When people consider being a dog owner for the first time, they want to be sure to choose a dog that fits them. Looking for a dog with personality, loyalty and one who can be trained, yet also gives love back when it receives love should not be a difficult choice.
Contents
For most, the Golden Retriever is the first dog they think of. This is for logical reasons also. The Golden Retriever is by far the most popular choice for a family dog. This is due to personality, loyalty and the love they give.
The Golden Retriever has oftentimes been considered the perfect American pet. The Golden Retriever has very few negative qualities if any. They are eager to please the owner and can easily be trained.
Golden Retriever Qualities
First, let’s make it very clear, a Golden Retriever is very seldom if at all, known to be aggressive.
Loyalty is one of the Golden Retrievers' most well-known qualities. The breed is happiest when they are spending time with the owner and the family.
Obedience is a quality that most owners seek when they want a family pet. However, the problem is that there are other breeds that are first considered when the thought of obedience pops into a prospective owner's brain.
Many first-time owners picture a different breed when they hear the word obedient. Breeds such as Pit, Doberman or Rottweiler. This literally makes no sense, when thought about. For those with a young family, one would imagine they would want a dog that is gentle with the family, not one that is difficult to train. And definitely not one that is trained specifically to be mean.
Affectionate is one way to describe what the Golden Retriever likely feels the minute he or she meets his or her new family. It is an almost instantaneous emotion that is in the dog. The Golden Retriever loves all who treat them well, who show them love and caring.
Easy going means that the Golden Retriever is good with children. The Golden has a high patience level for children. This does not mean that you should ever leave your child unattended with any dog, however, of all the dog breeds, the Golden Retriever is the easiest for getting along with children.
Easy to train is what the Golden Retriever is. For this breed, you will not need an expensive trainer to teach your Golden what is good and what is bad. This breed aims to make the owner happy and when it comes to training, this is one breed that is quite easy to train.
Golden Negatives
Energy
This is not to say that the Golden Retriever is a perfect match for you as an owner. Before purchasing or adopting a Golden Retriever, one should consider the level of energy that the Golden is likely as compared to the owner. In other words, if you are looking to get an elderly couple a dog, you probably would not want to choose a young Golden Retriever.
The energy level is unending in these young ones. The older Golden may also have too much energy for some people to keep up with. In a case like this, it would be stressful and depressing for both the owner and the Golden Retriever.
Neither one would feel as though they are doing right by the other. This can lead to stress or worse yet, depression in either or both. If you are considering a Golden Retriever for an older adult or older couple, be sure to look for one that is trained properly. An energetic runner would not be good for an elderly couple. There are trainers that will train the dog to be there at the pace of the owner and to help out as needed.
Many Golden Retrievers are also trained as seeing eye dogs, or medical assistance dogs. This may be the best type of choice for owners who are not quite as young as they once were.
For most Golden Retrievers that have behavioural issues, it is likely due to a lack of activity and stimulation. For most dogs of this breed, it is common to let them run or play for a couple of hours before they will settle down. This is not saying that the Golden Retriever is not a good dog to have for Seniors, however, the consideration of a dog sitter or dog walker that can take the dog out for a run and playtime is probably the best consideration that can be made.
Shedding
If the prospective owner has allergies to dander, or breathing difficulties, a Golden Retriever is a dog that sheds quite a lot. There will always be hair floating throughout your home, even if the dog is taken to the groomer routinely.
Over Friendly
A Golden Retriever is just naturally friendly, this could hinder the plan of a guard dog. Training may be able to find a perfect middle ground, however, it would have to be a very experienced trainer to find the common ground.
Imagine the reaction if someone broke into your home at some point and rather than greeted by baring teeth and mean snarls, your Golden is begging to play.
The Best Type of Owner
The Golden Retriever is the closest to a perfect family pet as one will likely find. The Golden Retriever will very seldom choose one member of the family over others. As a matter of fact, the more love and attention the Golden Retriever can receive and give, the happier the dog is. The Golden is likely to choose all members of the family as their favourite.
Active owners would be just about perfect for the Golden Retriever. As the owner takes a run or walks for exercise, the Golden will happily join in on the run.
If you are the type of person who goes to work and comes home and sits the rest of the evening, then choosing a Golden Retriever is likely not the type of dog for you. The Golden Retriever likes to play, run and take walks. They seem to have the energy to spare at times.
Those that live in an apartment building may want to consider a different pet. The Golden Retriever likes to go on walks, and may quite often need those walks for bathroom breaks. The Golden also loves to run and play. You may want to consider living in a place with a large backyard that the Golden Retriever can run and play in to wear off some energy before the nightly television marathon.
Show Dog
The Golden Retriever is a gorgeous dog. The fur is wavy and flows nicely. The Golden is also a naturally obedient dog that does well when it comes to shows and agility trials. It also helps that they have so much energy.
Cuddle Time
Once the Golden Retriever has had the energy burned out of him or her, she will be more than happy to curl up and watch your favourite show in marathon form. This type of cuddling also is super sweet when it comes to chillier weather, having the big lump of love cuddled next to you on a chilly day will help to keep you warm, and the Golden will certainly be more than happy to oblige.
Needs Company
The Golden Retriever loves to be around its owner. They are happiest when they have their human companion with them. This again fits in with the type of owner who does not want dog hair all through the house, or the type of person who wants to be left alone. A Golden Retriever needs an owner who wants the Golden also.
When the Golden does not have the company of its human family, depression can set in and this can lead to other illnesses also.
The Golden Retriever is not the breed of dog who is going to be happy being left alone outdoors either. Please, do not do this to a Golden Retriever. If that is what a human wants a dog for, they should look into a different breed.
Bringing the Golden Retriever Home
One of the first activities that should be considered when you decide on a Golden Retriever is having the dog socialized. This means getting them used to the family, other animals in the home and the possibility that there are close neighbours.
The Golden Retriever can easily be trained for this aspect of life.
You also need to introduce the sounds and smells of a baby to the Golden Retriever. When the dog is surprised by a new member it could scar both the baby especially and the dog. Before the baby comes home, if possible, allow the Golden to hear the sounds of a baby, to get used to the smells of a baby.
This is done far easier by doing so when the baby is still in the hospital. Have a blanket or piece of clothing that the baby has used or worn while in the hospital and bring it home so the dog can smell it. This does not mean just dirty clothing, a blanket that the baby was wrapped in will help also.
The most important aspect of bringing your Golden Retriever home is to be sure that there is not a sudden rush of people running toward the dog. The Golden Retriever is a gentler type of dog and will do best if it can greet each person one at a time, versus a huge group all at once.
