When you are thinking of adding a new furry family member it is important to decide whether the breed is good for you, your family and life-style.  We have provided a list for you to think through before deciding on a golden retriever.

  1. They can live up to 15 years.  Are you willing to commit 15 years to this wonderful dog throughout all of life's challenges?
  2. They shed!!  Spring and fall they shed the most.  Are you prepared to handle the extra hair around your home?
  3. They want to be with you all the time.  They are friendly, love meeting new peopled animals, with a desire to be with you always.
  4. They will become destructive if left alone in your home, not in a crate or outside alone.
  5. They are smart and eager learners.  Are you willing to invest the time and  money into quality training, including hiring a trainer? They must be exercised mentally!
  6. They need exercise.  Are you able and willing to take them for multiple walks daily and/or play outside with them? They must be exercised physically!
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Are you ready for an 8 WEEK old Golden Retriever?
  1. They need to go outside to potty every 1 - 1  1/2 hours!  The FIRST WEEK home with you they will need to go outside every 30 minutes.
  2. They chew on everything!   Are you able and willing to train them on what they can chew and what they cannot? This takes hours/months of training.
  3. They whine when left alone.  They want to be with you!!  Are you willing to train them to learn to enjoy quite time self soothing with a bone. 
  4. They need training daily!  They need you to establish your household rules, be consistent and stick to it!!
  5. They need exercise daily!  They have ALOT of puppy energy well up to 12 months of age!
  6. They pee OFTEN!  They need to be taken out every 30 minutes their FIRST WEEK home with you.

What to expect of a 8 week old puppy from Radiant Goldens:
  • They have been introduced to a crate.
  • Fed 3x/day - 7am, 11am and 4pm.  Last food/water at 4pm helps to empty bladder and bowels before crating for bedtime.  Use discretion for need of water later than 4pm on hot summer days.
  • Puppy should be taken out every 3-4 hours during the night their first week home with you.
  • DURING THE DAY, puppy will need to go outside to potty every 1 - 1 1/2 hours.  FIRST WEEK HOME, this may need to be 30 minutes.
  • Trained to receive "high valued" treats in crate ( raw meaty bones, bully sticks, self-soothing bone found here)
  • Familiar with a collar but does not necessarily like it!!
  • Introduced to riding in car
  • Familiar with weekly claw trimming 
  • Familiar with a brush for grooming
What are the challenges of a 8 week old puppy:
  • They may bark, they may whine and they may dig manicured lawns and flower beds.  This is corrected with positive training.
  • They pee every 30 minutes!!!
  • They will be teething until 12 months of age and want to eat everything and put everything in their mouth.  After 12 months, they will want to eat everything and put everything in their mouth because they are a golden retriever.  This is corrected with positive training. 
  • They have LOADS of puppy energy well up to 12 months of age.  This is corrected with positive training and establishing household rules!
  • Hair, hair and more hair.  We vacuum our home multiple times a day. Spring and fall is the heaviest shed.  Good food and supplements will reduce (not eliminate) excessive shedding.
  • They will have accidents in your home!!!  Be prepared for cleaning, with an enzyme cleaner like this one HERE
  • Remember they are a puppy!!  THEY ARE A VERY YOUNG DOG!!  Put the time in training your dog while they are young.  Males will grow to be 75-85 lbs and females will grow to be 55-65 lbs!!  They  are an amazing breed and deserve your time and love!!!
  • Patience, love, repetition and routine are very, very important!!  We cannot emphasize this enough.