The Golden Retriever's TemperamentThe Golden Retriever's temperament is by far his greatest quality. Their gentleness and sweetness is what has drawn so many people to the breed. Solid gold temperament is the hallmark of the Golden breed. That doesn't mean every Golden meets this standard. It means every Golden should. Certainly, there are Goldens who do not, whether from poor socialization, training, or breeding. But let's talk about the typical Golden Retriever's temperament. A Golden Retriever should be confident and outgoing.
Because Goldens never look for trouble with other dogs, they mingle well at dog parks and training classes. A Golden with a good temperament is stable and reacts predictably in any normal situation. He's easygoing and even-tempered, and tends to take life in stride. Goldens are extremely loyal to their owners and the entire family "pack." They're intelligent and have a great desire to please, making them easy to train. What exactly is temperament, anyway? A good temperament definition in regard to dogs reads as follows: "the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a dog; the manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific dog." While some people might dispute the "thinking" part, we should be able to agree on the rest of it. (Personally, I believe dogs can think in their own doggy way, even if it's not exactly like humans.)
Their frequent, gentle panting makes them look like they're always smiling. Goldens crave affection and never seem to get enough petting to satisfy them. They'd be delighted to climb in your lap and lay contentedly for hours, forgetting they weigh fifty pounds more than the average lap dog. A Golden Retriever's temperament includes a natural inclination to trust people. That makes them a hands-down favorite with veterinarians, dog groomers and obedience instructors. Along with trust is the ability to forgive. Goldens have the dog world's most forgiving disposition. They'll happily dismiss all those dumb mistakes you're bound to make. Whether you come home two hours late, forget his dinner bowl, or accidentally step on his tail, he'll forget it ever happened once you smile at him. Newspaper accounts document the fact that even traumatic events like abuse, abandonment and accidents don't affect a Golden for any great length of time. A Golden's ability to "bounce back," and keep on loving and trusting people, is legendary. Take a Dog Temperament Test The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) has developed a dog temperament test similar in concept to the Canine Good Citizen (CGC), with temperament as the focus rather than obedience. During a temperament test, a dog is exposed to a variety of conditions he might encounter in everyday life. These might include people exhibiting a variety of behaviors and sounds, as well as loud and strange environments. A dog is critiqued based on his reactions to these stimuli. A dog that passes receives a certificate and the title TT. Unacceptable Behavior in GoldensCertain behaviors should never be tolerated in a Golden. A Golden should never act aggressively (growling, snapping or biting) towards adults, children or other dogs.Nearly every dog will act aggressively if he's being hurt or trying to protect himself, but even then, most Goldens won't defend themselves.
A dog that hides at the sight of visitors or tries to run from anything new can still make a good pet, but it will take a lot of patience and work. Fearful and aggressive behavior is very easily prevented by early socialization and training. So enroll in puppy classes as early as possible, and make sure your pup meets lots of new people and dogs during his first few weeks with you. If you've adopted an older Golden with a few temperament shortcomings, it's well worth your time to help your new Golden buddy become all he can be. The ideal Golden Retriever is a versatile and adaptive dog, calm around the house and playful when the opportunity arises. He's intense when on the job as a service dog or a working dog, and always friendly and responsive. What more could anybody ask for in a dog? Search here for more information on Golden Retrievers |
If socialized properly, the Golden gets along with children, strangers, the elderly, other dogs, cats, and pets.
Goldens display a kindly expression on a 24/7 basis. They never seem to have a bad day!
Shyness and spookiness are also not in character with the Golden Retriever's temperament.
