Your Guide To Golden Retriever Adoption

The AKC lists Golden Retrievers as the number 4 dog in popularity in the United States, just below Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Yorkshire Terriers. All in all, Golden Retrievers make excellent pets for rising families. That is why so many people consider adopting a Golden Retriever.

Golden Retrievers especially enjoy living in a home where someone is around a lot of the time. Households where one parent stays home with small children, retired households, and households where someone works at home all make great homes for Golden Retrievers.

Golden Retrievers are extremely social dogs who don’t do well if left alone for long periods or kept in a crate. People who are rarely home, who work long hours, or who travel frequently won't be able to meet a Golden Retriever’s need for constant human interaction.

Golden Retrievers really want to please their owners, which makes them very easy to train. Golden Retrievers sail through obedience training with flying colors. Golden Retrievers are so friendly and fond of humans that they make poor watchdogs, however. A Golden Retriever can't be depended upon to become aggressive or noisy when faced with intruders, and may even be happy to see them.

Golden Retrievers do have qualities that make them wrong for some households. Golden Retrievers are lively animals that love to chew and run. Without obedience training and plenty of activity, they will become destructive out of boredom! Goldens tend to eat as much food as they're given and might become quite overweight.

Golden Retrievers are prone to weight problems naturally, and care must be taken not to overfeed them or give them table scraps. Golden Retrievers who become overweight can develop a wide range of very serious health problems and may even need to be put down in the worst case scenario. Golden Retrievers need a healthy diet and lots of physical activity to stay healthy. People who can't provide a healthy diet and plenty of exercise should think about other breeds.

Last of all, Golden Retrievers are moderately high maintenance in terms of grooming and they'll shed, even when brushed regularly. The fur around their hindquarters needs to be trimmed and cleaned to maintain it hygienic and odor free. Golden Retrievers are not the best pets for folks with allergies to pet hair or animal dander.

Despite some minor drawbacks and challenges, many individuals find that Golden Retrievers make the perfect family pet. Golden Retrievers fit right in with most families and few families would willingly part with one. If a Golden Retriever turns out to be the right dog for your home, find a respected breeder who will screen your pet carefully for congenital defects.