Golden Retriever

[tuckni]

Im getting a Golden Retriever puppy and I would like to get some info about this breed. I have all the formal AKC stuff, but I want the real life info that I can only get from people that have Goldens.

[goldensammy]

I'd LOVE to give you some info.... but there's so much to say?! Anything in particular you would like to know (behavior, training, etc.) ?

[goldensammy]

btw, that's so exciting! I remember when I got sammy, it was such a great day.
Hope I can help you as much as possible!

The number 1 thing: they need plenty of attention and exercise. If you're in a snowy area where its difficult to walk your dog in the winter, make sure you lower the amount of food they get then. Goldens are very vulnerable to being overweight. THey're great dogs that are always williing to play, EAT, and cuddle. Provide him/her with training even the day after you get him or her, and they retain it forever. They are fast learners, and the more they learn as youngsters, the more they remember it as adults, even if it doesn't show right away. For goldens, crate training is the best possible housebreakign method. Start it as soon as you get him or her, and make sure you make corrections right away. Remember, goldens always want to please their owner.

Anything else, I will be welcome to answer or give you info on I'm an expert at this kind of stuff LOL

[tuckni]

Thank you!!!! This is what I want Keep it commmmming LOL.
Sammy is sooooooooo cute!!!!! I just went and looked him up
What do you feed?

[goldensammy]

I feed sammy Purina One Large Breed Puppy Food...

Okay here's some more info... well goldens are never full, they are always wanting food, always hungry LOL. Don't feed them until they are full, if that exists . Give him or her a fixed amount everyday. They will jump up on counters or the table to get food, so after eating, put everything away or watch your dog carefully. If he jumps up, make sure you tell him to go down. THis is difficult to teach, since many times they do this when you're not watching. To tell you the truth, we're still in the process of teaching sammy to not go on the table. Memories... last week we found him standing on the dining table... silly dog! For me, Sammy has been great as far as chewing furniture. He doesn't touch anything. But from friends with goldens, I know I got lucky. They do chew on walls (LOL), tables, and chairs. If this happens to you, as a puppy, make sure you tell the puppy "NO" in a stern voice. It will take soem time, though. In addition, if you will be crate training him and will keep him in the crate overnight, while you are out, etc, I'm guessing you will have a blanket or something inside. I would suggest that if he or she chews on the blanket (big sammy habit), spray the blanket with sour apple spray (petco, petsmart). They will lick it at first, but usually do not like the taste and leave the blanket alone. You can also try tobasco sauce.

If you have a large yard full of GRASS, and want to keep it that way LOL, be ready for your dog to do some digging. Give one spot for your dog to dig (mine is right under the picnic table, great spot). While I'm on the topic of a nice yard with grass, the urine spots of goldens, and other dogs I believe, can leave permanate spots and destroy your grass. We had experience with this, and are really annoyed now. Make sure you give one spot (preferably a spot others or you do not see much), and have that spot be the "pee area".

Woah, sorry if I overwhelmed you there... LOL Anything else? Is this your first dog?

[tuckni]

OH MY GOSH this is so Awesome
This is my first Golden but I have had alot of dogs.

[ayl715]

goldensammy
Your Sammy is different to my goldern
tuckni
My goldern never chew, never dig, he only SWIM !
He loves swimming so much, it is very difficult to keep
him away from the water. And he also love to eat.
Every once a while he came to our house for a
short holiday since he was 10 months old, and we officially adopted
him when he was 3. He was great in toilet traning, he was trained
to pee indoor as his ex owner was living in an apartment and worked
long hours. But the first day he was in our house, I let him know in my
place he's not allow to poo & wee indoor, he has to do it outside.
He never wet my house once !
My goldern is very TOY possessive, if he has a toy in his month,no one including me and my husband can take it away. No, he won't bite, he just won't let go. We just have to wait untill he's fred up, or give him a treat,
then he'll drop the toy. So I have to keep a close eye to him with other
dogs when there's toy involved.

[Dog Watcher]

I work with dogs daily and I have seen a lot of problems appearing in Golden Retrievers, from hereditary disease to behavior problems. Since they are so popular the gene pool is getting smaller and smaller, inbreeding can lead to many phobia's in the dogs etc. Really research the breeder well, and don't be fooled by championship titles, this can be a curse rather than a good thing. Try to meet the parents of the dogs and ask for numbers of people who have purchased pup's in the past to see how their pup's turned out. We have some clients coming in for grooming who are having horrid trouble with their Goldens from being so fearful it seems the owner has been beating them to slight aggression problems.

Be very careful when purchasing a purebred. You may be better off going to the local rescue center and saving the life of a Natural breed. Always keep in mind that mongrels are the forefathers of Purebreds and have a much larger gene pool...so, the chances of getting a good healthy dog is slightly higher.

[tuckni]

What do you think about this book?
http://www.all-about-puppies.com/gol...ver-ebook.html

[MOM2JCE]

The BEST book you can get is Golden Retrievers for Dummies. I just got a Golden Pup 6 weeks ago, and read this book before I got her from cover to cover...Excellent reading, very informative.