Have you been thinking about getting a Golden Retriever? Have you watched a dog show and wondered what it would be like to own the big, prancing dog that always has a big goofy smile on his face? Have you watched dog commercials, wondering if the big blonde dogs really act the way they are depicted? Surely, you have seen Bush’s Baked Beans commercials, featuring “Duke”, the wise-cracking sidekick to the spokesperson. While Goldens cannot talk (OK, on this site they sometimes do), it is easy to imagine how they would talk if they could.
If you were thinking about owning this wonderful breed, I have some tips for you. These aren’t the only tips I can offer, but they cover some of the basics of what to expect when you decide to bring one home:
Exercise!
A bored Golden Retriever is a destructive Golden Retriever. We learned that the hard way from Alanis, who found a way to put craters in our walls when we weren’t paying attention. It’s easy enough to exercise a Golden Retriever (long walk, a game of fetch) so you may as well do it or risk losing property value.
Training!
I can’t emphasize enough how important I think dog training is. While I use a company that specializes in dog training for my dogs, even a basic class at Petco can help lead you down the path of a better working relationship with your dog. The chain store trainers can be hit-or-miss, so keep that in mind. Good trainers will spot potential behavioral issues. Learning simple commands like “COME!”, “STAY!” and “LEAVE IT!” can even save your dog’s life someday.
Monitor their health!
Unfortunately, this breed can be predisposed to certain health issues, especially arthritis and certain cancers. Do not let this dissuade you from owning the breed, however. Most Goldens live long and healthy lives, though, in an ideal world, their life expectancy should be at least a few years longer. Don’t instantly think something is seriously wrong with your Golden every time they aren’t acting normally. However, don’t let it persist. After more than a decade of owning the breed, I have learned to pick up on signals. Trust me, when we first got Jeter (our first puppy!), it felt like I was going to the vet every two hours because every little thing he did made me feel as if he was going to get sick. With JJ (our latest puppy!), I didn’t once take him to the vet beyond regular appointments. You live. You learn. You trust your instincts.
Don’t make assumptions based on reputation
Golden Retrievers have a reputation (rightfully so) of being super-friendly dogs. However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the rescue Golden you just brought home is instantly going to adapt and be as high as a kite. You may not know what situation he is coming from. If he was abused by a previous owner, he may not instantly warm up to YOU. The dog may not know of life beyond one where a human being abuses him so it may take a while for you to earn the dog’s trust. This is where dog training can be especially beneficial. Remember that many dogs in shelters may not come with a history and many dogs in shelters may act differently when they get home compared to how they behave in the shelter (some for the good, some for the not-so-good). It is up to you to make it all work.
Adopt! Don’t Shop! (?)
Yes, that question mark is there intentionally. I am all for dog adoption – two of our current Golden Retrievers are adoptions. This household has contained one adult dog directly from the breeder, two puppies from a breeder, and two adoptions. I don’t think the answer to this question is cut-and-dry because there is no shame at all to buying a Golden from a REPUTABLE (key word!) breeder. Research, research, research! I am lucky to have a sister who has ties to good people who breed dogs responsibly. It has allowed me to not worry about getting a dog from someone who is doing the breeding for all the wrong reasons. I still research every lead she gives to me, but with the knowledge that she already has taken care of most of that. This is a personal preference: If you have your heart set on adopting a Golden Retriever who needs a good home, do it! There are not many more satisfying things. However, if you have your heart set on getting a puppy, use a reputable breeder with good credentials and solid recommendations. Our first dog was the best of both worlds: He was an 18-month old living with a reputable breeder who was looking to re-home him. His temperament showed just how perfectly bred he was.
Hair, Hair, Everywhere!
If you have carpeting, you may as well buy that vacuum cleaner that promises to pick up the dog hair now. If you don’t have carpeting, you…may as well buy that vacuum cleaner that promises to pick up the dog hair now. These dogs will shed constantly, but especially twice a year during the “coat blowing” season. I wouldn’t even attempt to fight it – you may as well go along for the ride and be prepared to do some cleaning of dog hair often. Josh passed away nearly three years ago and I bet if someone did DNA testing on any dog hair that is in this house, a few strands of hair could come back positive for Josh. You will find hair in places that you could swear your Golden was never even in. Essentially, Golden Retriever hair will become a part of your decor. You may as well embrace it.
Nature’s Clowns
Another thing you should embrace: These dogs have been placed on Earth to provide endless entertainment. They are natural clowns. They will roll all over the floors without any explanation. They will flail around toys and not even give off any signs of whiplash. They will run in circles around your trees or your furniture and not get dizzy. They will slide on your floors, try to get on your countertops, and even bark or sing at the television. They will make up their games on the fly and decide that anything within reach of their teeth is a toy for them to play with. They can be as much as 100 pounds in weight and yet still be stealth – one second, that roast beef sandwich was there, the next second it isn’t, and you have no idea how it happened. You may occasionally feel annoyed by their insane behavior while holding back laughter. A household that has never had anything broken by a Golden Retriever is a lucky household. No other way to explain it.
They want your attention
I am not one of those people who will scold you because you have the gall to go out and work every day instead of being at home with your Golden Retriever. However, I will also say that a Golden Retriever is not a breed that will be happy with being home 15 hours a day without any human interaction. This breed is all about their owners – they want to be with you as much as possible and will become sad (and even destructive) if left home for long periods. If you love the breed but also work a busy schedule away from home, you may want to at least consider hiring someone reputable to visit and walk your dog every day. More people do that sort of thing as a career now than ever before. Goldens will adapt to your lifestyle but it is probably best if you give them what they crave – the attention of human beings as often as possible.
Engulfing food is a sport
I am amazed when I visit my sister-in-law’s house. She can put out a few bowls for her dogs in the morning and they will just casually eat it whenever they feel like it. If you own a Golden Retriever, don’t expect any such silliness. They are a food-driven breed that will inhale their food in a matter of seconds if you let them. This is why we purchase “puzzle bowls” for our Goldens (example) – it forces them to slow down as they try to get every piece of kibble out of every little crevice in the bowl. If you only have one Golden Retriever (or if you separate them during meal time), you can play a game where you essentially spread out their kibble on the floor to force them to “hunt” for their food. Big dogs have been known to have issues with “bloat”, which could be dangerous to them. Slowing them down while they eat will help prevent that (and help prevent choking, etc.). If you have multiple Goldens, it goes without saying to separate them during chow time or make sure they are comfortable with each other during chow time. When we brought home “Tucker”, we fed him outside for a month so he could have his private place to eat and not be overwhelmed. Now, the dogs can eat together but you still want to monitor and make sure no dog gets too close to another dog’s bowl.
They live in the moment – and so should you.
OK, so this is not as much of a tip as it is a statement. If a Golden Retriever can teach us humans anything it is that we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff. They certainly don’t. If you accidentally step on their tail, they may wince but they certainly won’t care one minute from now. If another dog in the house eats their treat, they will forget about it 30 seconds later. If you can’t take them on a ride to Grandma’s, they may be sad that you are gone but will jump all over you as soon as you walk back through that door. We as humans get upset over the dumbest stuff. Golden Retrievers won’t even get upset over the most serious of issues. Josh had issues with arthritis for much of his life but never let it get in the way of a good walk on the beach or ride in the car. Jeter had undiagnosed cancer but lived his life as if it wasn’t even there. Meanwhile, I am getting upset because the DVR didn’t record “Jeopardy!” That all seems kind of silly, right? When life has you down, just turn to your Golden Retriever. He or she will always have a way to make everything seem to be OK.
While I have listed ten tips, I can probably write up 50. I can probably go into more detail on all of them. I have explored the potential of doing an eBook dedicated to the breed. I don’t know if I actually will but it has been in my thoughts for a while.
If you decide you want to take the plunge and adopt or purchase a Golden Retriever, feel free to drop me an e-mail or a note in the comments. I will answer all questions to the best of my ability. If I can’t answer the question or am unsure, I know of many people in the community that we have become a part of.