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These are the products that I use and recommend
Food
I will be feeding your puppy Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog food. I can send you home with some food if you need it.
Here is a link to it through Chewy.com They are an awesome company that delivers right to your door.
https://www.chewy.com/purina-pro-plan-focus-puppy-chicken/dp/52418
You can also find that food through my Amazon Storefront for about the same price and your local big chain stores also usually carry this.
I will be using canned puppy food to make a “gravy” to put on the kibble.
https://www.chewy.com/purina-pro-plan-development-puppy/dp/52383
or
I do recommend keeping your bagged dog food in a air tight container such as this one. https://amzn.to/4gE4BCY You should keep it in the original bag and place the bag into the container. This is an added barrier for freshness. If you do empty the bag into the container you will need to sanitize the container on a regular basis.
Just for future reference, I feed my adults the Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice.
I also recommend the Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 Chicken and Rice Formula High Protein for those of you who are more active with your dogs.
I will be providing you with information on why you absolutely positively need to be careful of what you are feeding your dog. You should not be feeding a "grain free" diet. There is clinical proof now that these diet fads are causing significant heart problems and death. Again, I will provide you with documentation of this information. You can also find some articles about it on the Dream Facebook page
Treats
These are some of my favorite treats that I use for my girls on a daily basis. They come in quite a few different flavors and we always have at least 2 different ones on our counter to choose from.
Nutro Crunchy dog treats in Peanut butter flavor
and in Apple flavor
These are really great training treats that I will be using while training your puppy. They are just the right size and low in calories so you don’t have to feel bad about using a few. They also come in a different flavors. These are always a big hit!
I’m also a big fan of Zuke’s brand treats too.
Supplements
Your puppy will be getting multi vitamins from me and I recommend that you continue giving them throughout life. Doc Roys Daily Care Extra is a great vitamin that I have found at a great price. I recommend giving your puppy half a tablet once a day until 4 months old and then 1 tablet daily.
I also really recommend some sort of a joint supplement and have found one that my dogs all love that is relatively inexpensive. It is called Joint Max and the girls love them.
I always keep this supplement on hand just in case I have any issues with diarrhea. It was recommended to me by my dear friend Shelly (Emmylou's mom) and it has came in handy many times! Diarrhea is a very common issue that can be caused by so many different things. This product is dehydrated and you can store it in the pantry forever! I definitely recommend looking into this!
Olewo Original Carrots for Dogs.
Flea treatment
You can start giving flea treatment as early as 2 months old. The treatment that I use and trust, as it is safe for pregnant females, and therefore safe for everyone is K9 Advantix II.
The other safe product is Bravecto. This one does require a prescription. Be sure to check on Chewy.com to see if you can get it cheaper.
I absolutely do not recommend using Simparica Trio. There have been too many issues with this product.
There are many other options out there for oral treatments as well. Please talk to me if you have questions. I do not recommend any of the collars as the instance of reaction seems to be pretty high.
Heartworm medication
All dogs should be on a heartworm medication regime. Talk to your veterinarian about this.
I recently learned of a product that my reproduction veterinarian recommended that actually costs a lot less than what I was using and recommending. It kills all of the icky parasites and is safe for breeding dogs, therefore is safe for everyone.
Tri-Heart Plus Chewable tablets. They are a monthly supplement, but you can just add them to one of their meals. That's what I do and my girls just gobble them down.
The price was the same on both Amazon and Chewy when I checked.
Crates
Amazon sells a really great wire crate with an option of 2 doors and comes with a divider panel so that you can make the crate smaller when the puppy is little and take it out when needed. You will want to keep the crate to a size that is just big enough to lay down in but nothing more. Otherwise your puppy may think he/she can potty in there too. (36” size for average adult golden)
You can, of course, use a plastic type of crate. But, you should be sure to figure out how to make the area smaller to begin with. These are really great for traveling and some dogs prefer these are they feel more secure in them. I have both types and I will introduce your puppy to both types. (36” size for average adult golden)
Exercise Pens
This is what I have around the puppies in my main play area as I am sure you have seen online. These pens are amazing and can come in super handy for all sorts of things. I even have one around some plants outside that I do not want the puppies to get into.
I highly recommend one of these to secure a small area where the puppy can be left should you have to run an errand. You can leave their crate in there with the door clipped open and a potty pad along with a few toys and they will be good to go and safe from any trouble they might find! I like the 30” high because I can still step over it, but I have them in many different heights. 30" is the minimum height you should consider buying. This particular one has a step through gate.
I also recommend one of these to ease in the transition from my house to yours. This is going to be what the puppy is familiar with as far as nighttime/bedtime routine. You are more than welcome to put them just in a crate at night, but this will really help that transition.
Floor covering
I have quite a few of these and they wash and dry great! You may see them at the house when you visit even. I highly recommend these!
Potty box area
If you have ever seen my potty box in the puppy area, these work great! They are easy to move around and easy to clean. If you have a large area, I recommend more than one pan. I get these specific ones at Tractor Supply, but I am sure you can find equivalent products at other feed stores.
DuMOR plastic rabbit cage tray: (these come in different sizes too) https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dumor-24-in-rabbit-tray-2109v0008
Tractor Supply pelletized bedding:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tractor-supply-pine-pellet-stall-bedding-40-lb
Grooming
BioGroom Fluffy Puppy Shampoo is what I will be using on your puppy. I love the smell of it and it is tearless.
#1 All Systems Conditioning Shampoo is what I use on all of my adult girls. I love the clean fresh smell and it doesn’t leave a residue behind.
The comb by Chris Christensen is the one that I use. I like to comb out the girls while they are wet to remove all of the loose hair. It works great!
I also love love love my slicker brushes. I have a few of them stashed around the house and they are my “go to” brush when I need to make the girls look nice. Great for the ruff and the tail as well as all over the body. Just be sure you are careful with these and do not press to hard as they will hurt and can seriously scratch an eye if you are not careful. I do not recommend letting children use these!
I am also a fan of the “Pin” style brushes. You will find 2 styles in my link, either one is great. I use these to remove mats and they are great when you have just washed the dog to remove any loose fur and smooth out their coat.
You will also find some different scissors that I use for grooming in this link.
Collars
The collars I will be using for the puppies at about 4+ weeks of age are 10-15” and are 5/8” wide. My recommendation would be to purchase a collar that is less than 1” wide and comparable in length to my puppy collars. The next size up is usually 12”-18” and would be a good choice as well.
I have so many collars on my Amazon storefront. There are just so many to choose from!
The company that I get all of my cute puppy collars from is off of Ebay. She has thousands to choose from in all sizes. It is easiest to sort through if you have a color in mind first, trust me on this one. LOL! Enter the color in the search prompt.
First days at home
Here are a few supplies that might benefit you when you go home with your new puppy.
The Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat toy can be very beneficial if your puppy is going to be sleeping alone and I highly recommend it. I've used it myself many times with great success. There are a few different colors.
https://amzn.to/42JP5jY and https://amzn.to/4dgLEas
It's also a great idea to have a plan for keeping the puppy busy when you are going to have to run out for a minute or two and don't want them to get into trouble. I always have one of these filled and ready to go in a ziploc in the freezer so I'm prepared. You can fill them with peanut butter or canned food.
Cleaners
The product that I use to disinfect around the house is from a company called ProVetLogic. I use it to clean everyone’s shoes when they visit as well as to mop up the puppy area daily. (sometimes more than once a day.) It smells nice and kills everything!
The cleaner I use to clean up messes, especially while potty training, is from Nature’s Miracle.
Pet Insurance
Trupanion is a company that a lot of my breeder friends use and it seems to cover a whole lot of different things.
AKC Pet Insurance: This is the insurance that I am trying out for Zoey. I have never had insurance on my dogs before and I wanted to try this one out. So far they have reimbursed every appointment we have had.
https://www.akcpetinsurance.com/
Nationwide is a company that many employers offer as part of their benefits package options. Check with your company.
Healthy Paws is listed as a top rated insurance by Forbes magazine.
https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com
Many Pets is also listed as a top rated insurance by Forbes magazine.
Chewy also has pet insurance available and I have friends that say it is great.
Books
Here are also a few great books that I have read personally and a few that have been recommended by some of my mentors:
General Storefront Link
I do have an Amazon storefront page that has many many products that I recommend above and beyond what is listed here.
Everything from dogs doors and gates, training supplies, fun birthday party supplies to decor for your home and cute clothing!
Be sure to check that out too!
https://www.amazon.com/shop/dreamgoldenretrievers
I have compared the prices listed through my storefront with the "regular" prices on Amazon. I have not found any markups. Amazon just compensates me with points for recommended products to you.
Heat supplies and information for my girl owners
Her first heat cycle could start as early as 6 months old. But, if we are lucky, it won't happen until 10 months old like Zoey or 13 months old like Sadie!
Her heat cycle can last about 21 days. Here is a link to more information about what "estrus" is and what to expect. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/dog-in-heat
My girls generally become even more cuddly and needy than normal. If you can even believe that is possible! They may even suddenly have issues with food and/or nausea. But will absolutely still take those treats!
During their cycles they tend to have to go potty more often. Or at least they think they do. This is because her urethra is located inside of her vulva. So the letdown of the blood will cause a sensation like she needs to go potty.
Here are some products that I recommend. This includes some miscellaneous panties, some generic maxi pads that I use for my girls and also a supplement that helps eliminate smell if it becomes an issue for you.
There is also a really great seller on Etsy that sells the cutest custom panties that are super adorable and great quality! Lots and lots of prints to choose from too!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MuttButtsDogDiapers?section_id=19701743
This is a great seller as well, but she is located out of the country, so order in advance. She has them listed on her shop as “running pants”.
For the panties, you will need to measure her and give it your best guess.
My one most important thing to remember about the panties is this, make yourself a note to put on the door that goes outside so that you don't forget to take them off of her before you open the door. Trust me on this one! LOL! This is also why I recommend at least 2 pairs of panties.
Be mindful
Remember that she can get pregnant during this time. So, if you are taking her for walks or for outings, she needs to be on a leash and you need to be paying attention to any unknown dogs approaching her. Mating can happen very quickly.
DO NOT take her to the beach or any parks where she is going to be off leash. She will survive a few weeks of not being able to do this.
Silent heat cycles
A silent heat cycle in a dog is when a female dog ovulates and is fertile but lacks the typical external signs of being in heat, such as vulvar swelling or vaginal bleeding. This normal heat cycle can be challenging to detect, but the dog still attracts males and can become pregnant.
This is most common for the first cycle.