[Molly’s Mom]

ALast year my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I bought a beautiful little ginger colored golden retriever puppy. My husband passed when she was 4 months old and she has been a godsend to me. She was perfect until about 5 months old then she got wild. I took her to training and I take her out in public to restaurants and walk her every day and She is an awesome dog.at 8 months she had her first heat and since then has become incredibly calm and it looks like the puppy is all gone. She no longer jumps or is very playful. I love it but is that normal?

 

[GoldenRetieverL0ver08]

Im sorry about your loss of your husband. My golden retriever went through her first heat at 10 months and her normal bad puppy behaviors completely went away, she didnt listen for 3 months before her heat, and there was no training near us. Now she is so calm, but she knows how to be a puppy still.

 

[diane0905]

I’m so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you got exactly the puppy you need to me. A blessing and comfort for you.

 

[JoyLev]

I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband. I’m glad your puppy is there to help you through it in her “doggy” way. To answer your question, I did notice a dramatic change in baseline behavior after my puppy’s first heat at 10 months. She is still stubborn on walks when she just wants to sniff, dig, try to eat stuff etc, but she is much more chill inside. She enjoys more naps and more pets. She was a fairly high energy field bred puppy and I have to admit the change was very welcome.

 

[Oceanside]

So sorry for your loss. I would say that each heat cycle while they’re young seems to add one level of maturity, and the first cycle probably makes the most difference.

 

[GoldenRetieverL0ver08]

I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband. I’m glad your puppy is there to help you through it in her “doggy” way. To answer your question, I did notice a dramatic change in baseline behavior after my puppy’s first heat at 10 months. She is still stubborn on walks when she just wants to sniff, dig, try to eat stuff etc, but she is much more chill inside. She enjoys more naps and more pets. She was a fairly high energy field bred puppy and I have to admit the change was very welcome.

My girl got super needy and lazy after her first heat. Now she is going through her second and is even more needy and doesnt even want to walk. But she needs to loose 5 lbs.

 

[caninelover]

So sorry for your loss. My puppy is 4.5 and not wild but definitely starting to test boundaries.

I am glad your golden is giving you comfort and companionship during a difficult time.