Adopting an Older Golden Retriever

Pictured here is "Emma" our neighbour's dog who stopped by on one of her daily walks to let us see her boots which are used to protect her feet from the extreme cold of a northern winter.

If you would love to own a Golden Retriever but aren’t ready to go through the problems associated with getting a puppy, you should look into adopting a mature Golden. Older Golden Retrievers prove to be great in homes where they are allowed to spend a quality amount of time by themselves. Golden Retrievers are a very adjustable breed, because they are mild tempered. No matter how old the Golden may be, she will quickly become a valued member of your family in little to no time at all.

Many times, breeders will have older dogs for sale. There are several reasons for this, which include show dogs that have lost their potential, studs that have been used for breeding and are now ready for retirement, female Golden’s that have been bred a few times then retired, or where a breeder is helping a friend get rid of his or her Golden Retriever. There are other reasons as well and whatever they may be, the adult Golden Retriever will be available for anyone who wants her or him.

Older Golden Retrievers are already housebroken and know how to adapt to many situations, which will allow them to adapt to a new and loving family. Although it will be a little hard on your new pet at first, if you give her plenty of love, attention and patience, she’ll be just fine. You need to keep reassuring your new Golden on a regular basis because she has just gone through the trauma of moving from familiar surroundings into strange ones. Let her know that you are her new owner and that you love her and you are glad she’s a member of your family.

If you have been thinking of adopting an older Golden Retriever, you should make sure that you learn everything you can about her. You should also determine her temperament and whether or not it’s compatible with your family’s lifestyle. You should also learn other important things as well, such as her diet, likes, dislikes, daily routine and her habits. Before you decide to take her, you should always make sure that the members of your family meet her as well, so you can talk it over and decide whether everyone wants the dog to become a member of your family.

With an older dog, you need to provide a lot of attention for the first few days and let her know where everything in your home is located. You’ll need to show her where she sleeps, where she should go to the bathroom and where to eat her food. Take your time and be patient with her, as it will normally take her a few days to learn how things in your home work. A friend who lives down the street has a Golden that he got from a family member who lives is a different part of the country. He takes her for several daily walks and spends a lot of time with her. She just adores him, because he meets all of her needs. He fusses over her and walks her to ensure that she gets the exercise she needs to remain healthy. When he goes out in the car, he ensures that she accompanies him. As a result of the interaction, the needs of the pet and the owner are met, which benefits them both.

You should always give your new Golden Retriever at least a month or so to get used to her new environment, before you start her new obedience training. Even though your new dog may have some prior obedience training, you should still enrol her in a new class. This way, she can brush up on training and you can work with her to help her understand your commands. Once you have finished training, she’ll understand your commands better and both of you will get along just fine.

All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. One thing that you may have to take into account when considering an older Golden is that she may have medical problems. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting an older Golden Retriever though, because the rewards that you’ll get will be far greater than any cons. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever, they are perfect for families who don’t want to take the time and trouble of raising a puppy, which can certainly be onerous at times.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Ownership Responsibilities

In addition to the joy of getting a new dog, you have also taken on a lot of responsibilities. Of course you must feed your new pet, take care of her health, groom her and give her lots of love and attention. Many animal lovers do not think any further than this. However, discipline is also a very important part of owning a dog.

Behavior Problems

Proper discipline can help prevent behavior problems later in your pet’s life. House breaking is the most common form of training. However, a caring owner will often go a lot further than this. Your pet's obedience will lead to a stronger bond between the two of you, as well as meaning less frustration and annoyance. Your pet starts learning and shaping behaviors early in life, so that is the best time to start with dog training basics. Recent scientific study has revealed that the best time to train a puppy is from seven to twelve weeks of age as they are most impressionable at that age and they have not yet learned bad habits. If you wait until later to train your new puppy, he will be more difficult to train and he will have picked up some annoying habits that will be difficult to eliminate.

Puppy Training

You can never start too early with puppy training. Many people hold the mistaken belief that puppies less than six months are too young to train, but this is simply not true. You can start shaping a puppy’s behavior the moment you acquire him if it is done in the proper manner. If you do some research, it is easy to find plenty of dog training books, websites about pet training and obedience training tutorials. You may even consider hiring a professional instructor. Ask your veterinarian or friends if they know of any reputable trainers in your area and shop around for the person who is right for you. Whether you hire a professional or train your puppy yourself, use the reward for good behavior, not the punishment for bad behavior type of training. You will always get better results for rewarding your puppy when he does something right than you will by punishing him for doing something wrong. Like little children, puppies have short attention spans. By the time you catch him and punish him for a misdeed, he will have no idea why you are punishing him and just think you are mean. However, if you quickly give him a treat after he does something right, he will remember that after a few repetitions and learn that a particular action or response results in something good.

Obedience Training

There are many aspects to dog obedience training and not everyone wants to get the same experience out of it. Some people will be content with house breaking, leash training and basic obedience to simple commands. Many dog owners do not realize that they can change or prevent problem behaviors such as barking, whining, digging, growling, chewing and aggression. Yet all these behaviors can be addressed with proper teaching. Decide what tutelage is most important for you and your pet and make sure you are willing to invest the time and energy into a program that will yield the desired results.

Professional Trainers

If you decide to use a professional trainer, be sure you keep the breed of your dog in mind when shopping around. Some breeds may be harder to train than others, so some trainers may prefer not to work with them. Alternatively, some trainers may specialize in certain breeds, so they will have more success with your pet than another trainer may have. Even if you are teaching your pet yourself, there are books and information geared toward certain breeds. Do not get discouraged if you are told your breed is hard to train, just look for proven methods to use. The hardest work always yields the greatest rewards.

Owning a pet is a big responsibility, but the right attitude can make it fun and rewarding. Do not think of your canine companion as an object for your amusement, but as a living creature that can become a treasured friend. Dogs are motivated by their owner's pleasure, so if you work together, the dog training process will be an important step in your relationship. You will learn to trust one another, which will allow you to enjoy the pleasure of each other's company. Teach your dog what you want and expect from her and she will give you that and more in return.


Until next time,

Teia