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

[Tilllly]

As a puppy

From a reputable breeder

Advice gratefully received ☺️

Major muddy windows

@Tilllly

oooh she's started to look a bit dog, rather than little puppy in that photo!

how are YOU doing now??

you do realise you'll never be short of an MN Auntie for dog sitting!!

The pain has been difficult today, but the Oncology pain team have adjusted my meds and I'm feeling almost perky now.

Oddly enough, the painkillers do not help with my feet, which have various little bite marks in from a certain little puppy, trying to steal my socks while I was wearing them

Hi OP, sorry to jump on this thread and to hear you’ve been in pain today, wish you are feeling more comfortable soon.

We are due to pick up a GR pup next week and I’m having major cold feet, we didn’t really “intend” for a puppy, just sort of happened (we wanted an older dog but ended up looking at pups and fell in love) - DH and I have been secretly longing for a dog for ages, I am working minimally with 2 kids 4 and 7 who are both in full time education and have very busy schedules as we live 10 miles from our school - so I’m generally at home in the day. The temperament of the pups is fantastic and breeder good. However I was just having a quiet evening in while DH is out thinking wow this will be the last where I can just put my feet up for a long while (thinking toilet trips in the darkness every 20 mins etc etc). Pup will be 12 weeks when she comes home.

Are these feelings normal?!! Will I regret our decision???

Very normal, I had them.

But actually puppies do sleep quite a lot!

It will be fine, honestly. The first two or three days are a bit strange, but you get used to it as you suddenly realise you have to move things to puppy proof the house, but it very quickly gets into a routine.

Puppies don't necessarily sleep loads BUT they are not hyper puppies for long. Toilet training with goldens is typically very fast, all done by 6-8 weeks after you bring them home. All the goldens I know have bladders like camels and can go for hours and hours.

My very one single top tip would be, only play with your pup in rooms you dont use for relaxing and watching TV. The lounge is for lounging and the other bits of the house are for feeding/playing/ training. In the lounge the thing you do is chill out and relax and that is what you get rewarded for in a quiet and calm way, or even better, it is the room where you're ignored and go to your bed ;)

One thing to be mindful of with very young children is golden pups bite and hang iff your legs, arms and clothing. This all passes by 16-18 weeks but it can be very tiresome and ruin skin, clothes and patience.

@Tilllly I hope your pain is better controlled. It sounds like you've got a lot going on, hope you have someone to help with daisy dog, and that daisy dog is helping you. Floof always makes things better.

I have plenty of help when needed @Radiodread thank you
But she's a little Godsend
When she isn't running off with the toilet roll....

We got through SO many toilet rolls.

They are brilliant dogs. Glad yours is bringing you joy. Ours is a ray of sunshine, I think they are programmed to be generally.

She's a happy little thing, tho was less than happy when I wouldn't let her come and sit in the bathroom while I had a bath. There was much whining and bashing of the door.

Classic GR. Mine couldn't cope with me having a bath alone at that age, she had to try and get in too and/or lick the bubbles.

We moved incrementally along to "ima sit on bathmat" to "well, huff you, I'm on the washable rug in the kitchen" to, " oh, its shower time, I'm watching MAFS Australia right now you loser....

They are beautiful and very friendly dogs. I think most gun dogs make lovely pets, it's a shame so many breeds are in decline because of the current trend for non shedding doodle poos this and that. Ahhhh, along with artificial grass makes me angry. A dog is not an accessory, dealing with hair and drool is all part of dog ownership. They really calm down at about age 3 as a previous poster said and are very easy to train. They also don't spend all their time yapping in the garden (like my neighbours trendy non shedding breed)!!

Your house will be permanently trashed and clothes and furniture covered in fur. BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE THE MOST UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AVAILABLE TO MANKIND. I am very very jealous retrievers are the absolute best ❤️

I’d add that try and pick up the pup and book either a week of work or a long weekend as it’s nice to have time to help him settle in and spend time with him so that he doesn’t feel abandoned. If you can give him a little piece of fabric/blanket before you collect him,he’ll be able to get used to your scent of your house and he’ll recognise it when he get there. If you see what I mean.

@Tilllly @Radiodread @bellamountain @Ladybird69 thank you so much for your reassurance and good advice, it’s calmed my nerves somewhat. We have only just moved house and we are in chaos here so it’s a bit of a crazy time to add a puppy to the mix but we always seem to do things at crazy times!
Noting the tip not to play with pup in the living room, that totally makes sense!

Aw, discovering this thread was a nice start to the day. Daisy is beautiful. 😍

You will have to post pics @Countrymumsy

He won't be quite as cute as Daisy by close

😁 welcome

Ours has a tendency to become a bit of a demon if he doesn’t get enough sleep. Puppies should sleep a lot!

Agree on the house training! Aside from two minor blips about ten days apart, ours was toilet trained after around 4 weeks at home (and could do a full night without toilet by 14 weeks). Our old spaniel took months to “get it” it so I was really surprised.

And the biting… oh god the biting. They are called land sharks for a reason. Mine ruined almost every jumper I own 🤦‍♀️ at 22 weeks he is now much better (tries the odd nip when he’s teething, but fortunately a firm “no” and showing a flat palm stops him immediately now). But those first weeks were RELENTLESS. They just have to have something in their mouth constantly!

My retriever is currently lying on my bed feeling very pleased as she was toilet trained less than a week after she arrived. I think the fact I literally spent the whole day in the garden for one day helped. It doesn't need to take weeks for those posters thinking oh no. After eight days with us she went all night. She's seven now and has been getting up for a wee recently but she's extra protective as only me here now and sometimes I think she hears things and needs to check the garden. We have had a fox and her cub visiting.

@Tilllly will certainly post pics! Daisy is adorable so happy to give her the cuteness crown ❤️

How lovely @Countrymumsy . You're going to have the best time 🦮🐾

@BirthdayRainbow Oooh off topic but if you ever start a fox pics thread let us know!

Well it's MY thread
And I don't mind 😘

I have never been able to get a photo 🦊but if I can I'll post. My late cat once chased a massive one off 😯.