Golden retrievers have a special place in the hearts of many families, and for a good reason. This breed is intelligent and generally has a placid nature. However, it’s essential to make sure you have the space and time for a large breed like a Golden Retriever before you take one on.
So, is a golden retriever a good first dog?
Golden retrievers are excellent first dogs, especially for families with young kids. They have the energy necessary to keep up with family life and are patient and relatively straightforward to train. Like any breed, it’s important to give golden retrievers respect and space and teach your children to do the same.
In this article, we’ll tell you all the information you need to decide whether this breed is the right first dog for you.
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Do Golden Retrievers Have a Good Temperament?
Golden retrievers boast a cheerful and calm temperament, which is why they are such perennial favorites as family pets. In particular, golden retrievers generally possess the following attributes:
Friendly
Golden retrievers are genetically predisposed to being friendly dogs, provided they are socialized properly as puppies. Most golden retrievers get on well with other animals and young children and are usually reliably friendly to strangers.
Trainable
Golden retrievers are exceptionally easy to train and usually respond well to training classes. Training your dog is essential as this is a large breed with plenty of enthusiasm that doesn’t always realize its actual size. Even first-time owners should find it relatively simple to quickly train a golden retriever, and training activities can help keep your dog active and meet its mental needs.
Active
Golden retrievers are an active breed that requires a minimum of 40-60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. It’s essential to ensure you can meet this dog’s exercise needs before deciding to buy or adopt it because inactive golden retrievers can become bored and overweight. However, its active nature can make the golden retriever a boon to outdoorsy and active families who want to take their canine friend out on bike rides or hikes.
Intelligent
Golden retrievers are exceptionally intelligent animals, which is why they are the go-to breed for those that need a guide or assistance dog. They learn new skills remarkably quickly and are capable of focusing on a task for extended periods.
Eager to Please
Golden retrievers love to please their humans and are perfect assistance animals. They relish being trusted with jobs and responsibilities, another factor that makes them so easy to train. A golden retriever loves to receive praise from its owner for a job well done.
Good with Children
Golden retrievers are calm and patient, making them a great breed for families with small children. They love to play and are generally placid with babies and toddlers, although they enjoy running around and playing active games with older children. Many children benefit from having a golden retriever in their home because it teaches them to be compassionate and responsible.
However, like any dog breed, even golden retrievers have their limits. Children should be taught to be gentle and respectful of their dogs and give them space to sleep and rest in peace. You should always supervise young children around dogs, even a famously gentle breed like the golden retriever.
Personality
Most golden retrievers have wonderful, sunny personalities and are even-tempered and reliable. They’re perfect for people who want a waggy-tailed, cheerful pet that loves to socialize with humans. However, the golden retriever personality depends partly on the dog’s early experiences and treatment. It’s essential to treat your golden retriever with kindness and respect and ensure its high exercise and stimulation needs are met.
Love to Have Fun
Golden retrievers love games and playtime, and older children can have hours of fun running around with them outdoors. This breed is naturally predisposed to want to fetch and carry things in their mouths. So, you can keep your retriever active and have fun at the same time by playing a long game of fetch. Golden retrievers are also excellent swimmers and will thoroughly enjoy living somewhere they can splash around in the water.
Grooming Needs
Many golden retrievers have a medium-length, soft coat that is lovely to stroke. However, it’s essential to groom your dog regularly to keep its coat looking beautiful and prevent discomfort. Golden retriever fur is thick and has a waterproof undercoat, which could become matted and painful if left ungroomed. Longer-coated breeds like golden retrievers tend to get wet and muddy outdoors, but their coat is relatively easy to clean.
Golden retrievers’ nails often wear down naturally, but you may need to clip them every month or so if they don’t. You shouldn’t be able to hear your dog’s claws clicking on the floor. It’s possible to cut dog nails too short, and this could cause bleeding and pain. If you’re not confident, you should ask a professional groomer or vet to do it for you or teach you how.
Nutritional Needs
Golden retrievers are large and need substantially more food and nutrients than smaller dogs. Before you bring one home, it’s important to check that you can afford the cost of feeding such a large animal long-term. Golden retrievers tend to get uncomfortably bloated after big meals, so it’s better to feed them in smaller amounts more frequently.
Are Golden Retrievers Healthy?
Golden retrievers are generally a healthy breed, but there are certain conditions that they are particularly susceptible to. Some are genetic, so it’s important to make sure you’re buying from a reputable breeder if you plan to get a puppy. The breeder should share the parent dogs’ health clearance records that show it has been checked for certain conditions and that they have been out. In particular, you should ask to see health clearances for the following conditions common in golden retrievers:
- Hip Dysplasia: A genetic condition where the thigh doesn’t slot neatly into the hip joint, causing discomfort and lameness.
- Elbow Dysplasia: A similar condition to hip dysplasia where the elbow joints don’t fit together correctly, causing pain and walking difficulties.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease: A genetic blood disease that prevents proper clotting, potentially leading to uncontrollable external or internal bleeding.
- Hypothyroidism: A problem with the thyroid gland that can cause various health problems, including low energy, alopecia, and epilepsy.
- Aortic Stenosis: This heart disorder features narrowed heart valves, potentially causing the dog to faint. In sever cases, it could also cause sudden death.
- Eye problems: Cataracts are common in golden retrievers, which can cause vision problems in severe cases. This breed is also at higher risk of Progessive Retinal Atrophy diseases which can cause problems with the retina and threaten the dog’s vision.
Aside from the health problems listed above, goldens are also prone to allergies, including to certain foods and pollens that cause hayfever in humans. You should take your dog to the vet if you notice signs of allergies such as excessive licking or face rubbing, as they can often prescribe medications to reduce discomfort.
Are Golden Retrievers Ever Aggressive?
Golden retrievers are relatively unlikely to be aggressive, but it’s not impossible. Generally, the breed is predisposed to friendliness and placidness, but unkind treatment or cruelty could cause a golden retriever to develop an aggressive personality in response to traumatic experiences. Like any dog, a golden retriever could lash out if it feels threatened, afraid, or is sick or in pain.
The best way to avoid aggression in golden retrievers is to ensure that they are treated kindly by all members of the family from puppyhood, including by children. Keeping your dog healthy and treating any conditions that could cause pain promptly are also crucial, and you should groom its coat regularly to avoid painful matting. Ensure that your dog has somewhere private and peaceful where they can retreat to rest or sleep, and don’t allow children to bother it when it’s in its private space. If you intend to get an adult golden retriever, check with the rescue center or seller to make sure it hasn’t ever showed signs of aggression and is assessed as suitable to live with children and other pets if you have them.
Choose a Golden Retriever as a First Dog If:
- You want a friendly breed that enjoys socialising and games
- You have the time available to meet its high exercise needs
- You’re looking for a family-friendly dog that’s gentle with small children and other pets
- You want a trainable breed and have the time to spend providing intellectual stimulation
- You like intelligent breeds that learn new skills quickly
- You have enough space for a large dog breed, including an accessible outdoor area for exercise
- You want a companion for hikes and other outdoor activities
Consider a Different Breed If:
- You don’t have the time to commit to long walks every day
- You live in a small apartment or house with limited space for a large dog
- You want a dog with low grooming needs
- You want a breed less likely to bark loudly
- You want a dog with a strong guarding instinct
- You don’t have the budget to afford a dog that requires a lot of food
The Bottom Line
Golden retrievers are the ideal first dog for many people because they are straightforward for beginners to train and have delightful, cheerful personalities. They’re particularly suitable for active households with young children or other pets. However, bear in mind that you’ll need to commit plenty of time to exercising, mentally stimulating, and grooming your golden retriever. Always make sure you buy a puppy from a reputable breeder and ask to see health certification before you take the puppy home, or rescue an adult from a center that can provide assurance of its personality and health status.