Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are such a versatile breed and settle well in all family settings. While they have such a kind nature, this shouldn't be taken for granted, it’s important that children know how to respect a dog and how to treat them. 

Yes, very affectionate! They are such a sweet dog, but this comes at a price – your visitors will always be covered in golden hair!

They love to be with their people and a bonus is, they don’t tend to struggle being home alone as much as other breeds. This all depends on whether their needs are met and time on their own is built up gradually.

Golden Retrievers love to play seek and find games, especially if they get to retrieve the toy and bring it back to you. They adore soft toys as it mimics what they were originally bred to do. One thing for certain is, you’ll always have great fun with a Golden. 

Whilst they’re not well known for being vocal dogs, Golden Retrievers will bark when they’re excited about someone knocking at the door. If you’re looking for a reliable watchdog, a retriever is not for you, they are more likely to welcome an intruder than see them off.

Golden Retrievers like to have things in their mouth, so if something’s within reach for them to steal, they will and may end up chewing them.If items are constantly being removed from them, this can lead to resource guarding issues (when a dog protects something they cherish like toys, food or people) Some Golden’s have been known to take a person's hand or wrist in their mouth and lead them around. This can be worrying for those that do not understand the behaviour.

Because they love people so much, they have a desire to jump up which for such a big dog, most people do not appreciate.

As long as the dog’s needs are met, these issues can be controlled.

Golden Retrievers thrive in rural locations, somewhere they can run through open countryside, swim in lakes and wallow in muddy puddles. They need an owner who understands what they were bred to do and provide suitable outlets to fulfil their needs. Seek, find and retrieve games are perfect for this.

They also need social interaction, so long hours home alone will not suit them but that's not to say they cannot do a few hours.

Golden Retrievers like to be part of the family and get involved in everything and anything they can. A garden where they can explore every day for new sniffs is essential.

Golden retrievers love their walks and need to be taken out at least twice a day for them to have a good run and opportunity to swim if they can.

They are very happy to go out whatever the weather and love getting wet and muddy, you have been warned!

Extra care should be taken during hot weather because they have such thick, fluffy coats. 
If you’re an active person who has plenty of time to keep them exercised, then you’ll have a happy Goldie. If you’re new to the breed, you should factor in their need for mental stimulation. Retrievers aren’t particularly ‘driven’ but they are highly intelligent and need to use their brains and noses. 

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Golden Retrievers respond well to food because they love it, so generally they are easy to train. Puppies are like sponges, so make the most of it while they’re young, but don’t forget that you can teach an older dog new tricks!

Training them how to greet people politely is also necessary as jumping up can be an issue.
As a retriever, of course, teaching them to retrieve will help you get back items they might feel the need to steal.

Goldens, just like every other breed, can be a challenge whilst navigating their teenage months. Hang in there, keep going with positive training methods with lots of treats and once out the other side you will have a dog to be proud of.

Golden Retrievers shed lots of hair! Your vacuum cleaner will have its work cut out so you might want to invest in the best one for pet hair. 

Daily grooming is an absolute must unless you are happy to live in world of golden tumbleweed hair. It also prevents nasty knots and gives you the chance to check for grass seeds which Goldens are prone to getting lodged in their fur and sometimes paws.

A grooming rake will be your best friend along with scissors to keep the hair around their feet and between their toes short. A biannual trip to a professional groomer is recommended to keep on top of managing their coat.

As with most dog breeds, finding a good breeder who invests in carrying out the right health checks on their breeding stock is essential.

Golden Retrievers can be prone to both hip and elbow dysplasia, so keeping their weight under control will help keep any extra pressure off their joints.

Goldens are also at risk of a few different eye conditions that can result in blindness. A good breeder will not reproduce from parents that carry this condition and all puppies should be tested before going to their new home. Sadly, Retrievers are also prone to a few different cancers.

Regular health checks throughout a Goldens life will help detect any issues early on.