What Is Bad About Golden Retrievers?

Spread the love

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

[Updated December 2020]

As a Golden Retriever owner myself, I can certainly go on and on about all the great things about this breed. But, nevertheless, you are here because you want to know what is bad about Golden Retrievers?

I will give you all the insights into the bad things about this breed, but I do have to warn you that because I am so in love with this breed, I am able to get past the so-called bad things. Perhaps when you read this article you will find out that a Golden Retriever’s negative traits, are really just things that you can overlook.

Golden Retrievers are certainly popular, but they are not for everyone. If you are considering adding a Golden Retriever to your family, keep reading to find out if you too can look past their bad things.

Table of Contents

1. They Shed

It’s no surprise that this breed sheds. Their long flowing coat is actually a double-coat, that consists of a fluffy undercoat and a protective outer coat. If you have allergies, this breed is definitely not for you. If you can’t handle all that hair, don’t bother getting a golden.

A Golden Retriever will shed all year long. Heavy shedding occurs in the Spring and Fall, to make room for their new coats of the season. The undercoat is what sheds, in the Spring shedding occurs to make room for a golden’s lighter summer coat, and in the Fall thicker hair grows to make a warmer winter coat.

During the rest of the year, you will notice moderate shedding. Feeding a golden a high-quality diet is crucial in maintaining a healthy coat, and to help reduce shedding. There are other things that you can do to help reduce and get control of all that shedding, to find out click here.

2. They Are Stubborn

Many owners of this breed can attest to the fact that their dog is stubborn. I know firsthand just how stubborn this breed can be.

Golden Retrievers are extremely intelligent, which makes them easy to train, but they also have a mind of their own. If a golden doesn’t want to do something, you can expect him to put up a fight.

By that I mean he will just sit there and not move. Perhaps you want to turn right at the street instead of left, but your dog wants to go left, you can expect your dog to sit there and not move until you go his way, or you coax him into going your way with a treat.

3. They Are Too Friendly, And Not Great Guard Dogs

A Golden Retriever is a people dog. They enthusiastically want to meet everyone, strangers, other dogs, other animals, anyone who they think will give them the time of day. If you’re not a social person and don’t enjoy meeting new people, then a golden is not the right dog for you.

A golden wants to be friends with everyone, even strangers that come to your door. Don’t expect them to keep your house safe from a burglar. I mean sure they will bark at strangers, but when a stranger approaches they will wag their tail and greet them with a smile and probably expect to get petted.

4. They Take Over Your Furniture

Be prepared for a golden to get comfortable on your couch, or even your bed. Some owners enjoy sharing their furniture with their dog, and some don’t.

When I first got my golden Ellie, I didn’t want her on the furniture. I tried putting tinfoil on the couch to prevent her from jumping up. That scare tactic lasted 2 days at the most after she realized tinfoil isn’t scary, and the couch is so comfortable. Now I share the couch with her.

I think the reality is that you can train your dog to stay off the furniture, but sometimes it is easier to just give in.

5. They Are Food Obsessed

This breed is motivated by food, this can be both good and bad. Being motivated by food makes them easier to train. A golden will pretty much do anything for a treat. The bad part is that they will eat anything and everything, and you’ll need to watch their food intake because this breed is prone to obesity.

There have been plenty of times when I have walked my Ellie, and she has picked up and eaten some very questionable stuff. It’s not that I am letting her eat stuff off the ground, it’s that she is so quick, and eats it. Walking a food-motivated dog can be frustrating at times.

6. They Are Chewers

Many dogs are chewers but goldens in particular love to chew. I’m sure whenever you see a golden, you can usually see them carrying something in their mouth, whether it’s a stick, a tennis ball, or their favourite plush toy.

If you plan on owning this breed, you will want to have plenty of appropriate chew toys on hand, or else they will find something of yours to chew on.

7. They Are Messy

If you like to keep a neat and orderly house, forget about owning a golden. I have already mentioned they shed, and hair is going to be everywhere, but this breed loves to get dirty. They love water, as well as mud.

Most dogs will walk around a mud puddle in order to avoid it, but not a golden. A golden sees a mud puddle, and if you’re lucky will just walk through it, but if you’re not lucky they will decide to plop down and roll around in it. Can you say mud bath?

It’s really a golden owner’s worst nightmare, having a mud-covered dog. Not to mention they don’t mind shaking all that mud off in the house.

8. They Can Easily Knock Over Small Children

It is true that goldens make great family dogs, and they are great with children. However, when they are puppies they are very bouncy and energetic, and they are large enough to knock over a small child.

Puppies need to be supervised around small children. This breed is very energetic, playful, and loves to run and jump around. Even adults need to be careful because a golden can easily knock you over when they get excited and start running into your legs.

They certainly don’t mean to do any harm, it is just their excitable nature.

9. They Need Plenty Of Exercise

If you are a couch potato and expect your dog to be as well, forget about getting a Golden Retriever. This breed is high energy, especially when they are young, up to the age of 3-4.

Golden Retrievers were bred to be hunting dogs, and they are very athletic and smart. They need plenty of exercise as well as mental stimulation every day, in order for them to be the calm and happy relaxed dog everyone wants.

Giving a golden plenty of exercise throughout the day will prevent them from getting bored, and developing bad behaviours.

Golden Retrievers love to play fetch, and they love water. Providing them with plenty of opportunities to vent their energy and do the things they love is a must.

10. They Steal

Yes, a Golden Retriever steals your heart, but that’s not what I am talking about. Golden Retrievers are great little thieves. I already mentioned they like carrying things in their mouths, well, they enjoy stealing anything from you and love to parade it around in their mouth.

Turn around for even a second, and you can find a golden taking dirty socks out of the laundry basket, or worse your underwear, and make you chase him to get it back. It’s all a game to a golden.

When you’re walking a golden, don’t be surprised when he picks up someone’s glove, or someone’s tennis ball off the ground and carries it home. Everything is fair game to a golden.

11. They Cannot Be Left Alone

If you’re thinking of getting a dog that you can leave at home alone during the day, don’t even think about getting a golden. Golden Retrievers crave and need human attention.

If you don’t plan on making a golden an important member of your family, you shouldn’t get this breed. Golden Retrievers are very social, and love to be around their family. They need to be included in family activities, in order to be happy.

If you work all day, it is a good idea to take your golden to doggie daycare or hire a dog walker to walk your dog. This way your golden will not become bored, or depressed from being alone all day.

12. They Are Prone To Many Health Problems

As with any purebred dog, Golden Retrievers have their share of health problems. Some health problems that a golden can be prone to include:

Cancer, Hip & Elbow Dysplasia, Cataracts, Epilepsy, Hypothyroidism, Heart Disease, and Skin Conditions like Allergies. This is just to name a few, and not all goldens will have all of these problems, or have any of these problems.

If you are considering this breed, you need to be aware of the health issues that affect them.

When buying a purebred puppy, it is important to find a good reputable breeder and ask for the health clearances of the puppy’s parents. Health clearances show that a dog has been tested and cleared for a certain condition.

For more questions to ask a breeder, and to find out how to pick a puppy from a litter, click here.

13. Their Lifespan Is Too Short

We made it to what I think is the number one bad thing about goldens, their short lifespan. Golden Retrievers live on average 10-12 years, and if you ask any Golden Retriever owner they will tell you that is too short.

Final Thoughts On What Is Bad About Golden Retrievers?

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. As a total fan of this wonderful breed, I thought it would be hard to come up with anything bad about Golden Retrievers but easily came up with 13.

What about you? Are you able to look past the 13 bad things about Golden Retrievers? Let me know what you like or don’t like about this breed. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this article, you will also enjoy my article on Living With A Golden Retriever.

Bio
Latest Posts

Jenny

I am the proud owner of a Golden Retriever named Ellie. She keeps me busy, and when she is resting, you can find me working on my blog. She is always close by though. I live in Stirling, ON Canada with my husband, and we both enjoy the never a dull moment life with our Ellie.