Golden Retriever Adoption
Adopting your own golden retriever can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. It is a great dog and is definitely one of the most popular and endearing dogs in history. Keep in mind though; adopting one is not a joke. Though these dogs are fun and can really brighten up your life, they are a serious responsibility and are not suitable for all lifestyles. Here are 6 tips to think about before you make an adoption decision.
If you don’t play with him enough, your dog can become agitated and will start doing things to get your attention. Try not to let this happen by giving him enough approval. Take him out on walks and play with him. They will usually enjoy catching and retrieving stuff but general physical activity, like swimming or running is also very rewarding for them.
Doggie play dates are the key!!
They are very smart and learn very fast, which makes it easy to train them even for those who have no extensive experience with training dogs. If you feel intimidated in this task, research and enroll in a good obedience school. There, both you and your dog can learn what is possible in training, as well as use the experience to bond together.
Because they are active dogs, their appetites are also active – always active. They will eat their own weight in food given the chance. This can lead to health problems like obesity especially later in the dog’s life. Some have even employed diets on their dogs to keep their weight down. But if you keep your retriever busy and active, you can prevent this. Not only do they love to eat, they also love to chew. You have to keep them busy with chew toys and other activities to save your furniture.
They have to be groomed almost twice a week and even more depending on how much they shed. Also try to keep their rears clean by trimming their rear hair. This can collect dirt and other unhygienic stuff. Be sure to also check their ears regularly, especially if they have floppy ears. You’ll have to clean them too to keep them healthy.
This is one of the few aspects that the retriever does not excel in. The same qualities of affection and friendliness that makes it an excellent pet even around children and other dogs, also makes it a terrible guard dog. He would probably end up befriending the intruder rather than stopping him.
All in all, a golden retriever is a serious investment. But it is still a great investment none the least. If you can commit to the responsibility of owning one, the rewards are completely worth it.
