We know that you have many questions about adopting and caring for your new golden puppy. We have tried to answer a few of them here on this page. If you have questions that we have failed to answer don't hesitate to contact us! Visit our "Shopping" page for links to many of the products we love and use on a daily basis.

​Q: What do I get when I buy a puppy from Magical Goldens?

• A well bred AKC Golden Retriever puppy that has been raised using Jeanette Forey's Advanced Empowered Breeder service dog curriculum with capabilities of becoming a therapy dog, service dog, show dog, or loyal family companion.
• A puppy packet containing the puppy's vet check report, registration application, microchip registration (if applicable), vaccination and deworming schedule.
• A starter bag of puppy food.​
• A collar and leash
• A favorite toy that smells like littermates.
• A blanket that smells like mama
• Waste bags​
• A lifetime of friendship and support.

​Q: What will I need to bring my puppy home?

• Food and water bowls.
• Old towels or blankets
• Chew toys
• Puppy shampoo, conditioner and grooming brush​
• Crate large enough to provide for puppy growth​ - we recommend using a 42” crate with a divider so that you can gradually increase the space as your puppy grows.

Q: What food do we feed our dogs and puppies?

• We feed our puppies Nutrisource Puppy for puppies & pregnant or nursing dogs. Good 4 Life System
• High quality protein builds lean muscles, with chicken as the #1 ingredient
• Grain inclusive.
  
• Includes prebiotics and probiotics to help support a healthy gut.
  
• Balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
  
• Supplemented with L-Carnitine, taurine, choline chloride and DL Methionine to support heart health.
• Family owned.
  
• Manufactured in U.S. Facilities.
• We feed our adult dogs on a rotational schedule. This includes a variety of high quality, nutritious foods including Nutri Source, Purina Pro Plan Adult Lamb and Rice, Diamond Naturals Lamb and Rice and Victor Hi-Pro Plus. We find that rotational feeding helps build a strong intestinal system that will improve nutritional absorption and overall well-being. We have found that our dogs get bored with eating the same food every meal; switching it up helps with this problem. Our dogs are excited for every meal! ​

​​Q: What supplements are recommended to help my dog live a healthy, happy life?

• We personally use and highly recommend NuVet supplements. In the past we used a variety of different supplements and toppings to maintain optimal health in our dogs. It has been such a relief to find one easy to give supplement that covers all of the issues that we were concerned about. Our dogs love it and are doing amazing! To order visit the NuVet website or call 800-474-7044. Use order code 568516​

​Q: How soon should I enroll my puppy in training classes?

• Most in person classes will not allow puppies to attend until after your puppy is fully vaccinated, which is around 14-16 weeks of age. Puppies between ages 3-16 weeks are like little sponges absorbing and imprinting everything that they see, smell, hear, experience, and learn. For this reason we have searched diligently for a way for our puppy families to continue the early training and socialization that we start from the time they are born. This search led us to the Baxter & Bella Online Puppy School. It is an amazing program which allows you to attend classes and train your puppy from the comfort of your home, We are so excited about this amazing program and all it has to offer! We strongly encourage you to check out their program and if you feel that it is something that you would benefit from be sure to take advantage of our discount code MAGICAL and receive 25% off your lifetime membership. You can LEARN MORE about the benefits of enrolling in the Baxter & Bella Online Puppy School on our Puppy School page.
• ​We also offer a second online training option through Rocking Paw Dog Training and Kennels. Jolynn Payne owner of Rocking Paw has a training video series that can be accessed through our personal Facebook group created especially for our Magical Goldens families. Jolynn is an excellent trainer and her videos are short and easy to follow. Contact me for more info on how to become a member of our Rocking Paw Magical Goldens Training group. Access is $100 for unlimited lifetime membership.

​​​Q: How often should I bathe my puppy?

• We recommend you bathe your puppy/dog once a month. If more frequent baths are needed use a soap-free or moisturizing shampoo to prevent the skin from becoming dry. Do not bathe your puppy more than once a week, unless recommended by your vet.

​
Q: How large will my puppy be when he/she is full grown?

• The average weight of the Golden Retriever breed ranges between 60 to 90 lbs. with the females normally a bit smaller than the males.
• Males are generally 23-24 inches tall and females generally 21-22 inches tall.
• Golden Retrievers generally reach their full height by one year of age, and their mature weight by two.​

Q: How much exercise should I give my new puppy?

• Remember this puppy rule - For every month of age increase activity by 5 minutes. For example: an 8 week old puppy only needs 10 minutes of physical activity a day, a 6 month old puppy only needs 30 minutes a day of physical activity!
• It takes awhile for puppies bones to grow and make a proper boney joint. This is why you should NEVER let puppies jump, walk up/down stairs, over exercise, or over train. Doing too much impact activity at a young age can cause serious issues such as hip or elbow dysplasia later in life, or even at a young age.
• Physical activity includes - going for a walk, training, playing fetch, running, playing with other dogs, etc.

​
Q: Why is imprinting important?

• Puppies are very impressionable for the first 16 weeks of life. We take the care and responsibility of our puppies very seriously and we realize that our care is all that they will know during those first formative weeks. It is our goal to introduce them to a world of healthy discovery, good behavior, and positive experiences. Both positive and negative experiences are etched into their memories that will enormously impact what kind of companion that puppy will ultimately be.

​ Puppies imprint to:

• Their mother
• Their litter mates
• People
• Sounds
• Other Animals
• Places

This process builds trust between the puppy, owner, and environment and this trust builds confidence and relationships, encouraging healthy development. We focus on human touch: gentle handling, providing a warm comfort, and introducing them to our touch and smell. They are exposed to daily challenges, sounds, environments, car rides, children, strangers, grooming/baths, veterinary checks, and a host of other socialization practices.


Q: What are the characteristics of the Golden Retriever?

• Relaxed, fun loving and loyal natures.
• Intelligent and highly trainable in many different areas.
• Excellent swimmers. They have an instinctive love for the water.
• Mild and calm temperaments.
• Excellent health
• Straight or wavy shedding coat with feathering on chest, legs, and tail.
• Strong and sturdy body structure​