Adopting a Golden Retriever

It is hard for anyone to not fall in love with the golden retriever breed.  They are stable, loving, eager to please and gentle.  They not only make wonderful companions and family pets they also make ideal service dogs.  But, is this the breed that is right for you?  Regardless of the breed of dog we are attracted to, it is important when picking a dog breed to adopt that you get one that will fit your lifestyle.

Goldens are devoted, loyal, mild mannered and thrive on giving and receiving attention. But, they are also quite energetic with an endearing playful streak. They love human companionship, and therefore are not suited to those that cannot commit much time to their pet. Daily exercise is an important part of their care. These dogs must be provided with adequate room and time to play. They love to retrieve balls, throwing sticks or Frisbees. Along with giving them these types of opportunities to play, socializing with other dogs is important as are nice walks. Other activities your golden retriever would enjoy include swimming, hiking, jogging or biking. Some owners forget that challenging certain breeds with mental exercise is also an important aspect to their care. You can create fun games or interesting things for your dog to do that will keep them entertained and prevent them from becoming bored. Since goldens are so eager to please, they really enjoy having jobs to keep them busy and offers them the opportunity to gain approval from their owners.

Goldens get along well with children, strangers, and other pets but their love for just about everyone makes golden retrievers poor watchdogs. Plus, since these dogs are such fast learners and highly intelligent, they are easy to train which makes this breed perfect for inexperienced owners. They require positive obedience training with lots of praise and treats but be careful, these dogs love to eat. Many golden retrievers suffer from obesity because of their love for food, so you have to be careful and watch how much you feed him. While a youthful golden retriever is not as prone to weight issues, it can be a concern for older dogs as they become less active.

It seems like these dogs are almost the perfect family pet and companion. But, unfortunately, they do have a tendency to chew. Providing them with appropriate toys so that your own belongings and furnishings don’t suffer can help the situation in most cases. New owners to the breed should also be aware of their grooming requirements. They require a moderate amount of grooming which includes brushing their coats about twice a week. They might need it more often when they are shedding more heavily. They also require straggly hairs to be trimmed as well as the hair around their bottoms for hygiene reasons. Dogs with floppy ears like the golden should also have their ears cleaned regularly to reduce the risk of infection. Since the golden retriever is such a heavy shedder, it is not a suitable breed for those with allergies.