Golden retriever puppy!

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

So, I'm on a list with a fab breeder and there is a litter due next month

BUT,although I've had cockers (parents bred) and a darling Beagle, I've never had a goldie. I have researched, obviously, but it's always to here experiences from owners too, especially on Goldie puppyhood.

So any tales and experiences to share please?

My girl is a real mud magnet, will walk in any weather but especially loves the rain. She adores water. She is 15 months now, so having built up the exercise gradually she is now happy with the one walk of an hour to an hour and a half daily. The rest of the time she mainly sleeps or plays with us or her toys.
She was a real chewer, she chewed our skirting boards badly and back door step and pipes etc.
She is absolutely fine with my two boys but when she was going I wouldn't leave them together whilst she was in the nipping stage, although she never nipped them.
She has a fantastic temperament but doesn't really like change. Not overly affectionate, likes to be near you or on your feet rather than a lap dog, just as well as she is 34kg. Really greedy and always next to you if you have food. We wont let her beg though.
In terms of grooming I brush every other day or more when she is moulting and then it is like tumbleweed.
Great with all people and all dogs, loves nothing more than a game of chase with another dog.
I obviously had a girl, she came into season at 8 months and we then had her spayed at 13 months.
My main problem is that she will eat anything and everything and i have to constantly watch her as she has had up teen upset stomachs. She will eat other dog poor and fox and horse and rabbit etc
Anything else you want to know please ask.
I personally love her to bits and wouldn't consider any other breed.
Very jealous of your pup, enjoy.

Oh, I had the eating everything with my Beagle!!! Anything with a smell would be gone, anything not edible would be carried around and stashed

Thankfully, I live near a long tidal lake surrounded by forests that lead to the moors on one side and the crossing to Cornwall on the other side so I envisage lots of fun walks and swimming sessions!

How bouncy and mouthy was yours in puppy stage? I know gun dogs are quite mouthy and the cockers my parents bred would be at everything in puppy stage, my Beagle, on the other hand, didn't really chew anything unless left alone and out of crate (bye bye brand new pretty bedside lamps...) or nip. He did jump up a bit but was more of an aloof clown than a bouncy pup

My two year old goldie chewed through a pair of glasses, a pair of shoes, telephone cable, wood surrounding the patio doors. So pick up everything from the floor. He liked to dig in the garden. He loves the water any water will do. Especially muddy disgusting water.
However at two years old he is a laid back gentle boy a pleasure to take out on walks.

Oh yes I forgot about the digging, my goldie has dug holes all over our garden.
The chewing and bonkers stage lasted until she was around a year. She didn't really nip but would like to try and put your hand in her mouth, which we discouraged, but she has never bitten. She used to be really bonkers around 5ish and sometimes we didn't quite know what to do with her so very often leaded her up for a quick pavement walk.

Oh and sticks, she loves them and I quite often use them for recall rather than treats.
Forget about the whole retrieving thing though. She will chase a ball but I am buggered if I can get her to bring it back!

LOL by Beagle was like that with balls whatwould he'd be like 'ooh I found a ball' and well, that was it!

Was it a funny five minutes? I remember our cockers used to do that when I was a kid. They'd each have a short period where they would just go bonkers. Sonny used to run up the stairs, go round in circles stopping to face downwards (at you) bow down in the play 'stance', bark, wag like crazy, go round again and again, run back down, round the house and then stop and go back to normal!

Now sticks and things like that are what I miss in playing with a dog. the cockers would love things like that (not as much as I've seen Goldies do mind) but my Beagle had no interest, he'd rather find some rubbish lying around somewhere, sniff it and carry it round on his face.

Digging is fine, but will keep him in the back garden for that, don't want him destroying the Japanese front garden my ds has collared me into doing. He wouldn't be please!!!

How are the with other pets? That's the only thing I'm mindful of at the moment as we have a parrot. Obviously, there needs to be supervision and she won't be out of her cage while pup is in the same room/ loose in the house so they'll have to be on a bit of a timetable I guess. My parrot loves dogs, which is handy, she won't be scared and likes to talk to dogs (not sure why, they don't tend to respond!) and offers them food. Just need to make sure Rovie/Rover doesn't attempt some bird catching....

The "funny five minutes" which she still has basically consists of her making a nuisance of herself until she gets her tea! She will chase her tail making funny growling noises, jump up on the couch (strictly forbidden) and trying to get you to play with her. When she was much younger she would also jump up at you alot and try and chew anything on the bookcase.
We don't have any other pets but my goldie is scared of vats ever since one chased her. As for your parrot, well all I can sayis that catching a bird is definitely on her bucket list!! However if she had grown up with one in the house I am sure it would be fine but as you say don't ever let the bird out with your dog in the same room. Also make sure he can't reach the cage.
I have to say that she really is the most gentle, playful fun character. She is my first dog and I love her to bits. I love seeing her play with other dogs and today after a really crappy morning, just seeing her romp across the forest really lifted my spirits

Oh and don't forget the goldie smile!

Also thoroughly recommend the stag antler chew bones, you can get them on Amazon. I bought one in December and its still going strong. Best £8 I have ever spent. Forget any other stuffed toys, she has ripped everything we ever bought her to shreds!!

Cats not vats!

I have a 2.5 year old goldie girl. She is the loveliest, funniest, gentlest dog ever. She loves mud, fox poo and swimming. If she's in a pond, river, sea it's impossible to get her out, she just swims laps! She is quite timid around other dogs and generally just ignores them, but loves humans. She has not chewed/destroyed anything in the house, we kept her in a crate when we were not around until she was about 6 months old. She is a brilliant addition to our family. Good luck with your puppy, goldies are fabulous dogs

Have had Goldies for ever ...
Goldies love water, especially muddy water when they are clean.
Goldies love gardening: excavating, pruning, plant re-arranging it's all fun!
Goldies love to eat, anything from your lunch to the contents of the bin to sheep poo.
Goldies love to roll, preferably in fox poo.
Goldies love to chew: so do most dogs, but for Goldies the novelty never wears off.
Goldies love to play. Pup [18 months] and oldiegoldie [11] were playing growl chase yesterday afternoon...chasing sticks/balls is also good, but bringing them back? You are joking!
But best of all, Goldies love you! Best dogs ever.

Best dogs ever. Currently have a 4yr old and 15 week old. Echo all that has been said about mud, swimming. The new pup is very food orientated but my previous 4 goldies have not been foodies, in fact my 4yr old has to be persuaded to eat!
They are very clever, can be stubborn and I swear understand everything you say.
I could not imagine my life without them and they have brought countless joy to our family.

We had 3 when I was between the ages of 8 and 21.
Best dogs ever, nothing practical to add but " squeeeeeeeeeeeee golden retriever puppy!!!!!!"

I do miss swimming dogs! My beagle would only paddle in shallow water and had no interest in swimming. Although, he was also terrified of the swans so that wouldn't have helped

Ah, goldie puppies are so cute aren't they!

We're on a list too! Pups are due on the 2nd November so all being well we'll have our puppy in early Jan. Novice dog owner here, but have done oodles of reading and have puppy classes scouted and vet sorted.....my four children are SOOOO excited!

Will be nice to have another goldie pup owner to compare notes with - especially as I'm feeling that I have a lot to learn!

Oh my goodness, you are all making me want a Golden Retriever!!!!

V proud owner of a 16 week old GR pup! He is unutterably beautiful and clever, and becoming very obedient.
He does have the chewing and digging thing as mentioned by others, and would literally eat non-stop.
He hates being on the lead, but that's OK... he trots along obediently beside us and always comes when called.
Another good GR trait is that they're not too barky! I'm not too fond of vocal dogs!

I have a 2.5 male Goldie who hates water (even puddles) won't swim, is terrified of the hose in the garden, and is a really fussy eater! Sounds like he's even more doolally than I thought! He never chewed either. We were really lucky.
Best dogs ever.

Miy pup is sixteen weeks too! He is absolutely beautiful and such a little smartie pants. He and my 4yr old goldie are becoming thick as thieves. If i was not so stupid I would post a picture . I am sure you will have a wonderful time with your new puppy. They really are fabulous dogs.

Tooty if you are still following this thread, may I ask how toilet training is coming along for you?
Your GR pup, I mean!

You can't start a thread about a golden retriever puppy without posting a photo.
It's wrong.

Sorry, see puppy is coming next month.
You get dispensation until now.

I agree Ottilia and so am showing support by displaying my own pup herein!

Awwww!
Now that's a proper retriever puppy thread.

Aww how gorgeous!!!! Meh,need time to go quicker now!

Will be visiting the mum in a few days.Can't wait til pups are born

Hi all. I really will have to try and post a picture. Yours is truly gorgeous little. Toilet training going quite well... We have a funny shaped house so makes it slightly more complicated( and also involves lugging enormous pup up and down stairs)
To aid this we bought some "poochie bells" so pup could learn to ring them when he wanted to go to the toilet. Well he learned how to ring them within 24 hours of having them, but also that if he rang them we would take him into the garden where he could have a lovely play. It was like Downton Abbey for a few days with us all dancing attendance to the young master!
He seems to have cracked it in the last week though. He is totally dry during the night and has been for ages. How long do you intend carrying yours up stairs or steps?

Oh, loving the poochie bells, Tooty... so funny to think of his Lordship being waited on like that. Must get some (do they work as mummy bells too, and someone brings wine or crisps?).
I'm sorry to say this, but your pup is taking you for a ride! Ours has managed stairs -albeit clumsily at first - since about 11 weeks, so its quite easy to get him in and out and he doesn't have to be carried, which is just as well as he is pretty massive now. Have words with yours about that!
My daughter gets up early to take him into the garden for the first wee and poo of the morning, and I take him out regularly through the day and say "Go weewee" or "go toilet" and he usually at least tries.
We still have a couple of accidents each day but after 5 children and various cats a bit of wee and poo is nothing to me.