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If you are contemplating adopting a Golden Retriever puppy or dog into your family, here are some personal insights into the breed and what you may expect in raising these lovable, sweet dogs as pets.

I have two Goldens in my family, Jordan and Chloe, and they could not be more different from one another. Beautiful long blond hair, large soft brown eyes, intelligence galore, and a heart as big as all outdoors, these are the mainstays of a Golden Retriever but their personalities can differ to the extreme. Jordan is the elder of the two, almost ten years old now; his blond coat is darkening with age except on his face where he now has a little mask of white. He has always been a gentleman, carefully maneuvering his way through our house, slowly and deliberately, ever watchful not to disturb items that rest on tables when he plays. Chloe, who will be four years old next month, is my wild child. The Alpha dog of her litter, she rules the roost with her demanding presence although she is twenty pounds lighter and two inches shorter than her brother. She barrels down the stairs without concern for her safety or the well being of our house and furniture. She plows into chairs when chasing a ball (or the cat) and seems indifferent to her head being slammed into non-moving objects. Two dogs, same breed, two completely different dispositions.

Both of my Goldens chewed on my furniture when they were little and while it drove me crazy, it did pass once teething was over and neither one has engaged in the activity since. Jordan chewed on shoes that were discarded in front of the couch, Chloe focused on the garbage can in the bathroom. Just as a crawling baby will shove anything found on the floor into its mouth, both would eat anything they found on the floor whether or not it was actually edible. I learned, my house was quickly "Golden-proofed" and we all endured. Both Goldens were housebroken quickly, Jordan in about a week, Chloe in about a month. I used the techniques described in "I Just Got A Puppy, What Do I Do?" by Mordecai Seigal, and they worked well for both Goldens. I worked full-time when both dogs were young and they were left alone from 8:00 a.m. until around 3:00 p.m., when my children would arrive home from school and take them out. A long day to be sure but they both handled it like the champions they are and had accidents only in the early days of housebreaking. Now when I leave the house, the dogs climb the stairs, sullen and quiet and wait on the their

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