So, I decided I wanted an adult English cream golden retriever. It wasn’t exactly a sudden thing. I’d had dogs before, mostly rescues, mutts, good dogs all of them. But I kept seeing these beautiful, pale goldens, people call them ‘English Cream’. Now, I know it’s mostly a color thing, not really a separate breed, but I liked the look, and honestly, I’d heard they were maybe a bit calmer than the more reddish American goldens. Plus, I wasn’t really up for the whole puppy chaos again. Been there, done that. I figured an adult dog would be a bit more settled.
Finding the Right Dog
Finding one wasn’t super straightforward. Puppies? Yeah, breeders advertise those everywhere. But an adult? That took some digging. I started looking online, checked out breed-specific rescues, contacted a few breeders asking if they ever rehomed retired dogs or had adults returned. It felt like looking for a needle in a haystack sometimes. Lots of dead ends. Some folks were asking crazy money just because of the ‘cream’ color, which put me off a bit.
Eventually, I got lucky. I found a small-scale breeder, more like a family really, who had a three-year-old female they needed to rehome. Her name was Luna. They were downsizing, moving, couldn’t keep all their dogs. Sounded genuine. I drove out to meet her. She was gorgeous, exactly that pale coat I liked. More importantly, she had this gentle vibe about her. A bit shy at first, but you could tell she was sweet. Wasn’t bouncing off the walls like a youngster. She just kind of leaned against my leg after a few minutes. That pretty much sealed the deal for me.
Bringing Luna Home
Bringing Luna home was… an adjustment. For both of us. The first few days were quiet. She mostly slept or just watched me. I tried not to overwhelm her. Just short walks, regular feeding times, lots of quiet reassurance. I set up her bed in the living room where I spend most of my time.
There were a few things we had to work through:
- House rules: She clearly knew some basic commands, like ‘sit’, but things like staying off the sofa took some consistent reminding. Not a big deal, just needed patience.
- Confidence building: She was a bit timid on walks, especially around loud noises like trucks or skateboards. We worked on that slowly, lots of treats and praise when she stayed calm.
- Finding her personality: It took a couple of weeks for her real personality to start shining through. Turns out she loves squeaky toys, absolutely adores belly rubs, and has this funny little snort she does when she’s happy.
Living with an Adult Golden
Getting an adult dog, especially this one, was definitely different from raising a puppy. The chewing phase was over, thank goodness. Basic house training was already there. The energy level was more manageable – she loves a good walk or a romp in the park, but she’s also perfectly happy to chill out afterwards. Didn’t need constant supervision like a pup.
Health wise, being an adult means you’re closer to potential breed issues showing up. Goldens can have hip and elbow problems, sometimes heart issues or cancer. We had her checked out by my vet right away, got her records from the breeder. So far, so good, but it’s something I keep in mind. Regular check-ups are key.
The ‘English Cream’ part? Honestly, she’s just a lovely golden retriever. Maybe her build is a bit stockier, her head broader like they say, but her temperament is pure golden: friendly, eager to please, gentle. Whether the color makes a difference in personality, I couldn’t really say for sure. She’s just a great dog.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, getting Luna, an adult English Cream golden, was one of the best things I’ve done. It bypassed the frantic puppy stage, which suited me just fine right now. We got a dog with a known history, albeit a brief one, and a somewhat established personality. Sure, there were adjustments, but it felt more like welcoming a roommate who just needed to learn the house rules, rather than raising a baby. She’s settled in beautifully, and it feels like she’s always been here. If you’re thinking about a golden and maybe not keen on the puppy stage, looking into an adult, ‘cream’ or otherwise, is definitely something I’d say is worth considering. Just gotta do your homework and find the right fit.
