What do I need to know about getting a golden retriever?

[Tilllly]

As a puppy

From a reputable breeder

Advice gratefully received ☺️

All 7 days!! 😩😩😩😩

Think of all the lovely puppy kisses you will be getting soon! Delighted for you ❤

I came back to look at your pup before I go to sleep as my nearly yr old lab is fast asleep in her bed . I'm jealous of all those puppy kisses you've got coming X .

She’s gorgeous. All chunky and fluffy 🥰

Enjoy the peace until you get her though OP. I wouldn’t change my pup for anything, but I do mourn the loss of freedom that goes with having a young pup. People often don’t realise that the early months can be quite difficult - compounded often by a lack of sleep, and constant stress about keeping them safe! Our relaxing evenings are gone - our pup is particularly excitable at night so we’re now out walking him and then putting him in the garden when he gets zoomies to burn off pre bedtime energy, and finding constant enrichment to occupy him in between. We haven’t been able to sit and watch tv together in months 😂

It's all worth it in the end though.

Oh and if you haven’t already - my best tip is to buy kongs to stuff and keep in the freezer. We have 3 on rotation right now. It’s the only thing to guarantee us 45 minutes of quiet 😂

Those paws. There’s something about puppy paws that just get me, especially larger breeds. They just seem so disproportionate (ie too large) to their little stature.

Shes a gorgeous chunky monkey fluffy pup.

(and only five sleeps to go now).

Good idea about the kings, thanks

Kongs

Not kings, you're probably not allowed to stuff and freeze them

You are not, no 🤣

My boy loves fruit. He loves fruit so much that DH and I sat on the sofa eating ham sandwiches and he ignored us completely because he had baby rice pudding and chopped strawberry in a Kong lol. They are our best line of defence from puppy attacks 😂 (and they grow really quickly, about 1kg a week in the early weeks!)

Ours loves apple puree mixed with plain yoghurt with chopped blueberries. Or mashed banana, yoghurt and a small amount of rolled oats. Mashed carrot with peas, cream cheese and chicken is good too.

Ive heard soaking kibble in salt free stock works great as a filler too, but all the stock cubes I looked at contained garlic and onion so I’m still working on finding something dog friendly!

Stock is easy to make. You need bones (unless you are making a vegi stock) I usually use a carcass of a chicken - stick it in the slow cooker with water and if I'm cooking for humans add an onion that is roughly chopped. I add salt, pepper and herbs but for a puppy leave out the salt.

As your puppy likes fruit maybe some berries. Just leave it on all day. YOu can transfer to a pan and boil to reduce or freeze in smaller amounts.

I'll waiting to share in the puppyhood...

I do like GRs, they are such lovely dogs. Friends have one who lies in the living room doorway and sighs when there are too many people in the house.

This is exactly like mine!

The one we had as children liked to lie in the doorway too.

If your GR is anything like mine, don’t ever EVER give him chicken. Not pretty.

Mine has a very sensitive stomach generally tbh, and reading more about these dogs, we don’t seem to be alone in this. Millie’s Wolfheart dog food a lifesaver.

This is why, with any dog, you need to be really careful about breed co-efficient and socialising. I'm not saying this is the case with the above one, but too closely bred dogs have a tendency to have unpredictable temperament issues.

Socialising: our current goldie is a gorgeous but very sensitive working line pup and her socialising was sadly interrupted due to the first, very strict, lockdown. She was around 8 months old and unfortunately had a bad experience with a small boy at the very start of the lockdown. No malice, he just suddenly ran at her screaming and waving his arms, lasted a few seconds but it terrified her, at a time when it was impossible to undo the damage effectively. It may have coincided with a fear period but for a long time afterwards she was scared of 90% of what she saw out on walks. She was happy, playful and confident with children and other dogs before that experience.

She's NEVER bitten any person or dog, ever, and is now (after years of hard work desensitising her) lovely with all adults, with kids she knows and chilled with most other dogs. But, she can still be reactive and scared with children (and puppies- the same energy maybe) that she doesn't know, so we will always have to be very, very careful around children, especially when out in public. We will never allow her to be close to an unknown child unless she invites it herself AND she is wearing her muzzle, which feels tragic after knowing how chilled and gentle our previous pet goldens were. People see a goldie and think she's a touch toy for their child, so we have to be very vigilant and sometimes very firm. A reactive dog is not easy to live with!

We adore her and she's a typical soppy, loving dog at home, but it makes me really sad to see her looking longingly at children from a distance but cowering and backing off if they are too close (plus, a scared dog is a dangerous dog and they're not small dogs).

Our experience was just really, really unlucky, but I'm sharing it to emphasise how important good, consistent socialisation is and that as novice owners you need a great breeder who can give good advice if you have questions or are struggling with any aspect of raising your puppy.

I have to echo this and just re-post as I think it's a REALLY important comment and people will overlook it as it doesn't tie into their 'golden retriever narrative.'

The smallest thing can set off puppies (even perfect coefficient ones and well socialised ones) when they are in their most informative phase (IME 4 - 14 months). Golden's, as with all large breeds, grow up more slowly so their informative period lasts a lot longer which requires more consistent handling.

Never assume a dog is friendly because it's a 'nice breed.'

But, tbh, I imagine the people that know this (and are aware of the risks that @Skybyrd has flagged) aren't the people who need telling. It's the people who DON'T and who will ignore the advice that need it most.

Thanks @Skybyrd

She's stayed with the breeders for the initial socialisation, and we have quite a lot of instructions from them on this (and other things) and have a few things mapped out ready

I'll be taking her to puppy classes too

We've both had dogs before but not a golden and am not going into it carelessly; I want to be able to take her anywhere safely

That's a really good start and I'm sure you'll do great, especially with their support and because you're taking the time to think carefully about your decision.

Your pup is absolutely adorable by the way and I'm sure she'll give you many years of love and happiness, they really are the most amazing and loving dogs.

Mine liked the doorway too . How can this be GR trait ?! I know why she used to do it ,she liked to keep an eye on comings and goings .

@sashh
The border collie cross we had liked to be in doorways, in the most awkward spot she could find

My goldie just wants to be wherever I don't want her to be - usually by my feet when I'm cooking, or in the doorway when I'm carrying something heavy, or sitting in my lap when I'm trying to watch tv..and she's not really designed to be a lapdog 😂

Can't wait to be bombarded with pictures of your gorgeous pup when she arrives @Tilllly - the photos so far are adorable.

Thank you ☺️

I’ll give it a try. It sounds cheap to make so that’s a big plus!

Also @PuppyMonkey I know some GRs can’t stomach chicken but mine has no issue with it. Nor have either of my friends GRs. I think it’s just luck of the draw rather than an automatic sensitivity thing, but your poor pup! My spaniel had a really sensitive tummy too and his senior diet was interesting to say the least…

I have a retriever and she is my best friend but yes, good advice. In the month leading up to bonfire night I played low level firework noise in the background. Not too loud to annoy us but loud enough for her to hear but not be scared. She has no issues with firework night now. What I wish I had known was that she would not like dustbin lorries so would have played their sound too. She's seven now and she still isn't keen. She also doesn't like some food delivery trucks but others she is okay. She barked at things she didn't understand when she saw them for the first time. Baby in a sling, a pavement sign, someone with an umbrella, a man wearing a hat. It is all about as much socialising as possible and not just with people. In the early days she would stop every time a car went by and I thought walking would never happen!

All advice is great and I have nothing to add, just joining in on the GR love. I didn’t grow up with dogs, never had a dog, my boy is my first and he’s AMAZING, such a lovely breed. He’s also a poser

That's a fantastic picture 🧡

Daisy will be with me in 24 hours

Maybe that is another thing you need to know, they love to pose!