Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. It is very friendly, gentle and always with an attitude to please the owner. It gets along very easily with humans and hence considered as one of the most suited as a family dog. Here I touch upon some of the key aspects which need to be considered before you choose to adopt a Golden Retriever.

Golden Retriever's Attitude

Golden Retrievers are best suited as a family dog because of their soft and friendly nature. They go very well with all types of people - young, old and children. They also go well with known and stranger alike and hence ideal as a family dog. On the negative side this friendly nature hinders them from being a good watch dog. This breed has a more than average need for human interaction and hence requires considerable amount of care, time and attention. Therefore they are ideal for those who love to play and spend some time with the dog each day.

Energy Levels and Exercise

Goldens were originally bred for fetching birds and game by hunters and hence have very high energy levels. They are very active dogs and hence they like to go out, run around and love to play. They never seem to get tired of playing. Daily exercise like walking, jogging and playing "fetch" games is an important part of a Goldens care. As these dogs are intelligent as well, adding fun games along with other activities will keep them occupied & entertained.

Need for Training

It is obvious that every dog needs to be trained so that they are always kept under control. This applies to Golden Retriever even more as an under trained Golden Retriever with its huge size, unbound energy and an eagerness to please might become difficult to handle.

Training is also important for other purposes. Like some of the other dog breeds, the Golden Retriever has a tendency to chew anything it finds interesting. This is a generally a nuisance but at times could turn out to be dangerous. This habit can be reduced by providing appropriate training. In addition to training providing the dog with its own set of toys will help as well.

Need for Care

These dogs love to eat and hence necessary care should be taken to ensure that they are not over fed. In addition to timely food supply they have to be exercised regularly. Improper food control and lack of exercise might result in obesity. They are characterized by their nice thick hairy coat. Keeping them neat and clean requires regular grooming effort. The presence of lush hair also mean that they shed hair regularly and hence proper care should be taken to clean fallen hair regularly.

Verdict

Golden Retriever is a dog for a true dog lover who loves to spend time with the dog and take care of it to ensure it's healthy and disease free. They need an owner who loves them and can devote more than average time and attention on regular basis. Given the attention and care it's needed the Golden Retriever makes up with their loving nature and eagerness to please the owner.