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].

Guide to Responsible Pet Ownership

From insects to alpacas, pets come in all shapes and sizes. Many families feel that they are not complete without some little (or large) critter to love. In fact, more than 60% of all American households have pets, and many of those have more than one. If you are considering buying or adopting a new pet, you need to make sure that you are already to take on the demands of a furry (or scaly) companion.

Choosing the Right Pet

When most people think of family pets they think of furry one like dogs, cats, and a variety of domestic rodents. While these are common pets, they are far from the only options out there. Fish, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and even insects can all be great pets for a loving family. Choosing the right pet starts with a close look at your current lifestyle.

One of the most important considerations to make is the amount of time you have free to devote to your pet. Dogs, for instance, need daily exercise and grooming. Are you going to be able to provide that? If you have a very busy lifestyle, choose a pet that requires less work to care for. There are many options that fit well into a busy life, including pet insects and reptiles. Some small rodents, like mice or guinea pigs, fit well into busy families.

Keep in mind that your child's pet will be your pet. Sure, your child will promise that he will walk, feed, and pick up after the dog, but these are ultimately your responsibility. If they do not get done, you will have to step in and do them for your child. Do not pick a pet that you are not willing to care for and assume that your child will.

You also want to consider the financial responsibility of owning a pet. Some pets require much more of a financial investment than others. A few crickets each week to feed a lizard will not cost much, but bag after bag of dog or cat food does add up. Before you choose a pet, find out all of the gear the pet will need, and decide if you can afford it. Also, make sure you consider the cost of vet bills. Failure to take an injured or sick pet to the vet is considered animal cruelty, no matter what your income situation may be.

Finally, consider any allergies in the home and extended family. Your immediate family may be fine owning a rabbit, but if grandma is allergic to the bunny's fur, you will be sentencing your children to never enjoying a visit from grandma. If someone you care about is allergic to a particular animal, choose something else.

Make a Lifetime Commitment

The animal shelters are full of animals whose families simply decided they did not want to be pet owners anymore. Before you adopt or buy an animal, make sure you realize that you are making a lifetime commitment to your new pet. Take into consideration the expected lifespan of the animal you are choosing.

This is not something to take lightly. Some animals, such as parrots, can live as long as 70 years. Take the time to research the lifespan of the pet you have chosen. Also, if the lifespan is relatively short, such as for some fish and rodent species, you will want to prepare any children in the family for the eventual demise of their beloved pet.

Protect from Unwanted Reproduction

If you purchase a pet, such as a dog or cat, that can be spayed or neutered, have it done. Unless you are planning to breed the animal to sell the babies, there is no reason to keep it intact. Unwanted reproduction will only put more animals in the shelters.

You can also protect yourself from unwanted reproduction in small rodents. Be sure you know the sex of the pet before you buy it. Separate males from females in order to avoid an eventual litter of new critters.

Prepare Your Home for Your New Pet

Once you have chosen the type of pet you want and have decided to make a lifetime commitment to that new family member, you need to prepare your home for its new addition. If the pet will be one that can roam through the house, make sure it is safe. Put away medications and cleaners in a place where the pet cannot access them. Find out if your houseplants are ones that are poisonous to animals, and put them out of reach if they are.

Provide a place for your pet to have as his own. If your pet is kept in a cage or tank, this is easy enough to do. Put a shelter of some sort in the habitat that the pet can go to when he wants some privacy. If your pet is going to have free reign in your house, give him a bed in a designated area where he will not be disturbed. Sometimes a crate works well. Every animal needs a place to go where other family members or pets will not intrude.

Where to Find Pets

The most obvious place to find pets available for sale is a pet store. If you are purchasing a small pet, such as a fish or hamster, this may be a good option. Larger pets, such as dogs, are often kept in poor conditions in a pet store, and they are also usually overpriced.

Adopting a pet that is in an animal shelter is always a good choice, if it works for you. Contact your local animal shelter to find out what types of animals they currently have available. Keep in mind that you may have a difficult time finding a young animal, like a kitten or puppy, because these are very popular and tend to get adopted quickly.

You can also find pets through animal classifieds, either online or through your local paper. This can be a great way to find an affordable animal or to purchase directly from a breeder. By shopping online animal classifieds, you will have a better chance of finding up to date information about available animals. This is also a great resource for those shopping for a more exotic pet that is not likely to be found in a pet store or animal shelter.

Jay Gaulard writes for a wide selection of websites on various topics. He is a veteran of the internet and has come to be respected in his many areas of expertise. This article was written on behalf of PetLeeg, a popular pets for sale website.

Pet Adoption Guide - Adoption Made Simple

A pet can create many happy memories and are a wonderful source of companionship for any person or family but the problem lies in adopting the right pet that suits your needs and environment.

There are many species of animals available for adoption at any local pet adoption agency. There are three factors which need to be considered before adopting any animal. These three factors will decide whether you adopt a pet or not and what kind of animal you adopt. These three factors include space, attention and upkeep.

The most important factor that needs to be considered before adopting a pet is how much space you have available and whether pets are allowed or not in your house or not. In most apartments, pets are not allowed nullifying pet adoption. Where pets are allowed, some pets require larger space to live in. Pets such as cats, birds, insects or wish do not generally require much space. Animals such as dogs however require a relatively larger amount of space to run and frolic in. Deciding how much space is available for your pet is crucial to know before adopting a pet.

The second aspect that needs to be considered is the amount of attention that is required by the pet. Many people usually end up neglecting their pet because they do not have the time to give it the attention it deserves. Children easily provide all the love and attention your pet requires. Some pets such as dogs require more attention due to their playful nature while some such as cats, fishes and birds do not require much as they do not do much and are usually self maintaining pets.

The last aspect is upkeep. Some pets require more financial upkeep than others. Some animals such as fishes do not require much upkeep other than cheaply available food and weekly water changes while some pets such as cats and dogs require much more costly food, medical checkups and various shots.

Regardless of the pet you want to adopt, these three crucial points must be considered before buying a pet.

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A Guide to the Pet Expo 2008 in Ireland

Being Ireland's only dedicated consumer Pet Exhibition, the Pet expo 2008 which is scheduled to take place on the 17th of October 2008 to the 19th of October, is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors in this three day event at Simmonscourt Hall, RDS, Dublin.

Promoted by Innovative events, the expo will focus on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. The event will be open to the public showcasing various pet products, pet service providers, entertainers, clubs and other organisations that cater to pets.

Animal lovers are sure to enjoy the pet show which showcases various pets ranging from the ever popular pedigree dogs, cats, birds and fishes to more uncommon pets like horses, ponies, reptiles and various small caged exotic animals as well. Since the expo aims to cover all the aspects related to the ownership of a family pet, it will feature many seminars and interactive workshops for entertaining and educating families that want to adopt pets.

With Ireland's premier venue RDS chosen for the Pet Expo, accessibility to the event is not something to worry about as it is at close proximity to Ireland's capital city. Located 16 kilometres from the Dublin International Airport, it takes approximately 45 minutes to reach the venue by car, bus or taxi. While a taxi ride would cost around EUR30 to EUR40, an Aircoach outside the airport runs every 15 minutes and costs around EUR12.

Local Trains also offer good accessibility to the venue through Dublin DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) which operates from the City Centre to Ballsbridge. Though RDS has parking facilities for 2,000 vehicles they prefer that visitors call and check parking availability prior to visiting the venue. Convenient and reasonably priced accommodation is available in Dublin with its 100 plus hotels which can be booked easily through the internet. Even for those who do not have the time to make reservations, there will still be hotel options available.

The Pet Expo has left no stone unturned in their efforts to provide visitors with a completely entertaining and enjoyable experience. All three days of the expo will feature a glamorous Pet Fashion Show using both animal and fashion models, proving to be more than just entertainment for animal lovers, by attracting high media attention.

The Wildlife Café will be a themed section which will grab the attention of youngsters with its children's activities and entertainment section. Parents with toddlers will find visiting the show a relaxing experience as the expo provides a supervised 'kids soft play area' with well known inflatable animal characters.

The Cat Show and Kitten /Cat Adoption Area will play its part in finding good homes for cats and kittens from various animal rescue shelters. Here, cat breeders and associations will also showcase a variety of breeds and compete for the best.

Another attraction of the expo is the Irish Professional Dog Groomer Association which will host a Grooming Champions event at the show. Also visible will be the car display which will market the newest Family SUV with integrated Pet safety. Apart from these, the Seminar Theatre, 'Ask the Vet' Clinic, Pet's Corner and Equestrian area are the other must visit events of the expo.

Catherine writes about UK Exhibition Stands & Display Kits.

Guide to Adopting a Dog From an Animal Shelter

Visiting animal shelters is a fantastic way to find and adopt a new four-legged family member. Many shelters are overflowing with animals. Sadly, due to space limitations, some facilities are forced to euthanize them. By adopting a canine from one of these shelters, you'll not only save him from a terrible fate, but you'll create a bond that lasts a lifetime.

Having said that, there are a few precautions you'll need to take in order to avoid opening your home to a problem pet. Below, we'll give you a quick list of questions to ask before signing the adoption papers. We'll also provide useful tips for preparing your home and establishing the rules.

Questions To Ask Before Adoption

When you're looking into the longing eyes of a shelter dog, it's hard to resist adopting him on the spot. Set your emotions aside and conduct a little due diligence. Ask a few questions. Your decision can affect your life for years.

First, ask the facility's employees where a particular pooch came from. If he was previously owned by someone who became unable to care for him due to medical issues or relocation, that may suggest good behavior and socialization. On the other hand, if a pup came from a puppy mill, he's likely to have health or psychological issues.

Second, ask whether problem behaviors exist. If a previous owner abandoned his or her canine at the facility, the reason may be due to problematic tendencies. For example, the dog may bark incessantly, show aggression toward people, or display destructive habits. Some problems can be modified with training (and plenty of patience). Other behaviors may be more difficult to curb.

Third, ask about vaccinations, exposure to disease, and preventative steps that have been taken at the shelter to ensure the health of the dog you're thinking about adopting. If you decide to adopt him, take him to your veterinarian for a full examination.

Preparing Your Home

You should buy several supplies prior to introducing your new dog to your home. Plan to have identification tags made. A collar, leash, and a training harness are also valuable to have upfront. Invest in your canine's bedding, water bowl, and a few toys to help him become acclimated to his new environment.

It's also a good idea to buy a crate for him once you decide to adopt him (again, prior to bringing him home). That way, he'll be familiar with his crate from the outset and less likely to put up resistance.

Establishing The House Rules

Canines thrive on repetition and predictable activities. Before bringing your new family member home, create a schedule that includes feeding times, walks, and the people within your household who are responsible for providing both. You should also designate specific areas where your pooch will eat his meals, sleep, and relieve himself.

Decide in advance whether your dog is allowed to rest on your furniture. If you decide against it, be willing to consistently enforce that rule.

Adopting a dog from an animal shelter can mark the beginning of a long friendship of love and loyalty. Do your research upfront, prepare your home, and establish the house rules in advance. Your pooch will quickly find his place as a new member of your family.

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Protecting the Smallest Member of Your Family: A Step-by-step Guide to Pet Insurance

Let's face it - Fido and Fluffy are an important part of your family. Do you want to have to assign a dollar value to them if they become sick or injured?

That may well be the case if you don't have pet health insurance. Rising veterinary costs mean that pet owners can pay hundreds - and even thousands - of dollars for their pets' health problems. As the bills stack up, uninsured pet owners must determine how much they are willing to spend on their animal friend. It can be a heartbreaking decision to make.

Much like insurance for health, cars and homes, pet insurance helps people put a little money away now to avoid a major payout later. Coverage and cost vary, so it's important to thoroughly research the options if you decide to insure your pet.

Step one: Determine if Pet Insurance is Right for You

When people decide to get a pet, they often don't consider how they will deal with the inevitable unexpected illnesses or accidents. Keeping a pet indoors by no means eliminates all the hazards. They can still swallow foreign objects, ingest a poison or injure themselves. As well, living indoors does not make a pet immune to disease and infection - particularly those that are common to their breed. Pets with access to the outdoors have even more opportunities to pick up a disease or get hurt.

Don't have a dog or cat? Insurance companies are starting to offer plans that meet the needs of a variety of pet owners. Some now offer coverage for birds and exotic animals.

Not all owners are good candidates for pet insurance, however. Pet insurance is ideal for owners who deeply love their pets and are willing to spend a significant amount of money to keep them healthy and extend their life. They buy their cherished companions the best food and care they can afford, sometimes even putting their pets' needs before their own. For this type of owner, pet insurance can be a smart investment that can prevent considerable costs and bring peace of mind.

Pet insurance is not a good investment for owners who don't have a strong emotional tie to their pet. Owners who would rather have their pets euthanized than spend money on vet bills are not good candidates for pet insurance.

Step two: Decide What Type of Coverage You Want

Most pet owners will weigh two main considerations when shopping for pet insurance: budget and coverage. Peace of mind can also be an important factor, but far more difficult to quantify.

Pet health insurance is still relatively new in the United States and Canada, so the options available are fewer than for other forms of insurance. That said, North American pet owners can choose from a variety of coverage choices, ranging from injury/accident-only to all-inclusive.

As with all insurance products, the cost of pet insurance increases as the coverage improves. As a pet owner, you must decide what is the right balance between affordability and the care you want for your pet.

- Coverage

When choosing pet insurance coverage, first consider what kind of insurance customer you are. Do you prefer all-inclusive coverage that pays for everything from routine checkups and vaccinations to accidents and chronic illnesses, or are you comfortable with a lesser degree of coverage that just kicks in during emergencies? Perhaps you prefer a flexible plan that offers discounts on a wide range of services, from veterinary care to training. This decision will lay the groundwork for your final choice.

Some issues to consider:

* Make sure to check for coverage of pre-existing conditions as well as breed-specific genetic ailments, such as hip dysplasia for large dogs. Some plans refuse to cover these conditions.

* Some plans place limits on annual, per-incident, per-illness or lifetime costs.

* How old is your pet? Coverage usually starts at eight weeks, but some plans won't cover pets over a certain age (usually between six and 10 years old, depending on the breed, type of animal and other factors).

- Cost

Payment options for pet insurance include flat fees or deductibles and/or co-payments. Not surprisingly, plans with lower monthly premiums come with higher deductibles and/or larger co-payments.

Some issues to consider:

* Insurance premiums are affected by the age, health and breed of your pet, as well as the type of animal.

* Some plans offers discounts for multiple pets.

* Plans generally require customers to pay the vet bill first and then submit receipts for reimbursement.

* Find out if the insurance premiums will increase as your pet ages.

* Depending on the plan you choose, the monthly premiums can range from less than $10 to about $40.

Step three: Choose an Insurer

You've determined what you can afford to spend and the amount of pet insurance coverage you want.

Before selecting an insurer, here are some final considerations:

* Make a list of your questions and priorities in advance. Make sure to answer or check off each item when reviewing plan options.

* Research the insurer thoroughly. Review its website and sales materials, read its testimonials, talk to other pet owners and look for on-line reviews. How long has the company been in business? Are its customers satisfied? Make sure you feel comfortable about everything you hear or read.

* Compare the plan's benefit schedule with your vet's fees to determine to what degree the plan will cover the actual treatment costs.

* Find out how quickly the insurance company reimburses customers' claim payments and if it has claim deadlines.

* Read the fine print. Make sure you completely understand the plan's benefits and, more importantly, the limitations. If something isn't clear, ask - and get the answer in writing. Otherwise, you might find you don't have the coverage you need if an accident occurs.

* Start a file for your pet. Use it for all receipts and insurance paperwork so you can keep on top of your claims and make sure you are maximizing your insurance investment.

Your responsibility as a pet owner doesn't end with food, shelter and affection. Pet health insurance can give the smallest member of your family a longer and healthier life - and provide you with more time to enjoy the unconditional love it so willingly offers to you.

Burke Jones is a frequent contributor to Pet Health Depot [http://www.pet-health-depot.com].