Whether you are considering adding a new furry member to your family or just want to learn more about the Golden Retriever breed, understanding their personality and energy levels is a must.
Golden Retrievers, in particular, have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their cuddle buddy personalities and die-hard loyalty. One question people often have is about the amount of energy they have.
The Golden Retriever is known for its zoomies. Let’s explore the reason for this, and we promise to give you life-changing tips to deal with it.
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On An Energy Scale, Where Do Golden Retrievers Rank?
The answer will depend on the individual dog, its age, genetics, and its surroundings.
Some Golden Retrievers’ energy levels will be through the roof, while others will be happy with three throws of a ball. Most Retrievers will fall in the middle – but lean a little more to the very high-energy side!
A Golden Retriever puppy is around an eight out of ten for energy. Adult Golden Retrievers will be around a six out of ten.
Why Golden Retrievers Are Energetic
Golden Retrievers have a lot of energy because they were bred to be sporting dogs.
The Golden Retriever dog breed originated in Scotland in the 1800s as hunting dogs, but not all modern-day Goldies are bred for hunting. For example, the Field Golden Retriever is bred solely for the purpose of hunting, yet the Show Golden Retriever is bred for showing off what it means to be a perfect Goldie. They should display the exact breed specifications and are often shown in competitions.
The reason for this liveliness can sometimes be a lack of action leading to pent-up energy.
Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercise and stimulation to stay happy and healthy. This is because they are highly intelligent and active dogs. Without proper mental or physical stimulation, your Golden Retriever will get bored.
Helping Your Golden Retriever Burn Off Energy
Playtime every day
They need playtime! Walking, running, or socializing all form part of playtime.
This is vital for puppies, who will have a lot of pent-up energy if they don’t get enough playtime each day.
They want to bond with their owners and have a little bit of fun. Make sure to set aside time to play with and exercise your dog every day. Take your Retriever to the dog park or go for a run with them.
If you don’t have the time to play with your dog during the day due to work, consider taking your Golden to daycare or getting a pet sitter.
Give them chew toys
Before you go to work, leave your dog with an interactive toy or play mat with treats hidden inside to keep your Golden busy. Working-breed dogs need to…DRUM ROLL…work!
You could take your dog to training or do home-style training via YouTube’s guidance (we’ve all been there before).
Toys are the best way for a Golden Retriever to get rid of all their frustration and boredom. Owners, let your Golden Retriever puppies destroy those toys! It’s scientifically proven to relieve them of their boredom.
Take young puppies to training
Obedience training is super rewarding, and it keeps their hyperactivity to a minimum- or in other words, it’s how you get your dog to go from 100% to 30% in lightning speed!
Reward training exercises are another brilliant idea to keep your dog’s brain busy. This involves rewarding your dog with either a treat, their favorite toy, or some verbal praise (good boy/girl!) when they do what you want them to.
Treats equal work
A high-quality treat will provide your dog with some WORK! It’s hard work getting that meat off the bone…
Just remember to take the bone away when your pup is finished chewing, as bones can splinter and damage internal organs.
High-quality chew toys will keep your Retriever actively engaged and laser focused! If specialized chew toys are too expensive, consider throwing tennis balls for your Golden Retriever to play a game of fetch.
Golden Retrievers start to learn how to be a dog by playing with other dogs.
Playing with other dogs will teach your Golden Retriever about self-control and provide some mental stimulation. (That’s what you call killing two birds with one stone!).
Socializing builds confidence!
Social dogs are also less fearful and less aggressive. This results in taking a much calmer and well-behaved Golden Retriever to vet appointments, walks, runs, social events, and the beach.
It doesn’t have to be dogs though – Goldies are known for making friends with just about anyone and anything. Wondering if Golden Retrievers are good with cats? In a word, yes! They’re one of the best dog breeds with cats. They are known for easily accepting cats into the family.
Exercising With A Golden Retriever
There are a few things to keep in mind when exercising with a Golden Retriever.
These energetic dogs will need plenty of exercise – a good rule of thumb is at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This can be in the form of a walk, run, or playtime at the park. They make exemplary walking or running partners, as they will often want to stay close to you.
Pack treats for your walks or runs to reward them for good behavior when you first start training. Golden Retrievers are notorious for being food motivated!
Golden Retrievers are social animals and love to be around people. Consider taking them out with you to a family get-together or other quiet social events.
Remember, these are not good guard dogs, so don’t expect them to protect you on your morning jogs!
At What Age Do Golden Retrievers Calm Down?
Golden Retrievers are high-energy dogs that require a lot of exercise. They’re also known for being friendly, loving, and patient, which makes them great family pets.
However, all that energy can be A BIT MUCH for some people.
If you’re looking for a Golden Retriever that’s less active, you might want to consider adopting an adult or senior dog. An older dog will likely be much more laid-back than a puppy or young adult dog, and they’ll still provide all the love and companionship you’re looking for in a furry friend.
While young Golden Retrievers (under the age of two) are full of energy and need plenty of exercise, they do eventually calm down as they age. This hyper dog breed will have excess energy when they are puppies due to their fast metabolisms and general curiosity.
A puppy might have the following undesirable behaviors: chewing, digging, biting items around the house, and breaking their toys. These are normal behaviors and will require ‘treat reward training exercises.’
By the time they reach adulthood (around three years old), most Golden Retrievers have mellowed out considerably.
They’re still playful and enthusiastic, but they’re not nearly as hyperactive as they were in their younger years.
Female And Male Golden Retrievers’ Energy Levels
Females mature quicker than males… (sounds familiar to how things work in human land).
This means that a female grows out of her puppy phase faster than a male Golden Retriever. This also means that females USUALLY have less energy than male Golden Retrievers (there’s always one, though).
FAQs
What age are Golden Retrievers most difficult?
A Golden Retriever is most difficult between the ages of eight and eighteen months. You could compare this time in your dog’s life to dealing with human teenagers. Remember, not all dogs act the same way.
Can Golden Retrievers be calm?
Yes, your Golden Retriever’s energy levels won’t always be through the roof! A Golden Retriever can be calm with a little exercise and proper training. This breed also needs socialization to teach them, well, how to be dogs.
Are Golden Retriever puppies calm?
Nope! The puppy phase is usually they’re the most high-energy. The puppy stage will be over around the age of two or three years old. Female Golden Retrievers will calm down faster than males.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that the Golden Retriever dog breed is one with a lot of energy. They require a lot of exercise and stimulation in order to stay content and healthy. If you are considering getting a Goldie, be prepared to commit to providing them with regular exercise to burn off energy.
But remember, not all dogs are the same! The Golden Retriever puppy you want to buy could be the laziest couch potato there ever was.
BarksInThePark can tell you more about this free spirit breed so you can become a real expert!