Puppies and Worms

Puppies leaving Gap View Kennel have already been wormed - the bad news is, unless you keep your pup in a bubble, he or she needs to be wormed on a regular basis.

How Do Puppies Get Worms? 

The worms that infest puppies often start out as nematodes - little life forms that live in the soil.  They can stay alive for months or even years, and they're just about everywhere.  When your puppy chews on something dirty, or eats leaves and grass that have been in contact with soil, he or she is at risk of picking up worms, like roundworms.  These worms are also present in some feces - which is just one more reason it's a good idea to keep all your pets on a worming schedule and try to keep animals like stray cats out of your yard.

Tapeworms and fleas go hand in hand.  Fleas can carry tapeworm eggs, and if your puppy eats a flea (which can happen any time he is grooming himself) he can ingest tapeworm eggs.  Tapeworms then hatch inside the puppy, where they eat food intended for the pup.  They break off into segments that look like little flat pieces of tape (thus the name - "tapeworm") After they fall off your pup, they dry up and hatch into more eggs later - they cling to a flea, and then the cycle starts all over again. 

What Kind Of Worms Does Your Puppy Have? 

Different medications kill different types of parasites, so it is important to find out what kind of parasites could be infesting your puppy.  Get a sample of puppy poo, and bring it to your vet.  The vet can check the sample and find out what kind of parasites are present.  Do this regularly, and you'll prevent problems.

A bad worm infestation can stunt your puppy's growth - so be sure to give medication as prescribed.  Here's how to do it.

Worming Your Puppy

 Puppies are a lot easier to worm than kittens, so you're in luck!  If you need to give a pill, wrap it up in a savory treat.  Cream cheese works very well since it is slippery and your puppy will gulp it right down.  If the medication is a liquid, it's probably flavored.  We use a liquid called Nemex II at Gap View Kennel, which has a sweet taste the puppies like.  If you need to give liquid wormer, your pup might just lap it up!  If not, mix the liquid with something delicious your puppy can't resist.  Wet puppy food works very well.  

Good luck, and remember - if you have any problems with your new puppy please call Dave Liskey at 540-896-7327.

Grooming Your Golden Retriever

At Gap View Ranch and Kennel, we have a lot of golden retrievers to groom.  This keeps our staff busy!  There are some times of the year when grooming is a bit more intensive than others, and there are some tips you can take advantage of to make grooming your golden easier and more fun.

Basic Grooming - Puppies 

If you start to groom your puppy right after he or she comes home, grooming will become a routine that both of you look forward to.  Never be rough with your puppy as you are grooming, or for that matter, at any other time.  Be gentle, and let your pup know that he is safe with you.  
  
Use a soft brush on your puppy.  Later, when his fur is longer, you'll need some special grooming tools - but for now, use something soft that feels good.  Your puppy has sensitive skin, so being careful now will prevent him from associating grooming with discomfort.

Play with your puppy's toenails every day.  Rub his toes and paws, and file off the sharp tips with an emery board as he gets used to you playing with his feet.  Once he is used to that, use special toenail clippers to clip just the tips of his toenails.  Be careful not to get the quick - he'll bleed everywhere, and you might end up with a dog who hates having his feet touched.

Basic Grooming - Adults 

You'll need a few special tools for keeping your golden retriever looking good.  We like the furminator, and we also use a longer mat rake to get through long feathering.  If you brush your dog frequently, you'll never end up with mats and knots, unless he gets out and gets into something.  If he ends up with mats or knots behind his ears, you may need to take him to the vet or a professional groomer to have them removed.

Do NOT attempt to cut mats off with a pair of scissors!  Mats are often right next to the skin, and skin could be trapped inside.  Cutting a mat with skin trapped in it could cause a nasty gash and result in an expensive trip to the vet for stitches.  Prevention is the best way to keep any of this from happening!

When the weather changes, you might notice your dog losing tufts of his undercoat.  This is completely normal!  Take him outside or into the garage or another area where you can clean up easily, and get to work.  A long toothed comb like a metal flea comb works very well for getting in under the tufts and removing them easily.  Once, a lady visted Gap View and told us she had saved all this undercoat hair and made yarn from it with her spinning wheel!  She said she was saving it to make a sweater for herself.  You don't have to go to that extent - but you can use old panty hose filled with dog hair to keep rabbits out of your garden - or, you can just dispose of the hair.  We recommend you wear old clothes when you go for the undercoat, and you might have to brush your dog a few times for a week or two to get all the hair, since different areas shed at different rates.  Gap View's golden retrievers are all different - some lose their entire undercoat all at once, and others go in stages.  Just don't try to pull out any hair that's not ready, because this can cause discomfort.

Keep your dog's toenails clipped, and use a file to blunt any sharp edges.  Remember to get the dewclaw, too!  Remember, the more pleasant you make the whole process, the easier it will be for you and your golden retriever.  

Introducing Your Puppy to a Cat

Golden Retrievers are known as some of the gentlest, most intelligent dogs around.  When it's time to bring your new puppy home from Gap View, he or she will be fascinated with everything - and some things, like house cats, will take a little bit of getting used to.  Luckily, your new puppy and your cat should be best friends once they understand what is happening in their lives.  Here are some tips for making the introduction easy and fun.

Remember, Your Cat Was There First! 

Just like dogs, cats have different personalities.  Some are curious about new things and are happy to make friends with new pets and people right away, while others are more standoffish.

Don't force the issue!  Let your cat take her time getting used to your puppy.  You may want to put her in a room she likes, with food and a litter box, and let her smell the puppy through the door.  Next, let her see the puppy while you hold him.  If the puppy becomes excited, just talk to him and explain the cat is not a threat.  It's not the words you use that are important - it is the tone of your voice as you explain, in a matter-of-fact way, that this is kitty's home, too.

Once your puppy is in his crate, your cat will probably become very curious.  She will want to investigate.  Now that there is no way for your puppy to chase the cat, let the two work things out.  Over time, your new golden retriever puppy and your cat could end up to be best friends.   


Remember - any time you have questions about bringing your new golden retriever puppy home from Gap View Ranch and Kennel, feel free to call us or email.  We'll be happy to help.

Giving Your Puppy A Bath

One of the first things you will want to do when you bring your puppy home from Gap View is give him or her a warm bath.  The puppies play with each other while they are here, and, while we brush them, we do not give them baths. 

Be Careful With Shampoo!

Puppy shampoo like Earth Bath Puppy shampoo or Crazy Dog Baby Shampoo can be purchased at a pet store or online.  While baby shampoo for humans will do in a pinch, never use regular shampoo intended for adult humans on a puppy!  If you get it in his eyes it will sting, and he will never associate bath time with pleasure. 

Once you have your puppy clean, try not to use shampoo too often.  Use water only if your golden needs a rinse off.  If you need to bathe frequently, using the right shampoo is even more important since shampoos that are not designed specifically for dogs can make your golden retriever feel dry and itchy, and can lead to shedding and scratching. 

How To Bathe Your Puppy

First, assemble everything you will need.  Towels, shampoo, and more towels!  Pups usually like their baths, especially if the water is warm and the bath feels good to them.  When a Golden Retriever puppy from Gap View is young, he or she will fit in the kitchen sink, but as time goes by, you’ll need to wash them in the bathtub or shower (or outside, if the weather is good!)   When you bathe your puppy in the kitchen sink, you’ll want to have it filled with nice, warm water ahead of time. This will make the process a lot easier!

Second, get your puppy ready.  Take off his collar if he is wearing one, since the dyes in collars often bleed out into puppy fur and cause a stain that is hard to remove.  Next,  put a little cotton in your puppy’s ears so no water gets in.  I like to rip a cotton ball in half and just gently wedge it in under the ear flaps – don’t make the cotton too small, or you will end up at the vet’s to have it removed.  Putting cotton in your puppy’s ears prevents water from getting into the ear canal, where it could cause a yeast infection to start.

Third, wash your puppy.  Use a little shampoo to build up a lather, and give him a good massage while you wash him.  Talk to your puppy and act like it’s no big deal to have a bath – now that he lives with you, he needs to be civilized! 

Dry your puppy thoroughly and let him rest in a warm place after his bath.  If you’re lucky enough to have a warm day, a back deck or patio is the perfect place for a puppy to dry off after his bath.

Gap View Ranch & Kennel Recommends Microchipping Your Puppy

Every year, thousands of pets are lost or stolen.  Even more pets are brought to shelters during the kind of disasters that life can hand us without warning.

Microchipping your puppy is the best way to keep him or her safe.   Gap View Ranch and Kennel offers optional Microchipping, using  Bayer’s ResQ microchip, which is universally scannable.  The price includes the cost of lifetime registration within the nationwide identification system.  

The Bayer ResQ chip is about the size of a grain of rice.  It contains a unique 15 digit code that you register with Pet Link.   We simply inject it beneath the skin, between the shoulder blades.  

When a pet is picked up by animal control or brought to an emergency animal hospital or disaster services shelter, officials use a simple scanner like the one we have at Gap View to identify whether the pet has a microchip. 

If no microchip is found, your pet is effectively “lost” and is a ward of the animal control system – you may be lucky enough to find your pet if this happens, but there’s a better way to ensure a happy reunion!

When officials discover that a pet is microchipped, they call the Animal Recovery Program and obtain your contact information.  They then notify you that your pet has been found, and help you make arrangements to reunite. 

Please be sure that you keep your registration information up to date! 

Call 1-877-PETLINK  (1-877-738-5465) to register your puppy’s microchip information and to update it if you move. 

Keep current photos of your pet on file, and be sure he or she always wears identification.  Keep vaccinations up to date to prevent illness in the event of any incident that requires your dog to be sheltered with unvaccinated animals.

If your pet is lost, be proactive.  Contact your local animal shelter – information is easy to find on www. petfinder.com 

If the worst happens, and your golden retriever meets with an accident, please let Gap View know so we can make a note in our records.  

Your Golden Retriever Can Visit Gap View – Boarding Is Available

Gap View Ranch and Kennel offers boarding at reasonable rates.  While we usually play host to golden retrievers who were born at Gap View, we very often have other visitors.  If you want your dog to enjoy a vacation while you’re away, we will be happy to provide him or her with plenty of fun as well as a safe place to stay with round the clock care.

Is Your Dog Up To Date on Vaccines?

Your dog must have current vaccines to stay at Gap View, just as if he or she were to stay at another boarding facility.  We require current rabies, kennel cough (bordatella) and DHLPP at minimum.

No Fleas Allowed!

Gap View Ranch and Kennel is a flea free zone.  Please make sure your pet is comfortably flea free before he or she comes to visit.  If we find fleas on your dog, we’ll provide treatment and add the cost to your bill – we understand fleas can happen – we just want to keep our own goldens free of parasites.

Feeding Your Dog

If your dog is on a special diet, please be sure to provide enough food to last the duration of his or her visit.  It might not be a bad idea to send a few days’ worth of extra food just in case your return is delayed.

If your dog requires no special feeding, he or she will be fed Purina’s adult maintenance food, or Purina puppy chow if he is a “junior” golden.  Just send an instruction sheet with your pet so we can follow it.

In Case of Emergencies

Please remember to prepare an informational sheet with emergency contacts listed.  And, if your pet has any medical problems, we will need to know. 

We do our best to keep pets who are visiting Gap View Ranch and Kennel safe – rest assured, they’ll be seen by one of our veterinarians immediately if anything happens.  If you have questions, please call Dave Liskey at 540-896-7327.

Visiting Gap View Ranch and Kennel

If you have never been to Gap View Ranch and Kennel in beautiful Broadway, Virginia, you are in for a real treat.  Here are some directions about how to get here, and some tips for making the most of your golden retriever getaway.

Gap View Ranch and Kennel is located at 13445 Cooley Springs Ln, Broadway, Virginia, 22815.  We are just a little more than two miles from the Broadway City limits, on a private road that comes off highway 259.  You can put the location into your GPS and you’ll find your way to us with no problems.

If you want, you can call Dave Liskey at 540-896-7327 and he will be very happy to help you find your way to Golden Retriever paradise! 

Tips For Enjoying Your Visit To Gap View Ranch and Kennel

We are open between 11 am and dusk.  Just call ahead or make an appointment by visiting our website.

·         Wear comfortable clothing.  Gap View is a working ranch with all the trimmings.  You’ll be able to visit with the dogs in their kennels and play areas, and you can interact with puppies.  Dress accordingly, and you’ll enjoy your visit!

·         Bring your camera!  Many dog breeders frown on visitors – much less allow people to actually photograph their dogs and puppies.  Gap View welcomes visitors to take photos and shoot video of our golden retrievers.  All we ask is that you consider sharing some of those photos with us!   If you enjoy photography, there are plenty of lovely vistas to take in, all over the ranch.  You can photograph cattle, horses, peacocks, and you can even take a picture of Dave Liskey.   That's him, behind the puppy in the photo above.  :-)

·         Please feel free to call if you have any questions at all.  Dave has been raising Golden Retrievers at Gap View for over 25 years, and there is no such thing as a silly question!