Okay, so I wanted to share my journey with getting my adult English Cream Golden Retriever. It wasn’t something I jumped into lightly, mind you. I’d been thinking about getting a dog for ages, specifically a Golden because of their reputation, you know, friendly, good family dogs.
I started doing some looking around online, just casually at first. That’s when I kept seeing pictures of these lighter-colored Goldens, people calling them ‘English Cream’. I really liked that look, that pale coat. Seemed a bit different. Around the same time, I figured I didn’t really have the energy for a brand new puppy, all the chewing and house-training nightmares. So, I specifically started looking for an adult dog.
Finding the Right Dog
Finding an adult English Cream wasn’t super easy. Lots of breeders focus on puppies, obviously. I spent a good few weeks checking breeder sites, rescue groups, and classifieds. I was pretty careful, wanted to avoid any bad situations like puppy mills getting into the adult dog game.
Eventually, I found a promising lead. It wasn’t exactly a rescue, but more like a family whose situation had changed, and they needed to rehome their two-year-old male. They sent pictures, we talked on the phone a lot. Felt genuine. So, I decided to go meet him.
First meeting was key. He was this big, calm boy. A bit reserved at first, which I expected. But gentle. Wagged his tail slowly. Had that blocky head people talk about with the English types. Seemed like a good soul. I spent about an hour with him, took him for a short walk. It just felt right. So, we made arrangements.
Bringing Him Home and Settling In
The first few days home were an adjustment period, for him and for me. I tried to keep things calm and predictable.
- Set up his bed in a quiet corner.
- Showed him where the water bowl was, where to go potty outside.
- Kept walks short and in the same area initially.
- Didn’t overwhelm him with visitors.
He was already house-trained, thank goodness. That was a huge plus of getting an adult dog. He picked up the routine pretty fast. Slept through the night right away. He seemed a little confused maybe, but not anxious, which was a relief.
Living with an Adult English Cream
Now that he’s been with me for a while, I’ve got a good handle on things. His temperament is just golden, truly. Very calm indoors, happy to just lay near me while I work or watch TV. Gets along well with visitors once he has a quick sniff. He’s not overly jumpy or barky.
Exercise is important, but he’s not bouncing off the walls. A good long walk in the morning and another in the evening, plus some fetch in the yard, seems to keep him happy. He loves retrieving, absolutely loves it. But he’s also content to chill afterwards.
Now, the coat. That beautiful light cream coat? It’s gorgeous, but oh boy, the shedding! I knew Goldens shed, but you really have to stay on top of it. Brushing is a daily thing here, or at least every other day, to keep the fluff under control. Otherwise, tumbleweeds of white fur everywhere. Baths happen every month or so, or when he finds mud, which he sometimes does.
Feeding is straightforward. Found a good quality kibble he likes, stick to the portion sizes. No real issues there.
Overall, getting an adult English Cream Golden was a great decision for me. Skipping the crazy puppy stage was perfect. He’s just this gentle giant, really. Loads of personality, very loving. You just need to be prepared for the grooming commitment that comes with that beautiful coat. But totally worth it, in my book.
