Golden Retrievers! Family dogs?

Are you thinking of getting a dog for the family? Are you looking at those cute little bundles of joy called Golden retrievers? Well I have a few things to warn you about. I have a golden named Trouble. She is 10 years old and is one of the best dogs I have ever had. This is a rare exception for the golden breed though. Yes most goldens, with the time and effort and never ending love that it takes to raise them, can be very sweet and caring dogs. But there are some goldens out there that can be some of the meanest things on four legs.

Goldens as a breed tend to be happygolucky dogs, that adore affection and can be a best friend for small children. They are naturally retrieving dogs, but like to throw in a little "catch me if you can" before dropping whatever it is at your feet. They are mainly a healthy breed but have many problems that come from inbreeding.

I have encountered goldens that will jump up onto highchairs and steal food, will corner people, and will steal socks viciously off of little kids feet. I have also met goldens that are only one family dogs and will attack any one who comes to close to their family. These attitudes are not typical to the breed and are caused by bad handling and inbreeding.

Along with various attitude problems, goldens can be bred with an array of health problems. My dog had four seizures by the time she was three, and my father is a vet so she had the ultimate care. She was born with only one eye, and it is our belief that this is due to a problem with her brain, and this is also causing her seizures. Goldens also have a very high affinity for hip dysplaysia, a problem where they get unrepairable athritis and soreness in their hips. This is common with all large breed dogs and must be looked for when purchasing a puppy.

If you look for some vital things when purchasing a puppy you can become the owner of a happy, healthy, and loving golden. First look at the parents, consult your vet about the parents, and/or call the owners vet and question them. Next pick your puppy, look for runny eyes and any abnormalities. Your best bet is to go for the most lovable one, not the most bouncy one, nor the most lazy one. These attitudes tend to carry on through life. Once you have chosen your puppy, have the vet check him or her out first thing. I recommend that if you are not a breeder to get your pet spayed or neutered. The puppy will need shots and your vet can help you with all the medical needs.

Now that you have your dog, training is assential. You should crate train your dog. A dog will not defficate within their own home, cage unless absolutly necessary. ON THE CONTRARY TO PRIOR BELIEF YOU SHOULD NOT RUB YOUR DOGS NOSE IN THE SPOT WHERE IT "ACCIDENTALLY" WENT TO THE BATHROOM IN YOUR HOME! This action confuses the puppy, shows them that spot again, and they didn't know that it was bad in the first place, and chances are that they did it more than an hour ago, and now have no idea what you are yelling at them for. The first few days take your puppy outside on a regular basis. This will show that the puppy needs to go outside to go to the bathroom. The puppy will need as much love as you can give it. Goldens need to be introduced to many members outside of the family as well. This will give them a basis to determine friend of the family.

With enough love and diversity in the puppies life, it will grow up to be a very loving adult. My dog being ten, still acts like a puppy. We love her to death and can trust her around anyone or anything, even our cats. Our cats adore her and lay with her. I hope that your golden retriever experience is as good as mine! for more info go to you local library, as there are tons of books on golden retrievers.