Those of you who want a Golden Retriever but aren’t ready to go through the trials and tribulations of a puppy, should look into adopting an older Golden. Older Golden Retrievers are mature, and prove to be great in homes where they need to spend a quality amount of time by themselves. They are a very adjustable breed, being good tempered. No matter how old the Golden may be, he will quickly become a valued member of your family in little to no time at all.
Where do you find an older Golden. Well your first stop should be your nearest breeder because strange as it may seem they often do have older dogs for sale. It may be a retired show dog, or a dog which has produced several litters and will not be needed again. There is a whole host of reasons why they might have a mature dog they wish to find a home for, so, give them a call and enquire.
Most older Golden Retrievers are already housebroken, and know a lot of behavior patterns and how to adapt to a new and loving family. Although it will be a little hard on your new dog at first, if you give him plenty of love, attention, and patience, he’ll be just fine. You need to keep reassuring your new Golden on a regular basis, and let him know that you are his new owner and that you love him and you are glad he’s a member of your family.
When you meet your Golden for the first time you may well be so taken with them that you are tempted to ‘wrap them up and take them home’ straightaway. But, avoid this temptation. Take a bit of time to get to know them, and to know all about them, just to make sure that they are right for your lifestyle. Also, do involve the other members of your family in all of these initial decisions, as it is important that everybody feels happy about welcoming a new member into the family.
You will find life much easier in the early days if you spend a bit of time helping your new family member adjust to your home and its environs. You will find things easier if you do, and your new family member will certainly appreciate you taking the time to help them settle in.
You should always give your new Golden Retriever at least a month or so to get used to his new environment, before you start his new obedience training. Even though your new dog may have some prior obedience training, you should still enroll him in a new class. This way, he can brush up on training and you can work with him to help him understand. Once you have finished training, he’ll understand your commands better and you and him will get along just fine.
All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Older Golden’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever - they are perfect for families who don’t want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.
Before you buy any other obedience training aids make sure you visit John Charles excellent dog training resource
Jonathan Charles
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/senior-golden-retrievers-for-adoption-752613.html
American bulldog owners please comment….I've had golden retrievers for over 20 years,…?
…thought this breed might be for
me….I have 2 senior goldens, but I’ve recently starting researching breeds that I thought might be for me for future adoptions….I adore goldens and don’t want to be disappointed with another breed, but the American bulldogs and boxers have always appealed to me.
Since Boxers are an actual BREED of dog, I suggest you consider them instead of a mixed breed dog that has no precitable qualities.
Personally I would stick to Goldens.
ADD: Oh yes they have a made up registry with made up papers.
No different then a Doodle.
References :
First the American Bulldog is a recognized breed
Both the boxer and the American Bulldog are strong breeds which will need to be well socilized and trained at an early age.
They will also need alot of exercise
keep doing your research and see which of the 2 breeds will fit your lifestyle better
Both breeds are wonderful if brought up right
References :
I have an american bulldog. She is very loyal.. to me.. and the family, I believe that they are very loyal and protective. If it is socialized and well trained I believe american bulldogs are great!! They do have a lot of energy! Compared to other dogs I have had, (labs) they need alot more guidance in proper behavior.
References :
My brother has owned Bulldogs for 15 years. I hear first hand all the details this breed requires. Dont get me wrong.. .they are adorable and loving however, they have lots of medical issues. Breathing, their folds get infected if you dont care for them on a daily basis. Ear issues….Doorite -one of my brothers dogs got stung by a bee.. .he died becuase his head swelled up so bad and it cut off his breathing, he was 2yrs old. Bosco, 3yrs old…. .was hospitalized for 6days.. .he was running around with another dog. .and got overheated… .he almost died as well. Bulldogs really do not have much energy even when they are at a young age.. .as they get older.. .it gets worst. Again, I say.. .they are loving and so cute to look at. .they have this sense of pride being the mascot for the US Marine Corps. My personal opinion, you need lots of time, patients and money for this breed! Good Luck
References :
Before I owned my Cavaliers I have always had Labs for hunting purposes. I recently got an AB pup and I love her! Oh there is good and bad I guess but she suits me perfectly…probably better than a Lab does. I’ll tell you a bit about her as she is 11wks old…don’t know a whole lot past there! LOL. But I would say she is VERY different from raising a Lab puppy.
She is hell on wheels when she is awake. Very playful and mouthy. She has a high prey drive and super sharp teeth she wants to sink into everything. She has learned through consistency and distractions not to nip me but being a pup she forgets and now a vocal warning is enough to get her to mind her manners. High prey drive means she wants to chase anything that moves. Including legs/feet and will latch onto and hold pantlegs no matter how far you drag her. During play she will latch onto and hold her toy without letting go. Since she is SO busy when she is awake she still has short sleep/awake patterns and rest quite a bit yet. She took to crate training no problems. Had a rough start with housebreaking due to a UTI but is since on track. I would say she is age appropriate. Hasn’t had an accident in a long time but she spends her awake time actively playing/training with me or leashed beside me with a chew toy. She has caught onto commands amazingly fast and really has a desire to please. Currently I am marker training with her and she is doing excellent.
She is a BOLD puppy. I can tell if something has her a bit nervous but she does not back down and tries really hard not to show it. Her inquisitive, bold, nature seems to overpower fear. I did have a problem with her from day one with posturing over other pets and children. This was nipped in the bud right away. They have a high threshold for pain and my girl is so driven that initially nothing phased her. If I jerked her back she sprung up with more force and propelled forward faster and harder. The only thing that got her attention when she did no nos such as posturing or nipping (Which she was breaking skin 90% of the time) was a scruffing and pulling front feet off the ground with a FIRM Aaaaiy! Now just aaaaiy is enough to let her know biting is not acceptable. She no longer postures at all and has found her niche in our crazy home.
She bonded to me very fast right away and is totally my dog. I guess I have tons of experience with dogs and I do use the umbilical method when she is awake. Never allowed free run of our home alone and by being leashed to me I can correct things before they get out of hand. I would have to say that this is a STRONG breed that certainly can buffalo a novice owner or one not familiar with how to handle a strong bullheaded breed. My girl is more Johnson looking bulldog so she has the longer muzzle and lankier appearance. The things another poster answered I wonder if they weren’t talking more about EB’s? AB’s are a fairly healthy dog. Hip Dysplasia is probably the biggest health concern but they are also prone to allergies, intropion and ectropions and other more minor issues. (IMO)
If you already have 2 senior age Goldens I would say that an AB pup would be a bit hard on an old dog and possibly not very fair to have them dealing with an AB pup. I would also say that 3 dogs make a pack and then you are dealing with a whole array of other possible problems when raising a puppy. I assume that puppy stage in an AB can be kinda a long drawn out process as my girl surely seems to have tons of energy lol.
References :
Researching breed characteristics is vital to finding a breed that is a good match for your lifestyle, personality and household. Too many dogs end up in shelters every day because their owners fail to do this and end up with a mismatch.
Goldens and ABD’s are miles apart in temperament, in trainability, and in owner responsibility. Goldens are highly biddable dogs, and tend to be soft in temperament. They are the most popular dogs in America for families, and are great pets. ABD’s are working dogs that require daily training, daily exercise, and extensive socialization, and a "greater than the average dog" committment. They can be quite stubborn and are not easy to train, but generally respond well to positive training methods. They can make great family dogs and are generally good with children, but like any dog, should never be left alone unsupervised with kids.
ABD’s come with a much higher than average committment from their owners in responsibility, socialization, and in training. Breed bans are spreading across this country like wildfire, and the bully breeds are always the target. If you decide to get this breed, understand that it may be difficult, if not impossible, to get homeowners insurance. Those companies that will insure bully breeds will usually charge a significantly higher premium, or exclude dog claims from their coverage, leaving you personally liable should an incident ever occur. If you don’t own a home, for the same reason, it may be difficult to find a landlord that will rent to you.
Be prepared for discrimination from the general public. The media has made these dogs out to be villains, and to the general public, all bully breeds and owners are the same. You have to have a strong constitution to stand up to parents who will pull their children away from your dog, people who will make snide comments to you about your breed of choice, and neighbors that may harrass you, your family, and your dog. Responsible owners of these breeds must take significantly more steps than average pet owners to ensure that their dogs are good members of canine society, which requires a great committment of time on the owners part.
Be prepared for breed specific bans. Bully breeds are being banned or restricted in cities and counties all across the country. Be prepared for the fight when (notice I did not say if) it comes to your town. Be prepared that if the battle is lost, you may be required to spay/neuter your dog, muzzle it in public, pay significantly higher registration fees, obtain special limits on liability insurance, build special kennels to contain your dog, move, or possibly have to give your dog up. It has happened where bans have not grandfathered in existing dogs, and owners have either had to move or lose their dogs. Be prepared when you travel with your dog to research breed specific laws in every town you pass though as well.
Unfortuately, there is an undesirable element attracted to these breeds of dogs, and the actions of the few have destroyed the reputation of an otherwise wonderful breed of dog. As long as you are going into it with open eyes and are aware of the special requirements of ownership, I would say they are a lovely breed to own for the right owners.
References :