If you are contemplating adopting a Golden Retriever puppy into your family, here are some personal insights into the breed and what you may expect in raising these lovable, sweet dogs as pets.
I have two Goldens in my family, Jordan and Chloe, and they could not be more different from one another. Beautiful long blond hair, large soft brown eyes, intelligence galore, and a heart as big as all outdoors, these are the mainstays of a Golden Retriever but their personalities can differ to the extreme. Jordan is the elder of the two, almost ten years old now; his blond coat is darkening with age except on his face where he now has a little mask of white. He has always been a gentleman, carefully maneuvering his way through our house, slowly and deliberately, ever watchful not to disturb items that rest on tables when he plays. Chloe, who will be four years old next month, is my wild child. The Alpha dog of her litter, she rules the roost with her demanding presence although she is twenty pounds lighter and two inches shorter than her brother. She barrels down the stairs without concern for her safety or the well being of our house and furniture. She plows into chairs when chasing a ball (or the cat) and seems indifferent to her head being slammed into non-moving objects. Two dogs, same breed, two completely different dispositions.
Both of my Goldens chewed on my furniture when they were little and while it drove me crazy, it did pass once teething was over and neither one has engaged in the activity since. Jordan chewed on shoes that were discarded in front of the couch, Chloe focused on the garbage can in the bathroom. Just as a crawling baby will shove anything found on the floor into its mouth, both would eat anything they found on the floor whether or not it was actually edible. I learned, my house was quickly “Golden-proofed” and we all endured. Both Goldens were housebroken quickly, Jordan in about a week, Chloe in about a month. I used the techniques described in “I Just Got A Puppy, What Do I Do?” by Mordecai Seigal, and they worked well for both Goldens. I worked full-time when both dogs were young and they were left alone from 8:00 a.m. until around 3:00 p.m., when my children would arrive home from school and take them out. A long day to be sure but they both handled it like the champions they are and had accidents only in the early days of housebreaking. Now when I leave the house, the dogs climb the stairs, sullen and quiet and wait on the their beds for a cookie and a pat on the head. There they remain until I return home, whether it is one hour or six. Once they hear the garage door open they bound down the stairs and await my arrival in the mudroom. After they greet me at the door with tails wagging and balls in mouth, they rush to their water bowl and drain it to the bottom then run to the back door to be let outside. You see, my dogs do not drink while I am gone, understanding that they will not be able to go outside again until I return, and neither one willing to take the risk of having an accident in the house.
While these dogs were bred primarily for hunting, not all dogs are suitable for the task. Jordan is terrified of loud noises, thunder, gunshots and fireworks, and July 4th and the first day of hunting season will find him hiding in the basement. I have discovered when speaking with other Golden owners that this character flaw is not uncommon. Chloe on the other hand, is intrigued by loud noises and birds and would fair quite well in the field.
Another interesting trait of both of my Goldens is that their attention is captured by the television. My husband used to find it quite amusing to turn on the Outdoor Channel and watch as Jordan ran to the television and barked at the animals on the screen, that was, until we bought a wide screen Plasma and when Jordan attacked a deer on the television, its lightweight sent it tipping backwards into the wall. Chloe is attracted to both strange noises on the television along with animals. They both react to the television the same as they do when the encounter the animals outside, Jordan barks and chases the deer out of the yard while Chloe lays upon the deck and watches them intently and quietly for hours on end.
While Goldens are indeed a wonderful breed, they are not for everyone. First, if you wish to avoid dog hair bunnies floating beneath every piece of furniture you own, they are not for you, neat freaks need not apply. Or if you would rather not have leaves, twigs and burrs scattered about your home, you might want to look further. These puppies are a mess, shed mountains of hair, and roll in everything outside that they don’t consume and then drag the remnants inside and onto your favorite oriental rugs. They generally do not make good watch dogs, while their size and bark can be intimidating to people that don’t know them, they would rather play with any would be thieves that may enter their abode than attack. They love children but can unintentionally cause superficial injuries to small children. My male Golden has taken my legs right out from underneath me when I was looking in the opposite direction and he was in the midst of a high-speed pursuit. I would also not recommend a Golden to a family whose household is already hectic and chaotic, as these dogs tend to emulate the family they become a part of. And please don’t adopt one of these gentle creatures and stick it out in your yard on a leash tied to a doghouse. These dogs need to be part of a family to truly shine and become a true companion. I moved four times since I have had my Goldens and they adapted quickly to each situation, whether it was a tiny one bedroom apartment for a couple of weeks or our current twenty acre farm. As long as you can adapt to changing situations they will follow your lead and be happy, as long as they are with you.
For further information on the breed and adopting these lovable pups, I recommend these websites for more information.
The Golden Retriever Club of America – www.grca.org
This site carries an abundance of information including history of the breed, health concerns, warnings, etc.
Golden Retriever Foundation – www.goldenretrieverfoundation.org/
This site offers information on rescuing Goldens and education for the public.
I would also recommend researching websites in your area that offer rescued Goldens for adoption, such as,
Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue – www.ygrr.org/index.html (for dogs available in the New England area).
These dogs have been rescued and evaluated as to their health and individual dispositions to make adoption beneficial to both parties, matching compatible dogs to owners.
My dogs are soft bundles of joy and members of our family. They sleep in our bedroom, share our holidays and vacation with us. They require some maintenance but are well worth the effort and I would recommend a Golden to anyone who has a gentle disposition, as this is the greatest gift you can give these dogs. I will probably never own any other breed of dog and will probably always have at least two at a time. I have learned, with time, to keep breakables above my head, ignore the hair and mess on the floors, rub their soft bellies and enjoy their slobbering kisses.
What truly matters in life anyways?
