There is nothing more rewarding than a positive relationship with a well socialized and well trained dog. Goldens in particular are wonderful companions. But it does not happen automatically and it does not happen overnight. It takes time, money and a commitment to working with your dog throughout its life. For Goldens, this means a 10 to 15 year commitment.
We have outlined below a number of very important and relevant topics. Please click on any headline and you will see detailed information about that subject.
There is nothing more rewarding than a positive relationship with a well socialized and well trained dog. Goldens in particular are wonderful companions. But it does not happen automatically and it does not happen overnight. It takes time, money and a commitment to working with your dog throughout its life. For Goldens, this means a 10 to 15 year commitment.
Goldens are extremely sociable animals. They want to be with you all the time - indoors and out. This contributes to making them great companions. Is your life style such that you can give the proper time and attention needed for this breed? If you have to leave the dog alone for long periods of time for work, or if you have many activities in your life that would not include a dog, you may want to consider another breed - or question whether a dog is appropriate for your life style at all.
The Golden is not a giant breed but is considered to be large. Males can range between 65 to 75 lbs. and bitches 60-70 lbs. or more. It would be a good idea to read a complete description of the breed in the breed standard at the following link: http://grcc.net/index.php/canadian-golden-retriever-breed-standard/. This document gives an excellent description of the Golden temperament as well as their physical attributes.
Now that you have read about the breed, the following link offers you an opportunity to take an honest look at whether your life style is compatible with a Golden Retriever's needs: https://www.grca.org/find-a-golden/begin-the-search/is-a-golden-retriever-right-for-you/
Finally, if you are interested in reading a bit about the history of the Golden Retriever, try this link: https://www.grca.org/about-the-breed/breed-history/
As with any breed, the Golden Retriever is prone to certain health issues. These include orthopaedic problems, heart and eye issues and cancer. By choosing a breeder who is knowledgeable and caring, you will go some way to mitigating health risks, but nothing is guaranteed and there is no perfect dog - no matter how diligent and responsible the breeder. It is therefore to your benefit to ensure that you are aware of the major health challenges that are faced by the Golden Retriever breed. It may be a consideration in your decision making so please take a moment to learn about some potential health concerns of the Golden Retriever: https://www.grca.org/about-the-breed/health-research/
Over and above the initial cost of your puppy, there will be ongoing expenses for which you need to budget. These include such things as routine vet bills, food, training, toys and sometimes, unexpected health-related expenses. These can be quite high depending on the nature of the illness or injury. Be prepared! Please click on the following link to see approximate costs of owning any breed of dog, including a Golden Retriever (this is a PDF file that will either download to your browser or your default download directory):
Goldens are sporting dogs, originally bred to be hunting dogs with the stamina to work all day in search of game birds. As such, they require regular, vigorous daily exercise comprised of running, swimming and or retrieving. Active exercise should amount to at least 40 minutes a couple of times a day for a full grown dog. This could include, of course, time running and playing with the kids in the backyard. It is important to emphasize that this is for a full grown dog and that a puppy should receive less exercise depending on age. Please consult with your breeder for the amount of exercise that your puppy should receive at any given age.
The full luxurious coat of a Golden is part of what makes them so special. In order to keep your Golden's coat in good condition, they need to be groomed regularly. Here's how: https://www.grca.org/about-the-breed/articles/grooming-your-golden-joanne-lastoka/
Golden Retrievers are large, active, enthusiastic dogs. While usually very intelligent, they are not born with good manners. Just like kids, dogs must learn appropriate behavior using fair, loving and consistent guidance to understand what is acceptable and what is not. Golden Retrievers do not need harsh treatment when it comes to training. They generally learn quickly and want to please you. That being said, consistent and caring instruction is a must. It is therefore strongly recommended that you take your puppy to socialization classes and at least a couple of sessions of obedience training where a good positive motivational trainer will be teaching *you* how to train your dog more than they will be teaching the dog. When you settle on a breeder, they should be able to help you with good, positive motivational training schools in your area.
Regardless of whether you are looking for a puppy or an older dog, finding a breeder with whom you are comfortable is critical. Here are a couple of links that will give you some tips on what to look for in a breeder:
• http://grcc.net/index.php/choosing-a-breeder/
• https://www.grca.org/find-a-golden/about-breeders/
The following page lists some breeders in the Ottawa Valley area. Please note that while these breeders are members in good standing of the Ottawa Valley Golden Retriever Club, the Club does not endorse any one breeder. It is the responsibility of the puppy buyer to research and meet the breeder and determine whether a particular breeder is the right one for them.
Here are some local breeders in the Ottawa Valley area:
Your breeder should have given you some tips and help on how to welcome your new addition into the family in a way that will be a fun, happy experience for you as well as the pup. Remember your puppy has been taken away from his or her mom and brothers and sisters and will be upset. Imagine a child in the same circumstances. It is so important to be with the pup as much as possible in the first few days so that he or she understands quickly that you are their new family and he or she can feel safe and secure with you. The bonding process starts here! Plan to be with your new pup 24/7 for the first few days if you can. You may want to consider setting up a crate beside your bed so that you can reassure your pup when he or she wakes up alone without mom and family for the first time.
Hopefully your breeder has given you some advice on crate training, house breaking, vaccinations, socialization and early training. They should also have helped you out with proper diet and nutrition for your puppy.
You can start training your puppy as soon as she or he enters your home - always in a clear, positive, happy manner. Positive motivational training using a clicker is an extremely effective method of training a puppy and is a lot of fun for you and your pup:
http://www.clickertraining.com/
Remember to keep it fun and positive!! Your puppy is a baby and, just like babies, puppies learn by having fun.
Your pup is now comfortable in her new home and you are successfully working on crate training, house breaking and early behavior training. Here is a good article that summarizes some of the activities that you can do with your Golden:
Looking for Activities to Try With Your Golden.
If you would like to read about these activities and others in more detail, here is a list of excellent articles mostly written by OVGRC club members:
| Therapy Work: | • Canine Therapy Work |
| Conformation: | • A Beginner's Guide to Dog Shows |
| Obedience: | • Obedience - Foundation for all Things Dog |
| • About Competitive Obedience | |
| Rally-O: | • Rally-O |
| Field: | • Ponds and Parks |
| • The CKC Working Certificate Program | |
| • Hunt Tests | |
| Agility: | • What Is Dog Agility |
| Tracking: | • Tracking |
Finally, here are a few books that you may want to acquire in your preparation for owning a Golden Retriever:
- Don't Shoot the Dog, by Karen Pryor
http://www.amazon.ca/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Teaching-Training/dp/0553380397
- The Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson
http://www.amazon.ca/The-Culture-Clash-Jean-Donaldson/dp/1888047054
- How to Raise a Puppy You can Live With, by Clarice Rutherford and David H. Neil
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1577790227/gaylansgoldenret
- The Working Retrievers: The Classic Book for the Training, Care, and Handling of Retrievers for Hunting and Field Trials, by Tom Quinn
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558217673/
