I was reading the other day that Golden Retriever puppies were the most popular choice for new dog owners last year, and still are this year. That may seem like a good thing, but it’s not.


This creates a lot of irresponsible breeding to meet the demand. People are attracted to the Golden Retriever for the obvious reasons of their great looks, and an always cheerful disposition.

They are also used quite often in movies and television, which ads to their popularity.

Many new dog owners will decide after getting their new puppy, that caring for a golden retriever is more than they expected, and will give the dog up. As sad as this is, it happens every year to thousands of golden retrievers.

Hopefully these dogs will end up at a local animal shelter where they can find a good home, or a rescue shelter, where they will get the care they need, and proper placement in a loving home.

A rescue shelter has advantages over a regular shelter because they will check a dog for any health problems, behavioral problems, and will usually work with you after you receive your pet, if you are having any problems.

If your planning on getting a Golden Retriever, or any breed of dog, and do not want to go through the puppy stage, or the expense of buying a puppy ( usually eight hundred dollars and up for Golden Retriever Puppies) try contacting a local shelter or rescue center. You may find just the friend you were looking for.

Golden retrievers do require some commitment, but the love and companionship they return to you and your family makes it all worth it. One thing that is very important to a golden retriever is exercise.

If you are thinking of getting a golden retriever or you already have one, exercise is a must.

Golden retrievers do best when they have their own fenced in yard to run free. When that is not possible, then walking them on a leash, or taking them to another area where they can safely run free is the next best thing.

Exercise is something that they need every day. It is probably the hardest thing for a golden retriever owner to stay committed to, that doesn’t have a yard to let their dog run in. It can sometimes be hard to find the time for one or two walks a day on a busy schedule.

Golden retrievers gain weight easily when not exercised enough. They can also be prone to health problems from this extra weight and from lack of exercise.

It has also been proven that they tend to get into trouble around the house if they are not exercised enough, and in some cases they will actually start to chew on themselves, causing open wounds, just from boredom.

Before you decide to purchase or adopt a golden retriever, be sure you are prepared for the time and financial commitment they will need. If you are, you have made a great choice.

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Keep your Golden happy, healthy, and obedient

Proper puppy training of your golden retriever can be more important than you may realize. In the litigious society in which we find ourselves living today, legal actions seem to be common place.


You can be sued for millions if a cup of coffee, which common sense would tell you is very hot, does not contain a warning label to that effect prior to someone dumping it onto their lap and getting burns.

Parents are brought into court because their child kissed another child at school and someone called this sexual harassment. A would-be thief sued and won a case where he broke his arm by tipping over a soda vending machine in an attempt to steal from it.

All of these suits and more happen on what seems like a daily basis, and you just brought your own little lawsuit factory to live with you, in the form of an adorable little puppy.

It is true that this innocent looking little ball of fur can turn into a nasty, snarling, lawsuit building monster within moments. When you look at it this way, puppy training takes on a whole new urgency.

All it takes is one act of territorial aggression or even self-defense and your pet has just cost you thousands of dollars, and possibly, the animal itself. So how will dog training abet this poor outcome?

By teaching your pet, not to jump, nip, bite, threaten or behave as an aggressor, you save yourself possible legal actions and a lot of sleepless nights.

After all, who really wants to own the dog that just mauled the neighbors’ two-year-old child for pulling its tail or killed the prize-winning cat of the lady next door? So how do we stop the bad behavior?

Well, for starters, every dog should learn the “NO” command. This simple one word command is precise and definite in its meaning.

It tells the animal to stop whatever it is doing and instead give you full and complete attention. This command should be trained consistently and often.

If the animal is trying to chase a cat, loudly and clearly say “NO” and restrain the animal. If the dog is jumping up, again utter “NO” and perhaps a light tap to the nose as reinforcement of the command. This simple dog training command will stop most behaviors once it is learned.

A similar command is “Leave It” and is taught in much the same way. For pet training in this command, let the dog approach the forbidden object of its attention and then pull the leash taut and pronounce, “Leave it”.

After a few moments, the dog will give up and return to you after which it should be rewarded generously. By doing this, the dog learns that no matter what temptation is presented; your reward for leaving it will be much greater.

A third lawsuit preventing command is “Down” and is one that many dog owners have a lot of trouble with. A dog’s natural instinct is to jump up and greet someone.

While this is cute in the puppy stage a one hundred pound adult dog can knock you to the ground, and for a stranger, can be quite a frightening experience.

Your dog can be taught to stay down by starting puppy training early when they are pups to curb the jumping behavior, by ignoring or telling them”No” or “DOWN” when they jump and rewarding them when they sit calmly.

To break the habit in older dogs, you may have to resort to more strenuous enforcements such as a squirt of water when they jump up or even an electrical collar as a last resort.

Also, during the puppy training stage, they should be familiarized with people who will enter the yard on a daily basis such as the mail carrier or package delivery personnel.

They should learn that these individuals are not threats by taking the time to introduce them to your pet and perhaps even asking them to offer the pet some kind of treat.

The animal should, at all times, be taught that nipping or biting is unwanted behavior and will result in a punishment of some form, for example, a sprits of cold water followed by the “NO” command or a light but convincing tap on the nose. In worst-case scenarios, a muzzle may be in order.

With these simple puppy training suggestions, you are certain to have a safer environment for your pet and those around you as well as peace of mind that you are in control of your furry friend.

Dog training will take a little time and patience, but it is always worth the effort in the long run to have a well behaved dog. Good Luck.

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Amazing Puppy and Dog Obedience training secrets

The trick to housebreaking a puppy, is always applying the same system, being patient, being understanding, and sticking with it, until you achieve success. This can be a very difficult period for both you, and your puppy who is a bit confused, but trying to please.


The value of properly housebreaking a puppy is extremely important, because not getting it right at this early stage in the puppy’s life, can damage the relationship between owner and dog down the road.

Different breeds of dogs can be more difficult to housebreak than others, and some may take more time and patience to housebreak, but all dogs should be able to learn this basic skill, if you keep it simple, and stay patient.

There are two different methods for properly house training a puppy. One is to show your puppy from the start where you expect him or her to do their business, such as your back yard. The other housebreaking method would be to paper train as a beginning stage, if it is easier than taking your dog outside each time.

To housebreak a puppy using the outdoors method, the puppy must be allowed frequent access to the outdoors, and given ample time to do his business before being brought inside. When your puppy is inside he should be kept confined to a small area of the house, like the corner of the kitchen, or inside a proper dog crate.

Keeping your puppy confined during the housebreaking stage, when you are not playing with him, will make him reluctant to soil that area. It’s important to take your puppy out often at this stage so he can relieve himself. Young puppies need to eliminate often, but as control develops your trips will become less often.

If your puppy has an accident in this enclosed area, give your puppy a firm No or Bad command, and take your puppy outside, so he knows where he should have gone. This way he will start to catch on, and eventually will wait until he is outside to do his business.

Some people think crates are cruel to use during housebreaking a puppy, but I assure you they are not, when used properly. It is the best and safest way to raise your new dog. You will find that your dog will actually appreciate a quiet safe place of their own, and it keeps them from under your feet when you need a break.

Another way for house training your puppy is the paper training method. It works like this. Pick a small area in your house where you can keep your puppy confined. Cover the entire floor with several layers of newspaper. Replace any soiled paper with fresh ones as necessary.

After a day or two leave one corner of the room floor uncovered. If your puppy tries to use the uncovered area to urinate or defecate, give him a mild scolding, and place him on the paper.

As your puppy starts to get the point that using the paper is the only acceptable place, gradually start taking the paper away until there is only a couple of sheets left.

Let the puppy use only these couple of sheets for a few days, as you start to reinforce the idea that going outside is the proper place, either by taking him outside when you see him headed for the last few papers, or just start taking him outside every couple of hours to keep him from wanting to use the papers. At this point remove the remaining papers.

During this sensitive housebreaking period be alert for any indication that your puppy needs to go out, such as searching for the missing newspapers, or going to the door. If you notice any of these behaviors, take him out immediately.

One thing to remember when housebreaking a puppy. If your puppy has an accident, and you didn’t catch him in the act, don’t bother scolding him, because he will have no idea what he did wrong. Just clean it up and move on. Good luck

Note: For more information, use the search bar at the top of the site, and search Crate Training.

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Have you fallen in love with golden retrievers. If so, you are definitely not alone. The golden retriever puppy has become one of the most sought after of all the breeds available today.


Golden retrievers are very smart dogs, and very easy to train. They have outstanding character, and are devoted companions. Golden retrievers get along very well with children, and other household pets.

They are however very large dogs, so if you have small children they can sometimes get knocked over easily.

They are a very affectionate breed, that likes to be by your side as much as possible. They will greet you at the door when you come home and make a big deal out of it, as though you have been gone for a week, even if you only went to the store for five minutes.

They like to be by your side when you’re at home, moving from room to room as you do. They also like to interact with the family and be involved in what you are doing, and be treated the same as everyone else.

If you are looking for a dog that will stay in the corner and not bother you, then a Golden Retriever may not be for you. Golden Retrievers crave a lot of attention on a daily basis, so you want to consider this before making a final decision.

Golden Retrievers are not very good at being guard dogs or house protectors. If a burglar breaks into your house, your golden retriever will probably help him carry the merchandise out the door if he thinks there is a biscuit in it for him.

If you’re looking for protection the Golden Retriever is probably not a good choice, although they are good at barking, and that may be enough to scare off a potential intruder.

Golden Retrievers also like a lot of exercise on a daily basis. They have above average needs for exercise, but they will adapt to the exercise habits of their family quite well.

They love to retrieve, so throwing the ball for them is a favorite pastime, and gives them the exercise they need.

The golden retriever needs regular combing and brushing to prevent matting and tangles. They have a medium haired double coat that will require a comb and a brush with a firm bristle for their dense under coat.

This golden retriever breed is an above average shedder, and will contribute to your housework. Bathing on average, depending on conditions, is usually about every three months, but brushing and combing is needed weekly to keep them looking their best.

Golden retriever puppies become great bird hunting dogs. They are natural learners, and easy to handle in the field. They are also sought after by law enforcement as narcotic sniffing dogs, and are quite popular as companions for the disabled.

The golden retriever is in my opinion one of the greatest breeds there is for a pet, a hunting dog, and a good friend.

They are also one of the finest looking dogs available, anywhere, at any price. They are extremely smart, easy to train, loveable, and loyal. What more could anyone ask of a dog.

But golden retrievers do require some work with grooming, extra house cleaning, and a commitment to their daily exercise.

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Make Healthy Meals And Treats Your Dog Will Love

Shopping for a Golden Retriever breeder can take some time. Not all puppy breeders are the same. There are a lot of golden retriever breeders out there that unfortunately put profits ahead of quality.


Once you have found a Golden Retriever breeder you feel is responsible, it is time to ask some questions. Below is a list to help you through the process. Some of this may sound a little overboard, but to responsible puppy breeders, this is nothing unusual.

1. Do both parents have hip clearance from the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Ask to see the certificates. “My vet okayed the x-ray” is not a valid clearance.

2. Do both parents have current eye clearances from an Ophthalmologist or a CERF certificate (Canine Eye Registry)? This needs to redone every year. Ask to see the certificates.

3. Do both parents have veterinary clearance, preferably with ultra sound by a canine cardiologist, on their hearts. Ask to see the certificates.

4. Are both parents at least 2 years old? Final hip clearances cannot be obtained before that age.

5. How often is the female bred? If it is every heat cycle, this is too often, and may indicate that this golden retriever breeders primary motive is profit.

6. Is this Golden Retriever breeder willing to provide you with references and telephone numbers of other people who have purchased puppies from them?

7. Is there a written guarantee against congenital health or temperament problems, which does not require you to return your puppy or euthanize it?

8. Have the puppies been raised in the home—not in a kennel, barn, or back yard?

9. Do the golden retriever breeders provide you with a 3-5 generation pedigree, a contract to sign, copies of all clearances and guarantees, health records and materials to help you with feeding, training and housebreaking?

10. Do the puppies seem healthy, with no discharge from their eyes or nose, no loose stools, and no foul smelling ears? Are their coats soft, full and clean? Do they have plenty of energy when awake, yet calm down easily when gently stroked?

11. Do the puppies have their first shots, and have they been wormed and vet checked by the time they go to your home?

12. Do the golden retriever breeders have only one or at the most two different breeds of dogs available. If there are more than that, chances are the breeder may be in it for the money, and may not be able to devote the time needed to become really knowledgeable about the breed, or improving it.

12a. If there are several litters there at the same time, it may be hard for the breeder to give the puppies the attention they need those first few critical weeks.

13. Does the breeder belong to a Golden Retriever Club and/or a local All-Breed Club, or Dog Breeders Club

14. Do you feel comfortable with this person. Are you feeling pressured or intimidated? If so, keep looking!

This list should help you choose a good breeder. It is meant to give you a checklist of the things that are important. You may not find any golden retriever breeders that fit all of the above, but if you find one that conforms to most of this list, you should end up with a great puppy.

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The pet shop is probably the worst choice of all. The first problem is that you will usually pay more at a pet shop then from a quality breeder. I have seen the price be two or three hundred dollars higher in some cases.

The second problem with buying a puppy at a pet shop is that you may have no information about the parents of the puppy they want to sell you.

This is a huge problem because the appearance, temperament, and history of the parents will determine to a large degree, the way your Golden Retriever puppy grows up.

It is easy to get caught in the moment when you go to a pet shop, because all puppies look perfect when their a puppy. If there are any health or behavior problems, they usually will not show up for a year or two, and sometimes longer.

If you do find yourself in a pet shop, and fall in love with that cute little puppy looking at you through the bars of that tiny cage, and you just can’t resist, then here is what you can do, to improve your chances of getting a good dog.

Ask the pet store if you can put a refundable deposit on the puppy to hold it for a day or two. I checked with several pet stores and they all said they would do this.

Have them give you the name, phone number and web site and email address if available of the breeder they got the puppy from.

All of this information will be on the AKC form you receive when you buy your new pet, so they should have no problem giving you this information. If they do have a problem giving you this information, I would look elsewhere for your new puppy.

Ask the pet store for a copy of the AKC form for your puppy. That will identify which puppy you are talking about when you contact the breeder.

Many times pet stores get these puppies from local breeders, so you may be able to visit the breeder and see what kind of operation they have, and check the background of the parents for the Golden Retriever Puppy you are interested in.

If they did not get the puppy locally it should be easy to contact the breeder through the Internet or by phone to find out as much as you can. It is definitely worth the time and effort to make sure you are getting a good dog, because you just can’t tell when they are a puppy.

Buying a Golden Retriever Puppy from an ad in a newspaper can be another mistake. These ads are often placed by Golden Retriever owners, who thought it would be fun to have a litter of puppies. Sometimes it is done for profit, or sometimes just for the experience.

The one advantage over the pet shop is you may be able to see the mother of the pups, and sometimes the father. You should also be able to see the environment they are being raised in. This can be important in the long run. Other than that this can be a risky way to pick out your new puppy.

The problem I have seen when responding to newspaper ads is, quite often only one parent is on the premises. This is usually because the male belongs to someone else. I have had people show me a picture of the father, and papers that he is AKC registered.

Unfortunately this does not give you enough information to make a good decision. The fact that the mother, or the father, or both are AKC registered, is not enough. For a small fee, and a few forms filled out, you can get your dog AKC registered. Don’t think it guarantees the dog or puppy is pure, because it doesn’t.

I have friends that have Golden Retrievers that have AKC certificates, and they have behavioral and temperament problems, and you can see, now that they are a few years old, that they are not purebred.

The best way to be as sure as you can that your new puppy will be happy, and healthy, is to do your homework, and find a responsible Golden Retriever breeder.

Responsible breeders usually have a waiting list of anxious puppy buyers, and probably do not advertise in the newspaper. You may have to do a little research to find a good breeder in your area, but it should be worth the effort.

Why all this concern you ask? There is a very high number of serious health and behavioral problems seen in the Golden Retriever breed today. This has been caused by both, irresponsible, and backyard breeders.

They breed their Golden Retriever which may not be pure, with another Golden Retriever which may or may not be pure. Then those puppies go to new homes, where their new owners may breed them when they get older.

If you get a Golden Retriever Puppy from a backyard breeder, you may find as it gets older, that it has a host of problems ranging from aggression, to shyness, to hyperactivity, all of which are not trademarks of the true Golden Retriever Breed.

Also becoming prevalent in the Golden Retriever Breed is Hip dysplasia, eye problems causing blindness, heart defects that can result in sudden death at any age, epilepsy, skin problems and thyroid problems. In addition cancer and auto immune disorders are also becoming common in the Golden Retriever Breed.

Choosing a responsible Golden Retriever Breeder, that knows the breed, and breeds primarly Golden Retrievers, will give you your best chance at getting a puppy that will live a long happy trouble free life. They do everything they can, by researching pedigrees and screening parents for certain inherited problems before breeding.

The golden retriever club of america

The american kennel club

Make Healthy Meals And Treats Your Dog Will Love