I need some links on how to care for my golden retriever puppy, I am lost!!! Never had a youngster like this before and want to do everything right from eating to exercise to playing etc... I feel like we got started on the wrong foot already since the breeder told us he was 7 weeks and only 5 when he sold him to us!!!

There's so much info here, in the search box above just type , feeding puppies, and lots of great threads will come up

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Five weeks is younger than normal to be taken away from the mother and littermates. I think the norm is about 8 weeks and generally not before 7 weeks. Hopefully some of the breeders will see this and be able to suggest what you can do to make up for the loss of interaction with mom and the other pups.

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Zoe, Rockwall Nantucket Breeze, BN, CGC, Delta therapy dog
Zeke, our introduction to the world of Golden Retrievers

I 100% agree!!! I am not at all happy about this! I said it was to early and no one would listen to me, the person that sold him to us or my husband! I just hope I have been doing the right thing so far~

If you can get a hold of this book, it is a good general guide for puppyhood to old age. They cover training, crate training, nutrition etc. Our breeder makes all her 1st time puppy owners.

Thanks Millie, found it on Amazon, just ordered it!

That's great. It is really a good resource. I used it a lot with my old girl when she was a senior. I just looked at the puppy section and it is pretty good.

Good luck with your puppy.

This is a wonderful book! Good luck

The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) [Hardcover]
Monks of New Skete (Author)

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--PDL
Golden Retriever Girl coming soon!

Main thing will be socialization, but you must be very careful. Until all shots are finished there are many diseases our young pups can get. You need to balance this with getting him out and about seeing new things, hearing new noises and greeting people of all races every day. Carry him around and expose him to everything you can find. Do not go to dog parks or let him get around areas where other dogs go, but you can take a blanket and put him on this and go to the Home Depot, outside Malls (weather permitting) get him to a construction site to hear and see the machinery. The first 12 wks are very important to socialization and seeing other dogs is a main part, not just dogs in the household. When he is older it might be good to have him around other vaccinated adults or older puppy to play with.

There are many great threads here about socialization you might look for. Good luck and know he will do great. You need to post a picture of your new little man! Crappy breeder to let him go so early, but you can make up the difference with a bit of work and carefully planned ideas of things to do and see.

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