions of puppies/adult dogs with children should be monitored no matter what the breed. Dogs and puppies are NOT babysitters. There are plenty of dogs that are very tolerant and patient with kids but this should not be the expectation. Be prepared to teach your kids (and yourself!) "dog language" and respect before bringing a pup home. Everyone in the home should know the signals that a puppy/dog is nervous, uncomfortable or scared. Be realistic about the time you are able to invest into a puppy. Work and after school activities take up a lot of time and it would be very difficult to add a puppy to that schedule. Puppies and toddlers/babies can be a very challenging situation. If you have small children pick a puppy that is a match to their behavior and activity level. Quiet, more timid puppies are not a good match for busy loud children. A boisterous puppy is not a good fit for very quiet or shy children. Puppies will nip, jump, scratch or knock over kids, or chase and this continues or gets worse when children reward or encourage this behavior (usually unknowingly). These situations can leave a child fearful of dogs and create a puppy with bad manners or fearful of children. Puppies are not a match for everyone's family, finding an older already trained dog might be a better fit. Older dogs can be a wonderful addition and much less stressful for everyone. Be realistic about your children's behavior and ability to understand how puppies are and their ability to handle these situations.
Puppies chew. They go through teething and they chew and sometimes they are just born chewers. Puppies put everything in their mouth especially Golden Retrievers because that's what they are genetically programmed to do. Randomly picking up everything is something they usually grow out of but on occasion they do not. Constant supervision is required to be sure your puppy does not get into anything harmful. They will need appropriate toys or bones to chew on as chewing is natural for all dogs and can alleviate stress and pent up energy. Human medications, certain plants and even certain foods like raisins and onions are harmful to dogs. Puppies and dogs can also ingest objects they are unable to pass (poop out) - the most common items being socks, underwear, rope toys, rocks and corn cobs. In these situations major surgery may be needed to remove the foreign body with you can expect a price tag of $1000 at minimum. Always monitor your puppy when they have a bone or toy to be sure they are not ingesting anything they cannot pass. Kid's toys and clothing are tempting treats for puppies and need to be kept out of reach at all times, it only takes a second for a puppy to grab something! Again, confinement to a crate is necessary for the safety of your puppy when you are unable to monitor him/her.
Already have a dog at home? Before you take on another dog make sure you're doing it for the right reasons and that its an expense and responsibility you can handle. A very common situation that we hear is a potential puppy buyer has an older/senior dog and they want to bring a puppy in so it can learn from that dog and or help keep that dog active. Its a nice sentiment but that's not very realistic. First, older senior dog might not like puppy plain and simple. Senior dog is in most cases arthritic and painful or has other medical conditions that makes having an excitable busy puppy miserable for him/her. Puppies have to learn boundaries with other dogs and subjecting an elderly dog to puppy antics is not always fun or fair to either dog. Second, with the arrival of puppy comes more expense and time that needs to be devoted to puppy and senior dog ends up on the back burner which is certainly not fair. Third, puppies are impressionable. While they might pick up on those good traits from senior dog they might also pick up or feed on the not so desirable ones. Be fair to your older dog when considering introducing a puppy. If possible try to do a few play dates with a friends puppy to gauge how your older dog handles it. Another situation we hear is that dog at home needs a friend to play with. That is not reason enough to bring in another dog and usually what this equates to is dog at home has behavioral issues. Bringing a puppy home to a dog that doesn't have good manners, is destructive, jumps on people, is really excitable or hyper can create a situation where you have 2 misbehaving dogs. Puppies can be very monkey see monkey do. If you are not pleased with your dogs current overall behavior correct it before bringing a new puppy/dog home.
If you have other pets already such as cats or other critters be sure that you can handle the added responsibility of another pet. Golden's have strong prey drive and might want to chase after your other pet small animals and its important to have consistent training and boundaries right from the start to prevent this from becoming a bigger issue down the road.
The financial commitment of purchasing the puppy is only the start of the expenses you will incur. Puppies/dogs need routine vaccinations, heartworm/tick borne disease testing and yearly exams with a veterinarian plus spaying/neutering. In Minnesota, heartworm preventative and flea/tick preventative are strongly recommended because of the high mosquito and tick populations. Injury and illness can also increase your veterinary bill. Its not uncommon for Golden's to get minor cuts and scrapes and/or eye irritations while hunting or playing. We recommend calling your local veterinarians to check prices on exams, vaccinations, spaying/neutering so you have an idea of what to expect so there is no sticker shock later. Emergencies happen and they can be expensive too. Our puppies come with their first vaccinations but they will need booster vaccines then yearly after that. Plus all the supplies like crates, beds, collars and leashes, grooming tools, toys and food add to the expense of dog ownership.
Have a plan for situations in the future that might come up before you get a puppy. If you go on vacation do you have a friend or family member that can watch your puppy/dog? If you plan to take your puppy/dog to a boarding facility you need to be sure to have all the required vaccines done well in advance. If you foresee moving be sure that you can include your dog in the move. If you're planning on having a baby, will you be able to still give your dog the attention that he needs? If your kids want a dog and are to be the responsible owners but will be off to college down the road, who becomes responsible for the dog? Golden puppies aren't right now commitments they are 10-12 year commitments. All of these situations have been used as reasons people have surrendered their pet to a shelter, plan ahead and be responsible!
Bringing a puppy into your home is a major commitment but is very rewarding and fun! Golden's are active, affectionate and make for wonderful companions just please be sure you and your family are fully prepared and committed to caring for your Golden for its entire life!
Puppies (any breed!!) require a lot of time and patience. Crate/Kennel training is strongly recommended and our pups are introduced to kennels at a young age helping them to become very comfortable when in one. When a pup is out of the kennel it will need constant supervision to avoid accidents and inappropriate chewing. Confining a puppy to a particular area in the home might work but beware that pups can chew on cabinets, furniture, walls or trim when left in such an area unsupervised. Confining to a larger area will also very likely slow the progress of potty training. Potty training takes a lot of time and consistency and crate training is a great tool to aid in potty training. A lot of pups catch on early but full bladder control cannot be expected until they are 6 months of age. If you work long hours, leaving your pup in a crate all day is a not acceptable. Having someone quick stop by to let them out for just potty isn't enough. Somebody needs to be around to take them potty, give them some play time and food and water. Can you work from home or bring them with you? Do you have someone who can take their time in stopping by to do puppy care?
Puppies cry. No matter how well adapted to the kennel they are they will cry and whine and bark at some point. Live in an apartment or town home? Your neighbors are not going to appreciate a crying barking puppy and complaints can lead to evicting you or your puppy. Live on an upper level? Making it outside to go potty before they have an accident is going to be extremely challenging. Goldens grow quick and you will only be able to carry them to get outside for a short while, after that expecting them to hold it until you make it outside is very likely unrealistic. Remember it can take until your puppy is 6 months old before its potty trained and by then a Golden will be 40-50 pounds. Dogs and puppies can be very destructive. They can scratch up floors, chew carpet, trim, cabinets and even walls and of course they have accidents with urine or feces. If you rent, your landlord will likely not tolerate those damages and you or your pup could end up evicted. Choosing a smaller breed is usually more appropriate to those living in an apartment but still challenging with any puppy or dog. If you rent most breeders and rescue groups are going to require that you have proof of permission to have a dog from your landlord.
There's no way around it, if you've never had a puppy/dog (or really any pet) then you should know they can be gross. They lick their butts and private parts. Dogs have anal glands which can leak or express and cause a rancid fish smell that makes you gag (usually these glands are what drives them to do drag their butts across your rug). They might vomit or have diarrhea. They have accidents. They might roll in dead stuff and eat poop. They shed, they drool, they get muddy feet. Some breeds are worse than others but overall having a dog means to some degree having a less clean home.
Golden Retrievers have great temperaments and are pretty tolerant but all interactions of puppies/adult dogs with children should be monitored no matter what the breed. Dogs and puppies are NOT babysitters. There are plenty of dogs that are very tolerant and patient with kids but this should not be the expectation. Be prepared to teach your kids (and yourself!) "dog language" and respect before bringing a pup home. Everyone in the home should know the signals that a puppy/dog is nervous, uncomfortable or scared. Be realistic about the time you are able to invest into a puppy. Work and after school activities take up a lot of time and it would be very difficult to add a puppy to that schedule. Puppies and toddlers/babies can be a very challenging situation. If you have small children pick a puppy that is a match to their behavior and activity level. Quiet, more timid puppies are not a good match for busy loud children. A boisterous puppy is not a good fit for very quiet or shy children. Puppies will nip, jump, scratch or knock over kids, or chase and this continues or gets worse when children reward or encourage this behavior (usually unknowingly). These situations can leave a child fearful of dogs and create a puppy with bad manners or fearful of children. Puppies are not a match for everyone's family, finding an older already trained dog might be a better fit. Older dogs can be a wonderful addition and much less stressful for everyone. Be realistic about your children's behavior and ability to understand how puppies are and their ability to handle these situations.
Puppies chew. They go through teething and they chew and sometimes they are just born chewers. Puppies put everything in their mouth especially Golden Retrievers because that's what they are genetically programmed to do. Randomly picking up everything is something they usually grow out of but on occasion they do not. Constant supervision is required to be sure your puppy does not get into anything harmful. They will need appropriate toys or bones to chew on as chewing is natural for all dogs and can alleviate stress and pent up energy. Human medications, certain plants and even certain foods like raisins and onions are harmful to dogs. Puppies and dogs can also ingest objects they are unable to pass (poop out) - the most common items being socks, underwear, rope toys, rocks and corn cobs. In these situations major surgery may be needed to remove the foreign body with you can expect a price tag of $1000 at minimum. Always monitor your puppy when they have a bone or toy to be sure they are not ingesting anything they cannot pass. Kid's toys and clothing are tempting treats for puppies and need to be kept out of reach at all times, it only takes a second for a puppy to grab something! Again, confinement to a crate is necessary for the safety of your puppy when you are unable to monitor him/her.
Already have a dog at home? Before you take on another dog make sure you're doing it for the right reasons and that its an expense and responsibility you can handle. A very common situation that we hear is a potential puppy buyer has an older/senior dog and they want to bring a puppy in so it can learn from that dog and or help keep that dog active. Its a nice sentiment but that's not very realistic. First, older senior dog might not like puppy plain and simple. Senior dog is in most cases arthritic and painful or has other medical conditions that makes having an excitable busy puppy miserable for him/her. Puppies have to learn boundaries with other dogs and subjecting an elderly dog to puppy antics is not always fun or fair to either dog. Second, with the arrival of puppy comes more expense and time that needs to be devoted to puppy and senior dog ends up on the back burner which is certainly not fair. Third, puppies are impressionable. While they might pick up on those good traits from senior dog they might also pick up or feed on the not so desirable ones. Be fair to your older dog when considering introducing a puppy. If possible try to do a few play dates with a friends puppy to gauge how your older dog handles it. Another situation we hear is that dog at home needs a friend to play with. That is not reason enough to bring in another dog and usually what this equates to is dog at home has behavioral issues. Bringing a puppy home to a dog that doesn't have good manners, is destructive, jumps on people, is really excitable or hyper can create a situation where you have 2 misbehaving dogs. Puppies can be very monkey see monkey do. If you are not pleased with your dogs current overall behavior correct it before bringing a new puppy/dog home.
If you have other pets already such as cats or other critters be sure that you can handle the added responsibility of another pet. Golden's have strong prey drive and might want to chase after your other pet small animals and its important to have consistent training and boundaries right from the start to prevent this from becoming a bigger issue down the road.
The financial commitment of purchasing the puppy is only the start of the expenses you will incur. Puppies/dogs need routine vaccinations, heartworm/tick borne disease testing and yearly exams with a veterinarian plus spaying/neutering. In Minnesota, heartworm preventative and flea/tick preventative are strongly recommended because of the high mosquito and tick populations. Injury and illness can also increase your veterinary bill. Its not uncommon for Golden's to get minor cuts and scrapes and/or eye irritations while hunting or playing. We recommend calling your local veterinarians to check prices on exams, vaccinations, spaying/neutering so you have an idea of what to expect so there is no sticker shock later. Emergencies happen and they can be expensive too. Our puppies come with their first vaccinations but they will need booster vaccines then yearly after that. Plus all the supplies like crates, beds, collars and leashes, grooming tools, toys and food add to the expense of dog ownership.
Have a plan for situations in the future that might come up before you get a puppy. If you go on vacation do you have a friend or family member that can watch your puppy/dog? If you plan to take your puppy/dog to a boarding facility you need to be sure to have all the required vaccines done well in advance. If you foresee moving be sure that you can include your dog in the move. If you're planning on having a baby, will you be able to still give your dog the attention that he needs? If your kids want a dog and are to be the responsible owners but will be off to college down the road, who becomes responsible for the dog? Golden puppies aren't right now commitments they are 10-12 year commitments. All of these situations have been used as reasons people have surrendered their pet to a shelter, plan ahead and be responsible!
Bringing a puppy into your home is a major commitment but is very rewarding and fun! Golden's are active, affectionate and make for wonderful companions just please be sure you and your family are fully prepared and committed to caring for your Golden for its entire life!