Bring Home Your Puppy
Preparing for the best day of your family's life
Before Puppy Comes Home
Congratulations! The time between deposit and pickup is a wonderful opportunity to prepare your home and family for your new golden retriever. Here's how to set everyone up for success.
Puppy-Proofing Your Home
- Secure electrical cords and remove small objects that could be swallowed
- Install baby gates to limit access to stairways and off-limits rooms
- Remove toxic houseplants (many common plants are dangerous for dogs)
- Secure trash cans — golden retrievers are resourceful!
- Check your yard fence for gaps or escape routes
What to Buy Before Pickup
- Crate: A wire crate, 42" for adult size (use a divider while small)
- Food & water bowls: Stainless steel are easiest to clean
- Collar & ID tag: Engraved with your phone number from day one
- Leash: 4–6 foot standard leash for training
- Puppy food: We'll tell you what brand we're sending home with your pup
- Enzymatic cleaner: For any accidents (Nature's Miracle or similar)
- Baby gate(s): To create a safe puppy zone
- Chew toys & enrichment toys
Pickup Day
Pickup day is exciting but can be overwhelming for puppies. Please bring a crate or someone to hold the puppy securely in the car. We'll send your puppy home with:
- A small bag of the food they've been eating (for transition)
- A blanket that smells like mom and littermates
- Health record with vaccine and deworming history
- Microchip registration information
- Care packet with feeding schedule and instructions
- Puppy Culture reference materials
The First Week Home
The first week is about adjustment — for your puppy and your family. Expect some crying at night, some accidents, and lots of sleep (puppies sleep a lot!). Keep things calm, be consistent with the crate, and remember: every puppy adjusts at their own pace.
Our Top Tips for Week One
- Crate = safe den: Never use the crate as punishment. Feed meals in the crate, toss treats in throughout the day.
- Potty schedule: Take puppy out every 1–2 hours, immediately after waking and within 15 minutes of eating.
- Limit visitors: A few days of quiet bonding time is worth more than a parade of excited guests.
- Continue Puppy Culture work: Short, fun 2–5 minute training sessions every day reinforce what they already know.
- Start vet visit: Schedule a vet wellness check within the first week.
Continuing Education
We highly recommend enrolling in a Puppy Start Right or similar puppy kindergarten class within the first few weeks home. Our partner Brookside Pet Studio for Dogs offers an excellent program.