That applies to many dog lovers Golden retriever as one of friendliest dog breeds at all.
There is hardly anything or anyone that these friendly dogs do not like.
But even the sociable retriever is not entirely unencumbered. I’ll tell you here which typical Golden Retriever problems can occur.
What problems can arise when raising and keeping a Golden Retriever?
boredom or loneliness
The golden retriever is through open-minded and playful nature a good family dog. But in order to be balanced, he needs lots of work and exercise. In loneliness or boredom, he can also reveal his destructive potential.
Furniture, shoes, socks and more then quickly become prey and are chewed up. Because these dogs are quite intelligent, some retrievers also manage to gain access to closets when bored.
drooling and chewing
Dogs, like the Golden Retriever, have been originally for hunting used. Their task was, for example, to get a shot duck out of the water. So fetching is in their blood. For this reason, they also like to carry things around – their toys, children’s toys, shoes or whatever else they can get their hands on.
dig holes
In dogs with great energy, bad habits can creep in, when they are not busy. The Golden Retriever can quickly dig up the garden or try to dig holes in the carpet, tiles and parquet in the house. In doing so, he can damage a lot.
hairy affair
Because the golden retriever a dense undercoat has a tendency to hair a lot. Daily brushing of the coat should therefore be on the agenda.
Is the Golden Retriever suitable for beginners?
Due to its good leadership and its friendly nature, the Golden Retriever is a beginner’s dog well suited.
He is considered very obedient and easy to train.
If you want to bring this fur nose into the family, you should be able to offer him plenty of exercise and intellectual activity.
This is something to keep in mind when keeping and training a Golden Retriever
Because the Golden Retriever was bred to be a hunting dog, it needs one varied occupationto appease his prey drive.
After all, no furniture or clothing should fall victim to his hunting ambitions.
As a rule, the Golden Retriever is not aggressive. However, if such behavior occurs, the reason is usually poor socialization or physical punishment.
The Goldie is very good at paying attention to his surroundings. This makes him a quick learner who understands what he is allowed to do and what not.
However, he quickly recognizes inconsistent behavior on the part of his owner and knows how to exploit these «loopholes».
Good to know:
This breed is known and valued for its gentle nature. Aggression is usually far from him. If a Golden Retriever becomes dangerous, it is usually due to very poor posture.
How do I properly exercise a Golden Retriever?
To satisfy his hunting instinct, you can retrieve a lot with a Golden Retriever. Whether it’s a ball, Frisbee or a retrieval dummy with treats, your dog will be happy to bring the object back to you.
With this task you make your dog happy and make better use of it.
But the Golden Retriever is also enthusiastic about nice walks. Many dogs get very excited when they realize they are going outside.
Experiences – that’s what other owners say about the Golden Retriever
Since the Golden Retriever is a popular dog breed, there are also many owners who exchange information on forums. One reads about the Golden Retriever from «comyashorn» in dogforum.de: «He loved to sniff – looking for treats – or carrying something around (taking out garbage bags, for example).»
Grooming is also a common topic. A guest in the hundeseite.de forum wonders whether he should let his Goldie’s coat heavier. Many other users reported that they shave their dog at least in the summer.
User Jörg had a different opinion and wrote: «And a complete shearing destroys the natural coat structure of the Golden Retriever (that’s what it was originally about). The top coat protects against UV radiation and other weather influences. The undercoat is used for thermal insulation, and this is retained during clipping – so the dog does not experience any real «cooling off» anyway.
Regularly combing out the coat, especially during the change of coat, does a lot more, ensures a loose and well-ventilated coat structure and increases the dog’s well-being. Of course it’s a little more complicated, but we owe it to our dogs.» (sic)
How do I get the problems under control?
Do you notice behavioral abnormalities in your Golden Retriever that you have not been able to get under control with good workload and activity? Then you should seek professional help from a dog school or a dog trainer.
If you suspect your dog has a health problem, have it checked out by a veterinarian. He will be able to tell you if your fur nose is missing something.
The most common health problems in Golden Retrievers
epilepsy
A typical illness that occurs in Goldies is the epilepsy. It is manifested by seizures with convulsions and loss of consciousness. The dog can then simply fall over.
This disease can usually be controlled well with medication.
A trustworthy breeder will not continue breeding a dog with epilepsy. This is because it has been proven to be a hereditary disease, especially in Golden Retrievers.
eye problems
The Golden Retriever often has it with us Cataracts to fight. This is difficult to detect in puppies and is often only recognized in adult dogs.
Also a retinal atrophy can occur in this breed. This is accompanied by gradual blindness. Affected dogs usually only become completely blind in old age.
joint problems
Joint problems can often occur in large dog breeds, such as Hip or elbow dysplasia. Here, too, a stricter selection is already being made by the breeding associations.
Through overweight However, these problems can also be promoted.
Danger:
If you decide to get a Golden Retriever, make sure you’re buying from a reputable breeder. Popular dog breeds, for which high purchase sums are often paid, also attract numerous black sheep. Unfortunately, the illegal puppy trade is still a lucrative business.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you are an individual or a family, the Golden Retriever is suitable for everyone who would like to have an active and fun-loving dog at their side.
Special behavioral problems are very rare in this breed. If they do occur, you as the owner should seek professional help at an early stage.
However, with good workload and care, the Golden Retriever is a very balanced character and easy to train.
Are you considering bringing a golden retriever into the family? Tell me in the comments.