How to Prepare for a Golden Retriever Puppy

Congratulations on your new Golden Retriever puppy! Before the newest member of the family arrives, you'll want to puppy-proof your home and garden to keep your pup and possessions safe. Put shoes, phones, and electrical cords away; secure medicines and cleaning products in cupboards; and remove plants that are poisonous to dogs, such as foxglove and yew. You'll also need to do some shopping—some of the things that your pup will need are food, bowls, a comfy bed, a collar or harness, a leash, and ID tags. A crate and baby gates are useful for confining your pooch for short periods when you can't watch them. Once your Golden is older, they'll be sporting a waterproof double coat that sheds continuously, so get a slicker brush as well.

Your Golden Retriever puppy will adjust to their new surroundings much faster if they have a routine, so it's impawtant to fix this schedule even before your little furball sets paw inside the house. Your Golden will need to be fed three times a day until they're about three months old, and go outside to relieve themselves every two to four hours. Posting a chart of puppy's feeding, training, and walking times is a good idea if more than one family member is in charge of these tasks. Stick to the schedule as much as possible, and you should have a toilet trained pup in no time! If no one is home during the day, a Wag! dog walker can help to take your Golden Retriever puppy out for walks and potty breaks. Also, make sure your pooch has seen the vet by the time they're 10 weeks old.

The first week will be an adjustment period for everyone in the household, especially your pup, who will be learning how to live in an unfamiliar place without their mom and littermates. If and when they make a mistake, remember that your Golden is doing their best and wants nothing more than to please you. Provide chew toys, as they will be teething, and opportunities for socialization, so that they'll develop into a well-adjusted adult. Give your Golden Retriever puppy lots of love, and you'll quickly have a best friend for life!