A Guide to Puppy Breeds: Golden Retrievers!

In search of a new furry addition to the family? Not sure what puppy breed will be best for you and your family? We’re giving you a deeper dive into popular dog breeds, from a puppy trainer’s perspective, to help you make this life-changing and life-enriching decision! Read on for a further look into Golden Retrievers and if they’re the right fit for you…

The Puppy Academy students: Lulu, Seau and Jake!

What does it take to be considered ideal for a family dog? Golden Retrievers pack working capability and intelligence, eagerness to please, and love of affection and play into an elegant package, while also not taking themselves too seriously!

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds, and we’re always training several at a time in our puppy school The Puppy Academy! But how do you know if a Golden Retriever is the right fit for you and your family? We’re offering our puppy trainers’ take on this breed, from their personalities, care needs, and of course, training advice, to help you raise a new Golden puppy into a wonderful adult dog!

A Brief Background on Golden Retrievers:

Bred in the highlands of Scotland by Lord Tweedmouth in the mid to late 1800s, Goldens are a cross between a Yellow Retriever and an extinct dog breed, the Tweed Water Spaniel. Lord Tweedmouth wanted the ideal gundog to accompany him during fowl hunting and be able to withstand the rugged terrain and rainy conditions.

Aside from being able to retrieve fowl, Lord Tweedmouth wanted an even-tempered dog to have at home when not hunting. And so, the Golden Retriever was born.

Golden Retrievers weren’t officially named a dog breed by the American Kennel Club until 1925. Later in the 1970s, they soon became a popular breed amongst American families when President Gerald Ford had a Golden named Liberty as his family dog. 

Now, you can see how they have raised to fame with features in movies, such as the popular franchises Air Bub and Disney’s Buddy.

What are American Golden Retriever Breed Characteristics?

Golden Retrievers, like their name states, are golden! But there’s a lot more to them than that. Their luxurious coats come in a variety of light to dark shades, ranging from light (like the white Golden Retriever or English Cream) to dark golden colors, and even reddish hues. 

Their coats feature feathering down their backs, chest, belly, hindquarters, and tails. Goldens have soft expressions combined with floppy expressive ears that give them a puppy-like appearance even as adults.

Another thing to note of the Golden Retriever is that those fluffy coats are actually what are known as double coats. A strong water repellant coat on top coupled with a dense undercoat to regulate their body heat. This all means these pups can be heavy shedders!

The Puppy Academy student: Theo!

What are Golden Retrievers Personalities like?

There is something to be said about being named a perfect family dog. The Golden Retriever breed is loyal, affectionate, playful, and gentle. If brought into a home with children, your Golden Retriever puppy will be a great addition (for help introducing your new Golden Retriever pup to your kids and how to play together, click here to check out the blog!) to the family. But being a great family dog doesn't mean they are easy! Goldens have LOTS of energy which can come out in more jumping and being more mouthy, especially as puppies. Make sure to see our training tips for raising a well-mannered Golden at the end of this blog!

In keeping with their breed’s natural drives, they do require regular exercise and activity to stay happy and healthy. Two to three daily walks are a must, and throw in fun activities like hiking or going for a swim, your pup will stay golden! 

Golden Retrievers are eager-to-please type of breed. If you want wake-up kisses, snuggles, a pup that will gladly pick up and bring you things, you’ll get it all! They generally have happy-go-lucky demeanors which lends itself to affection and friendliness, including toward strangers. If you wanted a pup that could eventually become a service dog, a Golden Retriever with the right temperament can be a great choice and they make for excellent working pups!

What is a Golden Retriever’s Ideal Living Environment?

As a high-energy breed, Golden Retrievers do best in a home that will provide them ample access to romp around. Homes with fenced in yards or access to a park or field on a daily basis where they can run and fetch to their heart’s content are the most ideal environment for Goldens! The best puppy parent will match their happy and activity-loving nature, so if you live to hike, go to the beach, go running, or anything to get your heart pumping, there’s a Golden waiting for you!

These pups, with consistent early socialization, can adapt and thrive to living in a home with other dogs, or pets and children! They love to play and make great playmates. That being said, their social nature can lead to dependencies on their owners and family. Golden Retrievers may develop separation anxiety if left alone and not properly trained from an early age. 

Watch our short video with more tips from our trainers if you’re thinking about getting a Golden Retriever puppy:

How to Care for Your Golden Retriever Puppy!

With any new puppy, an early veterinarian check up after they arrive home is essential to understand their current state of health, discuss their growth and nutritional needs, develop a health care plan for vaccinations and spay/neuter procedures. During this initial exam, you can ask your vet about your Golden Retriever’s breed specific health concerns.

Like many large breeds, Golden Retrievers may develop joint issues such as hip or elbow dysplasia. Golden Retrievers may also contract heart disease called subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) that with early diagnosis and treatment can allow for a regular life-span. 

When you are looking to add a Golden Retriever puppy, make sure you are working with a reputable breeder that cares for the health quality of the dogs they breed. If you’re adopting, research the rescue organization or shelter to understand your puppy’s background and health history as much as possible.

Puppy Trainer’s Advice for Raising a Well-Behaved Golden Retriever:

The Puppy Academy student: Hayes!

1) Create a Daily Puppy Training Schedule  

Your Golden Retriever puppy will be ready and willing to learn! Take advantage of that natural drive and eagerness to please by setting foundations at home.

Start your puppy on a regular daily puppy schedule to create structured routines in the home asap. Include consistent feeding, nap, play and obedience training times throughout the day to help your Golden pup learn what to expect and build confidence at home. 

During their puppy training sessions, focus on their obedience commands to help them learn to look to you for guidance, build their communication with you, and solidify a trusting relationship. Since Golden Retrievers love to work (especially for food!), positive reinforcement and food rewards will be valuable motivators to get your puppy focused and listening. Get our favorite training treat for Golden Retrievers here!

Despite their adorable, sweet, innocent-looking faces, Golden Retriever puppies can be rambunctious, extra-nippy and have mega bursts of energy! Having the right techniques to calm them down and the right obedience commands to fall back on will be a complete game changer for new puppy parents and their Golden puppies.

In The Puppy Academy Online School, we provide an easy puppy training blueprint to follow that will give you everything you need to make puppyhood easy with your Golden puppy. Get more info and how to sign up here:

2) Teach Your Golden Retriever How to Greet New People and Dogs

While their super friendly disposition will help your puppy make new friends wherever they go, make sure to teach your puppy the right way to do so! Some overly energetic and friendly pups can get excitable around new people and dogs. That can result in some unwanted whining, lunging, and jumping. And Goldens are STRONG!

When done correctly, socialization helps teach your puppy the proper way to greet people, other dogs and create boundaries. During socialization sessions, you can work with your puppy on those common over-excited behaviors when meeting strangers. And if you're not sure how to do this on your own, we can also help you with this in our Online Puppy School to help set you up for the best success!

3) Do Calming Obedience Exercises

With all their high-energy and high-drive, teaching your Golden how to be calm in everyday scenarios will help tame that wild side! Great calming exercises include having your puppy learn to wait for their food bowl and in thresholds each time you enter or leave a space.

This also extends to activities like fetch. Goldens are a natural for this! But it’s important not to build up their drive too much if your goal is to have a calm family dog. Instead, when you play, have shorter sessions that include time to bring your pup’s energy down. This can be done simply by having your pup drop the toy when they return and pausing for a few moments, giving them a chance to settle before throwing it again for them to retrieve.

Teaching your Golden how to be calm will be extremely beneficial if you’re hoping to do more advanced training like therapy dog training and Canine Good Citizen.

4) Teach Them to Walk Nicely on Leash

Many high-energy pups have a tendency to lunge toward exciting new things! Couple that with a social nature, and you may encounter that your Golden Retriever puppy will start to pull on leash. Focus on teaching them proper leash manners including how to walk in Heel position and how to pass other people and pups without lunging, jumping and excited whining, barking or nipping at them! That can greatly help possible bad encounters with strangers and other dogs while teaching them great habits!

For more walk training tips, visit our blog "Tips to Master Walking Outside with Your Puppy".

Golden Retrievers are an incredible breed, and it’s no wonder why they’ve become so popular among families, and have maintained that status, over the years! Just keep in mind, even though they can live up to their reputation of being great family dogs, they require consistent work and a lot of training to get them to be that way. But either way, you are guaranteed lots of love, fluffy cuddles and face licks along the way!

Have more questions about Golden Retrievers? Ask our trainers LIVE every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on our Instagram @thepuppyacademy during our Ask A Puppy Trainer Show! All replays are posted afterward, and you can catch up on our last ones on our YouTube channel!

Become a Puppy Academy VIP (Very Important Puppy) to get our latest puppy training tips direct to your inbox, for free, each week!

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Puppy First Aid: What Every Puppy Parent Should Know!

April marks National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, and at The Puppy Academy, we’re on a mission to ensure all new puppy parents are equipped with the knowledge and tools to handle emergencies effectively!

The Puppy Academy student: Penny!

For many new puppy parents, thinking of pet first aid might not have ever crossed your mind. After all, when bringing home a new furry family member, stocking up on toys and treats often takes precedence over preparing for medical emergencies, but it's a crucial aspect of responsible pet ownership.

Since there’s no 911 for dogs, being proactive and prepared can make all the difference in ensuring your puppy's safety and well-being, so you can be ready to jump into action in case of an emergency.

Follow these steps to get ahead and know what to do if ever needed:

GET TRAINED LIKE A PRO:

Investing in pet first aid training is a proactive step every pet parent should take. Look into local organizations or online courses offering certifications in pet CPR and first aid. At The Puppy Academy, our trainers are fully certified and advocate for each of our clients to gain these vital skills. The Red Cross even offers an app providing tools and information for pet first aid, making it easier than ever to educate yourself and be prepared.

MASTER EMERGENCY FIRST AID BASICS:

In an emergency, it's crucial to act swiftly and safely. Remember these basic steps:

• If your pup is in pain, consider using a makeshift muzzle to prevent biting. Puppies and dogs that are in pain could bite so in that instance, you may need to muzzle them. This is especially important if you happen to be helping a pup you aren't familiar with, and who doesn't know you. If you don’t have a cloth muzzle handy, a clean gauze works too, or a piece of clothing like a scarf that you can use temporarily until the pup is in the care of the vet. Ask your veterinarian the proper way to secure a make-shift gauze muzzle on your puppy.

• For bleeding, clean the wound and apply pressure until it clots. Use alcohol or antiseptic solution to rinse it out. Then, apply a clean gauze and apply pressure until the blood starts to clot. You can check on the clotting after 3 minutes of applying pressure. If the bleeding does continue, continue to apply pressure for another 3 minutes before checking again. 

• Keep a suspected broken-bone pup calm and immobile. If you’re concerned that your pup has a broken bone, try to keep them as calm and immobile as possible to prevent them from causing themselves any further damage. If you are able, try to place them on a flat surface you can transport them easily (for example, a travel crate) and secure them with a towel or blanket.

• Always inform your vet immediately and follow up with professional care. Remember to reach out to your vet right away to alert them of the situation. Give them details of what happened, plus any vitals you’ve recorded to help the vet prepare for your puppy and give them immediate care when you arrive. First aid should always be followed up by veterinary attention!

BUILD YOUR PUP’S FIRST AID KIT:

Create a First Aid Kit for your puppy or order a readymade one. This way, should an unexpected incident occur, you’ll have what you need in one go-to place. If you decide to make your own, here are some of the essential items that you should keep in your pup’s kit:

• Bandages

• Cotton swabs or balls

• Gauze

• Gloves for yourself

• Antiseptic or alcohol

• Tweezers

• Scissors

• Splints or tongue suppressor 

• Blanket or muzzle 

• Rectal Thermometer

• Water in case of dehydration

• Antibiotic ointment to treat rashes or stings

“Being prepared can help save your pup’s life! Have a first aid kit and emergency vet info on-hand wherever you go with your pup, or leave it with anyone who may be caring for them. ”

— Tip from The Puppy Academy Trainer, Sparky

The Puppy Academy student: Oso!

REMEMBER THE A.B.C.s:

Canine CPR is relatively similar to human CPR. In human first aid classes A.B.C. is a mnemonic device used to help recall important tenets of CPR: Airways, Breathing, and Circulations. These same checkpoints for what to do when an emergency happens also apply to pet first aid. Here are a few things to remember when providing your puppy with respiration support and chest compressions:

• Make sure that there are no obstructions blocking your puppy’s airways.

• For larger pups, hold their jaw tightly closed and breathe into their nose. Their chest should rise and give them two breaths.

• For smaller pups, you can cover their nose and mouth completely with your mouth and breathe. Their chest should rise and give them two breaths.

• Performing chest compressions depends on the size of your pup. Larger dogs with barrel chests you can place on their back and perform compressions like a human.

  • Puppies and dogs that are over 60 pounds you can perform 60 compressions per minute

• Other medium dogs, smaller dogs or puppies you will perform what is called “Taco CPR” which involves cradling your dog in one arm and using your index and middle finger on their chest between their front legs to perform a compression. Follow this by tilting your pup’s head back and moving his tongue forward in order to clear the airway.

• Place the pup on their side and perform compressions on the side of the rib cage

  • Puppies and dogs that are 10-60 pounds you can perform 80-100 compressions per minute

  • Puppies or dogs that are 10 pounds or less you can perform 120 compressions per minute

• You’ll want to alternate breaths and compressions, as you would in human CPR. The ratio would be 30 compressions: 2 breaths. And you’ll continue to do this until your pup responds or begins to breathe on their own.

We recommend that you look into a CPR online course or training that will provide step-by-step instructions on performing compressions on your puppy and educate you with the proper techniques based on your pup’s size.

BE AWARE OF CHOKING HAZARDS:

Choking is a top concern for puppy safety. The most common items puppies choke on are their toys like chew or bully sticks, for example, that have become too small from chewing and your pup tries to swallow it. Puppies that are choking will gasp, gag, retch trying to throw up the object, paw at their mouth, or have bulging eyes. The best case scenario would be to take your puppy to the vet immediately but if that’s not an option and they’re not getting adequate air, your quick action will be necessary to help your puppy. If that were to occur, there are a few choking procedures that you can follow:

• Finger Sweep: If you can see the object in your pup’s throat, sweep your finger side-to-side to try and dislodge it without pushing it further. Use tweezers or needle-nose pliers to gently pull it out.

• Use Gravity: With this method, you will hold your pup up by the hips or hind legs so their face is facing down like a wheel-barrow. This position can help dislodge the object.

• Standing or Kneeling Heimlich: Depending on the size of your pup, if you have a small puppy or dog, you can stand up holding your pup’s back against your stomach. For a larger pup, if you cannot pick them up, kneel behind them. Close your fists together around their abdomen and find the soft spot under their ribcage. Compress this spot for a quick five count. Stop and check their mouth to see if the object has been dislodged. Repeat this procedure until the object dislodges and you can remove it.

As it does happen quite commonly, especially with very young puppies, we recommend that you seek out online training in order to learn how to properly perform the procedures we mentioned above.

“Always check your surroundings to make sure they’re safe before you help an injured pup. Whether it’s on a street, off a trail, or even a backyard, there may be other elements present like traffic, wild animals, or fallen cables that could cause harm to you before you even get to the pup who needs you.”

— Tip from The Puppy Academy Trainer, Josh

KEEP AN EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST:

Have a list of emergency numbers on hand you can call for guidance. Make sure you have the business and after-hour emergency numbers for your veterinarian, too. ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Hotline (888-426-4435) is another great resource to know in case your pup ingests something that may be harmful to them. Puppies get into things ALL the time! Take a look at our blog “Know the Facts: Poison Prevention for Your Puppy!” to learn about different household toxins, the signs of poisoning, and what steps to take to help your puppy in this situation!

One final and important note to remember is to always keep a copy of your puppy’s vaccinations handy in case you need to make a visit to an emergency vet clinic. If you are traveling outside of your area with your puppy, it’s wise to take your pup’s first aid kit with you and also check what vets are in the nearby area beforehand so you don’t have to scramble in a panic if something were to occur.

Now that you’ve taken the time to prepare for the future, remember to share the National Pet First Aid Awareness message with your fellow pup owners!  

Need more help training your new puppy? Join our community of new pup parents and train your pup from home with direct guidance from our expert trainers, following the same puppy training bluepring we’ve used to successfully train thousands of puppies around the world! Get more info and sign up today at The Puppy Academy Online School!

Have more questions about puppy first aid? Ask our trainers LIVE every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on our Instagram @thepuppyacademy during our Ask A Puppy Trainer Show! All replays are posted afterward, and you can catch up on our last ones on our YouTube channel!

Become a Puppy Academy VIP (Very Important Puppy) to get our latest puppy training tips direct to your inbox, for free, each week!

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