FAQ Series, Raising a healthy, well rounded puppy

Raising a Healthy, well rounded puppy




Leash training your new puppy


There is no doubt about it, a puppy is one of the cutest of Gods creations! We don't know anyone who couldn't sit for hours and watch puppies play or sleep, love getting puppy kisses and the smell of puppy breath! 

A puppy that grows up to be a special, one of a kind, loving, incredible dog, starts long before birth.  A reputable breeder will have carefully performed genetic clearances on parents and researched pedigrees from their years of knowledge.   Responsible breeders will have spent many hours communicating with potential homes and will educate and prepare these homes for the new arrival. 

Proper puppy socialization begins at birth and goes past the time it is weaned, past the time it goes into it's new home and all the way up to 6 months of age. Everything the breeder does to acclimate the puppy to different sounds, surroundings, being held by people, around loud children, loud and even unusual noises will stay with that puppy forever. It's equally important for the new owner to properly socialize the puppy in different environments and social events up until the puppy is 6 months of age. Everything you do with the dog to socialize it up until that point will stay with it forever. It can be very hard to properly socialize a dog after it is 6 months of age if it's been isolated from the outside world. 

If you have an Honor Service Dog  Golden then you have gotten our extensive "Puppy Guide". This puppy packet will give you just about all the information you will ever need to have a healthy, long lived, well rounded and well behaved dog.





Once your puppy has completed his puppy shots, you are safe to go pretty much anyplace, anywhere with him, which is the perfect window of opportunity to expose him to everything! Of course, be careful if you see a sick dog that is vomiting or has diarrhea, keep him at safe distance, like you might a child coming into contact with another sick child. Places like Lowes and Home Depot will allow anyone to bring in dogs that are on leash, not just service dogs. Check and see if your city has an outdoor eatery that you can take your puppy and it can learn to sit quietly while you enjoy a meal. This is also a great time to get them around loud trains, airplanes and car noises. If the pup acts fearful or shy, calmly reassure him that everything is fine and there is nothing to worry about. It's also a wonderful time to get them used to small children running and shrieking loudly like at a park, allow them to see people of all shapes, sizes as well as people with hats, wheelchairs, walkers and power scooters. Anything you can think of to do with your puppy before it hits 6 months of age will help it to become a well rounded out going and confident adult dog.