First Time Puppy Owner

Really hard to tell from that photo but I understand that the knobbly bone (can't remember the technical name) just above the front feet is an indicator of growth and maturity in height. Once that bone is no longer protruding growth height wise is finished. Yet the puppy still may develop through the shoulders etc after this.

One of the other Golden Retriever People on this forum has the Furminator, but tried a friend's Coat King and thought it was actually quite a bit better - I love my cost king as my boy will not stand to have a slicker brush on him.

I am with GL & D+D - Goldens do need to be bathed more than once a year, maybe not as often as other breeds perhaps but certainly every couple of mths at least! Goldens do have natural oils in their coats and too frequent bathing can strip these but once every second mth most certainly is not going to do this. Also during the cooler mths I understand it is best to get a bit of a blowdry after the bath due to hot spots and as well the dog getting cold from the undercost being damp. Benson gets a bath once a mth at the max and sometimes it's every two mths! He doesn't stink at all!

What PF said and perhaps substitute the pet mince meals with tuna or sardines! Homebrand in either olive oil or springwater will be fine!

Clam shell - kmart $30 - sand from landscaper - 5 x 10 litre bags into one side of the clam shell for digging and the other for swimming! Also heard people freeze an ice cream container filled with treats and water so they stay cool and get the treats once the block has melted!

Maybe go into Health / Nutrition / Grooming - there are BARF experts in there as well here is a link from the top that shows you all the stuff you shouldn't feed puppy! http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=81686

Hi there - please come to the golden side Us Goldie lovers have two threads currently in Breed Sub Forum in Gneral Discussion - PLEASE ADD PICS! Cause I think everyone is over seeing my boy Plus there are much more knowledgeable people there than me :rolleyes: Is you pup lactose intolerant? I.e. given a little natural yoghurt and it comes out straight away? If not one idea lready for a frozen summer time treat for the pup! Ok I send mine on a treasure hunt! Tiny and I mean tiny cubes of cheese thrown all over the back yard and deck so he has to use his sniffer to find them. Also chicken necks/frames are great - Frozen! Kong filled with mince frozen as Laffi said but another is getting kibble and cheese and really squishing it in there together - rather sticky and hard to get out Bones - get some brisket bones. Also do you have a clam shell with some sand in there? Great for digging and hidding treats in! A treat ball that realeases treats slowly - liver treats! Ask you vet though re the chewing on the tail thing as it could be an allergic reation not only boredom. As well they may be able to advise something ou can put on it for the time being that tastes yucky to stop the behaviour - you know like the stop nail bitting stuff for humans!?!?!

When we went to puppy school and they did pass the pooch - we were asked to hold everyones dogs, touch their paws and open their mouths. Maybe you need to get a few mates to open his mouth too and give him a little treat afterward.

Not 100% but I personally would discourage it, as this might lead to him trying to hump legs. Benson did this too and I think it is more a play/dominance thing but still I didn't want it to become a problem later. Sorry I know that's not a great deal of help but I guess at that age you discourage all things that you don't want continuing.

http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=104585 DuncanandDougal put this post on the Golden Photo thread (last one on this particular thread) but it may help, if not now maybe in the future. Good luck little one and get better soon K!

Hi DuncanandDougal - a Golden Retriever posted this on the Goldie Photo thread a few day ago - though it might help! Anyway, the reason I ask is because I am interested to know if anyone here has a Goldie suffering from allergies? Goldies are known to be succeptible to allergies and skin problems.........my first boy Hamish had many issues due to neglect and age. But my young boy Duncan has been scratching on and off for some weeks now, couldn't find any fleas and neither could the vet. Yesterday I noticed he has no hair on the inside back right leg - it was all spots and scabs I can only put it down to a food allergy (maybe beef) as I don't think it's environmental. So it's chicken and rice for him for the next wee while. Anyway, I had ordered some herbal tonics and lotions for my boys from Malcom Harker in NZ - they arrived yesterday and the Pets-Coat Lotion (for mange, sores, lesions, fleas, ticks, lice, coat conditioning etc) has been brilliant! I put the first lot on last night and poor Duncster was still biting his leg this morning. I have put the lotion on a couple of times today and he hasn't scratched or bitten since this morning. His leg looks a lot less inflamed as well. I am so pleased this inexpensive all natural lotion has worked so well in such a short period of time! So if anyone has goldies or any pooches with skin issues and would like to know more, let me know.

Hi Luka Wondering where you live? Just a suggest - there is an excellent puppy preschool program Franchised by a the writer of Dog Whisperer called Dogtech and it really helped me with understanding what you need to do to let you puppy understand where he/she stands in the family. Its around $80 for a four week course - IMO it was brilliant, puppies get to run a muck while the owners are trained So many helpful tips, re your concern as well as toileting, teething etc. Additionally as they are in a sterile environment - you and puppy can go from 8 wks on as all the pups are similar in age and have all at least had their first vacc, so socialisation also is sorted by the time you start your obidence schooling. http://www.dogtech.com.au/puppy-school.html Hope that helps - good luck with your new baby! Susan

Okay seriously I must be the only weirdo out here but I did nothing convensionally when it can to sleeping habits/crate training but I can tell you now it worked for the two (or I should say the three) of us Bella Cat as well! Read my little bit on this thread as well as of course all the others maybe you can do something a little differently with the crate or not!?!?! http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=100644 All the very best to you!!!

:D Perhaps the name of the business should be Ruff-zilians! Ok so last night I did it - I trimmed it back and that look was priceless - "MUM! What the..." Thank you all for the amusing education :D

Really? Oh god all this stuff that they don't explain to you in puppy books - WHY!!!!!

Oh nooooooooooo!!!!!!!! We just bought a smeg microwave (main reason - OH wanted to call it smeghead ) Guess what I'll be thinking about now, whenever I look at it! Smegma! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!! :D :p ;) I use to work for Omega Smeg :p ;) :p Red Dwarf was referrenced a great deal ;) Great product though - especially their ovens How wonderful everytime you have a microwave dinner ... Sorry I just couldn't help myself

Thank you - I really do feel stupid for having to ask but it's just his hair there is quite long there and sometimes I pick him up for cuddles and unwittingly get smeared with pee! :D :p Ok - next step get the courage up to actually do it

Ok seriously - I have never ever owned a dog and let alone a boy! So can I or can't I? Cause I know one of you is pulling my chain

Ok I am going to make complete d*ck of myself (sorry had to go there :D ) but I haven't been game enough to ask anyone but you know the tuft of hair at the end, are you allowed to snip it off as it ways remains wet and gross after he's been to the toilet - eeeewwaa!

I don't know if this works for dogs but cheese is great for humans with the runs - and I do know that cheese is not bad for dogs. Also it probably is related to the the op in that she was probably frightened, the drugs and the whole feelng sore thing too - I think I personally would have either the trotts or be blocked up if I went to hospital for surgery :D

I have been told by the people at the pet store when I bought a knog not to get the squeezeable cream stuff that you can buy to squirt inside the kong cause it contains heaps of fat double that of peanut butter - but maybe if you get desperate spray this on your dogs food?

She is gorgeous!!! I want her! P.s. she is so not fat!

Ok Number one - I want more photo's! :D And yeah it's fine to feed bones etc - Benson from the time he came home at 7 wks of age got all kinds of stuff! He now gets two frozen chicken necks every morning as I am leaving for work so he doesn't fret (frozen so they last longer than a minute) every couple of days a lamb shank with the majority of the meat removed and brisket bones! Then three times a week he gets sardines or tuna with his dry food and the other night (human grade) mince meat. Then all kinds of vegies!

I agree with every one else! Also remember the lovely phrase that people used when you were a kid and had a little extra weight, "it's just puppy fat - you will grow out of it"

People always say to me 'never say never' Thus far I have had nothing nabbed but I am sure once the little bugger grows (I love him to bits - don't worry) there will be eventual towel fatalities :D