Training:
Golden Retrievers are very smart and known for being easy to train. In fact, the first three dogs to win AKC Obedience Trial Championships were Golden Retrievers. Even without an obedience title to strive for, basic obedience is a necessity for this large, friendly breed.
Their eagerness to please and high intelligence allows them to learn desired behaviors quickly. It can be a challenge to hold their attention, so using gestures and hand signals along with spoken commands can make the process easier. Positive training methods tend to be most successful with this breed and harsh corrections aren’t necessary.
Goldens are the ideal candidates for many professional jobs as well. You can spot a Golden doing detection work, search and rescue, or wearing a vest that says, “Please don’t pet me, I’m working.”
Barking:
Goldens are one of the more quiet breeds, seldom barking in daily life. But when they do bark, they sure put their size into it! A Golden holds The Guinness World Record for loudest bark at 113.1 decibels—that’s louder than a chainsaw.
If a Golden notices something curious, they usually issue a quiet ‘woof’ before escalating into their loud, deep, and sharp bark. They can bark when playing games or meeting an approaching stranger. Socializing your Golden, spending time together, and supervised playtimes will help keep their quiet nature intact.
Personality:
Goldens are friendly with everyone, even-tempered, eager to please, and devoted. They tend to have a puppy-like playfulness well into maturity, which makes obedience training an important part of channeling their zest for life.
Temperament & Behavior:
Loyal, forgiving, intelligent, friendly, and gentle are traits that characterize the Golden Retriever temperament. They are considered the quintessential family pet and are the one of most popular breeds in America. A loving disposition makes them ideal around children, strangers, and other animals.
Goldens don’t tend to have behavioral problems and eager to please. They are happiest together with their owners and are at risk of suffering from separation anxiety if left alone for long stretches of time.
Behavior with Kids:
Goldens are gentle and obedient, thrive on family activity, and are great around children. They do have a mouthing instinct that should be kept in check from a young age.
Protection:
“Protective” is not on the Golden’s list of personality traits. They are bred to be welcoming and social, not defensive and suspicious. However, they can spring into action if imminent danger is present.
