Perhaps you’ve had a challenging time in dog ownership with another breed and want to see if a golden retriever is easier to own? Or are you thinking of owning a dog for the first time but don’t want to start at the deep end? Make sure to also check out my post on if golden retrievers are good for first-time owners!
Golden retrievers are one of the easiest dog breeds to own, with there being multiple reasons why they are one of the most popular dogs out there, but that doesn’t mean to say they don’t have their challenges.
Below we will walk through the main reasons why the breed is considered easy, but also some of the challenges.
Training
If one of your specifications for owning a dog is to have an easy time training, a golden retriever will help you with that. They are notorious for being an intelligent breed and learn commands very quickly. From basic essential commands like sit, stay and leave it, to also much more complex ones. They do not require intensive amounts of training but be careful not to do too little and to keep it up as they (and all dogs) can forget. Training is an essential part of dog ownership. If you want to do zero training, you might need to consider if having a dog is right for you.
Temperament
Golden retrievers are known to have one of the most amazing temperaments of all dogs. Very friendly, and can be very good at reading the room for when to play gentle or a little more “bouncy”. They are often known as very good family dogs due to their temperament. It’s a rare occasion when you meet an unfriendly golden, and it’s all this that makes them easy dogs to own. If you want to know more about why they are good family dogs, check out my blog Are Golden Retrievers Good Family Dogs? 6 Key Reasons Why!
Be advised though that even with the ability to read the room, they can still get very excited and bouncy which can be a handful at times, especially as a puppy, but I would say this is just their wonderful personality and doesn’t make your life more difficult in most cases.
Toilet Training
With most dogs, toilet training requires some effort. However, if done correctly, your initial efforts will pay off making your life easier in the long run. If this is neglected, it will be a tough time regardless of the dog breed. See my other related posts where I go into more detail about toilet training!
How Long Can Puppies Hold Their Poop at Night? CLARIFIED!
How to Know Your Puppy Needs the Toilet Plus Easy Tips!
PUPPY PEE PADS: Put Them In My Puppy’s Crate? EXPLAINED
Size
Golden retrievers are not small dogs, so you need to consider if this would cause you issues for various reasons, like the size of your house or your garden. Our Albus is 35 kgs and has no issue reaching the kitchen surfaces as typically they are in the range of 50-60 cm in height! See here for more information like size https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/golden-retriever.
On the topic of being able to reach kitchen surfaces, see my post on how to keep a dog out of a room like a kitchen to remove this risk!
It’s this size which can make them more challenging in smaller homes or out lead walking. As they are growing up and learning the ropes, they may have a tendency to pull on the lead which you will need to be strong enough to handle before training better practices. Some people for this reason find smaller dogs “easier”, but I would rather work on training them not to pull than pass up on the opportunity to own one if it just comes down to that! 🙂
Exercise
This is the area where commonly a lot of people who are looking for an easy dog might be put off golden retrievers. Like all dogs, they do require exercise, but golden retrievers perhaps require a little more than average. If you are looking for a more lazy dog, see my post Choosing Your First Dog? 7 Tips to Help You Choose where I discuss dog energy levels!
As an example, we walk Albus twice a day for 40 minutes (be aware puppy walking times is completely different), and on weekends we will try to add in a longer country walk instead of the two normal walks. There is no set rule for how much to exercise a golden retriever and do consult a vet if unsure, but under exercising can cause potential issues. One being a bored dog can have a tendency to be destructive and chew things, especially retrievers which are known to be chewers as discussed below. This won’t make your life easy, so consider if your lifestyle allows the time for above-average exercising.
The Hair
Golden retrievers have more hair than the average dog, and are double coated They have an undercoat, as well as the top coat, and yes they shed that hair, all year round. On top of that they shed more so at certain times of the year, Spring and Autumn.
If you are very house proud and cleaning up hair the whole time will make you go crazy, then perhaps you may not classify the golden retriever as an easy dog! We refer to his hair as tumbleweeds as they are very good at collecting in corners, but also just getting in places you least expect it! Essentially this trait comes down to personal preference as to whether you see it as an issue or not!
Chewing
As mentioned, golden retrievers can be big chewers, so this can be stressful and not make your life easy if they decide a chair leg is their next victim! However, there are ways around it to reduce stress levels and for it not to be an issue. Either making sure they have sufficient toys for chewing, providing enough stimulation that they don’t get bored, or dog-proofing your home.
Separation Anxiety
If an “easy” dog is one you can leave all day on its own, do not get a golden retriever. Firstly, no dog should be treated like that, and secondly, golden retrievers can suffer from separation anxiety if left for too long too often. They are very social dogs and thrive on human interaction; that’s what makes them the most amazing animals, let alone dogs. See my related posts where I touch on this subject – Dog Ownership: 11 Practices of a Responsible Owner and Choosing Your First Dog? 7 Tips to Help You Choose
Conclusion
If the golden retriever was a difficult dog to own, they wouldn’t be one of the most popular breeds globally. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges, which there are for all breeds, but also some specific to the golden retriever. I hope this goes some way to helping you! For a summary of golden retriever traits, see my post Golden Retriever Behaviour – 8 Classic Traits.