Golden retrievers are bought and bred for several different reasons, and you need to decide what role you want your golden to play in your household when choosing a puppy.
If you are the owner of a golden retriever, you've already experienced the ecstatic joy with which your golden greets you every time you meet. Loyalty and pure devotion are two words which can be synonymous with a golden retriever. If you aren't an owner but are contemplating becoming one, then there are a few things you should know.
Golden retrievers are bought and bred for several different reasons, and you need to decide what role you want your golden to play in your household when choosing a puppy. Retrievers make wonderful pets for the whole family. They are extremely intelligent and very energetic.
Typically, a male golden will be more hyper than a female. However, neutering your male may take care of some of his sometimes uncontrollable enthusiasm. When you are searching for a puppy, you need to decide if you only want a family pet, or you want a dog that can be trained for showing, hunting and/or field trials.
It is a good idea to check out the breeder as thoroughly as possible. Be wary of puppy mills. If a breeder has several dogs, there is a good possibility that inbreeding may occur. It is a good idea to try and buy a puppy from a breeder who owns both the mother and the father. Spend a little time with the puppy's parents to examine their temperament. If they are extremely aggressive dogs, and you only want a family pet, you may want to pass on purchasing a puppy from that particular breeder.
If you are interested in showing, or hunting your dog, then you will want to know the bloodlines of the parents. Are they champions? How far back does their pedigree go? Have they won shows and trials repeatedly? Good bloodlines can increase the chance of your puppy also performing well.
If you do plan on showing or hunting your dog, and you are looking for a championship pedigree, you need to plan on spending more money. Of course, with this money should also come some guarantees. You can ask for a certificate of health, which certifies that your puppy has been deemed free of common ailments, such as hip disease. Some certificates guarantee the puppy's health for a certain amount of time. If the breeder you are dealing with asks a considerable amount of money for a puppy, but doesn't offer a certificate or any type of guarantee, you might be wise to search elsewhere for a puppy.
Finally, once you have decided that you really do want to adopt a golden retriever, you need to be ready to make a few adjustments. If your golden is a puppy, he will need lots of attention, similar to a small child. He'll need plenty of play time with you, toys to chew on, and a warm place to sleep at night. Keep in mind that for the first few nights, he may cry. He should soon adjust, however.
If you adopt an older golden retriever, it may take a few days for her to adjust to her new surroundings and her new owner. Once she does adjust, though, she will love you as if she has spent her lifetime with you. No matter what aged dog you adopt, you can be sure that a golden retrieve will spend her life as a devoted companion who only wants to be by your side.
