Six Tips for 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.

1. A golden retriever is a very active dog. It just loves attention and will do anything to get it. If you don抰 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.

2. They enjoy the company of other dogs. If you don抰 want to commit to another pet then you have to consider taking him out on social walks to meet other dogs. Doggie play dates are the key!!

3. Train them and challenge them mentally. 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.

4. Be careful in feeding your golden retriever. 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抯 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.

5. Be aware that they shed a lot of fur. 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抣l have to clean them too to keep them healthy.

6. If you抮e looking for a guard dog, this is not the dog! 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.