active dog

active dog

Goldens need mental and physical activities

Goldens were bred to retrieve game and hunt in the field all day

So, if you take a dog with those sorts of genetics and pen them up inside all day, you are going to have problems. A bored golden that is full of pent-up energy leads to hyperactivity, which can result in unwanted barking, chewing, jumping, lead pulling…. Almost all unwanted behaviours stem from you pup being bored. This is not a golden being naughty, this is a completely natural release for bored dogs with no other outlet for their energy.

So how do you prevent bordem?

Goldens are smart and need to be both mentally and physically stimulated. This means lots of training and activities to mentally stimulate them. It takes a lot of time to keep a golden well trained and occupied, so if playing with and training your dog a few hours a day doesn’t sound like fun, or just isn’t possible for you. Then a golden might not be the dog for you.

A golden will not exercise itself; you need to be out there with them, throwing a toy to retrieve, running, playing tug and learning new games. You can’t just leave them in the back yard by them selves they’ll just sit longingly at the door begging to let back in with their family. This is quite a commitment and something you need to be prepared for. If your golden doesn’t get enough stimulation, they will become bored.

Even if you do have enough time to exercise a golden you will also need the energy. If you love being outdoors walking, swimming, hiking etc… then a golden sounds a perfect fit. However, if you prefer to stay at home watching the TV or don’t like to go out when it is wet and cold then a golden probably isn’t the right fit.