Well, now that you are thinking to adopt a new pet it’s just the time to ask yourself a couple of questions. I know you love the breed, it’s hard not to love this wonderful canine, but before committing to Golden Retrieved adoption you need to decide on a few things.
1. First of all, why do you what to adopt a dog?
If you are looking for a watchdog Golden Retriever is definitely not the right choice. Goldens are gentle, mild tempered and really enjoy company of people, making them perfect family pat but a really poor watchdog. So if that’s the case, you should choose another breed.
2. Second question is whether you have enough time to spend with your new friend and is there any opportunity for him to exercise?
The Goldens are very active and as much as they are willing to please you, they are also willing to spend time with you. If you are adopting a puppy it’s an additional time investment to teach him proper puppy manners as well as a few tricks and basic commands. The canine also needs to exercise daily. Do you live near a park or a lake? Do you have enough time to take your Golden out and play with him?
3. Third, you need to decide whether you want to adopt a puppy or an adult pre-trained dog.
As I’ve mentioned above, if you are adopting a puppy you need to invest some time, effort and money in training him as well as taking care of his health and proper development (especially in the first year of his life). In return, of course, you do not only get a privilege of watching your pup grow into a beautiful god, but also get an opportunity to foster the habits that best suite your particular lifestyle. And with such an inelegant and eager to please canine as Golden Retriever it is easy to do even for an inexperienced dog owner!
If you, however, decided to adopt an adult dog you won’t have to worry about all the puppy issues. But don’t forget that this dog already has all the habits in place and if you don’t like some of them, they may be hard or even impossible to eliminate. On the bright side, you don’t really have to worry about adaptation period for your new friend, with such a joyful and communicative character he’ll start loving you almost immediately!
You also need to decide whether you are planning to show your dog. If you actually do, be aware that a show dog (it may not only be a pup but also an adult dog) will cost you some additional bucks.
4. There are still some other things you should be aware of before you run to the nearest breeder or a pat shop.
With the life expectancy of an average Golden of 10 to 14 years (the oldest Golden Retriever I knew was almost 20 years old) it’s a life time commitment. And please take into account that your pat will become less vigorous and more subject to illnesses as is ages, meaning more attention from you and longer bills from the vet. The Goldens also tend to suffer from cancer, hip dysplasia and several other illnesses.
5. Finally, the Goldens require grooming.
They shed, and there is no way around it. They also need to be trimmed from time to time and have their nails cut. They like to chew, especially puppies, and actually preserve this habit through all their life, so you need to take care about proper chew toys.
Well, if after considering all this you are still sure that you want to adopt a Golden Retriever, then my congratulations on your decision, you are going to have a great time together!