From: schalene@sequent.com (Schalene Dagutis)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
Date: 12 Jan 93 14:54:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1993Jan12.145406.7196
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.

In article <3830.248.uupcb@nitelog.com> james.cromarty@nitelog.com (James Cromarty)  writes:
>We are now the owners of a 9 week old female golden retriever. More
>my wifes' dog than mine.<g> This will be a house dog. Right now it
>is relatively well paper trained (thank goodness). We have finally
>gotten her settled down in the evening so that she doesn't cry very
>long. We get woken up about 5 am by her barking and whining. I hope
>that changes soon.
>
Congratulations on your new puppy.  I'm sure you'll have many happy
times ahead.

>Some questions that I have are,
>
First, some general recommendations that may help answer your specific
questions.  Have you read the following books?
  
     o  Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete
     o  Mother Knows Best (The Natural Way) Carol Lea Benjamin
     o  Great Dogs, Good Owners Brain Kilcommons 
	(not sure of the title or author will check this out)

These books were tremendously helpful to me.  I'm sure they'll give you
lots of good ideas on how to begin teaching your puppy the basics of
how to get along in your home.  I continually refer to them.  They don't
all agree on specifics.  But I took a little from one book, a little
from the other and settled on techniques that were comfortable to me
and the temperaments of my puppies.  I highly recommend reading at
least these three.

Also, I would recommend getting your puppy into a puppy kindergarten as
soon as the vet says it o.k.  Most trainers require that the puppy has
at least three sets of shots -- usually around 12 weeks.  After reading
the books I mentioned earlier, you'll have some opinions on training
methods.  So interview the potential trainers and find one you feel
comfortable with.  For instance, I personally didn't get hung up on 
using treats to teach.  I just weaned them away from the treats as soon 
as I knew they knew what I was asking.  And they never did learn to expect 
a treat for performing a command correctly.  Some people are dead set against 
this.  For me it was just knowing when to cut out the treats.  

Some people may tell you that 12 weeks or whatever is too early to begin
training.  This is nonsense.  It's too early to expect a half-hour down
stay or a perfect heel, but we are training our dogs from the minute
we bring them home.  Things like where to do their "business," when to
eat, when to sleep, when to play, how to play, etc.  Puppy kindergarten
is mostly for socialization -- very important if you want a dog that's
not overly agressive or fearful of every new thing that happens to them.
You'll also learn some basic commands like sit, down, etc.

>1. As far as disciplining a dog. After you tell it "no" and it
>still persists in doing something wrong. What is the proper<?> way
>to strike the dog. With a newspaper/hand/?. I am of the view that
>dog should not be struck with the same hand that pets/praises it.
>But I am not sure about the newspaper. Any opinions?
>
I never hit my dogs -- ever.  I've wanted to several time :-)
If I told it no bite for example, I would then pick up a toy and try to
get them interested in the toy.  If they did start playing with the toy,
I'd praise him like crazy.  If they weren't interested in the toy and
nothing would distract them from chewing on me, I'd put them in their
crate for a few minutes (like a time out with kids I'm told).  Once they'd
quieted down, I'd let them out again.  

I'm not sure that your puppy is going to be able to tell your right
and from your left hand.  If you hit a dog, it will eventually flinch or 
snap at any hand coming towards them.  

>2. With a pup, how old should it be before you take it on a 1-2
>mile run? I understand working up to that just like a human.
>
You need to wait until its bones have completely grown.  You'll want to
check with your vet on this.  I have small dogs, so they have developed
faster than a Golden would, but I'd say at least 9 months to a year.  

>3. Is there anything special when it comes to goldens. This dog
>seems to have a good personality and always likes to be near my
>wife and I. She has a fondness for slippers/shoes. Not chewing but
>sticking her head in them. The dog must have a foot fetish.
>
Every Golden I've ever known has loved people and have gentle temperaments.
The ones in my obedience classes (about 3 per class) responded better to
a gental, positive approach to training.  One dog had obviously been
treated badly and was a quivering mess whenver your voice became stern.

>4. Is it normal for the dog to spend a lot of time sleeping?
>
I'm convinced my dogs sleep, eat, sleep, exercise, sleep, ride with me
in the car, sleep, do their "business", sleep, sleep.....

>5. Someone made the comment that goldens' should have a companion
>dog because they do not do well alone. Has anyone ever heard that?
>
Don't get another dog unless you want one.  Also it's probably best to wait
until you've gotten some basic training done with your first dog.  Also,
if you get another puppy right away, they may bond with each other and
not with you or your wife.  Then training becomes very difficult.  Two
dogs are more work -- not twice as much -- but definitely more.  Be sure
you're ready for that.

I got our second puppy when our first dog was 6 months old.  Probably a
little early, but I developed a schedule where I spent time alone with 
each dog every day.  Along with they're weekly obedience classes and 
nightly "homework" sessions.  Seems to work fine.  

If you get a second puppy, read up on pack behavior.  Your dogs will 
develop a hierarchy and you and your wife will need to be aware of it and
abide by it -- make sure you and your wife are at the head of that pack.

>Any help will be appreciated.
>
I hope I've been helpful.  There are many others on the net who are much
more experienced than I, and I'm sure you'll get lots of advise.  I know
I did.  Good luck,

schalene