Hello everyone, i am about to get a new puppy and as a new dog owner am coming in this forum to get some help. Am still in between choosing from a Labrador and a Golden Retriver to be honest. Although am more into the Labrador at this point due to their coat and the amount of wool (dog fug) they drop. So let's say i get a labrador (DONT FORGET TO SUGGEST ME WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE PLEASE) I live in a apartament on the 3rd floor. I am working 9-5 job. Most of the time i have one of my family members home (sister, mother or dad). I need some tips and tricks, some advices or anything that you could share with me on raising a large puppy in an apartament. And yeah i have been told for small dogs but i want either a golden or labrador am not into small ones. Thanks!
Hi there and welcome to the forum. Golden Retrievers and Labs are very similar in a lot of ways, though in my experience Goldies are a little more laid back and Labs have an easier to manage coat! You can find an article comparing the two breeds here, which you might find helpful. If you work full time you will need a really good arrangement for puppy care, especially in the early days. Check out our guide to raising a puppy when you work full time here. Let us know what you decide!
Puppies shouldn't use stairs til they are fully grown - do you have an elevator to your apartment? If only stairs you will have to carry your dog long past the cute puppy stage. In the beginning you'll be going out every hour or so during the day and also once or twice during the night - are you sure you want to do this? In my opinion labs and Goldens are not apartment dogs and there are very good reasons why people are advising you to get a smaller dog. Are you sure you have the animal's best interests at heart?
We live in a flat and had to carry our pup up and down the stairs until she was 6 months. She got to over 27kgs during this time so it gets really hard! If your mum and dad are going to be helping will they be able to lift this amount of weight? Remembering that it won't only be heavy but the size of them will get bigger and harder to carry. Our girl has settled in well and doing really well but we only got her because we fell in love with her from our friends litter. We spoke to the vet about the situation and made sure we were able to provide her with everything and do everything so her health was out best interests. If you are looking into this before even finding a breeder and a puppy I would suggest you either look at another breed or moving before considering a large breed dog as it is a lot of work and commitment and if you are having to rely on other people you need to make sure they can look after them properly too. It is a huge commitment and we managed it but it isn't easy. Remember you will also need to toilet train twice as they wont be able to go outside to toilet until they have had all their injections.
If you are getting a Lab, make sure it’s parents hips have been certified. The breeder should be able to provide the certification for you to view. Try to keep the pup on a regular routine. It really helps with training if the pup knows when to expect meals, potty breaks, crating, etc. Trying to have a quiet meal with a puppy around can be nerve wracking, if not impossible. I use a Kong wobble treat dispenser to feed my pup kibble, and a lickimat to feed him soft food. It keeps him occupied during my meals and also keeps him from gobbling down his food. Keeping a house lead on him can help control where he has access. A puppy is like a toddler and will get into EVERYTHING when you’re not watching. You can loop the leash onto a doorknob if you need your attention elsewhere (like to go to the bathroom )
