Getting Ready

Updated March 19, 2011

Screening: You've screened your breeder & they have also screened you.

What's next? What can you expect? What will a responsible & ethical breeder expect from you?

First, we are looking beyond visitation, pedigrees, clearances, contracts, warrantees & expectations as a responsible pet owner to what will happen after the initial screening which covered these things.

Things you should expect:

To receive a list from your breeder of suggested reading, puppy proofing & general care for your pet

To be kept updated on the progression of the pregnancy or litter via email, website, mass mailings, online group (eg. Yahoo, Big Tent) or phone. You should receive some contact initiated by the breeder or asked to check in with them.

Things the breeder should expect:

Patience. The breeder will be very busy working with their dogs & all of their schedules vary. They should communicate with you but please keep in mind that being a responsible & ethical breeder is a 24/7 undertaking. They may not be getting back to you quickly but know that the needs of their breeding program should be their priority. That is what makes them a 'responsible' breeder.
More patience. It is normal & actually in the best interest of the dam & her litter to not allow visitors until after the first 4 to 5 weeks. Breeders will let you know when it is best to plan for visitation & it is best for you to plan to ahead of time to accommodate their schedule.
And Yet Even More Patience. As I am sure you have seen at this point in your travels as a responsible pet owner, most breeders do not allow families to pick their puppy. This can sometimes be done together to some degree but the breeder will have the last word on which puppy will best accommodate your families needs. It is important to share your views but then be careful not to pressure the breeder as they are doing what is best for the puppies. They are responsible to make sure placement will be successful & have typically been through many steps of evaluation to accomplish their decision.

**It alright to share your desire or that you are very impressed with a certain puppy but don't get your homes up. As breeders the goal is to produce show dogs or dogs who will compete and prove our breeding programs.

Additional Reading and Tasks:

Dog Owner's Guide is a collection of articles for dog owners, pet and show.
Check this site frequently for updates:
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/index.html
How-to-Love-Your-Dog: is a fun and interactive website for kids. The focus is on kindness, commitment, and responsible dog care.

Check this site frequently for updates:

http://www.geocities.com/kidsanddogs.geo/
Ian Dunbar "Before You Get Your Puppy"
This is an on-line book first link is complete with pictures (34 MB). Second link is without pictures (.57 MB):
http://www.jamesandkenneth.com/PDF_docs/J&KBEFOREpic.pdf
http://www.jamesandkenneth.com/PDF_docs/J&KBEFOREtext.pdf
www.dogwise.com

Books & Video
Breed Books:

The Golden Retriever by: Jeffrey Pepper
The New Golden Retriever by: Marcia Schler
The Golden Retriever Puppy Book by: Joan Tudor
All That Glitters Is Gold by Julie Carins

Training Books:

The Art of Raising A Puppy by: The Monks of New Skete
How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With by: David H. Neil
Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog by: Carol Lea Benjamin
Sirius Puppy Training, by Dr. Ian Dunbar

Competition Training:
Show Training:

Dog Showing For Beginners by Lynn Hall
The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets by George Alston and Connie Vanacore
How to Show Your Dog and Win by: Kirt Unkelbach

For Kids:
Junior Showmanship from Hand to Lead: The Complete Handbook For Junior Handlers by Mary A Miller
Junior Handling: The complete Guide on How to Show Your Dog by: Felix Cosme

Obedience, Field, Tracking and Agility
Dual Ring Dog/Successful Training For Both Conformation and Obedience Competition by: Amy Amen and Jacqueline Fraser
Beyond Basic Dog Training By Diane Bauman

Home Preperations

Puppy Proofing:
Puppies are very orally oriented. You will find all kinds of things in their mouths. Please carefully go around your home, including areas that you plan on being off limits & look for things that could be a hazard to a curious pup.

Electrical cords, cables and wires. These must be picked up, tied up, wrapped up or whatever helps to get them out of reach.
Plants are one of puppies favorites to eat! Please make sure that even plants that aren't poisonous are picked up because chewing on them is not a habit you want your puppy to form.
Cupboards are great places to play hide & go seek plus their are wonderful toys inside ... NOT! Please make sure that if any of your cupboards do not close well that you use a childproof latch or fix them.
Carpets with snags (eg. in doorways). Find these and try to fix them if possible or cover them with a throw rug. Your puppy will find them if you don't & exploit them. Also, a good odor remover on carpet is a very wise investment. A good brand is Nature's Miracle.

Outdoor Preperations

Snail or Slug Bait. Absolutely do not use this! Here are a couple of other ideas on how to deal with snails or slugs. Beer in a shallow pan attracts them & they drown. If your puppy drinks it, oh well, an extra nap maybe. ;-) Second, sprinkle clay cat litter in your flower beds. This attracts slugs and snails so they eat it and it causes them to dry up.
Yard Chemicals. If you must them please make sure they are dry completely before allowing you pet in the treated area. You could consider doing 1/2 the yard at a time or shopping for 'pet safe' products but always remember to use caution & don't believe everything you read.
Anti-Freeze or Automotive Leakage. Please make sure that your car isn't leaking fluid. One drop of anti-freeze can kill a full-grown dog. There are some 'pet safe' products on the market that are truly 'pet safe'.
Fence & Yard. Walk along your fence line looking for any dip or holes & fill them up. Once a puppy discovered them he is prone to keep going back to that same area. Also walk the yard looking for small objects, wrappers or other debris left behind.
Gates. Put a pad lock your gates & notify your meter readers of this. They typically will supply you with a combo lock to put the key in to open the pad lock.

Outbuildings & Garage Preperation

You will know after reading most of this information & thinking through potential dangers, if your out building or garage is safe. Please still look around and make sure all of the chemicals are out of reach, that there are no automotive spills & no sharp things at ground level.

So, there you have it! ;-) I hope after reading this you feel like you have a good start on how to prepare your home for you new puppy!