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- Does your lifestyle fit the lifestyle of a Golden Retriever?
- Do you want a guard dog or a companion dog?
- Are you an organization and cleanliness maniac?
- Do you or anyone in your family have an allergy to dogs?
- How much time do you have to devote to your Golden?
- Do you want a Golden because it's in fashion or do you think your kids are old enough to have a dog?
- Can you train your dog?
- Does your budget allow you to own a Golden Retriever?
- Does it bother you that the dog follows you everywhere?
- Do you have enough space?
He decided that he wants to adopt a Golden Retriever dog, because he wants a noble, loyal and obedient dog that he saw in a movie or that he remembers from his childhood. But are you really ready for a Golden Retriever? Before you have the dog you love or adopt an adult dog you saw at the animal shelter, answer these questions very sincerely and make sure you are really ready to receive a Golden Retriever at home.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain the Things to consider before adopting a Golden Retriever, check them all out and think carefully if this is the dog breed you can have. Also, remember that if the answer is no, but you are willing to share your life with a dog, you can always choose another breed that suits your lifestyle better.
Does your lifestyle fit the lifestyle of a Golden Retriever?
Each dog breed has its own character, and Golden Retrievers are generally very active dogs who need frequent exercise and lots of play. If you are an active person who enjoys sport and outdoor activities, then Golden might be a good dog for you. If, on the contrary, you are a calmer and more sedentary person, perhaps this breed is not the most suitable and you should opt for a calmer dog.
Do you want a guard dog or a companion dog?
If you are looking for a guard and protection dog, it is not a good idea to adopt a Golden Retriever. The German Shepherd, the Rottweiler, the Belgian Shepherd Malinois and the Doberman are good guard and protection dogs. Golden Retrievers, on the other hand, are very sociable dogs and have no problems approaching strangers to play with them, so they are not good guard dogs.
If what you want is a companion dog, then a Golden Retriever is a good idea. Especially if your family has children or teenagers who have a lot of time to share with the dog.
Are you an organization and cleanliness maniac?
If you're a cleaning maniac who likes to see shiny floors, impeccable carpets and very clean clothes, know that the Golden Retriever will bring you a lot of headaches. They are very playful dogs that like to play even in water, puddles or mud. So you'll have to give your Golden an extra bath more than once. And it is certain that more than once you will have to clean carpets, the car or clothes for your dog. Furthermore, they are dogs that lose a lot of fur. Even with daily brushing, you'll find dog hair all over the house, and especially on clothing. If you can't handle it, then the Golden Retriever is not for you.
Last but not least, the Golden is a large, active dog that can unintentionally break decorative objects. If you have a Golden Retriever, it is likely that you will have to rearrange the arrangement of decorative items in your home, or suffer the loss of some of them.
So if cleanliness and organization are the number one priority in your life, look for another breed of dog. But if you can tolerate a bit of clutter every now and then, some of your puppy's fur, and you don't mind having to clean up too many times, the Golden Retriever can be one of the best companions you've ever known.
Do you or anyone in your family have an allergy to dogs?
If someone in your family is allergic to dogs, then it's a bad idea to bring a Golden Retriever home because of the amount of hair they lose each day.
If, despite the allergy, you want to have a dog, and everyone at home agrees, look for a hypoallergenic dog breed, which does not lose fur, such as the Poodle. Consult our list of the best dogs for allergy sufferers and adopt the one that best suits your needs and lifestyle.
How much time do you have to devote to your Golden?
As you already know, Golden Retrievers need a lot of affection and company. They are not puppies that can be left alone all day while you go to work. If you leave a Golden Retriever alone all day, it is sure to bark, dig in the garden, bite plants or destroy furniture in the home. If you don't have someone to leave your Golden with while you're not at home, choose another more independent breed or look for other solutions.
Some people solve this problem by leaving their puppies in canine day care centers or hiring people to walk the dogs for several hours. These can be alternatives to owning a Golden Retriever despite working all day, but you should make sure you get a good dog daycare or someone who can walk you reliably.
Therefore, the other option is to spend a lot of time with your puppy. So it will depend on the job you have and whether you are allowed to take the dog with you.
Do you want a Golden because it's in fashion or do you think your kids are old enough to have a dog?
Within the list of Things to consider before adopting a Golden Retriever finds the reason why you want to share your life with him. Goldens need a lot of time and effort, they are not grooming dogs and are not born trained, so never think about adopting a Golden (or other dog) just because the breed is in fashion or because you want to give your children a gift.
Remember that dogs are living creatures with their own needs and that adopting one is a big responsibility.
Can you train your dog?
O dog training it takes time and dedication. You don't train a dog in a few weeks or in occasional sessions. Although Golden Retrievers have a reputation for being obedient and easy to train puppies, you will need time, dedication, constancy and patience to train your puppy. Even if you hire a trainer to train your dog, at some point you will have to learn and keep practicing so that your Golden doesn't forget what he learned.
When the Golden Retriever is a puppy, you have to clean up its needs, socialize it with people and other dogs, and get it used to different environments and situations. As an adult, you have to maintain training, both in real life situations and in planned training sessions. In this way, Golden Retriever training is an activity for a lifetime, so before adopting one, you should ask yourself if you are willing to train your dog and the keep your education throughout your life.
Does your budget allow you to own a Golden Retriever?
A Golden Retriever weighs around 30 pounds. It is not a small dog and needs a lot of food. In addition, you will have foreseen and unforeseen veterinary expenses, you will need to buy collars, guides, toys (which you will have to replace as they go bad), dog houses and certainly some extra. Before taking the adult puppy or puppy home, make sure you have the money to support the pet. You may decide to take your dog to dressage classes, which also cost money. And hairdressing and bathing, if you don't do it yourself, are also costly.
Consult owners of this canine breed and identical dogs to find out how much does it cost to keep a golden retriever.
Does it bother you that the dog follows you everywhere?
Goldens are dogs that walk with us all the time, although they are not single-owned dogs. This way, the Golden Retriever will follow you everywhere, whether in the kitchen or the bathroom. If that bothers you, then the Golden is not the dog for you. A Basenji or Afghan Hound may be better alternatives because they are more independent dogs.
Do you have enough space?
If you live in an apartment or on a small floor, you can have a Golden, but you will need to devote a lot of time to your walks and games. Also, consider what the effect might be on neighbors. It is not comfortable to enter a small elevator with a dog the size of a Golden Retriever.
After viewing this list of Things to consider before adopting a Golden Retriever, do you think you can share your life with one of them? If the answer is yes, remember that animal shelters are full of adult specimens waiting for a home to receive all the affection they are willing to give.
