Puppy Hood - Myth vs. Fact

We are often contacted about adoption of young puppies.  As far as puppies, yes we do occasionally get them, however most of our dogs come in at age 6 months or older.  We tend to get them after the “newness” wears off and reality sets in.  Many breeders and pet stores do not take the time to properly educate new owners on the realities of Golden ownership and hence they are not informed and prepared to make the commitment to responsible dog ownership for the next 12-15 years.  Since we are a responsible rescue organization, we'd like to make you aware of some of the myths and their corresponding facts involving Golden puppy ownership.

Myth- “They are so little and easy to train and at that age…”

Fact - Pups are just like infants and require more time and care than they reciprocate for at least a year.  Puppies under 6 months of age require an average of 5 hours of care per day (in 20 minute increments) to raise, socialize and train properly.  The reality is a puppy is a peeing, pooping, chewing and shredding machine with a very limited attention span for nearly the first year of its life.  

These normal phases require a lot of time, patience and training to get through.  Most people with busy families and lives do not have that kind of time.  If you work full time, who will take care of the pup during the day when it needs to go outside, eat, play, etc.?   At about age 1, they begin to interact with humans, play ball, understand not to jump on the kids, and are emotionally capable of understanding what are appropriate dog toys versus kids toys, etc.

Myth- “They’ll be fine in the backyard while we’re gone….”

Fact - GR's DO NOT make good outside dogs.  One of the main reasons GR's come into rescue is because people were uninformed about the breed when they bought the dogs as puppies.  By nature, they are people loving dogs and if they can't be with their people, then they want to be inside where their people's scents are.  If a GR is left outside, to his/her own devices, they will "go looking for love in all the wrong places".  They quickly become bored and dig or jump out of the yard and wander the neighborhood looking for companionship.  This poses a great safety risk to the dog.

In addition, GR's are double coated breeds and are not conducive to outdoor life or people who are neat freaks because they do shed their beautiful coats, often profusely.  Shaving them or giving them a "summer cut" is the worst thing you can do.  So, if you want an outside dog then forget a Golden, it would not compliment your life and would likely end up being more of a headache than pleasure.  However, if you are willing to consider an indoor dog then you can't find any breed better for children and family life.

Myth - “The kids need a puppy to grow up with…”

Fact - GR's do not emotionally mature until they are between 2-3 years of age but physically mature very early.  It is not uncommon to have a 6 month old weigh 40-70 pounds and have the energy level of a rocket.  Children do not do well with a bounding, bouncy puppy that knocks them over frequently in their exuberance.  Add to that the teething and chewing phases, and the fact the puppy does not know the difference between toddler/human skin & toys and chew bones, and the kids quickly tire of the dog being a nuisance.  The cute fluffy puppy rapidly grows into a big hairy handful of dog and the newness/novelty of pup ownership wears off quickly.

Myth- “Puppies are easier to train…”

Fact – A puppy takes about 3-4 obedience classes to make him/her a good canine citizen.  This translates to you taking the dog to 1 hour of class every week for 6-8 weeks, PLUS spending about 1 hour EACH day working on what you learned in class to reinforce the behaviors.   In comparison, an adult dog may only take 1-2 classes and much less time because they are old enough to comprehend and execute the actual commands.

Myth - “It’s better to buy a puppy so you know what you are getting and how it’s been raised…”

Fact- Pups are a completely unknown entity no matter where you get them.  Purebred Goldens have a number of inherent health problems and risks, many of which may not be evident until the pup reaches physical and emotional maturity at age 2-3.  GR’s are prone to hip dysplasia, heart & eye problems, skin & allergy problems as well as thyroid and kidney diseases and occasionally, temperament problems.   Adult dogs are “What you see is what you get” whereas a puppy can be fine for 6-18 months and then develop severe hip dysplasia or any of many other health problems.  This puts the owner in the difficult position of facing extraordinary medical bills and/or the possibility of having to put the pup to sleep if he/she cannot be helped.   See the puppy referral info at the bottom of the page to locate a reputable breeder in the Texas area.

Myth – “Puppies are a great gift…”

Fact – Dogs are living, sentient beings and are not objects to be given carelessly away.  Pups are a 12-15 year lifetime commitment and ownership of one should be carefully considered.  The recipient often does not want these responsibilities or they would have gotten a dog themselves.  Responsible gift givers choose to wrap up a collar, leash, bowls, etc. and enclose a note saying they will pay the adoption/purchase price after the owner has a chance to decide and choose a dog of their own.  

These things are true of any breed.  Anyone who tells you differently is not giving you the best education on what to expect and how to have a good dog experience.  Many puppy sellers are more interested in profit, and the experience ends up with the dog being relegated to the backyard, mostly ignored because they are "just too rowdy and wild to do anything with...".

We hope this helps and encourage you to read our section "Is a Golden Right for Me?" for more information.  In addition, please see the Golden Retriever Club of America’s website on "acquiring a Golden Retriever"  

Thank you for your interest and for carefully reading this information.  By doing it now and making an educated and informed choice, you avoid becoming one of the surrendering owners of the future we so often deal with.  Good luck and let us know if you have any more questions.

TEXAS Puppy Referral 

Greater Houston Golden Retriever Club
Peggy Walkingstick
Information Line
281-855-6044
Voicemail Box #3
 

Dallas-Ft Worth Metro Golden Retriever Club
Puppy Referral: (972) 516-5905
 

Austin Golden Retriever Club
Austin, TX
(512) 343-0995