If you’re interested in adding an English Cream Golden Retriever puppy to your family, it’s important to get understand their stages of development firsst. English cream golden retrievers are an excellent choice for dog lovers, and you’ll find them to be quite similar to standard golden retrievers, but they are a separate breed of their own and an informed dog owner is a great dog owner. In America, English cream golden retriever puppies are known for their light-colored coat, unlike the stark gold of golden retrievers. You’ll find them to be incredibly intelligent and gentle dogs that are lovely companions to keep in your home and your life.
If you are planning on bringing the best English cream golden retriever puppies into your family, be prepared to give them a lot of time, love, and care to keep them healthy and happy. You’ll notice your golden retriever will go through a number of developmental stages as they grow.
Stages of Development for Your English Cream Golden Retriever Puppy
To help your puppy grow into a happy, healthy canine, it’s good to be aware of their development phases and what they need at each stage. Otherwise, you may find yourself struggling to calm down your puppy or get him to stop chewing on everything!
Before you look for an English cream golden retriever for sale, check out the English cream golden retriever growth timeline below to understand how each stage grows into the next. And more importantly, what this means for you!
Week 1
We start with the first week! We get to meet our newborn puppies when they weigh just around 14-16 ounces. Immediately the first things we notice are their incredibly light coats, which may even seem close to white! They’re beautiful, precious, tiny little infant English Cream puppies. No matter how many we’ve helped bring into the world, it is always an amazing experience to be there with the dam.
Newborn puppies are born blind and deaf and rely on their senses of taste and touch and smell to experience the world around them. They must be kept close to their mothers during this stage and handled with extreme care.
Week 2
Just as in week 1, we won’t see a lot of activity from our puppies during this time. They may spend most of their time asleep. However, some early movers might begin to crawl or waddle around in search of food and nourishment. This is a good sign of development! Part of their natural sensory development comes with understanding how to move around and interact physically with the world. During this time, their eyesight is still very limited, so we don’t have to fear them crawling too far. They are also very sleepy and get tired very easily! It’s adorable!
We keep them close to their mother and keep a closer eye on their development, looking out for any common issues. The entirety of weeks 1-2 is usually referred to as the neonatal period, the first stage of development.
Week 3
During the third week, we’ll notice some big changes! Week three marks a big transitional period in your puppy’s development. Sensory development will continue and your puppy will start relying on their sense of sound and smell.
Once they start to hear, canine vocalizations will kick in. You’ll notice your puppy grunting or whining, trying to mimic the barks of their mother. However, it may take a bit more time before we hear a full-fledged bark.
During this time, they will also start to get familiar with the everyday noises of the household. Telephone, TVs, people, the doorbell – any and every stimulation is a learning experience!
One of the most exciting things is finally having your puppy stop squinting; they will have their eyes fully open! At the same time, you might notice your puppy starting to walk instead of simply crawling and waddling around. These first clumsy steps will give your puppy a new sense of independence, which is again, a sign of healthy development. It is so fun to see them actually getting up on all fours!
While there will be a general increase in their activity level, they’ll still be pretty docile and easy to manage. Having been around many English Cream golden retriever puppies in our lifetime, this is one of our favorite developmental stages with them.
Week 4
As week three transitions into week four, the puppy starts to interact more and more with their mother and littermates. They also reach some significant milestones!
They will finally be able to eliminate waste on their own. It may surprise you to know that for up to three weeks, puppies usually rely on their mothers to help stimulate them to urinate or defecate. But after three weeks, they won’t need their mother’s assistance and can do this on their own.
During this stage, the puppy’s teeth start showing. These needle-like teeth are sharper than they look, sometimes even sharper than the adult teeth they acquire later in life!
All of a sudden, these cream golden retriever puppies begin sampling some of their mother’s food. New teeth mean your puppy can now eat somewhat-solid food. The solid food is still softened at this stage to help the puppy transition into solid food. Puppy kibble soaked in water and mashed up is introduced to the puppy to help them adapt. Each puppy will now have a hybrid diet composed of its mother’s milk and puppy food at this stage.
During this stage, these darling bundles of joy will be seen scampering around and playing with their littermates. They’ll also start to form emotional bonds with humans. This is also a good sign of healthy socialization, which is very important for your puppy’s development.
Week 5 to Week 7
As week five kicks off, things start to get busier. The mother will continue weaning the puppy and she will correct any puppies with negative behavior. Weaning will be complete when the puppy is fully accustomed to puppy food, not just the mother’s milk. Once fully weaned, they will start to eat three times per day. This usually takes place between 6-7 weeks of age.
By week six, most puppies should also start receiving their vaccinations. Before a puppy is adopted, they already go through its first round of vaccinations. The next vaccinations should be given at 9, 12, and 16 weeks old. Just like human vaccines, puppies gain more immunity with each booster. Families should take precautions during this time so that the puppy doesn’t become sick while their immune system is compromised.
For the next two weeks, so many changes take place in your puppy as they continue to explore their surroundings and socialize with their littermates. This is one of the most critical stages of your puppy’s development. Roughhousing with littermates yields a well-rounded puppy and teaches them to share. It also helps them tolerate those tugs and accidental pinches that come with living in a house with children.
Week 8
Around week 8, we begin sending these English Cream golden retriever puppies to their families and their forever homes. English Cream golden retriever breeders have already put their puppies up for sale and talked to families about the puppy they desire. This is the best period to start teaching the puppy house manners and societal norms. New pet owners will then have to act fast and start training them before any bad habits settle in! If this sounds overwhelming (and it can be!), a training program is a wise investment to give you and your puppy the best start.
From weeks 8 to 12, you’ll notice your puppy starting to shift into a fear period as they are exposed to new experiences. Your puppy may need reassurance and care, but don’t halt the socialization process. Continue to introduce them to new dogs, people, and objects but do so in a controlled environment, so they aren’t scared or easily injured.
It is essential that during this time your puppy begins to feel comfortable with activities. Do not force them into situations if they seem hesitant. This will cause them to lose the trust that is needed to start building a bond with them. It is also important to provide a “safe place” for them where they can be free to relax. A place away from people, children, and stimulation that they can call their own. Just like babies, puppies need their naps or they can get whiny and grouchy!
If your puppy is more curious than others, they may also try to explore his surroundings. Be sure to keep them on a leash and close to you so they don’t wander off. Much like infants and toddlers, puppies explore the world with their mouths. Make sure to puppy-proof your home! If they can get to it, you can bet they are going to chew on it, or at least carry it for a bit! This includes any small items and toys, but more specifically socks and undergarments. These can pose a potential risk to them if they ingest anything.
4 months
At four months, you’ll notice your puppy shift into the pre-adolescent stage. Here your English cream golden retriever will start to become more and more independent and curious. New puppies may struggle to sleep through the night, but after 16 weeks, they shouldn’t have any trouble falling asleep. They may need time and training before they can reach this milestone. Keep in mind that everything you teach your puppy from the time they come home will impact them for the rest of their life.
At this point, you may also notice your puppy starting to lose their baby teeth and grow adult teeth. Your puppy will want to chew on things randomly, so you should take some preparatory measures. Start by taking anything you won’t want to be chewed up out of the way or anything that may end up harming your puppy. Hazards such as toxic plants and power cords should also be removed.
You may want to get your puppy a new chew toy to satisfy their chewing habits instead, and you’ll find that your puppy may appreciate more than one chew toy! Ice and frozen apple slices are always a good treat to help soothe sore gums from the teething process.
1 year
Once your puppy hits one year old, it’s time to have a conversation with your vet about sterilization. English cream golden retrievers should have delayed sterilization. This is especially important since they are at a higher risk for cancer and hip dysplasia. Research has shown major health benefits in delaying sterilization until after a female’s first heat cycle and until after 18 months for males.
At this point, you’ll notice your cream golden retriever finally reaching full height. Their coats will still be developing, but you’ll notice the cream color shining through. It will take them about a year more before they grow into their full weight.
Like a proud parent, you’ll be wondering where the time went. Your English Cream golden retriever puppy will have matured into an adult dog. You might miss some of those puppy times, but don’t fret – you’re in for an amazing lifetime of memories with one of the best friends you’ll ever have. Your English cream golden retriever may still exhibit some puppy behavior, such as chewing and nipping at times, but you’ll love having this bundle of joy around!
Watching your puppy grow from a tiny infant into adulthood can be a wonderful experience for owners. Having your puppy transition into a healthy adult is rewarding on its own! Stay as close as you can to your puppy during this time, and you’ll be forging a bond that will last a lifetime.
Looking For English Cream Golden Retriever Puppies For Sale?
You may be wondering, where can I find an English cream golden retriever puppy near me? Check out Majestic Manor Goldens, one of the best English cream golden retriever breeders in the United States for a beautiful, lovely, and healthy puppy!
We happily provide puppy training services, as well as puppy delivery across the country! Contact us for any questions and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
