Housebreaking A Golden Retriever – How To Handle Your Golden Retriever!

Housebreaking A Golden Retriever – How To Handle Your Golden Retriever!

While training your Golden Retriever to house break, you must ensure that it follows crate routines and does not spend extra time outside its crate. When your dog is not inside the crate, you must keep a watch on him throughout the time. If your dog is outside his crate, and you do not keep a watch on him, an accident can occur for which you cannot blame anyone but yourself alone as you didn’t correct him when it happened.

You must always praise your dog when he relieves himself at the correct location as this will help him learn which locations are right and wrong. The best way would be crating him at night and taking him out in the morning when he wakes up and showing him what are the correct spots. Give him a while and then praise your dog when he starts to go. Avoid accidents and you will be able to easily train your Golden retriever without too many problems. If accidents start happening, it can get very difficult to change the habit and break the pattern.

You should not give any freedom to your dog when you are house breaking him. He would probably want to do something else and getting it right will be a big job for him. If you tolerate and allow bad habits you will find it harder to break them later on and it is best to be stern and firm on your dog. If you start when your retriever is a puppy itself, then very soon he will learn and become a good family member of yours.

Confinement must be used sufficiently while house breaking. This means that your golden retriever must not be allowed to move freely around the house until he house breaks. You must be careful and ensure you know exactly where he is and what he is doing all the time he is not in his crate.

Chances are he can relieve himself on your floor if you are not there watching him every single second. If he starts going on the floor, then this will become a habit and will become very difficult to change this. This is because the smell will remain and next time he is there he will smell the scent and relieve himself again. Every time he smells it, he will have a tendency to relieve himself there. The only way to avoid this is to keep a watch on him all the time and make sure that he relieves himself only in he space you have specified for him.

While training your golden retriever to housebreak, you must ensure that there is a way out for him. Usually a doggy door is provided for the puppy to go out and relieve himself without disturbing you. You can also use a litter box or a puppy pad inside your house so that he can relieve himself when he can’t go outside.

Though house breaking your dog can take a long time, it is well worth the patience once your retriever is properly trained. He will not relieve himself wherever he pleases and will become an essential part of your family. He will only relieve in an outside area or wherever you have trained him. By nature, golden retrievers seek human interaction and if you intend on keeping them indoors it is best you make sure that you have been trained properly to house break.

Golden Retriever Bedding – Make Your Dog Companion Feel At Home!

Golden Retriever Bedding – Make Your Dog Companion Feel At Home!

When you first bring it home, it will be lonely, and constantly whining or whimpering – it’s missing its mom, and its siblings. Just calm it gently and speaking as softly as you can, as you would soothe your natural baby, and try and cover it with a towel. It’s been found effective in making it feel less lonely. You can help also by stroking it while you walk around your chores, and occasionally do pick it up and caress it. That will make it less homesick and get attached to you.

Just as we all learnt to have our favorite bedding, blankets, Golden retrievers too can be made to come to love what it gets. But don’t ever try getting an expensive blanket for it. it will just chew it away! Get some good quality blankets from a thrift store nearby and buy them in half a dozen. You can get a bargain, and you don’t have to worry about it for the next three or four weeks.. keep your fingers crossed. Golden Retrievers are known for chewing their blankets !

The best bed you can make for your Retriever inside the house is with a woollen blanket – an old one – and keep its meal and water, close by all the time. If inside the house and sleeping with you in your bedroom, well, you better be prepared to get up twice or thrice to take it outdoors for it to answer nature’s call. You will get used to it, and so will your pet! You bet!

And yes, after you have fed it, you should take it out after an hour so that it learns to answer nature’s calls outside.

If you are going to leave the Golden Retriever outdoors, make sure you build or buy a sturdy one, which will be comfy for it; Use wooden straw for it on the floor or use newspapers or both. You can also try wooden shavings. Do provide a small curtain at both ends: it too feels the cold, you know, and the breeze or wind can make it uncomfortable. And yes, if it is cold, you can use that unused blanket or quilt that you just kept it away.. maybe you would have to look for it. It would love to snuggle into the quilt, and you may have to unfold the whole quilt to find where it went into!

The Golden Retriever is a very friendly dog, and loves to be cuddled and fondled, and it has a smirk on its face most of the time, as if it was making a fool of you. And it enjoys playing, galloping here and there, so you better train it to behave as well!

Make your Golden Retriever comfortable and loved, and it will be beautiful companion for you, and indeed for your whole family.

Best of Luck, and good wishes to your Golden Retriever

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The Golden Retriever – A Great Family Dog

The Golden Retriever – A Great Family Dog

The golden retriever is perhaps the most popular family dog and rightly so as its gentle temperament makes it a great companion for families with children. originating from Britain this breed is an excellent tracker and has been used as a hunting dog and also to help sniff out narcotics. They are very intelligent and eager to please as well as fast learners which makes them great candidates for guide and therapy dogs.

A member of the American kennel club sporting group, the golden retriever was first registered at the AKC in 1925. By breed standards they should be between 20 and 24 inches in height and weigh between 55 and 80 pounds. If cared for properly, the golden retriever can live for 12 years or more.

The golden retriever has a beautiful golden coat and has a well proportioned and sturdy build. the medium length code is feathered with a dense undercoat and water repellent outer coat. They have a broad head with powerful muscle black nose and brown dark rimmed eyes. They have medium pendant shaped ears in the long tail that is carried straight, not curled. Golden retrievers callers can range from cream to a deep gold.

Well known for their gentle manner and intelligence, the golden retriever is easily trainable and a good dog if you have other pets and children. They are eager to please, loyal and confident but are extremely active and will need to get their exercise. While they are easy to train, they can be quite boisterous and are easily distracted so you want to exhibit patience during the training process. Your golden retriever should be an active member of your family as he can become mischievous if left alone for long periods of time.

This breed can be prone to eye defects as well as hip dysplasia and should also be checked for heart problems and Von Willebrand’s disease. Some can be prone to skin allergies, and you should keep an eye out for this as you’ll need to treated it immediately.

While the golden retriever does need plenty of exercise he can live happily in apartment as long as you are sure to take them for walks and let him play. Of course, they love to retrieve so having him retrieve balls or sticks or even a frisbee is ideal. They can put on weight easily so you want to be sure to watch what you feed them and make sure they do get enough exercise as being overweight can be unhealthy for any dog.

When grooming your golden retriever mixture to pay attention to the dense undercoat and brush in good with a firm bristled brush. Only bathe when absolutely necessary, but if you want to you can dry shampoo them as often as you want. This dog is an average shutter.

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Getting A Golden Retriever Puppy

Getting A Golden Retriever Puppy

If you’re like most people, there will come a time when it must be decided whether or not your home will have a pet. For many, this is an easy decision; a childhood with an animal may naturally precipitate adulthood with one as well. And if you are dog lover, then chances are there is a particular breed that holds a special place in your heart. But if you are just venturing into the world of dog ownership you may be wondering which breed is right for you and your family. One or two visits to a pet store may put you face to face with the golden retriever puppy; a face that is hard to ignore!

The golden retriever puppy is by far one of the most popular dogs on the market today. One look at its sweet little face and it’s not hard to see why. There is many a golden retriever owner that was suckered in by the “puppy appeal” of their pet. But puppies do grow; it’s important to know all that you can about the breed of dog before making any decisions.

Originally bred as hunting dogs, golden retrievers have a natural intelligence that lends it to all varieties of work including search and rescue and law enforcement. Its intellect combined with its genial nature has also made golden retrievers popular in the service industry – assisting people with a variety of handicaps.

Like their adult counterparts, the golden retriever puppy is playful, friendly and sweet. They are also extremely intelligent and easily trained. For all of these reasons, the golden retriever puppy makes a wonderful family dog.

Keep in mind, however, that the golden retriever puppy will grow to be a rather large dog. You should not commit to ownership of such an animal if you do not have considerable space – inside and out. Also, because the golden retriever is such a social dog, it is important that it be with a family that has the time and attention for this special dog.

Further, the golden retriever puppy – in addition to making the necessary and customary visits to the veterinarian – will also need to be groomed quite frequently. This particular breed sheds quite a bit; its fur needs constant maintenance. This is something to keep in mind as you consider the time you will have to devote to a golden retriever puppy.

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Buying A Golden Retriever Puppy

Buying A Golden Retriever Puppy

Golden Retrievers are obedient, beautiful, make fantastic family pets as well as hunting dogs. This breed is also the most preferred guide dog for the blind and for important things like narcotic detection dogs and tracking dogs (used to find missing people) among others.

Among the many other breeds available as good pet options, the Golden Retriever remains one of the most versatile and most surprising breeds.

But before you take the plunge and finalize on buying a Golden Retriever puppy, you need to learn more about this breed. Try and attend dog shows where you can meet owners who have Golden Retrievers as pets as they can give you a lot of important information about this breed – information that a breeder may not give you since he is interested in making a sale. Check you local kennel club again for information.

People who own Golden Retrievers are quite proud of them and are always willing to talk about their pet especially if they find you interested in the same breed.

When you buy a Golden Retriever puppy, your best bet is to look for one at a backyard breeder or the local puppy mill. Backyard breeders care a lot about their puppies so they will have a lot of information about the dogs and they also would like to get the best possible homes for their litter.

Visit the local branches of the Golden Retriever club of America and get a list of the breeders in your area. It is important that you get your Golden from a reliable source. All puppies come with some built in friskiness and other attitudes. You need one that is best suited to your family. The breeder knows his pups very well and he will be a good judge of which pup will suit you based on some questions he may ask.

Do not rush the buying, take you time and look at all the options available. Get all the pertinent information about your puppy regarding its medication, its injections, and its food and training requirements etc.

Once you have all this, then try and get a questionnaire or list of points to consider while buying a golden Retriever pup from some Golden owners and the local vet. Take it to your breeder and ensure that the pet you get matches at least 95% of the points you have.

Remember you are buying a friend for life so you want a pup that has a good temperament and is warm, open and responsive. A pup from a breeder, who is only in it for the money, will invariably end up being of poor quality along with a nasty disposition.

A little patience and research will get you the best there is in Golden Retriever pups.

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Characteristics Of Reputable Golden Retriever Breeders

Characteristics Of Reputable Golden Retriever Breeders

Many of us would like to own a golden retriever. Therefore it is important to choose the right puppy. Now we do not know what the puppy would turn out to be in future. To ensure that you pick up the right one, which may turn out to be physically and emotionally stable, you need to opt for a puppy from a reputable breeder.

What are the characteristics of a reputable breeder?

Make sure you purchase your golden retriever from a reputable breeder. Following are certain options you would like to consider while finalizing the golden retriever puppy -

1. Dealer or pet shop – To be very honest, pet shops are not the ideal place to select a puppy from. Most pet shops look at high profit and returns. Unfortunately, they may not give enough attention to the quality of the breed.

2. Backyard Breeders – Again this may not be one of the best choices. A backyard breeder also may not be aware of the characteristics of a reputable breeder. Backyard breeders usually own a few golden retrievers and look forward to breeding their females for puppies.

They may be doing it for money or fun, or possibly both. One cannot also pay a high regard to their knowledge about the breed in general. Usually backyard breeders are also not aware of problems associated with breeding.

3. Hobby Breeders – This is the best option so far. Hobby breeders are committed and loyal and they really consider this to be more than their hobby. Hobby breeders care a lot about quality and are really aware of the characteristics of a reputable breeder.

While they are aware of the commercial gains that would ensue from the transactions, they would probably take better care in ensuring that you get a fine golden retriever puppy to take home. Besides, they accept responsibility of the golden retrievers puppies that they breed.

What you need to do

- Ensure that you see the mother, and if possible the father as well. This will give you a fair idea of the pedigree of the golden retriever.

- Ask the breeder for health certificates of both the mother and the father, to ensure that the breed does not have any health problems. This is one of the most important ways to check the characteristics of a reputable breeder.

- A golden retriever puppy is usually confident and inquisitive. It also grows up to be a 70-pound easily trainable dog that can socialize with all.

- A golden retriever puppy from a reputable breeder usually has a lighter coat. The color varies a little when they are fully grown. If you would like to check the color when you are buying the puppy, check the fur on the ears. Also a look at the parents will give you an estimation of the true color

- It is also important to ask more about the puppy when you are purchasing one. Also documents like health certificates and kennel club registrations need to be in place.

A simple search on the Internet can provide you with more details on the characteristics of a reputable breeder. So, what is stopping you? Go ahead and adopt golden retriever for you and your family.

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Crate Training Your Golden Retriever Is Simple and Fun!

Crate Training Your Golden Retriever Is Simple and Fun!

A lot of people believe crates act as a punishment for dogs, and that they shouldn’t be used. Quite the contrary, this is a very large misconception that most people have. Crates are actually one of the safest places for your dog and also act as gratifications of his inborn instinct to live in a den.

Crates are useful in keeping your Golden retriever puppy inside when you are not at home, are sleeping or are unable to look directly after your puppy while doing something else. It keeps the puppy safe and sound and allows you to do something else without worrying about him or her.

It would break your heart if something were to happen to your puppy when you were not at home. Also, it is a really nice feeling to come home, knowing that the puppy safe inside the crate. The puppy is happy and healthy, and you are thrilled to see him.

Crate training your golden retriever is essential in keeping both your home as well as your Golden retriever safe. It aids in house training, as well as stops the dog from unwanted chewing. It is also the best way of keeping the dog safe when you are traveling in a vehicle. You can also keep your puppy in a crate after they’ve been spayed or neutered.

Ideally you should always have a crate ready when you bring your golden retriever home the first time. Keep it in a central place, with easy access. Try to keep it in one place, and not move it so that the puppy can get used to it being there.

If you have a front yard, keeping it there would be a good idea so the puppy can relieve itself outside. Get the puppy used to the idea of the crate, by putting a dog biscuit or a chew toy in there and letting the puppy explore the crate. Repeat this routine a few times every day to get the puppy used to this idea and make it a habit.

For crate training your golden retriever effectively, praise your puppy when he listens to you, and goes inside the crate. Once he’s used to the crate, tempt him to go inside and close the door for some time. Let him learn to stay in the crate for a little while.

Don’t take the puppy out, even if it whines, but talk to it from the other side, and give comfort to it. After a little while, let him out and praise him while giving him a dog biscuit. This is a very effective way of crate training your golden retriever pup. Remember, you need to be patient to crate train your golden retriever puppy.

Get a really nice crate, which simulates a den environment, while protecting your puppy at the same time. Putting an old towel inside the crate would be a good idea. Remember, for a full-grown golden retriever, it is not advised to keep them in a crate for more than five to six hours at a time.

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Eye and Heart Diseases Common In Golden Retrievers

Eye and Heart Diseases Common In Golden Retrievers

Like all pets, Golden Retrievers too are prone to diseases such as those of the heart and eye. Though Golden Retrievers are by and large a very healthy breed, there are some common health issues that affect them.

There are many diseases that can afflict the eyes and heart of the Golden Retriever. Nature-wise diseases contracted vary from hereditary/congenital, acquired through injury or environmentally induced.

Heart Diseases in Golden Retrievers

This breed can possibly be afflicted with SAS, which is restriction of the Aorta, the symptoms of which include having an enlarged heart enlargement and restricted blood flow. The younger ones have statistically proved more vulnerable to this dreaded malady that often ends in the pet dying prematurely.

In severe cases of the ailment, the victim can get severely debilitated and it is possible that they can eventually and consequently even die from this disease. This malady is thought of by cardiologists as being solely genetically transmitted. Apart from this, there are other minor issues that can crop up regarding the heart. Thus, it is always better to ensure that both parents did not suffer from any heart disease as far as possible.

Another heart problem seen in Golden Retrievers is Cardiomyopathy, which is essentially a disease of the muscles in the dogs heart either making them too thin or too thick.

Eye Diseases in Golden Retrievers

The common eye disorders which the Golden retriever may possibly suffer from are bilateral, juvenile-onset cataracts and abnormalities of the eyelids / eyelashes. Cataracts mostly appear quite small and virtually have no fatally debilitating effect. Aside from this, the breed may contract abnormalities such as inward rolling of the eyelid and extra eyelashes on the inside of the eyelid.

Please note that cataracts are not things to be taken lightly, and will require immediate attention to be discussed with your vet as soon as possible. Other eye disorders the Golden Retriever may possibly contract are progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia.

There is also a wide assortment of genetic or congenital infirmities in this breed to reckon with. In severe cases, this may deteriorate to permanent blindness. Cataracts among the younger lot are mostly congenital.

Restricted blood supply to the eye are mostly found among the young. This is clinically alluded to as Collie Eye Anomaly. Another commonly occurring eye disease is Entropion, which is an inversion of the eyelids. Progressive Retinal atrophy or PRA is a degenerative condition, which causes night blindness and inability to see in low light conditions.

Sadly, it ultimately stops the dog from being able to see in broad daylight as well. The incidence of this disease is common mostly among the young, but can affect adults as well. Glaucoma, which is caused by the imbalance of air pressure in the eyes often afflicts this breed. This is rare, but instances have been known to happen. In this case, there is no cure, but medication can control the onset of the disease if caught early.

Make sure you get a dog free of previous medical history of most or all of the diseases and health problems given here to save yourself from problems and heartache later.

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Quick Facts On Socializing Your Golden Retriever

Quick Facts On Socializing Your Golden Retriever

One of the more important aspects of raising a dog is to socialise it. Socialising your golden retriever is a must, as it will teach golden retrievers how to behave in front of strangers, and how not to.

Of course, one can never predict the temperament of a dog when you bring them home. All dogs are different. Some dogs love everyone, while others don’t like strangers at all.

The first thing you need to do to see how your dog reacts when they meet new people that they don’t know. You need to look for things like whether they are fine with your family, or if they like only people of one sex, or if they are only fine with adults, and not with children. Some dogs don’t like certain items like people wearing sunglasses or hats. If you’re lucky, your dog will like all strangers.

What you need to look for next to see how your dog reacts to other dogs. Some dogs get along really well with others, while some get along only with those of the opposite sex. Some dogs love puppies, but don’t like adult dogs. Some don’t like large dogs, while some don’t like small ones. These are important questions you need to address in order to begin socializing your golden retriever.

Your dogs behaviour towards other dogs, and people is largely determined by its breeding. It will come from its immediate parents, and there is little you can do about it.

As far as the breed goes on a general basis, golden retrievers are quite friendly and loving. While socialising your golden retriever, it is important to note how long it was left with its mother, and other siblings. The reason for this is that if it has been removed before it was seven weeks old it may not have learnt essential social signals like bite inhibition from them.

On the other side, they shouldn’t be left too long with their parent, as this will make them more dominant or submissive, depending on its order among the siblings.

Socialising your golden retriever when it’s a puppy is the most effective and will shape the personality of your dog in the years to come. It is for this reason that you must begin taking your pup out once they are seven weeks old. Of course, teaching them socialisation when they are older is also important.

Adolescence begins between six and nine months age and ends around the age of three. This may be an awkward time for them, and their behaviour may change from week to week during this time. This is the time, and you must instil confidence in your dog that you are there for him. You need to reassure them and give them all the love they want. When they are young, it is easier to explain that they should not bark at strangers.

Though it may sound odd, pups can also suffer trauma from a previous experience, which can affect their temperament later. Make sure your golden retriever gets plenty of interaction with other people as well as dogs, and learns the right way it should behave with them. Have fun socializing your golden retriever. Its a pleasurable experience!

Top Tips For Training Your Golden Retriever

Top Tips For Training Your Golden Retriever

Once you have brought home your golden retriever, and have made him comfortable to the new surroundings, you have to begin training him/her. In fact the sooner you start the training, the easier will it be for both you and your pet to lead a comfortable and happy life.

Training is very important. With training they will understand what is an acceptable action and what is an undesirable action. Dogs usually judge their actions on the response that they get for their actions. Good responses encourage them, and bad ones dont, so you have to be forthright in expressing yourself to your dog.

Handy Tips On Training

- Different people would have different needs for a dog. If you are training your dog, decide on a desirable behavior code for your dog from the first day itself. Judge for yourself what you would prefer your dog to do and then zero in on training your golden retriever accordingly.

- From the very first phase, praise your dog for desirable behavior, or discourage him for an undesirable one. For example, if your puppy is playing with your kid and fetches a ball, praise him. You may like him to perform such tasks and therefore he has to understand that. On the other hand, if he is littering around, discourage him and teach him the right way to release himself. In this way you can begin training your golden retriever puppy.

- Many a times, you may need to be very stern with your puppy as well, especially if your puppy is being particularly naughty, dont hesitate.

- It is also important to remember that timing is very important while training. You need to immediately praise him or chide him/her, as the situation demands. You need to understand that dogs are very different from human beings, and hence you cannot explain things to them later. If your dog is chasing cars, and you dont want him to do so, chide immediately. Your golden retriever will understand. On the other hand, if he is shooing away birds and guarding your food on a family picnic, commend him for his behavior.

- While training, please remember that he/she needs to develop certain healthy habits for himself. For example, you need to chide him/her if he eats anything that is lying on the floor or on the ground. Make sure you inculcate proper habits of food (e.g. eating from a meal bowl), so that your golden retriever can be safe and healthy.

- Many a times vets also insist that only one person in the family should feed golden retrievers. At least, this is very important for administering medicines. And, also remember to chide your golden retriever if he/she accepts any food from strangers. This would keep him healthy and you happy.

Please understand that time and patience are the two key things to training. Once you have trained your golden retriever, he/she will be a much better dog to manage, and a suitable companion for you and your family.

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