From: jmcooper@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (janet.m.cooper)
Subject: New Golden Retriever Puppy!!!
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 19:44:36 GMT

   
   My husband and I brought home a beautiful 8 week-old Golden
   Retriever puppy last week.  We had been waiting MANY years until
   we were ready for the responsibility of raising a dog .....
   and she -Tessie- was sure worth the wait!

   Thanks to everyone who contributed to the puppy-related FAQ's.
   They were VERY helpful.  We also purchased several FAQ 
   references, such as the Monks of Skeets books, which are
   very informative.

Why a Golden???

   Somehow, we agreed on getting a Golden after I was pushing
   Newfoundlands and Bernese Mountain Dogs, and my husband wanted a
   Deerhound or a small mutt!  We had also filled out applications
   at local shelters for several mixed-breed puppies, but the
   puppies were in high demand, and we couldn't make up our mind
   fast enough before they gave them to other families.  
   I'm also pretty familiar with the (albeit,
   stereotypical) characteristics of the various breeds we were
   considering, and the Golden Retriever seemed to most 
   compatible with our home and lifestyle.

   Getting the puppy at a breeder seemed really radical to me
   since I've always been very supportive of adopting adult
   dogs from shelters.  However, we have been doggy "foster parents"
   enough times that it was clear that our cats were terrified of
   even the most mellow adult dogs... so we decided that it would be
   better to get a puppy.  I'm agressively anti-puppy-store (I've
   had run-ins with local stores).  And after learning about 
   the negatives of irresponsible breeding, we decided to go all out
   and get a puppy from a reputable breeder (meeting the parents,
   checking certification and bloodline, etc).

What about the cats??

   It was absolutely amazing how well our 2 cats took to the puppy.
   They spent the first day hissing, growling, establishing dominance, etc.,
   but since then, they seem to have accepted her very well.
   The younger (female) cat plays with her, and seems to have
   a motherly, protective sense about the pup.  (With the other dogs 
   we've taken care of, the cats hid in the farthest corner of the house!)  

QUESTIONS:  Crate training, CHD, etc...

   We are crate training Tessie.  We are both fortunate to live within
   5 mins. from work and have somewhat flexible shifts, so we've 
   arranged our schedule so she doesn't spend more than 3 hours at
   a time in the crate.  However, during the periods when she is
   out of her crate (2 hrs. in the morning, 1 hr at lunchtime, and
   all evening), she doesn't seem to have any clue that the floors
   and carpets are not her bathroom...(The breeder called her
   "Sweet Pea"... which we've now changed the spelling to "Sweet Pee!")
   We've been trying desperately to catch her in the act (i.e., no
   post-accident discipline), say a startling, but not screaming, "NO!"
   then carry her outside and do the usual heavy praising when she
   relieves herself there.  But, it seems that she has learned that
   "NO!" translates into "HURRY UP AND URINATE REALLY FAST BEFORE THEY
   GRAB ME!"  We also take her outside about once an hour in the evenings, 
   but she still goes at random times indoors.
   We've just started trying the "penny can" method of
   startling her, although it seems so far that she isn't too startled
   and that she just looks at the can like "hmmmm, what is this toy?"
   She seems to have learned the command "go potty" (this command brought
   some resistance from my husband!)  when I take her
   outside.  (When I don't say it, she runs around and plays instead
   of doing her "business.")

   Since we have had her for only 1 1/2 weeks, I'm just
   assuming that we should be patient, and that I'm expecting too
   much out of a 9 week old pup!  It's just that when I hear
   other puppy owners tell these stories of how their pup has
   only peed in the house 2 times... was housebroken in a week.. etc.
   I wonder if I'm doing something wrong...  Anyway, any suggestions 
   or comments are welcome!

   Also, regarding CHD, are there any early signs of CHD that could
   be detected in pups?  Tessie lies down with her back legs extended
   behind her, more than any other dog I've seen.  This posture seems 
   normal for many dogs without CHD, but are there any similar 
   signs that I should watch out for??

    
Well, it looks like I've become one of "those people" who talk about
their dog all the time!  It's just amazing how much fun and 
love a little dog can bring to a home!  It's also pretty
amusing having a retriever who loves retrieving sticks and
dead leaves when we live in a forest!


Janet Darcie
att!hogpa!jcooper

   
   

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