Adopting A Golden Retriever - A Complete Guide

There are so many reasons to adore the golden retriever. They are wonderful family dogs, loyal service dogs, competition champions, and the perfect hunting retrievers. Now the question is, do you buy or adopt? What are the advantages of golden retriever adoption?

Instead of buying from a pet store or a breeder, you could adopt a golden from a shelter or a rescue group. Goldens are one of the most popular breeds, so finding them up for adoption is fairly easy. In fact, about 25% of all dogs up for adoption in shelters are purebred. Even finding a golden puppy is not a difficult task. You can start your search at local humane societies, animal control organizations, rescue groups, and dog shelters. Your local SPCA is always a good place to start. If you want to widen your search, the internet, and sites like petfinder.com offer broad searching tools.

Another option is a breed rescue organization. Breed rescues focus their efforts on saving a specific breed of dog. There are golden retriever rescue groups all over the U.S. Dogs are abandoned for a variety of reasons: a tragedy, disaster, a breeder passes away, a divorce, a foreclosure, somebody moves or goes off to college, or for many other reasons. Most shelter dogs were not abandoned because they were bad animals.

What are the costs of adopting? Adopting a dog is usually not free. There is usually an adoption fee of $100-$350. Typically, adopting a younger dog is on the expensive side. Also, it may tend to cost more to adopt a purebred like a golden. The good news is that this fee is usually less expensive than buying a golden from a pet store, and is typically a lot cheaper than a breeder. Since rescue groups and shelters are non-profits, your fee will go towards the shelter, and saving other dogs or animals. Also consider medical and training expenses in the cost. Shelter dogs typically are already socialized, and have received a medical checkup.

There are many advantages to adopting a golden. Puppies from a pet store or a backyard breeder, are almost always from backyard breeders, or even worse: from puppy mills. In fact, most purebreds are mass produced for profit by backyard breeders. In goldens, this is a particular problem. A victim of their popularity, bad breeding and over-breeding has caused a number of health problems, all of which are related to genetics. The most common health problems for goldens are hip dysplasia, cancer, elbow dysplasia, and eye and heart problems. Many goldens suffer, often when they are older, because of these problems.

When you adopt a golden from a shelter, you are giving a dog a second chance at life. In addition, you are freeing up that limited and valuable space in the shelter to save another animal. About 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year because of pet overpopulation. You are also rewarding the efforts of the volunteers and workers who put their time and effort into saving and caring for these animals.

Goldens are active and large dogs. Make sure the golden retriever is the right breed for you before adopting or buying one. Another advantage to adopting, is that shelters will often provide counseling to prospective owners. You will typically be meeting people who spend years of their time working with dogs and animals, and who are interested in finding good homes for their rescued pets. Goldens are famously friendly dogs. They are great for families and active people looking to spend a lot of time with their dog. They also excel as service, hunting, and competition dogs. They require some grooming and are not good for people with sensitive allergies.

Laurence Burrows is a golden retriever lover, and trainer. For more great tips on adopting a golden retriever [http://www.loyalgoldenretriever.com/golden-retriever-adoption], visit [http://www.loyalgoldenretriever.com].