Turn
on the TV, pick up a magazine -- they're everywhere. The media
portrays Goldens as the perfect family pet -- something none of us at
GRRI-NJ would dispute!
Why
do we love Goldens? It's not only their beauty, though that's a big part
of it.
Mostly, we love them because they're so loving in return. Goldens are
highly social and
intelligent creatures that delight us, make us laugh, and provide a level of
four-legged companionship
that is unrivaled.
But
we also know that Goldens, with all their wonderful qualities, have powerful
needs that
must be met. Not only for good nutrition and vet care, but also for
positive training,
regular exercise, and a home life that includes them as full and true
members
of the family.
If
you're considering adding a Golden to your family, it's important to understand
those needs
and to be SURE you can meet them.
Sadly,
many of the Goldens entering rescue are those whose needs have NOT been met.
The Golden
who got too little exercise and training, and who has become a handful. The
Golden who was
relegated to the backyard and has dug up all the landscaping out of boredom
and loneliness.
The Golden who was left outside unsupervised and who has wandered off and
been found as a
stray.
The
truth is, Goldens are perfect family pets ONLY when WE invest ourselves in
making them so.
Thinking
of adding one to your family? Following are some things to consider ...
Goldens
Crave Attention and
Affection
Simply
put, a Golden left to spend his days or nights alone in the backyard
or laundry
room is an
unhappy Golden. Goldens have very strong social needs -- and aren't shy
about expressing
them.
A Golden consistently excluded from the family will bark, dig, and be overwhelmingly
excited
by even the slightest bit of attention. And even Goldens living as they
should -- along
side the family each and every day -- can be a little pushy about attention.
Expect your
Golden to follow you from room to room, to nudge your hand for pets, or to
toss the ball in
your lap when he wants to play.
Can
you establish boundaries? Absolutely. If you don't want your Golden
to plop on your lap ... or to open the bathroom
door while you're in there ... don't let him! But expect him to express
his need for
your attention and physical closeness all the time, because EVERY GOLDEN does
this.
It's just a part
of their makeup.
Goldens
Need Safe, Secure and Supervised Exercise With YOU Every Single Day
Goldens
don't self exercise ... at least not in a way we humans find acceptable. Left
to his or her own
devices, a Golden who hasn't been properly exercised can turn a backyard into
something
resembling
an archeological dig in no time flat, and with all that pent up energy, can
make time together with you less
than ideal as well.
Goldens
need, on average, at least 45 minutes to an hour of exercise with you each
and every
day. Rain, shine, and everything in between. Just letting a Golden out
in a fenced
in yard to play by himself will not do it. He will be at the door barking, scratching
and
otherwise looking for you to come join him.
In addition,
leaving a Golden unattended in a backyard is an invitation for all kinds of trouble.
Goldens can destroy a garden in minutes, get stolen even in the best of neighborhoods,
and
find very clever ways of getting out to chase the squirrel or bird he may have spotted
outside
your yard.
It's
also
not suitable to tie a Golden outside. His access to your flowers might be restrained,
but there are other risks. Tie outs break; they get tangled and choke; and if
another
dog enters your property with less than friendly intentions, your Golden will be unable
to
defend himself.
Goldens
Require On-Going Training
Reinforcing
the basic
tenets of
good dog behavior will
help your Golden be a better member of the family. Be sure you are prepared
to teach him the things he needs to know.
Even
if you take your Golden to obedience classes -- something we strongly
recommend and advise you investigate prior to adoption -- training
needs to be part of the every day routine of your household, and every member
(within reason)
needs to be a part of the process.
BEHAVIORISTS:
Most common behavior
problems can be successfully addressed with consistent training from you and the help of an
experienced obedience instructor. But in some cases, extreme behavior problems can require
the assistance of a Veterinary Behaviorist, a specialist who can prescribe specific
medications and behavior modification programs
for your Golden.
If your Golden displays any extreme behaviors, you should make
a visit with your own vet a priority. These behaviors, especially if they are new or
escalating, can sometimes suggest underlying medical problems. Once medical causes have
been ruled out, your vet can refer you to a Veterinary Behaviorist.
A Golden Should NEVER Exhibit Aggression
Toward You
or Your Children or Unprovoked Aggression Toward
Other
Dogs
It is quite simply uncharacteristic
of the Golden temperament, unsafe for your family, and cannot be ignored or be expected
to resolve on its own. If your Golden growls, snarls, snaps, or bites, you have reason
to be alarmed and to seek professional help immediately.
Underlying medical causes must first be ruled out. After that, consideration
must be given to the possible environmental and behavioral triggers for the aggression.
But most important, the safety and well being of your human family must ALWAYS come first.
Crate
Training is Effective AND Humane
Crate training
offers MANY benefits to both the dog and to you -- the most important being that
the dog gets
a private and safe place to rest, and you and your family get secure place
to house the dog
when he cannot be directly supervised.
Crates
aren't a punishment for dogs
and shouldn't be used as such. They're a safe place for a dog to be, satisfying his
natural
instinct to find a den. Most dogs who've been crate trained will eventually seek out
the crate on their own -- for naptime or whenever family
life
gets too hectic.
That said, crates can be overused. Don't expect a dog to be happy about being
crated
if he spends 8-10 hours a day
in one.
Crating your new Golden
at bed time, at meal time, when you're
not home, and/or when you are
occupied at home and can't keep a solid eye on him is the most sensible
course until your Golden has fully adjusted to the rules of your household.
Goldens
Need Regular Grooming
Regular grooming of your Golden will improve not only his appearance but
also his health and behavior. Benefits include teaching the
dog to handle simple restraint; allowing you to
quickly recognize changes, bumps, lumps or sores on the dog;
and giving
your dog more attention, not only via the grooming session itself, but also
overall -- who
wants to pet a smelly, dirty dog?
Weekly
grooming works best. Repeating the routine
every single week will speed up the dogs adjustment time
and make each
session easier and faster for you.
Every
week, be sure to clean the ears (where infections
can
breed if
not clean and dry); brush the coat (where skin eruptions can occur if not
well brushed and
free of mats); brush the teeth (where deposits can contribute to infection
throughout the
body); and trim the nails.
Start
off slowly at first,
and reward every action the dog accepts
with lavish praise and a treat. In short, make it a solely positive experience
for the dog.
NEVER shave your Golden in the summer. The outer coat, which would
be removed in shaving, actually protects your Golden's skin from
UV rays and acts as insulation
from the heat. Instead, use an undercoat rake every week to remove the thick fuzzy undercoat.
Your Golden will be cooler and healthier for it!
Goldens
Need Quality Diets and Weight
Management
Feed
a high quality
food -- most
grocery store brands
rely on inferior ingredients that provide basic nutritional needs but little
else. A
trip to the pet supply store to select a higher quality brand is well worth
it.
Transition
to
new foods slowly
-- you can reduce the chances
of tummy upset by gradually
switching over to a new brand rather than changing over all at once.
Feed
twice a day -- even an overweight dog benefits
from twice
a day
feedings. Feeding smaller quantities at each of the two meals rather
than one big meal
reduces the incidence of bloat, a life threatening emergency condition.
If the
dog is
overweight -- keep
close tabs on the amount you're feeding. Reduce the amount of dog
food and replace it
with lower calorie foods that will help fill him up. Frozen, uncooked vegetables
are a good choice.
Most dogs love the flavor and crunch.
Exercise
is an important component of weight management, but be sure to use exercise
that's
appropriate to the particular dog
-- a thin, high energy Golden will thrive on LOTS of high energy exercise
(like endless games
of fetch); but a fat, low energy Golden will need to work up to the strenuous
exercise he needs
to become fit.
Golden
Health Care
If you don't already have a vet, it's important to find one before you search
for your new
Golden. Asking other local pet owners for referrals is the very best way
to locate one in your area.
Like
all dogs, Goldens are susceptible to common dog illnesses. In addition,
Goldens are
especially prone to certain conditions that are believed to be inheritable.
This
list is intended to provide only a very cursory introduction to the most common ailments;
please speak
to your own vet about any medical problems you experience with your Golden.
|
Ear Infections
|
Skin Problems
|
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Hip Dysplasia
|
Elbow Dysplasia
|
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Hypothyroidism
|
Allergies
|
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Cancer
|
Epilepsy
|
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Horner's Syndrome
|
Rescued
Goldens
are Resilient, but Adjustment Requires Planning and Patience from YOU
No matter
what
his life may have been before you began caring for him, going to a new home
is stressful for a dog. He is now in a brand
new
place ... all of his senses are on high alert, and he is
more easily excitable than when he is comfortable with his surroundings.
You
cannot bring a new dog into your home and simply turn him loose with
your other pets and/or your children!
ALWAYS supervise
your kids and your new dog, and always use
caution and common sense. Kids need to learn how to treat the dog
properly, and the dog needs to learn what to expect from kids. This takes
time, attention and patience.
For
the first few days, it's important that you keep
things as calm as possible and not introduce any new people or experiences
that aren't essential
to his basic care. That means you should refrain from having parties,
inviting
company over to meet the dog, bringing the dog to the dog run at the park,
taking him to Petsmart,
etc. Keep things simple and give him time to adjust.
Plan
to spend
as much time with your new Golden as possible at first.
Start things off on a weekend,
or plan to
take a few days off from work. Bonding is important for you and the dog.
Treat him
with firm, consistent
kindness and be sure to teach him the rules of your household in the very same
way.
It will help to get things off to a good start!
The preceding was an excerpt from a more in-depth
article about the requirements of Golden ownership. We STRONGLY urge you
to read it. It includes more detail on introducing the new dog to resident
pets, helping the new dog and your kids, grooming and training tips, and health care
information.
click here for a printable copy of the full article (pdf)
GRRI-NJ
is committed to finding the very best homes for our Goldens,
and to helping the public become
more informed about quality care for the Goldens they have
or are considering adding to their families.
For more information on the
topics mentioned here,
visit our
Informative Links page and our
Recommended Books page. You'll
find invaluable resources there!
If you feel confident in exploring fostering or adoption further with us, please
visit our
Fostering or
Adopting
pages to learn more.
