How to raise a Hollymere Golden Retriever

1. Feeding. Use large breed puppy food for the first 12 months. We feed Nutro Natural Choice large breed puppy food and switch to adult food around one year. If you wish to switch to another brand then do so gradually because your pup should get the diet it is used to for at least one week after homecoming. Feed the pup three meals a day until it is 6 months; then reduce to twice daily feedings. Do not overfeed. A fat puppy stands a greater risk of developing hip dysplasia. To encourage good eating habits let the puppy have ten minutes to finish its food, then remove the dish. Ignore the fussy eater. Make sure your pup has access to fresh drinking water. The rule of thumb for choosing a pet food is not to feed your dog anything that contains animal or poultry by products or any food that contains tallow.

If your pet vomits or has diarrhoea, chances are it has eaten something abnormal. For a simple upset stomach or diarrhoea, give 1 tablespoon of pepto bismol up to three times a day. Pepto Bismol tablets are easier to administer and are just as effective. If the condition persists, or if the vomit or stool contains blood, see your vet immediately.

2. Hip Dysplasia. This is a genetically based disorder that is found in most medium to large breeds. As it is controlled by a multitude of genes it is hard to avoid it completely. We select our breeding stock with the greatest of care. You, as a new puppy owner, should be aware that there are many environmental factors that can aggravate or even trigger hip dysplasia.

a) Feeding. Keep your puppy slim. You should always be able to feel the ribs quite easily. This is proven to be the most effective way of preventing hip dysplasia.

b) Exercise. During the first year do not subject your puppy to strenuous exercise. Keep the puppy confined in a relatively small area (back yard). When taking the puppy for a walk, avoid rough terrain and deep snow. Do not allow your puppy to climb stairs on a regular basis. Try to avoid slippery surfaces - (ice, wet linoleum floors etc).

3. House Training. Please get a crate for your puppy. It makes training much easier because no animal likes to soil its sleeping place. It also provides security and privacy for your dog....a place of its own.
Take your puppy outside to a designated spot to relieve itself. Always return to the same spot and using the same verbal prompt remain there until the pup has done its business. Praise every time you have success. Ignore indoor mistakes. Remember to always return to the designated area as soon as your pup wakes up, whenever it has finished eating or has had water and immediately after playtime.

4. Health and grooming. Brush your dog several times a week. Use a slicker brush, long toothed rake and/or a steel comb. Trim the dog's feet as necessary. When you bathe your dog use dog shampoo and conditioner. Always comb the coat with a rake before bathing to remove any mats and loose hair. A bath is not always necessary when the dog gets muddy, just allow the coat to dry then brush thoroughly - it usually looks as good as new! Clip nails every second week - Kwik Stop will stem any bleeding. Routinely check ears for signs of infection. Remember to keep your dogs vaccinations up to date, and undertake a heart worm prevention programme and flea prophylaxis.

5. Confining your dog. Do not let your dog run free. A dog run should be large, at least 10 x 20 feet. A fenced back yard is ideal. Don't tie your dog - he will hate it, will forever try to escape and could get strangled in the attempt.
Exercise a Golden regularly. An adult Golden needs to run to stay in shape. So, if you are not the jogging type then try throwing things for the dog to retrieve.

Let your Golden be a housedog. Dogs that are allowed in the house are more content and easier to train. Remember, Goldens are very people oriented.


7. Teach your pup good manners from the first day onwards. Keep training sessions short & happy (no longer than five minutes for a young puppy). Do not overtrain and, leave serious training for obedience trials until the dog is about 1 year old. Our Goldens are taught three basic commands in the first three months. These are come, stay and down. Over training can result in a very submissive dog and too little training in an uncontrollable one. Try to find a happy medium. Be consistent and always have faith in your pup. End each training session on a happy note! Do not train if you are in a bad mood!!

8. Keep in touch. We have put a lot of time, effort and love into every one of our pups and we would dearly like to follow them through the years. We know that they are going to good homes, but it is always sad to say goodbye. If we can keep in touch it makes it all worthwhile.