Adopting an older golden retriever
Those of you who hope a golden retriever but aren’t ready to go through the trials and tribulations of a puppy, should look into adopting an elderly dog, older retrievers are mature, and prove to be great in homes where they need to spend a quality amount of time by themselves. They are a very changeable breed, being adept tempered. No matter how old the dog may be, he will rapidly become a valued member of your family in little to no time at all.
Many times, breeders will have senior 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, female golden’s that have been bred a few times then retired, or other types of special conditions where a breeder is helping a friend get rid of his retriever. There are other reasons as well, whilst whatever they may be – the adult dog will be uncommitted for anyone who wants him.
Most aged golden retrievers are already housebroken, and known a lot of behaviour forms and how to adapt to a new and loving family. Though it will be a little severe on your new dog at first, when you give him plenty of love, attention, and patience, he’ll be just fine. You need to keep reassuring your new dog on a regular basis, and let him know that you are his new owner and that you love you and you are glad he’s a member of your family.
If you have been thinking of adopting an older retriever, you should make sure that you learn everything you can about him. You should also determine his temperament, and whether or not it’s compatible with your family. You should also learn significant things as well, such as his diet, likes, dislikes, daily routine, and his habits. Before you decide to take him, you should always make sure that the members of your family meet him as well, so you can talk it over and decide whether or not everybody wants the dog to be a member of your family.
With an elderly dog, you need to take care of him for the first days, and let him know where everything in your home is. You’ll require showing him where he sleeps, where he should use the bathroom, and where his food is. Take your time and be patient with him, as will usually take him a few days to learn how things in your home work.
You should always give your new dog at least a month or so to get used to his new environment, before you start his new obedience coaching. Even tho’ your new dog may have some prior obedience training, you should still enrol him in a new class. This way, he can brush up on coaching and you can work with him to assistance him understand. Once you have completed training, he’ll understand your requires more beneficial and you and him will get along just fine.
All retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Elderly dog’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll detect are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Though many individuals don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older golden retriever – they are perfective for families who don’t want to put up the time and problems of raising a puppy.