You chose a
Tux Golden.
Here is everything you need to raise the healthiest, happiest Golden Retriever possible — starting now.
Not all puppies arrive equal.
The experiences a dog has between birth and eight weeks are among the most consequential of their entire life — neurologically, behaviorally, and emotionally. At Tux Goldens, we take that window seriously. Every puppy that leaves our care has spent their formative weeks inside a structured, science-backed developmental program.
They have been held, challenged, exposed, conditioned, and loved — intentionally and with purpose. This guide exists to help you continue what we started.
What comes home with your puppy
-
📋
Puppy Culture Foundation Your puppy has followed the full Puppy Culture curriculum from their earliest days — crate intro, manding, clicker conditioning, leash exposure, and socialization.
-
💉
Microchipped Before You Arrive Every Tux Golden leaves with a permanent microchip already implanted. Register it in your name the day you get home.
-
📖
Puppy Book A complete record of your puppy’s health history, vaccination schedule, training tips, and essential care information — yours to keep and reference.
-
🧬
Health-Tested Bloodlines Both parents are fully health tested and AKC registered. Results are published — you can review them before you ever make a decision.
-
🤝
Ongoing Breeder Access We do not disappear after pickup. Questions, concerns, or just wanting to share a milestone — reach out to us at any point.
Use this guide as your reference. We’ve organized it into sections — use the tabs on the left to jump to any topic. Whether you need to review exercise guidelines, training principles, or health milestones, it’s here when you need it.
Puppy Culture.
What it is and
why we use it.
A science-backed curriculum that shapes who your dog will be for the next decade.
More than a checkbox.
Puppy Culture is a widely respected, evidence-based program developed by Jane Killion that structures the first eight weeks of a puppy’s life around neurological development, early learning, and social stability. We chose it because it works — and because it aligns with our belief that breeding dogs is a responsibility that extends well beyond genetics.
By the time your puppy arrives home, they are not a blank slate. They are a head start.
Learn More About Puppy Culture ↗Early Neurological Stimulation
Beginning on day three of life, gentle physical exercises activate the nervous system and build long-term stress resilience and emotional regulation.
Crate Introduction
Puppies are introduced to crates well before going home. Confinement is already familiar and non-threatening — you are not starting from zero.
Manding
We teach puppies to sit and make eye contact to communicate what they want — an early foundation for impulse control and polite behavior that lasts a lifetime.
Clicker Conditioning
Your puppy understands marker-based training before they ever arrive. Reward-based learning is faster and more effective from your very first session.
Leash Introduction
Early exposure to leash pressure means your puppy already knows what a leash feels like. Formal leash training begins with far less novelty to manage.
Socialization Protocol
Systematic exposure to sounds, surfaces, textures, and people during the most receptive developmental period — when it matters most.
What happened
before you
ever met them.
The first eight weeks are not waiting time. They are the most consequential period of your dog’s life.
Eight weeks that
shape everything.
Behavioral research consistently shows that the socialization window closes around 14–16 weeks of age. After that, puppies become naturally more cautious of new experiences. What they learn to accept during this window shapes their confidence and adaptability for life.
The work we do before your puppy comes home, and the work you do in the first weeks after, are among the highest-leverage investments you can make in your dog’s future.
Your most important weeks begin at pickup. The socialization window is still open when your puppy arrives. The work you do between weeks eight and sixteen is your single biggest opportunity to shape who your dog will be.
Neonatal Period
Eyes and ears are sealed. Early Neurological Stimulation exercises begin on day three — brief physical challenges that activate stress-response pathways and build future emotional regulation.
Transition Period
Eyes and ears open. The world becomes real. We introduce gentle sounds, expanded physical contact, and safe novelty as neurological pathways develop rapidly.
Awareness & Early Socialization
Puppies become aware of their environment and littermates. New surfaces, varied sounds, and multiple people are introduced. Crate exposure begins. Manding is taught.
Active Puppy Culture Phase
Full Puppy Culture curriculum in execution. Clicker conditioning, leash introduction, individual temperament assessment. Daily handling by multiple people. The most intensive developmental phase.
Going Home
Your puppy is microchipped, health-checked, and sent home with their Puppy Book. The window is still open — your most critical months begin now.
Neurological
ENS exercises from days 3–16 build stress tolerance at the physiological level — calmer stress responses, faster recovery, greater adaptability.
Social
Exposure to multiple people, handled daily, creates dogs that trust humans broadly — not just the familiar faces of one household.
Educational
Manding, clicker conditioning, and leash introduction give your puppy a learning framework before they arrive. Training is easier from day one.
Exercise.
The 5-minute
rule matters.
Over-exercising a puppy causes permanent joint damage. The guideline is simple — the reason behind it is important.
More exercise is not
always better.
Your puppy’s growth plates — the soft cartilage zones at the ends of developing bones — will not fully close until around 18 months of age. Repetitive, high-impact, sustained exercise on hard surfaces before that point can cause permanent joint damage and early-onset arthritis.
The good news: free play in a safe yard is generally fine and self-regulating. The concern is structured, sustained exercise — jogging on pavement, long hikes, and jump-heavy play.
The rule of five minutes. Five minutes of structured on-leash exercise per month of age, twice per day. A four-month-old puppy needs two 20-minute walks — not a five-mile trail.
Bloat awareness. Golden Retrievers can be susceptible to gastric dilatation-volvulus. Never exercise immediately before or after meals. Wait at least one hour on both sides. Use a slow-feeder bowl.
Mental Exercise Counts
A 10-minute training session tires your puppy as effectively as a 30-minute walk. Puzzle feeders, scent work, and short training sessions protect joints while meeting your puppy’s need for stimulation.
Exercise by Age
| Age | Walk Duration | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 months | 15 – 20 min | 2× daily |
| 4 – 6 months | 20 – 30 min | 2× daily |
| 6 – 9 months | 30 – 45 min | 2× daily |
| 9 – 12 months | 45 – 60 min | 2× daily |
| 12 – 18 months | 60 min | 2× daily |
| 18 months+ | Unlimited | As desired |
High-Risk Activities to Avoid Early
Jogging on pavement, extended stair climbing, repetitive jumping (agility), long off-leash hiking, and frisbee/fetch sessions with frequent hard landings should all wait until after 18 months of age.
Safe at Any Age
Free play in a yard, short leash walks, swimming (excellent, low-impact), gentle exploratory sniff walks, and training sessions are all appropriate and encouraged from day one.
Training.
Continue what
we started.
Your Tux Golden already understands clickers, manding, and leash pressure. You are not starting from zero.
Honor the foundation we built. Marker training (the clicker) and reward-based methods are what your puppy knows. Stay consistent with positive reinforcement — mixing in harsh corrections will confuse a dog whose entire learning history was built on clarity and reward.
The Four Core Principles
Dogs do not understand exceptions. If you do not want your 75-pound adult Golden on the sofa, do not allow your 12-pound puppy there. Decide your household rules before your puppy arrives and enforce them without variation from day one. Changing rules midstream creates confusion and slows progress significantly.
Puppies have extremely short attention spans. Training sessions should run 5–10 minutes at most. Multiple short sessions throughout the day are far more effective than one long one. Always end on a success — ask for something your puppy knows, reward generously, then release while they are still engaged.
Dogs read emotional tone with surprising accuracy. An upbeat training session is dramatically more effective than a tense one. If you are frustrated, stop. Training while irritated teaches your dog that training predicts an unpleasant emotional experience — undermining every future session.
Treats are powerful training tools, but they should not be the only reinforcer you use. Incorporate verbal praise, physical affection, toy play, and life rewards like releasing the leash to go sniff. Variety keeps your dog engaged and prevents over-reliance on food.
The Five Commands Worth Mastering
-
👁️
Name Recognition Your recall’s foundation. Say their name, wait for eye contact, reward immediately. Practice hundreds of times in the first weeks.
-
🏃
Recall — Come A reliable recall is a life-saving skill. Never call your dog for something unpleasant. Always reward coming to you generously and enthusiastically, no matter what.
-
🪑
Sit Your puppy already knows the manding foundation. Sit becomes your universal management tool — a sitting dog cannot jump, dart, or counter-surf.
-
⏸️
Stay Begin with one-second duration. Stay teaches impulse control — one of the most valuable lifelong skills a dog can possess.
-
🦮
Loose Leash Walking Your puppy has had leash exposure. When it tightens, you stop. When it loosens, you move. Consistency here pays off within weeks.
House Training
The Schedule
Outside after every meal, nap, play session, and every 30–60 minutes when awake. Set phone reminders. Missed breaks cause accidents — not stubbornness.
One Designated Spot
Choose one outdoor location and use it consistently. Say your cue phrase every single time. Reward within seconds of elimination — not after you’ve come back inside.
Clean Accidents Properly
Use enzymatic cleaners designed for pet accidents. Standard cleaners leave odor traces that encourage repeat accidents. Never punish — accidents are a supervision failure, not defiance.
Feeding your
Golden for a
long, healthy life.
Golden Retrievers are enthusiastic eaters. Structured feeding is not optional — it supports health and house training.
Scheduled meals.
No exceptions.
Free-feeding — leaving food out all day — makes house training nearly impossible, eliminates your ability to track appetite changes, and contributes to obesity. Feed at set times and pick up the bowl after 15–20 minutes.
Do not change food immediately. We will tell you what your puppy has been eating. Transition any new food gradually over 7–10 days, mixing increasing amounts of the new with the old. Abrupt changes cause gastrointestinal distress.
Choose a large-breed puppy formula from a reputable brand. Large-breed-specific formulas have appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratios that support proper joint and bone development without driving excessive growth rate. Rapid growth in large breeds is a risk factor for joint disease.
Body Condition Over Breed Standards
You should be able to feel your Golden’s ribs with light pressure but not see them. A visible waist from above and a tuck from the side indicates healthy weight. Goldens are exceptionally prone to obesity — do not overfeed out of affection.
Feeding Schedule by Age
| Age | Meals / Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 – 12 weeks | 4 meals | Every 4–5 hours |
| 3 – 6 months | 3 meals | Morning, midday, evening |
| 6 – 12 months | 2 meals | Morning and evening |
| 12 months+ | 2 meals | Transition to adult formula |
Foods to Avoid
- ❌Grapes & RaisinsCan cause acute kidney failure even in small amounts.
- ❌XylitolFound in sugar-free gum and some peanut butters. Highly toxic to dogs.
- ❌Onions & GarlicDamage red blood cells and can cause hemolytic anemia.
- ❌ChocolateTheobromine is toxic to dogs — dark chocolate is highest risk.
- ❌Macadamia NutsCause weakness, hyperthermia, and vomiting even in small amounts.
Grooming your
Golden. Beautiful
and manageable.
A consistent grooming routine strengthens your bond and prevents the problems that neglect creates.
Tolerance is trained,
not assumed.
Begin handling your puppy’s ears, paws, mouth, and body from day one — even before you need to groom anything. Puppies who are comfortable being touched become dogs who tolerate veterinary exams, nail trims, and grooming without resistance. This is one of the highest-value habits you can establish in the first weeks.
Brushing
Brush 3–4 times per week minimum, daily during shedding season. A slicker brush and metal comb are your core tools. Focus on areas prone to matting: behind the ears, the collar zone, and the “pants” behind the rear legs.
Bathing
Bathe every 4–6 weeks or as needed. Over-bathing strips natural oils from the double coat. Use a dog-specific shampoo for double-coated breeds. Dry thoroughly — especially in the dense undercoat — to prevent hot spots.
Nail Care
Trim every 3–4 weeks. If you can hear them clicking on hard floors, they are overdue. Long nails alter posture and gait over time. Introduce the nail dremel or trimmer with treats early — make it a non-event.
Ear Cleaning
Clean weekly with a vet-recommended ear cleaner. Golden Retrievers are prone to ear infections due to their floppy ear structure trapping moisture. Regular inspection and cleaning prevents chronic issues that are costly and painful.
Dental Care
Brush teeth 2–3 times per week with dog-safe toothpaste. Dental disease affects 80% of dogs by age three. Introduce teeth brushing as a puppy using a finger brush and high-value treat rewards.
Professional Grooming
Schedule a professional groom every 8–12 weeks. Your groomer can trim feathering, clean up paws and ears, and handle sanitary trimming. Build this into your budget from the beginning — it’s not optional for a Golden.
Make grooming rewarding from the start. High-value treats, calm handling, and short sessions build positive associations. A dog who enjoys being groomed is a gift to every vet, groomer, and owner they encounter for the rest of their life.
Health testing.
Because we do
the hard part first.
We do not guess at genetics. Both parents are fully health tested — and we publish the results.
Health testing is
not optional here.
At Tux Goldens, both parents are AKC registered and fully health tested for the conditions that matter most in Golden Retrievers. We publish our results — review them before you ever fill out an application.
The GRCA recommends health testing as a minimum standard of responsible breeding. Please do not purchase from a breeder who has done no testing. The Golden Retriever should be bred to improve the breed — and you cannot improve what you are not measuring.
First vet visit within 72 hours. Bring your Puppy Book. Your vet will do a baseline health check and establish your vaccine schedule. This is also a great time to ask any questions about your specific puppy’s health records.
Key Health Milestones — Year One
-
💉
First Vet Visit (Within 72 Hours) Health check, review of records, vaccine schedule established.
-
🩺
Core Vaccine Series (8 – 16 weeks) DHPP series, Bordetella, Rabies at appropriate age. Your vet will guide the schedule.
-
🔬
Fecal Tests (2 – 3× in Year One) Intestinal parasites are common in young dogs regardless of source. Routine fecal testing is standard care.
-
🦟
Parasite Prevention (Monthly) Heartworm prevention and flea/tick control. Oklahoma has year-round parasite pressure — do not skip months.
-
✂️
Spay / Neuter Timing Current research supports waiting until skeletal maturity — discuss with your vet, with 14–18 months as a common recommendation for Goldens.
-
📡
Microchip Registration Your puppy arrives microchipped. Register the chip in your name immediately through your chip provider’s registry.
Hip & Elbow Dysplasia
Golden Retrievers are prone to inherited joint disease. Both parents must be OFA evaluated or PennHIP scored. Proper nutrition, appropriate exercise, and healthy weight are your tools for prevention.
Eye Health
Progressive Retinal Atrophy and cataracts occur in the breed. Breeding dogs should have annual CAER eye exams. Ask about your puppy’s parents’ eye health history.
Cardiac Health
Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) is a heritable condition in Goldens. A veterinary cardiologist evaluation of breeding dogs is part of responsible breeding practice.
Going home.
The week before
and the first 72 hours.
Preparation prevents problems. Set yourself up before they arrive.
Set up before
pickup day.
-
🏠
Crate — Sized Correctly Large enough to stand, turn, and lie down. Too large and they will use one end as a bathroom. Use a divider and resize as they grow.
-
🥣
Slow-Feeder Bowl Slows eating speed and reduces bloat risk. Have this ready before the first meal at home.
-
🧸
Varied Toys Chew toys, puzzle feeders, tug toys, and soft toys. Rotate them for novelty and engagement.
-
🔒
Puppy-Proof Your Home Secure electrical cords, remove toxic plants, lock away cleaning products, gate off restricted areas.
-
📞
Vet Appointment Scheduled Book your first vet visit before pickup day. The appointment should happen within 72 hours of arrival.
First 72 hours.
Keep it calm.
Your puppy is leaving everything familiar — their littermates, their environment, every smell and sound they have known. Some adjustment stress is completely normal. Keep the first few days low-stimulation.
- Limit visitors for the first 2–3 days
- Establish sleeping location immediately
- Begin bathroom schedule from hour one
- Feed the same food at the same times
- Let them explore at their own pace
- Expect some nighttime vocalization — it’s normal
- Keep first sessions brief and positive
We are still here. You leave with a Puppy Book, but you also leave with access to us. Reach out any time — questions, concerns, or just a milestone you want to share.
Member of the GRCA · grca.org
What do you think?
It is nice to know your opinion. Leave a comment.