| Starting your new Golden Retriever puppy out on the | | | | times, and stick to them. Your new Golden Retriever |
| right foot by feeding him properly will help him grow to | | | | puppy need stability, and sticking to a set schedule will |
| be a happy, healthy adult. Puppies receive their | | | | help you with house-training, as his bathroom habits will |
| nutrients from their mother until they're about 7 weeks | | | | be regular and predictable. Be sure to provide ample |
| old. But at about three weeks, it's time to start giving | | | | water during and after his meals. Set aside some quiet |
| them puppy food that has been soaked and mixed to | | | | time for your Golden Retriever puppy after meals to |
| a thin paste that resembles the food they get from | | | | avoid stomach problems. Expect your puppy to need |
| mom. The breeder should have started this process | | | | to go to the bathroom within a hour or so. Ask the kids |
| before you pick up your new Golden Retriever puppy. | | | | not to play with the puppy for the first hour to |
| Before you bring your Golden Retriever puppy home, | | | | hour-and-a-half after he eats. |
| be sure to find out exactly what food he's been given | | | | When your Golden Retriever puppy has learned to |
| and the times he's been fed. Because puppy | | | | sleep through the night, make it a habit to take him |
| stomachs are very sensitive, it's important to continue | | | | outside for a potty break each morning. Then feed him, |
| the same regimen. When you begin to change to a | | | | allowing for about an hour of quiet time afterward. |
| more mature diet, gradually transition from 25% new | | | | Stick to your feeding schedule as much as you |
| mix with 75% of the old diet to the opposite (75% new | | | | possibly can. You should schedule the last feeling at |
| and 25% old) over a ten-day period. This will give your | | | | last an hour or so before you plan to go to bed so that |
| Golden Retriever puppy time to adjust to the new diet | | | | you can give him a potty break before everyone |
| without undue discomfort or digestive problems. | | | | settles in for a good night's rest. Until your Golden |
| When your Golden Retriever puppy is at least 8 | | | | Retriever puppy is house-broken, provide puppy pads |
| weeks old, it is acceptable to separate him from his | | | | or newspapers near (not in) his sleeping area in case |
| mother and bring him home to meet his new family. At | | | | he can't wake you up for a trip outside. |
| first, your new puppy may not show much interest in | | | | By the time your Golden Retriever puppy is 8 to 10 |
| eating. Changes this big can be very stressful. Don't | | | | weeks old, he should be on a diet of dry dog food. |
| force him to eat. Once he figures out he doesn't have | | | | You can add a little warm water to make it more |
| to fit his brothers and sisters to get his fair share, he'll | | | | appetizing, but don't use canned or moist dog food. |
| become more curious and hungry. So don't worry if he | | | | These are mostly water and not nearly as nutritious as |
| only sniffs and nibbles at first. | | | | the dry foods. The warm water will encourage your |
| Puppies need twice the nutrients that adult Golden | | | | Golden Retriever puppy to eat all his food, though you |
| Retrievers need to stay healthy. Don't be tempted to | | | | may need to sit with him and add more warm water a |
| use too many treats with your Golden Retriever | | | | little at a time. From three to six months, your Golden |
| puppy, as they do not contain enough nutrients for his | | | | Retriever puppy will be teething. He may appear to be |
| healthy growth. For the fist few weeks, stick to the | | | | sick, but unless it lasts over two days, don't worry. It's |
| type of food and the same feeding schedule as he | | | | growing pains. |
| was getting from the breeder. It's hard for a new | | | | Never feed your Golden Retriever puppy table scraps. |
| Golden Retriever puppy to adjust to changes, and | | | | They are likely to upset his stomach, and they are not |
| maintaining a stable schedule with familiar food will be | | | | the nutrition he needs at this stage of his growth. As |
| a nice balance to the shock of new surroundings and | | | | your puppy grows, his stomach will grow, and he'll eat |
| people. During the transition to the new food, watch | | | | more. At about six months, you should begin to feed |
| closely for vomiting, loose stool or constipation. If these | | | | him twice a day, in the morning and at night, but |
| occur, slow down the transition until your Golden | | | | continue to use a diet of puppy food. Being larger |
| Retriever puppy adjusts and can eat without | | | | dogs, you may want to keep your Golden Retriever |
| becoming upset or ill. | | | | on puppy food well into his second year. But you |
| Professionals recommend that puppies should eat | | | | should reduce feeding to once per day, always |
| three times a day until they are about six months old. | | | | offering plenty of water during and after his meal. |
| But it's a good idea to take the puppy to your vet as | | | | When you do switch to adult dog foods, be sure to |
| soon as you can. Get him checked out, and discuss | | | | select a quality brand with adequate nutrition for your |
| diet and nutrition with your vet. Your vet will be able to | | | | Golden Retriever. |
| give you tips on appropriate weights so that you can | | | | If you follow these guidelines and show your new |
| avoid over- or under-feeding your new Golden | | | | Golden Retriever plenty of love and affection, you'll |
| Retriever puppy. | | | | give him a great start to a long, happy, healthy lifetime |
| The feeding schedule will, of course, be largely | | | | with your family. He'll be a valuable and beloved |
| determined by your own schedule. But set regular | | | | member of your family for years. |