How has it been a whole YEAR since we got our sweet, golden Finley boy?! He has truly been of the light of mine and Josh’s life since we brought him home! I honestly started seriously thinking about getting a pup during quarantine. Being home ALL the time made me think about just how amazing it would be to add a few paws to the mix. Through extensive research and conversations about the commitment to getting a dog, I did the thing! I reach out to a hand full of breeders and found the perfect one. Finley’s mama is an English Cream golden retriever, and his dad is a beautiful red golden retriever! I had no idea exactly what he would look like, but I knew he would be perfect, and he is! This blog post is about all the things I’ve used and loved having for him!
Golden Retriever essentials!
First off, when people say Goldens shed, they ain’t lyin’. You’re gonna need some heavy-duty hair control! There are TONS of other toys, comfy things for him, food, and organization that I loved and will link here. In my experience, Chewy is the best place to get dog things! They’re quite a bit cheaper than PetSmart or Petco, and it’s easier than Amazon!
Very sturdy crate that held up, perfectly! I travelled with Finley SO MUCH as a puppy and this was incredibly easy to put up & tear down. The divider allowed the crate to grow with him!
DEFINITELY came in handy during the potty training months! I’d lay this down whenever we were playing or he was just on the floor, especially if he wasn’t supervised!
Start sensitizing pups when they’re little! Finley doesn’t love having his nails clipped, but he usually doesn’t fight me either. I started when he first came home.
I’d say I’ve been pretty successful with off-leash training. He was even better as a puppy when I was very on-top of it! This was a MUST HAVE for keeping his attention on “off-leash” training.
Now that my sweet golden boy is grown, there are some toys salvaged from the puppy months that we still love! There are also a few more things that have been helping us out a lot.
Yes, we use a shock collar, and I love it. I definitely do not abuse it, but we love to take Finley on walks where he can roam off-leash, and comes back when called. It’s really a security measure more than anything!
Does NOT smell great, but boy, does it do great things for Finley. I’ll add a couple squirts to his food in the mornings, and this is a GREAT supplement for his immune system. It was recommended by our vet, and I’m so thankful for it!
Finley does have sensitive skin, however he probably doesn’t *need* this food. However, I’ve chosen this one because it does AMAZING things for his skin and hair! He hair is so shiny, flowy, and healthy!
