Before You Come To Get your Golden Puppy From Legend
Checklist for Before you come for your New Golden Retriever Puppy
Is the house ready?
Have you puppy proofed the house and picked up any things that might be chewed on or unsafe?
Is there a designated area that is safe for puppy when not being supervised? This is your crate and/or playpen.
Have you picked up his Dog food, toys and vitamins (link to Recommended products)
Training and Vet Appointments
Have you set up training classes? Or private trainer?
This should be set up before the puppy comes home. The first week puppy comes home sets the rules for what is expected. Waiting to take classes or work on training usually results in failure. Training is not stable so it is necessary to have on going training sessions for a successful puppy. Just like kids go to kindergarten then middle school, high school, college… puppy training also has a progression and should be on going.
We Recommend that you look for a Training Center that offers the AKC S.T.A.R. puppy Program and then also offers the Canine Good Citizen program. Check out the videos on these at the bottom of the page
Vet appointment scheduled?
Many Vet Appointments are scheduling out weeks to a few months depending on your veterinarian clinic. Part of your puppy contract is to have the puppy seen by a licensed veterinarian within 72 Hrs. of going home.
Day You Pick up your New Golden Retriever Puppy
Do you have an acceptable form of payment - no personal checks or credit cards
We will send you home with shot records, leash, collar, dog food, vitamins, toys, chews.
We will also give you helpful printed information in your packet about your puppy including health and vaccination record.
Day 1: You and Your New Golden Retriever Puppy
Day 1: You and Your New Puppy
The Day you bring your new puppy home is the day you've been waiting for. Its the first day as long-term compainons, and you want to begin bonding with your Golden Retriever puppy immediately. Start off right by staying home, so you can make your golden retriever puppy feel secure and enjoy every minute of this experience. Here are some Tips to make sure the first day is the best it can be for your golden retriever puppy, you, and your family
Introducing your golden retriever puppy to the new home
- Limit your golden retriever puppy's access. - Too many new places, smells, and other people at once may confuse your puppy. Instead, let him explore a designated area where you are too. Then introduce the puppy to the rest of the house one room at a time
- Choose a potty spot- Start by taking him to the outside area where you want the puppy to eliminate. When your puppy is in the act of relieving we use a command like "go break" and reward with a special treat and praise
- Introduce puppy to new family - If possible, do this one person at a time. Give the puppy a chance to meet each of you quietly. Supervise young children. Discourage them from picking up the puppy. Let them hold the puppy in their lap on the floor so the puppy doesn't fall
Introduction of Puppy Continued
- Minimize Stress and excitement - Don't invite friends and neighbors over to meet your new puppy on the first day. That will be important very soon, but should not start on the first day with your new puppy
- Introduce other family pets - Puppies are still developing their communication skills and don't understand the rules set in place by adult dogs. As long as an adult dog's behavior is appropriate when correcting a puppy, it's okay if the adult growls a little or barks. If the adult becomes agitated, put the puppy on a leash and restrict the puppy... allowing the adult to be out of reach of puppy
- Don't interact with dogs outside your home - Because your new Golden puppy probably hasn't received all of the vaccines yet, you shouldn't' interact with strange dogs or even walk where other dogs do.
Start Enforcing the house Rules on day 1
The Golden retriever puppy needs to learn the house rules from the very beginning.
- Praise good behavior.
- Set your rules ahead of time and stick to them.
For example:
- where do you want the puppy to sleep?
- is the puppy allowed on furniture?
- Can the puppy have food scraps from the table or only after dinner or not at all?