Choosing to get a puppy is no small decision. If you’re searching “golden retriever puppies for sale,” you’ve come to the right place. We understand how welcoming a new pet into your home is both a joyful time and one of transition and change. If this is your first time getting a puppy, we’re here to help. This blog is the first on our series about how to care for a golden retriever. Check out our tips and tricks below about welcoming your newest furry friend home.
How to Care for a Golden Retriever Part 1: Settling into a New Home
- Puppy pick-up. We always recommend coming to meet your puppy and picking him or her up in person whenever possible. It helps with the bonding process, and your puppy’s first nights without mom will be tough. Here’s a little-known tip you won’t find just by Googling “golden retriever puppies for sale:” when you come to pick up your puppy, bring a cloth toy or towel to rub on mom’s fur coat. Mom’s scent will be comforting, especially for those first few nights away from her.
- Start small. As your puppy learns his or her new environment and humans, he or she might also get easily overwhelmed. Instead of letting the puppy explore the entire house right away, start with a small, manageable area like a mudroom. Keep your puppy in that area using a baby gate until he or she is comfortable/accustomed with/to the area, and then expand gradually into other rooms. If there’s anywhere in the house you don’t want your dog to go when they’re fully grown (like an upstairs bedroom or an office), don’t bring him or her in there as a puppy – they’ll get confused.
- Establish a routine. Just like humans, dogs need routines, too. Write out a puppy schedule and stick to it! Plan to feed, let out, and walk your puppy at the same time every day. He or she will adjust to their new surroundings more quickly when they know what to expect. Make the schedule with the future in mind, though. If you feed your puppy at 6:30 a.m. every day for a month, don’t expect them to be cool with you sleeping in until 9 a.m.
- Start training early. Basic commands – sit, stay, and come – don’t need to wait. Be sure to give your puppy plenty of rewards (treats, reward words, and pets) as they learn the commands. You’ll also want to teach your puppy the difference between toys and non-toys (shoes, backpacks, your kids’ stuffed animals) and get them used to being in a crate or kennel. Check out our post on training tips for more ideas.
It’s important to be prepared to help your puppy transition into a new environment while you’re looking for golden retriever puppies for sale, it’s important to be prepared to help your puppy transition easily into their new environment. As your companion grows up, what they need will change. Stay tuned for part 2 of “How to Care for your Golden Retriever” for tips on caring for older puppies and fully-grown dogs.
