Bringing a new puppy home is exciting for sure but I assure you that this will change your life! It is totally worth it -I promise; but you will need to do a little more planning than before. Here are some important things you need to consider before going all the way in!
Be Realistic
Above all, you need to be realistic and realize that raising a puppy takes a lot of work, time and patience. Just like human children, our canine babies need to learn what is acceptable and what is absolutely off limits in the environment. They need to be taught boundaries and be allowed to make mistakes along the way. Your expectations must be managed so that you have a fair and reasonable perspective so that you won’t unintentionally take out your frustration on them. The last thing you want is to damage your relationship and cause your pup to be afraid of you. All it takes is one bad episode of screaming and yelling because puppy got ahold of your fancy shoes or dug up the herb garden. It’s when people don’t know what to expect from their puppy that the real problem starts.
Losing Sleep
Just like with human infants, canine babies will wake up during the night. Keep in mind, your puppy has been with it’s siblings and mother it’s entire life and now, they are with you! Everything is brand new- location, lighting, smell, children, other pets, etc. Please understand that this is a big change and can really be stressful and upsetting. Having to go potty, changing positions to get comfy, or just getting cold and needing to snuggle could be reasons for waking. During the first 4-6 weeks, you should plan on setting your alarm at 2:30 and 4:30 to take puppy out to the restroom. They will likely urinate so be ready to give a little reward, a high-pitched good boy/girl and a soft petting. This will build the bond of trust and help reinforce potty training during the day! Be prepared for a few weeks of disruption so keep that in mind when getting your puppy as far as timing goes.
Potty Training
Three words. Persistence, Consistency, and Dedication.
For each month of age, your Golden Retriever puppy can hold it for 1 hour. So, a two-month-old (8-weeks-old) can hold urine for about two hours. (The only exception to this rule would be if they are sick.) Set your baby up for success by setting a timer to take your pup outside every two hours during the day. Have a small treat on you so you can immediately reward them as soon as they are finished squatting. (I like to use the Fromm’s Crunchy O’s Pot Roast Flavor). GIve them about three more minutes to go number two and if they do, give them a reward for that too. If they look like they are going to try to eat their poop, they have been exposed to the phrase, “leave it.” They will know not to go to it. Be prepared to give two treats for No. 1 and No. 2. NOTE: If you fail to get up (at 2:30 and 4:30 am which I completely agree totally sucks) to take the baby out during the night hours, your puppy will get confused and go in the house / crate / potty pad which will cause potty training to go on MUCH LONGER.
Chewing
Objects left out are fair game for your new fur-baby. Chewing on things helps with teething and anxiety. This is a normal and natural behavior for a puppy and should be encouraged! Having said that, I strongly advise against leaving your property out in the open! Be sure to prepare your home before you pick up the baby from me. Cords, frayed blankets, remote controls, socks and shoes are all on the menu to a pup so get them put away and out of reach. What should be on the menu are toys that are durable and intended for a dog. Be careful with giving your dog things that you think are junk and don’t care if it gets chewed up. There may be paints, chemicals, and/or small choking hazards that can kill your baby.
Biting Playfully
Using their mouth and teeth is normal, natural and playful behavior in the puppy world. However, I personally draw the line when playing with people. My puppies have been discouraged from biting human hands. I have used the phrase “no nibbles” and gently close their mouth until they are licking. You want your puppy to give you kisses, not use your fingers as teething rings. Keep calm. If they do hurt you, let them know by yelping out and stop playing altogether. Teach them that choices have consequences and biting you will end the game of fun. Remember, a well-mannered puppy has to be taught what is ok and what is not. You are not being mean by setting this boundary. They may let you know they are upset by crying and barking for you to come back but I strongly encourage that you give them a time out for at least 5 minutes.
Puppies Need Security and Sleep
Your 8-week-old puppy still needs to sleep 18-20 hours a day to have the energy to keep their bodies and their brains growing optimally. This translates to you or your human children to play with them on the puppy’s schedule. NEVER wake up a puppy to play with them. Sleep deprivation is just as real for puppies as it is for humans. If they are tired from over stimulation, they can become irritable and aggressive (which leads to more biting and chewing / potential negative events). Before bringing your puppy home, arrange a safe space for them. I recommend having a covered crate within a gated area with toys and access to fresh water. It would be best if you to be able to keep an eye on this area at all times if possible. If using any blankets or sheets, be aware of ingestion of these items so keep an eye on them. I will try to provide a blanket or towel with the smell of the mama and siblings for you to keep with them during the transition. I don’t recommend going home and bathing your puppy right away and washing the “dog smell” off the the blanket.
Diarrhea
There is a good chance your puppy will get diarrhea. Each puppy is guaranteed to be parasite free when leaving my care as they see the Vet and a fecal test is done prior to your arrival. Usually, diarrhea is caused from the stress of transitioning from their mama and siblings to their furever home. If they are playing, eating and drinking and have a cold wet nose then they will be fine. It should resolve itself in a few days. If the puppy becomes lethargic and does not eat / drink and doesn’t play, please call me as soon as possible as you may need to get them into your vet immediately.
Boredom and Destructive Behavior
Puppies need to have fun and mentally stimulated. Without that, dogs can become quite bored and take it out on your home and items within and outside of it. Engaging in meaningful activities with your dog that will stimulate them mentally and physically and reduce the risk of unwanted behaviors. Here are a few ideas by the AKC website to help you come up with fun things to do with them:
Hidden Treasure
Dogs have a remarkable sense of smell. Did you know that they have approximately 45 times more scent receptors than humans? What better way to exercise that sense of smell than by making a game that uses it? All you need to do is collect a few small boxes or containers and arrange them upside down. Place a prize, such as a favorite treat, underneath one of them and encourage your dog to start sniffing around. When your dog accurately identifies which container the treat is under, make sure to congratulate them and, of course, reward them with the hidden treasure.
You can also use a snuffle mat to engage your dog’s sense of smell and curiosity. There are multiple pockets to hide treats in and different puzzles with adjustable difficulty. Help mentally stimulate your dog and work on their nose work skills!
Hide-and-Seek
You likely loved this game when you were a kid, so why not enjoy it with your dog? For this game to be successful, your dog will have to understand basic commands, such as sit, stay, and come. Lead them to a room and ask them to stay, then leave and hide in a different location. When you’ve found the perfect hiding place, call their name to encourage them to come find you. Once they’ve figured out where you are, it’s time to celebrate their big accomplishment.
Obedience Training
Speaking of basic commands, an obedience training session is a perfect way to stay occupied. Whether you’re working on enhancing your dog’s skills for competitions or simply making sure your dog can listen and respond to you in a positive way, an obedience-retrieving dumbbell is a great tool to use for a practice session.
Play Wild Sits
Now, this is a fun exercise. While your dog is on a leash, rile them up as much as possible — you can run around cheering, jumping up and down — anything to get your dog as excited as possible. Then, mid-romp, you’ll instruct them to sit. This may take some practice, depending on how hyperactive your dog is, but after a few tries, your dog should be able to go from a state of excitement to sitting patiently on command.
Obstacle Course
This one’s easy because you can take advantage of common household objects and design the course to be as simple or difficult as you want. You could use broken-down boxes for your dog to crawl through, place chairs down for them to navigate through, and even stack books for them to jump over.
You can make an easy DIY dog jump made from household items, or you can also use a set of cones and poles to create your own training and obstacle course.
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Training Platform and Agility System
One way to make sure that your dog is positively occupied inside is by engaging them with a dog training platform and agility system. Many options are adjustable and can be sized to your dog’s specifications. Some are even waterproof and washable, so you can use them outside.
Cardio Twist
Known in the sport of agility as weave poles, this is a training game you can play with your dog, regardless of whether or not you’re training for the competition ring. You can set up “poles” using household objects, like chairs, or even friends or family members. Instruct your dog to heel alongside you as you weave between them. You can change your pace from fast to slow, which will encourage your dog to concentrate on following you as you change direction. This is an awesome way to work on coordination, while also getting a cardio workout for both of you.
There’s no shortage of meaningful activities you can do with your dog, even when you’re cooped up inside. Be sure to make the most of it and spend some quality time bonding with your dog and developing their mental and physical skills.