Golden Retrievers are a fun breed to bring into your family. They like to run around and play, are friendly to everyone, and can fit in with almost anyone. But if you live in an apartment, you may wonder if a Golden Retriever will do well with you.
The Answer is Yes, Golden Retrievers can live in apartments. Golden Retrievers have a lot of energy, and while they can live in an apartment, they need to be taken out for long walks and given plenty of time to play. Owners of Golden Retrievers need to be ready for the time commitment when they decide to live with this breed in an apartment.
The biggest factor of whether a Golden Retriever will thrive and do well in an apartment is the amount of time the owner can provide. Let’s take a look at this factor and others that will help give your Golden Retriever a good life, no matter the size of their new home.
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What to Consider with Apartment Living and Your Golden Retriever
When you want to have a Golden Retriever live with you in your apartment, there are a few things to consider including:
Their Training
Training your Golden Retriever will be important, and you should start the work right away. You plan to live in tight quarters with your pet, and you have neighbors that can hear everything. You do not want to leave them with a dog that barks all day long.
Most Golden Retrievers are moderate barkers. When you use positive training and keep them active when you are home, you can limit how much barking you will hear from them during the day. This training can help them learn where they can stay in the apartment, prevent them from barking, and get them to behave when you do need to take them out on a leash.
Their Size
Golden Retrievers are considered a large breed dog. This means that they are bigger than most other breeds and they take up more space. This site is one of the biggest reasons why dog owners wonder if they can have a Golden Retriever in their apartment in the first place.
Most Golden Retrievers will be between 55 to 75 pounds, with males being heavier and females being closer to the lower end of the weight. If you are worried about weight and space in your apartment, you may want to consider a female Golden Retriever to help with this.
Before bringing a Golden Retriever home to your apartment, check your lease guidelines. Even apartments that allow pets may have clauses inside the lease that includes a weight limit on the pet. You will need to double-check that you can have the Golden Retriever in the apartment.
Their Energy Level
The more energy that is found in a dog, the more exercise they need. You will quickly find that Golden Retrievers have a huge amount of energy. This is normal for the breed but may come as a surprise to you. You must remember that this dog breed was originally bred to be outside running all day.
The Golden Retriever is also a very smart dog, and they train well. With the right amount of exercise and proper training, they will do well in your apartment. But you have to be prepared to help them get out that energy and not let them sit around all the time.
The Amount of Shedding
This is something you will need to worry about, no matter where you decide to live with your Golden Retriever. These dogs do shed quite a bit, and the hair can get everywhere. You most likely will need to keep things clean and tidy in a tiny apartment so the dog hair will not build up.
There are several items that you can use to help keep the shedding to a minimum. You can use things like lint rollers to get the hair off furniture and your clothes. Frequent vacuuming will help too.
Best Pet Vacuum ( Must Have For Shedding)
Potty Training
One thing that you need to consider before bringing your Golden Retriever home to an apartment is how you will handle potty training. This is a little more difficult in an apartment because you can’t just add a doggy door and teach them how to go in the backyard when you are gone.
If you plan to bring a Golden Retriever home as a puppy, you should dedicate yourself to being home as you potty train them. This will make it easier for you and the dog.
There are a few methods you can learn to help your dog get potty trained. Over time, and with lots of positive reinforcement, your dog will learn how to not go to the bathroom all over the apartment. Once they are trained, you must make sure to take them out right before you leave in the morning and then again as soon as you get home.
Easy Retriever Potty Training Guide
The Time and Attention You Can Give
The biggest issue with having a Golden Retriever in an apartment is whether you can provide them with enough time and attention. One of the best things about this dog breed is they have plenty of energy and like attention. However, if you are gone at work all day and feel tired, you still need to come home and play with your Golden Retriever.
While Golden Retrievers can do fine in a small space, they still need to be taken outside and run around. They have a ton of energy and after being stuck inside, whether in a big home or a small apartment, they are ready to get out and run.
As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to get them outside and play with them. Often it is best if you can come home and take your dog for a long walk before you do anything else. A good walk in the morning before you leave for work is helpful too.
Many dogs who do not get this attention can turn to destructive behaviors. This would include scratching items in your apartment, knocking things over, and barking loud enough to annoy the neighbors. It would be best if you were active in keeping these behaviors at a minimum.
If you are not able to spend a good deal of time taking your Golden Retriever for walks and playing with them before and after work, then it is best not to bring them into your apartment.
Are Pets Allowed
This one should go without saying, but you need to double-check the rules on pets in your apartment building before bringing home a Golden Retriever. Some apartments do not allow pets at all.
Even the ones that allow pets may have limitations on the size of pets allowed, how many pets you may have, and what type of pet. Many will require you to pay an additional security deposit as well.
Check through the rules for your apartment and the lease to see what it states about animals. Let your landlord know that you plan to bring home a Golden Retriever and pay any necessary pet deposit.
Consider Doggy Daycare
For pet owners who work long hours and are not able to escape to let your dog come out during lunch, it may be worth it to consider a doggy daycare, at least a few days a week. This can help your dog socialize and not be stuck at home all day long on their own. The right doggy daycare can help wear your dog out, train them on how to behave in the apartment, get along with other dogs, and have fun. Even if you only do this once or twice a week, it can make living in an apartment a little easier for your dog.
How Much Space Do They Need?
Many dog owners worry that their Golden Retriever will not have enough room to roam around if they live in a small apartment. They think that to truly have this kind of dog, they need to live in a house with a lot of room.
While you do not want to have your Golden Retriever live in an area that is too small, most will do just fine living in an apartment. However, your Golden Retriever will want to spend most of their time hanging out with you. Even if you live in a home that is more than 3000 square feet, your dog will want to spend most of it right next to you. So having them in a small apartment is not that bad.
Regardless of whether you live in a small apartment or a big house, it is possible to have a Golden Retriever as a pet. It’s not really about the space you have, but the amount of time you are willing to spend with the dog. Any type of dog can do well in an apartment; just make sure that you have the time and energy to give to them and that the apartment allows pets in the first place.
The important thing to remember is they need a lot of room to run around and wear out their energy. With the help of parks, walking trails, and playtime, your dog can get that energy out, even in an apartment.
Tips to Make Your Golden Retriever Happy, Even In an Apartment
Some things you can do to make your Golden Retriever more comfortable in an apartment includes:
- Exercise: You need to give your Golden Retriever exercise a minimum of 30 minutes, two times a day. This needs to be vigorous exercise such as chasing a ball, going on a long walk, and wearing them out. A few longer walks during the day and some time at the park can help.
- 15 Fun Ways To Exercise Your Golden Retriever
- Give them good food: Good food helps you have a healthy dog. This is important whether your Golden Retriever lives with you in an apartment in a big home. Avoid options with soy, wheat, and corn because they are full of fillers. Good proteins are always better.
- Spend time grooming your dog: Golden Retrievers have a double coat, which means they have a lot of extra hair to shed during the day. Grooming them, especially with a good bristle brush and an undercoat rake, will keep your dog nice and healthy while reducing how much shedding occurs.
- Use a dog-cam: These are fun if you work long days and want to help your dog get used to being alone. You can set these up and monitor your pet no matter where you are. They can even be set up so you can talk with your dog and give them a treat when you want. This gives you some peace of mind knowing your dog is safe and behaving while also helping your dog not feel alone in the apartment. Treat Dispensing Dog Camera
- Playdates and dog walkers: If you are not able to do a doggy daycare, or you want more than that a few times a week, set up some playdates and dog walkers to help while you are at work. These will help get your dog out of the apartment so they can wear out energy and have fun, taking some of the pressure off you.
Will a Golden Retriever Do Well In My Apartment?
The key thing to remember here is that while your Golden Retriever can do well in an apartment, you still need to be committed to giving them the care and attention they need.
Most apartments will have plenty of room for your Golden Retriever. But these dogs have a lot of energy and need to be outside playing quite a bit. If you don’t have the time or energy to go on long walks and run around to get that energy out, then a small apartment may not be the best home for your Golden Retriever.
This is true no matter what size of home you live in. Golden Retrievers need time to run around, play fetch, and spend time with their owners. Apartment living with your Golden Retriever is possible, but you as the owner need to be ready for the commitment of owning this type of dog first.