The Golden Retriever
In a dog's world, Golden Retrievers are simply the fatal attraction. They are a favored dog breed, making great pets, hunting dogs, obedience competitors, show dogs, and even a combination of all these traits. No matter what your reason may be to own a Golden Retriever, you'll have a great dog that will live up to it's potential and then some.
Golden Retrievers are calm, well mannered, and extremely affectionate. They are easy to train as well, very intelligent, and great for those who need a companion. Retriever's are also loyal to their owners, lovable, and great with children. They also make great watchdogs as well, as they will bark loud and let you know when a stranger is near.
If you are often away and seldom home, you shouldn't get a Golden Retriever, you should look into another breed. Golden Retrievers need a lot of attention and care, and normally don't do too well if you leave them at home by themselves for long periods of time. Golden's need attention, and want to be around you at all times. If you spend a lot of time at home on the other hand, or have kids, a Golden Retriever will be a perfect addition to your family.
A lot of people out there prefer to get a puppy and raise it themselves. This way, the puppy will grow up with the skills they have taught him. This is a great idea and very rewarding, although it can take a lot of your time and tend to be very frustrating at times. Those who don't have a lot of time to spare or tend to get easily frustrated, shouldn't get a puppy. Instead, they should look towards an older Golden Retriever who has already been house broken and trained.
Golden Retrievers are a great breed, and they can provide you with the comrade you have been looking for. They can participate in several activities with you as well, such as hiking, camping, and walking. Golden's love the outdoors, and they love just getting out there and doing things with you and your family. If you include your Golden Retriever in family activities - you'll have a friend for life who will quickly grow on you over the years.
