Breeding Golden Retrievers

For beginners, breeding Golden Retrievers is nearly impossible. Breeding can be very complicated, although it can be easy as well. You should never attempt to breed unless you know a lot about requirements for hobby breeders, as it is simply unfair to the breed if you have a litter of puppies that simply aren’t what they should be. People who look to buy Golden Retrievers only want top quality, which is why you shouldn’t attempt to breed just have a puppies or make a few bucks.

Breeding Golden Retrievers is a very serious hobby, one that should be left to those who know how to make the right choices. There is a certain amount of cost and care involved with breeding, especially if breeders are going for a certain quality. There is also a lot of responsibility involved as well, which can take quite a bit of time to say the least.

Motivation for breeding
Breeding can help to fulfill the need of a Golden, although the dog still has no knowledge of it missing, no regrets, or no guilt towards living a life without having been breed. A pregnant Golden Retriever female doesn’t gain anything in regards to health, as it instead causes problems. Golden females that have been spayed on the other hand, cannot be bred. If you have chosen to have your Golden spayed, always remember that she will be unable to breed.

When looking to breed, quality breeders will have a lot of choices in front of them. They will need to determine the pair, such as the mother and the father. To get the highest quality possible from the litter, the breeder will need to determine the traits of both dogs, temperaments, and how well they seem to react to one another. The breeder will also need to determine in either of the dogs have any type of health problems, to prevent any diseases or ailments from being passed on to the litter.

Sometimes, when breeding Golden Retrievers, the mother of the litter will prove to be unfit, which requires more work for the breeder. If the mother isn’t doing her job of nurturing her young, the breeder will need to do it for her. This can be the most time consuming aspect of breeding, as the breeder will have to feed the young and make sure that they turn out as healthy as possible.

Aside from that, breeders also face quite a bit of costs as well. The prices for daily care, food, and vet bills can be very steep to say the least. When you crunch the numbers, you’ll quickly realize that breeders don’t make much money at all when they sale. Most breeders do it for a hobby, not looking to make money. Quality breeders on the other hand aren’t concerned with money at all, as they are more concerned about the quality of their litters. Quality is better than quantity, as even the best breeders out there have problems selling puppies from time to time.

Although breeding is fun for hobby breeders, it is something you really shouldn’t be doing if you don’t have the experience. Although your Golden may get knocked up by a dog of a different breed without you knowing it, you should do your best to avoid it at all costs if you can. A pure bred Golden Retriever should be bred only with dogs of her breed, to help preserve the breed and keep their bloodline going. If you have thought about breeding in the past - you should really study long and hard before you actually make a reality of it.

Bedding For Your Golden

Bedding for your Golden Retriever is very important, as this is where he will be spending quite a bit of time - especially at night. The ideal bedding for your Golden should be a natural fiber, such as wool, as wool absorbs most moisture and will keep your companion warm. When you get your blanket, you can try thrift stores, as they aren’t very expensive. You don’t want to buy an expensive blanket, for the fact that Golden Retrievers love to chew. They can chew or tear the blanket in no time at all, which would make an expensive blanket a waste of money.

When bringing your Golden puppy home, he may be a little upset having to leave his mom and the others of his litter. The scents and memories that he come to know and love are now being replaced with totally new ones. If you provide a towel for your Golden to sleep with, it may help to ease him a bit. Towels are a great way to remind Golden puppies of their mom and their litter, which will help them to sleep and relax.

If you are planning to have your Golden Retriever sleep with you, you should be ready to get up in the middle of the night and take him outside to use the bathroom. You should keep his food and water near his bedding at all times, so if he gets hungry or thirsty he can get what he needs. Then, you should planning on taking him out around an hour or so after he has eaten.

If you plan to leave your Golden Retriever outdoors, you’ll obviously need to use a different style of bedding. Doghouses are essential for Golden’s who stay outdoors, as it helps to keep them warm and free of weather. Inside of the doghouse on the other hand, most people tend to use straw so the Golden can make a bed out of it. You can also use a blanket or quilt as well, so that your Golden can wrap himself up in it should he get cold.

You can also use wooden shavings as well, as most Golden’s tend to like them. Newspapers work good as well, as they give your Golden something to lay on besides a wooden floor. Although doghouses work great for outdoor dogs, you should take your dog for walks on a daily basis and let him join you in activities that he finds enjoyable. This way, you can build a unique and lasting friendship with your pet. Golden Retrievers can quickly become the best friend you have ever had - as long as you take care of them. Making sure that have the proper bedding is a great place to start.

Adopting An Older Golden Retriever

Those of you who want a Golden Retriever but aren’t ready to go through the trials and tribulations of a puppy, should look into adopting an older Golden. Older Golden Retrievers are mature, and prove to be great in homes where they need to spend a quality amount of time by themselves. They are a very adjustable breed, being good tempered. No matter how old the Golden may be, he will quickly become a valued member of your family in little to no time at all.

Many times, breeders will have older dogs for sale. There are several reasons for this, which include show dogs that have lost their potential, studs that have been used for breeding, female Golden’s that have been bred a few times then retired, or other types of special conditions where a breeder is helping a friend get rid of his Golden Retriever. There are other reasons as well, although whatever they may be - the adult Golden Retriever will be available for anyone who wants him.

Most older Golden Retrievers are already housebroken, and known a lot of behavior patterns and how to adapt to a new and loving family. Although it will be a little hard on your new dog at first, if you give him plenty of love, attention, and patience, he’ll be just fine. You need to keep reassuring your new Golden on a regular basis, and let him know that you are his new owner and that you love you and you are glad he’s a member of your family.

If you have been thinking of adopting an older Golden Retriever, you should make sure that you learn everything you can about him. You should also determine his temperament, and whether or not it’s compatible with your family. You should also learn important things as well, such as his diet, likes, dislikes, daily routine, and his habits. Before you decide to take him, you should always make sure that the members of your family meet him as well, so you can talk it over and decide whether or not everyone wants the dog to be a member of your family.

With an older dog, you need to take care of him for the first days, and let him know where everything in your home is. You’ll need to show him where he sleeps, where he should use the bathroom, and where his food is. Take your time and be patient with him, as will normally take him a few days to learn how things in your home work.

You should always give your new Golden Retriever at least a month or so to get used to his new environment, before you start his new obedience training. Even though your new dog may have some prior obedience training, you should still enroll him in a new class. This way, he can brush up on training and you can work with him to help him understand. Once you have finished training, he’ll understand your commands better and you and him will get along just fine.

All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Older Golden’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever - they are perfect for families who don’t want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.

Why Does My Dog Lick Me? Learn To Speak Dog!

Dogs have three ways of communicating what they want. They bark, paw or mouth. We expect them to be bi-lingual. For a better relationship, return the favor.

In view of the fact you probably don't speak Dog, the best way to learn what your puppy or dog is trying to tell you is to learn Dog.

Mainly new, inexperienced dog owners do not realize Dog is a simple language to learn. Once you learn it, you understand your pet is communicating volumes of information by their doggie sign and body languages.

Licking is a common complaint many dog trainers receive. Frustrated owners, usually of new puppies or demanding, and amazingly spoiled dogs, often call to say they are being "licked to death", and they don't know what to do about it.

Learn Dog To Know What Is Your Dog Telling or Asking Of You?

There are a number of reasons why your canine companion licks you. Most are means of communication...we just have to know Dog, so we know what they are trying to tell us.

Licking is natural and inherent. From the day they are born, puppies are licked by their mother as a way to groom/clean, comfort and mark them. When they get a little older, they learn licking could inspire mom to feed them a few regurgitated morsels. Mom's licking communicates a number of messages to her offspring; which they continue to practice on themselves, another animals and on us.

This could be a good thing, or an annoying habit; which can become a serious behavioral issue.

Basically, licking makes a statement about your pet's mood, grooming habits, level of submission, signs of affection and the one we have the hardest time with, the need for genitourinary stimulation.

Since your puppy or dog doesn't understand why you don't speak Dog fluently, they will usually be persistent and keep licking until they get a reaction from you. Dogs learn by association. When your dog associates too much or the wrong kind of licking means you will leave them, they usually learn not to become obsessive about it...or not do it in front of you. The message they must learn is, one or two licks...and we're good!

When we reward the unwanted behavior by giving attention each time they demand it, we create a behavioral issue. By knowing when, where, and how often to respond or ignore, we curtail their demand before it becomes a relentless problem that requires behavior modification. The best way to do that is to simply walk away and ignore them.

Licking the face of another dog is the universal doggie message, "I'm helpless, I submit to you." or, "Hey I'm friendly and I'm so happy to see you." This is an ancient behavior, that has been normal from the time they were wolves.

When the wolf or wild dog pack returned from the hunt with supper, the subordinate members of the pack were happy to meet and greet the hunters, but they always had to wait their turn to eat. They displayed their happiness and submission by cowering and licking the mouths of the more dominant pack members. They were also hopeful the object of their admiration, would release a scrap or two.

Have you ever noticed your puppy or dog display their anxiety by nervously licking their chops? It is a display of submission and it's self-consoling.

It should be noted, a dog that obsessively licks itself could also be indicating a medical problem. That needs to be addressed immediately before it develops into a neurotic, self-consoling behavior.

Licking, as a means of grooming, is perfectly natural...it's like taking a shower every morning. The problem is, when they want to give you one too! Here again, one or two licks and we're good, should be the message you sent back.

Dogs instinctively lick open wounds, as a way of keeping it clean. For centuries, armies had packs of dogs tag along with them, for protection, as a food sources and as "medics." Their crucial task was to lick open wounds, to keep them clean, and disease free. It was, and still is in some cultures, believed their saliva helps to kill certain bacteria. That theory is debatable, and the jury is still out on it.

The genitourinary stimulation thing as a rule is, "if it feels good, why stop?" It's your responsibility to curtail that behavior when it is inappropriate, and before it becomes an obsessive behavioral problem.

By Learning Dog

You will better understand what your puppy or dog may be trying to communicate. Such as:

"You have returned from the hunt safely...what did you bring me?"

"Are you as happy to see me, as I am to see you!"

"I need some consoling and reassuring."

" I'm sad because you're upset."

"I submit."

"You're hurt; here let me fix it."

"I'm depressed, or lonely and I need your attention."

Or, "I have put my scent on you. You are mine, all mine!" Let's face it, licking sure beats the alternative scent marking method!

Bottom line: Observe your pet's sign and body language. Learn Dog; so you can better understand what your puppy or dog is trying to tell you. That way you can control the behavior before it becomes a serious behavioral problem.

Your dog will be so impressed, that you are as bi-lingual as you expect them to be!

NEWFOUNDLAND - THE ARISTOCRAT AMONG DOGS.

The dogs which take their name from the island of Newfoundland appeal to all lovers of animals.There are now two established varieties, the black and the white and black. There are also bronze-coloured dogs, but they are rare. The black variety of the Newfoundland is essentially black in colour; but this does not mean that there may be no other colour, for most black Newfoundlands have some white marks. In fact, a white marking on the chest is said to be typical of the true breed. Any white on the head or body would place the dog in the other than black variety. The black colour should preferably be of a dull jet appearance which approximates to brown. In the other than black class, there may be black and tan, bronze, and white and black. The latter predominates, and in this colour, beauty of marking is very important. The head should be black with a white muzzle and blaze, and the body and legs should be white with large patches of black on the saddle and quarters, with possibly other small black spots on the body and legs.

Apart from colour, the varieties should conform to the same standard. The head should be broad and massive, but in no sense heavy in appearance. The muzzle should be short, square, and clean cut, eyes rather wide apart, deep set, dark and small, not showing any haw; ears small, with close side carriage, covered with fine short hair (there should be no fringe to the ears), expression full of intelligence, dignity, and kindness.

The body should be long, square, and massive, loins strong and well filled; chest deep and broad; legs quite straight, somewhat short in proportion to the length of the body, and powerful, with round bone well covered with muscle; feet large, round, and close. The tail should be only long enough to reach just below the hocks, free from kink, and never curled over the back. The quality of the coat is very important; the coat should be very dense, with plenty of undercoat; the outer coat somewhat harsh and quite straight.

The appearance generally should indicate a dog of great strength, and very active for his build and size, moving freely with the body swung loosely between the legs, which gives a slight roll in gait. As regards size, the Newfoundland Club standard gives 140 lbs. to 120 lbs. weight for a dog, and 110 lbs. to 120 lbs. for a bitch, with an average height at the shoulder of 27 inches and 25 inches respectively; but it is doubtful whether dogs in proper condition do conform to both requirements.

When rearing puppies give them soft food, such as well-boiled rice and milk, as soon as they will lap, and, shortly afterwards, scraped lean meat. Newfoundland puppies require plenty of meat to induce proper growth. The puppies should increase in weight at the rate of 3 lbs. a week, and this necessitates plenty of flesh, bone and muscle-forming food, plenty of meat, both raw and cooked. Milk is also good, but it requires to be strengthened with casein. The secret of growing full-sized dogs with plenty of bone and substance is to get a good start from birth, good feeding, warm, dry quarters, and freedom for the puppies to move about and exercise themselves as they wish. Forced exercise may make them go wrong on their legs. Medicine should not be required except for worms, and the puppies should be physicked for these soon after they are weaned, and again when three or four months old, or before that if they are not thriving. If free from worms, Newfoundland puppies will be found quite hardy, and, under proper conditions of food and quarters, they are easy to rear.

People Spend More On Their Pets Than Themselves

In recent studies, it has been discovered that in our downtrodden economy, people are spending more money on their pets, acquiring new pets and their upkeep than they are themselves. In a study done by Purina Dog Food, it has been estimated based on their current sales for this fiscal year that people all throughout the world will spend a total of $50 billion in pet food alone.

This is a record all-time high. Many people attributing this high cost of pet care and product purchases to the fact that more people are staying at home and focusing on their family lives, which includes pets rather than going on vacations, working long hours and they are staying home a lot more.

American pet ownership is at the highest it has ever been. 72.9 billion people have pets now and most of these families treat their pets better than their children. Since 2001, pet product sales have increased by 5% or more each year. Even animal breeders are surprised at how well the sale of new pets is going. One breeder said that even though her golden retriever puppies sell for $1,000 to $1,500 a piece, she still has to have seven to ten litters a year to keep up with the demand. People don't seem to care that these dogs are expensive; they aren't spending the money on anything else.

This has also been the case in pet care and death. People are paying whatever it takes to keep their pet happy and healthy for as long as possible. However, when their pet does finally pass on from old age or an incurable ailment, they spare no expense on cremation and selecting pet urns that they can keep forever with their pets. One man says that he paid over $5,000 for a solid gold pet urn for his Chihuahua puppy when it died of worms because he loved him so much.

That is nearly double what he paid for his wife's urn when she passed two years before his dog. Many pet cemetery directors also say that they have seen a rise in pet funerals. More than fifty of them a year are occurring all over the United States. It is always impressive to see the turn out says one director. People seem to spare no costs when it comes to their pets; however, loved ones are becoming indigent so families don't have to pay for them.

THE MOST INTELLIGENT POODLE.

The Poodle is commonly acknowledged to be the most wisely intelligent of all members of the canine race. There is a general belief that he is a fop, whose time is largely occupied in personal embellishment, and that he requires a great deal of individual attention in the matter of his toilet. It may be true that to keep him in exhibition order and perfect cleanliness his owner has need to devote more consideration to him than is necessary in the case of many breeds; but in other respects he gives very little trouble, and all who are attached to him are consistent in their opinion that there is no dog so intensely interesting and responsive as a companion. His qualities of mind and his acute powers of reasoning are indeed so great that there is something almost human in his attractiveness and his devotion. His aptitude in learning is never denied, and many are the stories told of his marvellous talent and versatility.

Not merely as a showman's dog has he distinguished himself. He is something more than a mountebank of the booths, trained to walk the tight rope and stand on his head. He is an adept at performing tricks, but it is his alertness of brain that places him apart from other animals.

The profuse and long coat of this dog has the peculiarity that if not kept constantly brushed out it twists up into little cords which increase in length as the new hair grows and clings about it. The unshed old hair and the new growth entwined together thus become distinct rope-like cords. Eventually, if these cords are not cut short, or accidentally torn off, they drag along the ground, and so prevent the poor animal from moving with any degree of comfort or freedom.

Corded Poodles are very showy, and from the remarkable appearance of the coat, attract a great deal of public attention when exhibited at shows; but they have lost popularity among most fanciers, and have become few in number owing to the obvious fact that it is impossible to make pets of them or keep them in the house. The reason of this is that the coat must, from time to time, be oiled in order to keep the cords supple and prevent them from snapping, and, of course, as their coats cannot be brushed, the only way of keeping the dog clean is to wash him, which with a corded Poodle is a lengthy and laborious process. Further, the coat takes hours to dry, and unless the newly washed dog be kept in a warm room he is very liable to catch cold. The result is, that the coats of corded Poodles are almost invariably dirty, and somewhat smelly.

Poodle's General appearance
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Head: Long, straight, and fine, the skull not broad, with a slight peak at the back.

Muzzle: Long (but not snipy) and strong not full in cheek; teeth white, strong, and level; gums black, lips black and not showing lippiness.

Eyes: Almond shaped, very dark, full of fire and intelligence.

Nose: Black and sharp.

Ears: The leather long and wide, low set on, hanging close to the face.

Neck: Well proportioned and strong, to admit of the head being carried high and with dignity.

Feet: Rather small, and of good shape, the toes well arched, pads thick and hard.

Legs: Fore-legs set straight from shoulder, with plenty of bone and muscle.

Hind-legs: Very muscular and well bent, with the hocks well let down.

Tail: Set on rather high, well carried, never curled or carried over back.

Coat: Very profuse, and of good hard texture; if corded, hanging in tight, even

cords; if non-corded, very thick and strong, of even length, the curls close and thick, without knots or cords.