Golden Retriever Face with mouth open

Tips on Raising a Golden Retriever Puppy

Planning to bring home a golden retriever puppy? If you have made this decision, then it is great to know essential tips on raising a golden retriever puppy. First, before you bring the puppy home, you need to make some decisions. These include where do you want to get the puppy from, how to choose the right and name suggestions.

Golden retriever puppies are adorable and interesting to live with. However, they need a lot of work to raise. This guide will help you understand more about raising, training and tips to keep your dog healthy.

  1. Think About Safety

Before you bring your puppy home, ensure that the place is safe for them as they may get troubled in their new home. The danger your puppy might land into are like chewing on chords or glass pieces and other items that are unnecessary. In case there are other dogs, make sure you separate them as they may start bullying the puppy. Let there be supervision whenever they are together.

  1. Conducive Sleeping Environment

Dogs also need enough time to sleep, in a conducive environment too. Some people choose to sleep with their dogs while other may get a room strictly for their puppies. Puppies may also be crate trained.

Always use a large crate so as to give enough space for your dog. There is also an option for buying your golden retriever puppy a dog bed and train him on how to use it.

  1. Food and Water Bowls

The bowls need to be clean throughout to avoid instances of food contamination for the dog. Ensure you buy bowls of a good material, those that do not break easily. Puppies are so playful, and you might find them carrying the dishes around when they are empty.

The bowls should be resistant to breaking and should not be chewable. The water bowls should contain clean water all the time. You may at times find dog fur in the water and you need to remove it and replace the water with clean one.

  1. Containing Your Dog

In as much as your puppy will be in your yard, you need to contain him elsewhere to avoid unnecessary movements. You may do so by constructing a fence, mostly an invisible one. Alternatively, you may choose to tether your puppy. They should not be left on their own in open for longer periods.

  1. Use of A Leash and Collar or Harness

Training your golden retriever puppy is something gradual and this means that it will take some time for it to adapt to its new environment. Your puppy needs to learn how to comfortably walk in a leash without really choking itself.

Buckle collars and martingale collars are the best options for your dog as they enhance comfort in your dog. Try getting your puppy a harness too. It reduces the pressure put to your dog on the neck by the collars. A harness will also prevent pulling.

  1. Groom Your Dog

Your golden retriever puppy needs to be well groomed throughout. Some of the grooming supplies include a dog brush for brushing its fur, dog nail clippers to keep its nails well-trimmed and dog shampoo to wash it.

  1. Dog Food

It is wise if you seek advice from a vet for the best food for golden retriever. When you are switching the diet, do it gradually to reduce the risk of it getting allergies and stomach upsets. Start by giving it puppy food and as it grows keep changing until it gets to feed on adult food.

  1. Only Give Enough Food

Your golden retriever is at a risk of being obese as they love eating a lot. The food your puppy consumes should be proportional to its age and weight.  If your puppy is below 6 months, ensure you feed it for three times in a day and if it is elder than that, feed it twice a day. Make sure there is consistency in the time of feeding.

  1. Occasionally Treat Your Dog

Your golden retriever needs to be treated once in a while. You may choose to add some dog biscuits or cookies in the meal. This will help in making the training easy for you.  You are also free to mix extras in your dog food so as to add and improve the taste of their food.

Some of the things you might add include chicken breast that is plainly cooked, canned pumpkin, canned dog food and plain yoghurt among others. Be sure to continue with this habit as the dog may not want to eat plain food once it gets used to foods with flavors.

  1. Pet Your Puppy and Avoid His Face

Dogs do not like their face touched. You should also not put your face in front of the dog’s face. Whenever it starts yawning and licking its lips, it means that you are too close and you need to move a bit. Whenever you are petting it, always pat gently on his side. The pats should also be gentle.

  1. Engage Your Golden Retriever Using Dog Toys

You may toss a ball and let your puppy retrieve it. This is the point you teach and train your dog on how to obey commands. Some commands your dog should know include ‘come’, ‘sit down’, ‘all done’, among others.

Conclusion

Golden retriever puppies are interesting to deal with. All you need to do is to understand them and give them the best care ever. Always ensure that they are in a good and safe environment. The environment should also be free from any form of dirt and contamination. Ensure you give the right food to your puppy and this should continue even as it advances into adulthood.

Train your dog on the skills you want him to learn. Ensure the commands you give to your dog are well spelt out to enhance understanding. Keep your dog active by playing with it or providing it with play toys to free boredom.

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