Bringing your puppy home from Gap View is both fun and exciting. While some may believe that they can simply pick up their new Gap View golden retriever puppy and bring him home without much preparation, the fact is that there are some things you should do to prepare your home and family members to make the transition to life with a new puppy.
Just like getting ready for a child’s toddler stage means taking steps to “child proof”, so does getting ready for a new puppy mean it’s time to “puppy proof”. Here are just a few things you can do to make your home safe for your new puppy.
· Clean Up – Puppies put everything into their mouths. That means if your children have a tendency to leave small toys lying around, it’s time to clean up! Put small items up out of puppy range, and be sure to explain how harmful swallowing a toy can be to a puppy.
· Secure Electrical Cords – Most puppies will try everything at least once. Golden Retrievers like the puppies you get from Gap View are very intelligent and will quickly learn what they can and cannot chew on. Electrical cords are one of those things that can cause immediate tragedy, so secure all electrical cords if you have not already done so.
· Buy A Crate – Your puppy should never be left unattended until he or she knows the rules and boundaries you have set up within your home. Crate training is the best way to keep your puppy safe and healthy, and to keep him or her out from underfoot when necessary. A crate is not something you should use for punishment – instead, it should be a safe haven where your puppy can relax and enjoy chewing on a safe toy, like a Kong. We will talk about crate training in a future post.
· Get The Right Toys – While federal safety regulations are in place for the toys our children play with, there are no safety regulations that apply to dog toys. That means unscrupulous marketers often put “cute” toys out on the market that can actually be destroyed very easily, which could cause your puppy to need intestinal surgery. Avoid toys that are not virtually indestructible. Good Toys include:
o Tennis Balls – your Gap View golden retriever puppy will be interested in playing fetch at a young age. Many pups from Gap View start retrieving right away. We will talk about retrieving in a future post.
o Kong Toys – Kong makes great toys that are safe for puppies. You can leave a Kong in your puppy’s crate without worrying that he or she will chew off a piece and choke on it. You can buy toys from Kong anywhere quality pet supplies are sold.
o Fat Cat Toys – Fat Cat makes toys that are fun and safe. While some toys are not intended to be chewed on, these toys are more durable than many others on the market, and they are pretty cool!
Read Up On Puppies
Here at Gap View Ranch and Kennel, we recommend books like Puppies for Dummies by Sarah Hodgson, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Positive Dog Training by Pamela Dennison. Both of these books are simply outlined so just about any member of the family can read about ways to make the transition to bringing a puppy into your life a smooth one.
If you ever have a question, please remember to call Dave at 540-896-7327. He will be more than happy to talk with you about ways to make bringing a Gap View golden retriever into your home easier than you might imagine!
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