Golden retrievers make excellent pets in the correct setting with owners who have the time and energy to put into their intellectual and physical needs. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone should rush out and buy a golden retriever puppy. There are some disadvantages to owning a golden retriever that you should be aware of before welcoming one into your home. So, what are the disadvantages of owning a golden retriever?
Disadvantages of owning a golden are higher exercise needs, large size, expenses, extreme hair shedding their training needs, and shorter life spans. Golden retrievers are one of the most popular breeds for families. Their intelligence and kindly, calm personalities place them firmly at the top of many recommended breed lists.
However, many golden retrievers end up in dog shelters each year because their owners didn’t fully consider the commitment before buying them.
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1. High Exercise Needs
Golden retrievers are ideal pets for active families who enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors, but they’re not so great if you don’t have the time for long walks every day. Golden retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs and have the stamina and physical strength to walk, run, and retrieve for extended periods. While you don’t need to take your retriever hunting to give it enough exercise, you need to commit to giving your pet a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity every day. This could include swimming and fetching games as well as walks.
Failing to give your golden retriever enough exercise can make them hyperactive and destructive to furniture and other household items. You may also find that an inactive golden retriever barks excessively or digs up the garden when they’re allowed out. That’s because they have pent-up energy to release and may feel bored and understimulated.
Never get a golden retriever off the back of a promise from your kids to walk it every day. While your child may be desperate for a friendly golden to play with, ultimately, they cannot take responsibility for your pet’s health and wellbeing. Goldens are also big and strong, so most children will struggle to control them.
The bottom line- if you aren’t sure whether you can commit to meeting its exercise needs every day for the rest of your dog’s life, a golden retriever isn’t for you.
2. Large Size
Goldens are large, heavy dogs that take up a lot of space. Adults can weigh up to 65 pounds for females and 75 pounds for males. While they are gentle giants, they tend to be perky and playful and often have perpetually wagging tails- bad news if you have a lot of breakable items in your home.
Golden retrievers are ideal if you have a reasonably large living area and aren’t too precious about things getting broken or ‘wagged’ off the table. It’s also important to think about whether you will enjoy having a big, cheerful animal bumbling around your home. If the answer is yes, a golden retriever could be the perfect pet for you. If you live in a small apartment, value a calm atmosphere, or have many fragile ornaments, you may be better off with a smaller breed.
3. Expensive
Many people only factor in the initial cost of buying a puppy when they’re considering whether to get a golden retriever. Like any pure breed, golden retriever puppies are expensive. However, this is just the start of the costs of owning a golden.
Whatever dog bed you choose, you need to factor in the cost of routine vaccinations, flea and worming treatments, and healthcare for your dog as it gets old into your decision. Goldens are more likely to rack up vet bills because they are active dogs and can get themselves into scrapes on walks, potentially resulting in injuries.
Golden retrievers are also at a higher risk of certain health conditions, including hip dysplasia and certain cancers. Buying from a reputable breeder can limit the risk of your golden retriever getting sick with an inherited disease, but there are no hard and fast guarantees.
You should also consider the cost of buying essentials like leashes and toys and how much you can afford to spend on dog food. Golden retrievers don’t eat as much as many breeds of comparable size, but they are still significantly more expensive to feed than small dogs. Also, bear in mind the costs of boarding your dog during vacations or hiring a dog walker if your circumstances change and you are no longer able to commit to long walks every day.
While it is tempting to overlook these practicalities when you’re considering getting a cute retriever puppy, think twice. Sadly, many golden retrievers end up abandoned or turned over to shelters because their owners didn’t thoroughly consider their budgetary constraints before taking them on. So, before you get a golden retriever (or any other pet for that matter), make sure that you can afford to care for it for the rest of its life.
4. Hair Shedding
One of a golden retriever’s most appealing features is its long silky coat. While its fur is super-soft and lovely to stroke, the downside is that a golden retriever sheds a lot of fur all year round. This shedding ramps up during the spring and fall, so it’s important to consider that your home will constantly have a lot of dog hair in it. If you are fastidiously clean, expect to spend a lot of time vacuuming and removing hair from your furnishings.
Golden retriever coats also tend to attract mud, dust, and burrs, which will end up finding their way into your home. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that golden retrievers love spending time outside and wallowing in water and mud. Therefore, a golden retriever is not the dog for you if you want a spotlessly clean home or don’t want the hassle of scrubbing muddy paw prints off your couch.
Some people wrongly assume that they can enjoy the benefits of a golden retriever and keep their home pristine by keeping their pet outside in a kennel. However, golden retrievers naturally crave human interaction and closeness to their owners. A golden retriever kept outside away from its family is likely to feel miserable and often bark and chew excessively. So, if you choose a golden, you need to be prepared to have it sharing your living space at all times- muddy paws and all.
5. Limited Lifespans
Sadly, golden retrievers simply don’t live as long as many other breeds. You can expect a lifespan of roughly 10.5 years, although many goldens will have significantly longer or shorter lives than this. Unfortunately, golden retrievers are prone to hereditary illnesses such as certain cancers that can cut their lives short. While the risks are lower if you buy from a responsible breeder, there is no way to mitigate the chances of serious inherited diseases altogether.
Many people are prepared to accept that their dog won’t have the longest lifespan because of the many advantages of owning a golden retriever. If you feel that a golden’s sunny personality and incredible capacity for providing companionship outweigh the shorter lifespan, then this breed may be right for you. However, if you don’t want the heartache of potential cancer treatment and losing your furry friend relatively young, you should consider choosing a breed with a longer lifespan.
6. High Training Needs
Golden retrievers are ideal dogs for people who want to do obedience training or teach their pet to do tricks because they are exceptionally intelligent. This intelligence is the reason why golden retrievers are the go-to breed for guide and assistance animals. However, if you don’t have the time to put into training your pet, you may wish to look for a different breed.
Without thorough obedience training, your dog could display behaviors that could make them a challenge to live with. Untrained goldens tend to pull on the leash, run away on walks, and steal and chew household items. Failing to train your dog can also leave them mentally understimulated, leading to destructive behavior like chewing on furniture and digging holes in the garden.
Besides factoring in the time required to train your golden retriever, it’s also important to think about the costs. Unless you are experienced in training goldens, you will probably need expert assistance from a professional trainer. Puppy training and obedience classes are pricey, and you’ll also need to find a trainer that uses gentle yet assertive techniques that won’t upset your golden.
The bottom line- if you don’t have the time or budget to devote to training your new pet, a golden retriever isn’t the breed for you.
In Conclusion
It’s essential to think about whether you have the space, time, and energy to provide a golden retriever with a happy, fulfilling life. This breed is unsuitable for people living in small homes or busy working lives and not enough time to devote to exercise and training. You should also carefully consider whether you can afford the relatively high costs of feeding and providing veterinary care for a golden for its entire life.
However, the very factors that can be a drawback for some potential owners are attractive to others. A golden retriever’s high energy levels, intelligence, and trainability make them the ideal breed for many active families, and they’re an excellent choice if you have children. If you’re not put off the breed after reading this list and are prepared to commit to meeting a golden’s needs, these friendly dogs could be the perfect addition to your home.