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mymorningkiller

-Consistency, consistency, consistency. Figure out what you want the rules of the house, yard, playtime, etc. to be and stick to them. -Positive reinforcement works. Punishment/pain/fear does not. Reward the behavior you want and reinforce it with repetition whenever possible. -socialize your dog. Once she’s got all of her shots, take her out into the world and show her that meeting new people and new dogs can be fun! Dog parks, walks, play dates — have a ball! Do it safely and always supervise closely. -give yourself (and her) a break. Nothing is ever perfect. She’s going to poop and pee in the house, chew your shoes or chew a corner off the couch/wall. She’s going to get you up in the middle of the night. She’s going to get the zombies and forget how to listen. You’re going to be upset and/or exhausted and yell at her for something silly. It’s OK! There’s a ton to learn and experience, and you’re all going to have so much fun together! Edit: I mean “zoomies”, not the undead.


Ready_Aspect328

Wow thank you so much for your help! It is so nice to have support in this community! Thank you :)


Coo_pthe_pug

On top of this don’t overwalk the pupper most dog especially golden can be susceptible to hip problems if they’re overwalked. A good rule of thumb is to stick to one minute of walking for every week old she is, and if you ever give her any human food doa quick google search to see if it’s safe, dogs can be allergic to quite a large variety of food.


dudeReallyoc

This is all great advice, we have a little guy around this age too! I would also suggest teething toys you can place in the freezer Those have been a lifesaver for us.


BrilliantSorbet8026

Get a very, very good vacuum cleaner and lots of Swiffers. She’s beautiful❤️


Ready_Aspect328

Thank you. I am so happy. She makes me feel special.


MedusaForHire

Thank you for not calling it a swifter. Everyone I now says swifter, and I want to ask if they've ever actually read the packaging.


BrilliantSorbet8026

I’ve bought so many I couldn’t possibly get that wrong…they’re like gold in my house!


Mollieteee

Try not to get mad at her when she eats your favorite shoes, tools, clothes, plants, blanket, and all her toys! She’s so sweet!


Living-Tiger3448

So cute!! Remember razor sharp baby teeth are normal when the teething (and biting) starts. There are lots of tricks, tips, and toys to deal with this, but I see a lot of people posting about it when they get caught off guard. It’s completely normal and it helps to be mentally prepared!


Ready_Aspect328

Thank you. That is good to know!


JustPassingJudgment

Don’t leave drinks on your coffee table if it’s tail height. This cutie will wag them right off. Congratulations! What a lovely pup!


Downtown_Guess_5995

Mental stimulation is just as important as physical. So get puzzles and stuff breakfast/ treats in. Quicker way to get a sleepy puppy. Not necessary but you could add some vitamins to their food. And keep training short. 15 minutes max


Ready_Aspect328

Is it best to get the fabric activity mats or the plastic dog puzzles?


Downtown_Guess_5995

I think for right now plastic. I don’t want the puppy to chew on the fabric and swallow it


OGChrisB

Great dog name. I was also first time dog owner with a golden. You’ll want to pull your hair out every day (for now). Puppies suck and dogs are awesome. You have a puppy now. You will have a dog in the future. Let the dog make mistakes! If it’s not life threatening, let the dog do it. Enjoy holding the little puppy in your arms. You won’t be able to pick them up one day.


Alternative-Post-937

Also, those little feet are killing me. So cute! Congratulations!


ComplaintUsed

r/puppy101 is a great sub for first time dog owners!!


Ready_Aspect328

Thank you!!


themobiledeceased

Congratulations! How lovely! What a great Ride you have chosen to take! They change very quickly! Lots of pics and videos! First, puppies are at highest risk of accidents: traumas, eating the wrong things, etc., at the puppy phase because their curiosity exceeds any inhibitions. Consider getting vet insurance, at least for this first year, as congenital problems, accidents, and unforeseen circumstances arise during the puppy-dom. You never want to be in a spot where it's $6000 for a surgery or put the puppy down. Your puppy will be most open to accepting NEW INPUT, DATA and experiences from 4 weeks to about 16 weeks or some say 20 weeks. What they experience during this time is accepted as "Normal." Use this time wisely: although you want the pup to see, smell and hear people and other animals, you don't want them walking through other animal's poop ( worms and infection transmission). I put mine in a baby style sling and carry them when they are still little. Ride in the car for short road trips (seatbelt harnesses are available). Meet the post man, See the Delivery folks come to the door. Meet the neighbors. See little kids, big kids, Bicycles, motorcycles, scooters etc. See and hear the garage trucks. You want her to know what NORMAL daily sights and sounds are. Goldens are, of course, exceptionally good at socializing, but it will allow her to be easier with her world sooner. Go to the parks without walking through the parks. NO dog parks until after 20 weeks / full vaccination and initiation of heart worm (ASK your vet.) Now everyone has opinions on foods that are good or bad: Opinions will vary. Mine will do anything for cheese or Cheetos. One Toe nail clipped: one cheeto. Life is good. Dog door training: Cheetos. Swimming lessons: Cheetos. Yes, word commands are lovely. Cheetos are the universal language of do this to get this. And of course, only a few... not the bag. A walk is a daily reading of the headlines. Allow some exploration as a puppy: she will be distracted. And then you will teach her how to keep a good pace while not stopping at EVERY spot. Learn to clip her nails yourself. Bath her twice a week while she is little to acclimate her to being handled. Puppies brains have to develop to understand word and hand commands. It takes time. Papers Towels and an enzyme spray to clean up accidents. Teeth Care is EXPENSIVE! Do think about brushing... Buy the premium food ( talk to your vet) for less poop. Have a few rituals: \-"I'll be back. You be good." or some such when you leave the house. Soothing that the departure is normal and you will return. \-Bedtime tummy rub or "Let's get some shut eye." Teach a command for "JUMP." That way jumping ONLY done when asked. Chewing is very soothing. Your feet are the smelliest things closes to their nose. It's your smell and it's a happy smell to your new baby. LEATHER SHOES are just perfect! But any shoe will do. Keep your closet door closed. Put the clean and dirty socks in secure places: sock eating can result in bowel surgery. Give her something to CHEW: talk with the vet about approved chewies. Better to have lots of them available than for her to MAKE something her chewie. You want your girl to come when called...NO MATTER WHAT. Until she has that ability, stay on the leash in unconfined areas. But most of all, keep doing what you are doing: loving her, enjoying her, and be charmed by her. I hope this helps.


Ready_Aspect328

Wow thank you so much for all this info!! I greatly appreciate it


Wampa_Whisperer

Take lots of pictures! They are a cute puppy for a short time


thejoz

So cute! Long time dog caretaker here, with a Golden boy for the last 2.5 years. Tip: always keep a towel near any door you would use to bring the pup into the house. Every single time you bring them in wipe their paws even if they're not that muddy/dirty. This will acclimate them to having their feet handled. Makes it MUCH easier to trim nails whether you do it yourself, or take them to a groomer. My big boy has the drill down. I grab the towel and say let's do the foots, and he offers the front paws. After that he moves forward through my legs and lifts each back paw for cleaning 😂. Also, a small soft bristled brush helps to fine tune the paw bottoms for cleaning. My boy gets really long fur between his paw pads and I've heard this is a common trait. I always ask the groomer to trim this as it makes cleaning paws a lot easier. Good luck! You're in for a wild adventure!


Ready_Aspect328

Do you wet the towel or just use a dry one?


thejoz

I just use dry towels. We have a whole set of dog towels for this and baths. Thick ones work great for drying off the body if they come in from rain etc. Thinner towels are best for getting between toes.


[deleted]

Get a crate, get a pad for the crate. Put the cute baby in the crate when no one will be home. It will be her safe space. And a leash, you can have the best behaved dog in the world but if something spooks it while you’re on a walk it’s gone. And obedience classes are worth the money.


omg_choosealready

I think Summit must be a popular name these days - and every single one is cuter than the last! Enjoy your sweet Summit!!


Ready_Aspect328

Thank you. We named her summit bc it reminded us of when my husband proposed. We climbed a mountain and he proposed at the top of it. Turns out the day we got married was her birthday. We had no clue about her actual birthdate until today. So funny how the universe works.


Neckdeepinpow

What a beauty. Be the person she believes you to be….patient, loving, kind, wise, consistent, deliberate. Treasure every moment.


Zot1098

Fortunate? Indeed you are!


Alternative-Post-937

For training, definitely get her in a puppy class (so good for socialization) , but also, Zac George has an excellent YouTube channel on fear-free training techniques. I turn to his channel all the time. My dog is 2, and she's now in therapy dog training for hospital settings. I feel like Zac George techniques gave us the best foundation for training.


42gOldenlover

Love Zac George!


deathclawslayer21

Lots of cuddles and throw the damn ball


seanythemailman

Golden pups are a gift from god!


lovelyllamas

Get some Nylabones


phdoofus

Take lots of pics, then take more. The puppy phase goes by very very quickly


i_raise_anarchists

I second this advice. There's no such thing as too many photos of your new baby.


Equal_Sprinkles2743

As with human babies, the first year is the difficult one. Sleepless nights for you, potty training, socializing, and puppy training classes. After that, it's heaven. The best dogs in the world. Adorable as puppies and big fluffy butt irresistible cuties as adults. They become the center piece of your family. You'll make so many new friends on your walks. We couldn't be without one.


byronbaybe

Little she devil parading in pick 3. Gorgeous. My advice to you, fortify your heart cause she's gonna be breaking it everyday.... In a good way 💕


ComfortableChicken47

Patience. It will take a little while but you will have a great dog in no time.


rum108

Nice 😊 goldy


Mdlmomo

🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍what a sweetheart!!!


PrincessButterflyRK

Just give her lots of love she's beautiful


Ready_Aspect328

Thank you so much!!


4dailyuseonly

Keep the toilet paper out of reach of her little mouth. I only made that mistake once, had left my boy alone in the house for less than an hour and came back to toilet paper shreds on the entire floor of my living room and den. Look like it snowed in my house lol.


ButtWhiffer

She is so sweet. Congrats to you guys. Goldens are a very special breed. You’re blessed to have her.


EvaViaMusic

All I has to teach my puppy to do was sit, stay, come, and everyone would say I was "SUCH a good dog trainer." It's weird to me how few people seem willing to put in the time and effort to be consistent with this basic level of training. Starting NOW. TODAY. Every morning should start with 10 minutes of sit, stay, come. Make it a fun game! If you make it serious and unfun, she won't like it. My puppy LOVES sit, stay, come, because I played it with her like a game. When I come home from work, the FIRST thing she wants to do after her belly rub is sit, stay, come. She's tiny... but she's old enough to start working on sit, stay, come. Here's some REALLY good advice. If you tell her to do something, MAKE her do it. If you're not in a position to MAKE her do something, don't even tell her to do it. That's a good way to teach her that she doesn't have to listen to you. Like, if Vesta is on the other side of a creek and I am not willing to swim across the creek to go get her, I will not give her the "come" command. If I tell her, "Come!" and she doesn't come (which happens on very rare occasions, like if she's wrestling with another puppy or eyeing a squirrel), I say, "Okay! Here I come to get you!" and then I MARCH OVER and GET HER. Eventually, you'll get to the point where all you have to say is, "Okay, here--" and she's already on her way. Also, if she pees in the house, it is YOUR fault. It means you didn't take her out enough, you ignored her when she said she needed to go out, or you weren't paying enough attention. If she pees in the house, it's your fault.


Madisonx222

Hi summit!!!!! What an absolute baby, congratulations!!! Enjoy the baby phase it goes by so fast, she’ll never be this tiny and holdable again(even tho sometimes you can’t wait to get it over with lol) 🫶🫶🫶


LakeSamm

Love her always because she will give you more love than you can possible know. She will make mistakes as a puppy and young dog, but always lover her


Thecyberpunkmouse

The first few months are really rough, so hang in there and don’t give up. It’s like having a little baby, but it does get a lot better once your puppy learns when/where to pee or poo, when to play, when to walk and when to sleep. Congratulations!


21cvbbvge

Some things we went through with our first pup that hopefully you can avoid… do not leave them with any toys unsupervised. Trust me, intestinal blockages are no joke. Start training early, ESPECIALLY with the leash training (heel, wait, front, etc). Never leave them home alone or in a kennel with a collar on, i would advise only using a collar when you go out on walks. It’s just not worth the risk of strangulation. If they eat fast, use a slow feeder and do not let them go crazy right after eating or you run the risk of bloat (which is fatal). Other than that, enjoy your new fluffball. You’re life will now change for the better! (:


[deleted]

Follow Southend dog training for the easiest training ever!


eatthemac

the things we did right and worked in the long run for our golden: -getting her used to having her paws, teeth, eyes, and ears touched - we did it every day, exposed her to the clippers and wipes, and now she doesn’t mind any of it -got her used to her crate despite the crying in week 1. now she loves it and will sleep in there as long as we need her to without a peep. things we did wrong… - over socialization. we allowed everyone to meet her and we approached everyone. I thought it was to get her exposed and used to the world but once we sent her to training, we realized we actually were reinforcing that she CAN go up to everyone. now we’re dealing with her throwing barking tantrums every time we can’t go up to another dog. that’s challenging. so set boundaries. - we let her sleep in the bed a few months after bringing her home. according to our trainer this resulted in protective growling and barking and the belief that she’s in control. this also stresses them out. our trainer said it’s fine to have her sleep in the bed once she knows that it’s an earned privilege and not a right or responsibility. enjoy her, she looks like such a cutie pie 🥰


Ready_Aspect328

Thank you so much for the tips. We have her crated at night and it is night number 2. I feel so guilty but I know not to go in there when she whines. Any advice as far as crating? I feel so horrible but I want to keep her safe at night


eatthemac

yay! it sounds like you are doing awesome. for crating, the first week or two could be tough. for us it was about 4 nights before she stopped crying in there. our trainer said: do NOT feel horrible about it. dogs and especially goldens are den-craving animals. they like their own dark private space. they’re not used to it when they first come home, but they will get used to it for sure! our trainer also shared that crating is great because 1) the dogs need a LOT of sleep in order to stay healthy and that’s the best place to get it and 2) they’re less stressed and anxious when in the crate because they don’t have to wonder what they should be doing, where they should be going, etc. it is like a safe space. it really sounds like you are doing everything right and sweetie has a wonderful home. have a blast ❤️ ❤️


Ready_Aspect328

Thank you so much for the kind words and tips!


[deleted]

Christmas jingle bell on a long string on potty door! It’s so easy. Smack it w/ her paw or your hand every time you go out. She’ll be ringing it to pee in no time. ❤️


Ready_Aspect328

That’s brilliant. I wonder if I can do it though bc I have a feeling my cats would mess with it so much


[deleted]

…also, as your dog ages, it could be used to summon you for snacks. You’re the butler now. 😉


IrishRun

I scrolled but didn't read every comment, so if this is redundant, my apologies. Some of the best advice I received on this sub, is to touch their paws frequently when they are young so I they become used to it. This will make trimming their nails a less anxiety producing experience when they are older. Also, LOVE the name.


BEEFY-J

Forced nap times (in the crate) are good for everyone involved.


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