Up there with Labrador Retrievers and French Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers are definitely considered one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Just looking at them it’s easy to see why! They’re adorable, friendly and have great personalities. Did we mention adorable?
As with every breed, if you’re thinking of buying a Golden Retriever, it’s important to make sure they’re the right fit for you. Here are a few considerations to help you weigh up the suitability of adding a Golden Retriever to your family.
First consideration is the cost. Being such a popular breed and in such high demand this breed is usually on the more expensive side (ranging anywhere from $2,000 to as much as $5,000 in recent times).
In addition to the purchase price, there’s going to be a fairly significant amount of ongoing costs associated with owning a puppy. It’s estimated that the average Australian spends around $1,627 on their pet dogs annually.* Ongoing costs include things such as food, vet bills, grooming and training. It’s important to consider all of the above along with the purchase price to ensure you’re in a comfortable position to provide the best care possible for your four-legged friend before making the commitment.
Next consideration is the size and energy levels of a Golden Retriever. They’re a large breed of dog, typically weighing between 24-35kg as adults. They also fall into the category of “high-energy” and require regular daily exercise to stay healthy and happy. If you live in a small space and don’t have access to a large area such as a dog park, a Golden Retriever may not be the best fit for you. The space you have available and time you have to commit to the exercise of your Golden Retriever is super important.
They also have a long lifespan, averaging between 10-12 years. It’s important you think forwards about how your life might change over this time period to ensure you will still be able to provide for them whichever direction your life may go.
Next up, grooming. Golden Retrievers have a thick wavy coat that’s prone to getting matted with knots, so regular brushing and grooming is required to keep their coat clean and healthy. They also shed quite a bit year round, so you will need to be prepared to deal with cleaning up fur as well.
It's also important to think about training and socialising your Golden Retriever. Despite the fact they’re one of the friendliest breeds, it’s important given the size of these dogs to invest the time required into the right training and socialisation to ensure they become well-behaved and obedient dogs. This will help not only with the overall wellbeing of your pup, but will make it easier to take them places with other dogs, people and kids without any concerns.
Finally, researching the right breeder and ensuring that they’re reputable, ethical and responsible is imperative. The right breeder will conduct all the right health tests and consider things such as temperament with their breeding dogs and puppies.
Puppies Online only partners with breeders that adhere to our strict ethical guidelines, making it easier for you to connect with the best quality Golden Retriever breeders in Australia.
While this all might seem like a lot to consider, if you’re comfortable that a Golden Retriever is the right breed for you it will be easy to see why they’re considered one of the most popular breeds in the world once you welcome one into your family!
If you’re looking to connect with a verified ethical breeder of Golden Retrievers, send us an email at hello@puppiesonline.com.au or message us through the contact form.
