Hi All,

I'm in the process of moving my puppy onto wellbeloved, and I was just wandering what sort of sustained weight increase is healthy for a golden retriever to reach full body weight and size. She was weighed in at 9.5 kilos on Tuesday, and the vet said she should grow to about 35 kilos when fully grown. Is it a case of simple maths - i.e by (I'm guessing here so please correct my if I'm wrong) the time she's a 18 months old she should be fully grown, so that's 15 months away. She's got about 25 kilos to put on so would she need to be putting on about 1.6 kilo to month. I'm guessing I've got the figures wrong, but is the principle correct? And have I just answered my own question?

Also, when playing  couple of days ago when I tried to take a toy from her she growled and went to bite (didn't as I withdrew my hand pretty quickly). She's done this a couple more times and now with different toys. Am I right to take the toy off her and turn my back (i.e. demonstrating that that behaviour isn't acceptable and play will end if she does it? Or am I just fueling her being possesive by taking the item away?

Thanks everyone!

Karen

try swapping toys so that she associates you taking a toy away with something good, ie give her a treat for the toy or another toy that is of equal value to her,

the weight gain will be big and then will slow down once she gets past 6months
hth
anna

Hi

About the growling -

This is called resource guarding.  You need to preventatively train against this in most dogs.  The best way is with a clicker and treats.  You need really tasty treats by the way, because the dog must want the treats more than the toy.

When the dog has the toy, you say "Leave" (or whatever your leave word is).  Then wave the treat under the dog's nose until she must drop her toy to get the treat.  As soon as she drops the toy, you click that and THROW THE FOOD away from her.  While she is off eating the food, you pick up the toy which she dropped by you.  Try not to let her see you pick the toy up, because that will encourage possessiveness.  That is also why you throw the food away - so that she is not by the toy, trying to guard it when you pick it up.  It's a good idea to then put the toy down again, and let her get it, and repeat the whole exercise.  So that she gets the object again after relinquishing it and doesn't learn that it's gone forever if she lets go.  Once you've done this a few times, you can let her keep it, or take it away (using this method).

Once you have practised this a lot, the dog will start to leave the toy when you say "Leave", and without the food being waved under her nose.  You should then click this and throw the food away, as usual.  This should be your standard way of getting her to relinquish any object or article and is much better than physically removing it, since this leads to guarding issues, as you're finding.

You are right that by physically removing the object, you are giving her even more reasons to guard it - ie - she believes this object must be important and highly desirable because you want it so much.  You must pretend that you are not at all interested in the object.  Don't snatch the object up when she drops it - resist the urge and throw the food away from you, BEFORE picking up the toy.

Hi Karen

I'm in Goldens, all of them on James Wellbeloved.
Firstly, my dogs weight (fully grown) range between 32Kg to a hefty 38Kg.  It will depend on the amount of bone your girls has (By the way mine are all girls). My 38Kg is lovely and slim and Vets can't beleive that she weighs that much. But as I say she is quite a big boned bitch with plenty of substance.  What I am trying to say is you have to look at the dog and decide whether she looks okay in your eyes, not what the scales say.  I put my puppies on Junior James Wellbeloved by approx 4 months, then change to adult food by six months.  This is because I do not like them growing too quickly as a heavy puppy puts stress on the bone and joints.  Never had any problems doing it that way!

As for the growling and snapping.  I am sorry, and I know some will shoot me down, but it needs putting a stop to now.  Don't forget we are not talking about a guarding breed, but a gundog.  Personally, I would immediately put my finger up to her and tell her NO or AH, AH. I look mine in the eye (I know some people will say that you shouldn't), but mine have always responded well.  I can't repeat enough that they are NOT a guarding breed and you shouldn't let them do it.  Also the Goldens are a VERY clever animal and they will try it on just to see how much they can push you and this is one of the testing times.  Without sounding like I am some sort of ogre, I always tell my puppy owners not to let them push you around as you can literally see them say to themselves, 'this one's a pushover'.
As I say very clever!.

Good luck
Alison

Gosh Alison what lines do you have? Don't think I've ever come across a bitch that big, I was just going to reply and say in my experience the average bitch is 25-30 kg. :) Lost a bitch just after Christmas, she was 27. The two dogs I have now are 32 and 40. Goldens seem to be getting smaller and smaller!

Hi.

She is out of Purbarn Xtra Thunderstorm. Won the Veteran bitch class at Crufts last year.  Big girl and now nearly 9 years old but looks about 6.  (behaves like a puppy)
Her progeny are all a bit smaller.ie 32-33 Kgs. but are very well boned.
Also, (and I am not making comments on other peoples routines ) but muscle also weighs heavy don't you think?

Alison

Ah LOVELY lines, just the type of Golden I love. :) Oh yes of course muscles weigh, was just very surprised at a bitch weighing in at 38 kg, well I think there were some Yeo bitches that were as big as that, but it's certainly unusual. Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean it as criticism!!

Didn't take it as a criticism, honestly.  I personally don't worrry about her and I have never had a judge comment on her size as she is well in proportion. As I say the Vets can't believe when I weigh her. But I tell you what you know about it if she comes running at you!

Thank goodness for a bit of sense on the growling, snapping, guarding puppy problem!

regarding the weight thing im not sure but the growling thing has to stop, and now!! before she gets any bigger. you never said if is it over the one certain toy or all toys  i would remove all playing toys untill you are actually going to play with her, give her things to chew the rest of the time, just until she makes progress.  make sure she has a command for giving you the toy, i use leave, but drop, give are all fine as long as she knows what it means, i have a 5 month old dog who understands so it doesn't take long.  praise is the key i find.
if she does go to bite you be firm, even try making a loud yelp, like her litter mate would do to tell her its wrong and you dont like it.  if you feel safe doing so even try holding her firmly and look into her eyes while saying no firmly, keep eye contact and you will see her roll her eyes back or to the side, this is her being submissive and she knows you ar ethe boss.