Golden Retrievers

While adopting a four-legged friend into your family is an incredibly rewarding experience, it is also a very serious responsibility. First, you must be able to fit time for a pet into your life – at a minimum, you’ll be waking up early to take Fido on a walk, sticking to a feeding schedule, and taking the time to play a few rousing rounds of fetch (even if it’s been a long day and all you want to do is binge-watch Netflix). Financial costs – from the initial adoption fee to food, vet bills, stylish fall sweaters, and other accoutrements for your pup – are also an important part of pet ownership to consider. When you’re considering pet adoption, make sure you are ready for the task.

You can minimize some of these stressful responsibilities by choosing a pet with a personality that meshes with yours. If you’re active and are hoping to find a canine companion to accompany you on long walks, think twice about choosing a laid-back dog (such as English bulldogs, pugs, or chow chows). If the mere idea of mandatory daily long walks exhausts you, a high-energy dog (such as collies, shepherds, beagles, or Jack Russell terriers) might not be the best fit. In the end, although many dogs will adapt to your lifestyle, it doesn’t hurt to help the transition by choosing a dog with temperaments similar to your own.

One of the most adaptable dog breeds is the Golden Retriever. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in America, and it’s not hard to see why. They are recognizable and adorable (especially as puppies – go ahead and take a few minutes to Google them, we’ll wait). They are also more than just a pretty face. Goldens are exceptionally affectionate breeds whose love knows no bounds, and are good with kids (as long as kids are taught the right ways to interact with dogs – no tail-pulling or food-snatching!). Goldens are also super-smart, so training isn’t too time-consuming. Due to their friendly, laid-back, and intelligent nature, Goldens make great dogs for families with children or other pets. They are also good therapy dogs and assistance dogs for the handicapped.

Goldens do require a decent amount of exercise to stay happy and healthy. Aim for at least 30 minutes (and preferably an hour) of vigorous exercise with your dog every day. Not only will this help your Golden stay healthy, it’ll help you manage their pent-up energy (which can be released in destructive behaviors like barking or chewing up your favorite pair of shoes). As some Goldens are more active than others, the level of activity that’s right for yours will differ based on your particular pet’s needs. Other considerations when adopting a Golden Retriever include shedding (the breed is prone to heavy shedding, especially in the spring and fall).

If you’re looking for a lively, friendly, brainy, and eager-to-please pup, look no further. Golden Retrievers are one of the smartest, sweetest, and savviest breeds out there. A Golden Retriever could be the pawfect companion for you.

This article was produced by Mahee Ferlini who writes about music and travel on her website.