Why Do Golden Retrievers Bite
Golden Retrievers are some of the nicest dogs to have around as family pets. In fact, Vet Street named them one of the 13 friendliest dog breeds in the world! In addition, the AKC ranked the Golden Retriever as the 3rd most popular dog breed in America.
They wouldnt have acquired such popularity if they were anything but gentle and friendly. After all, what family would want to let an aggressive and dangerous dog into their home? Golden Retrievers are just intrinsically good-natured.
What gets a Golden Retriever one of the least aggressive dog breeds in the world agitated enough to go against its normal temperament and bite someone? Read on and well discuss why biting may occur in Goldens.
Children And Other Pets
The amiable Golden Retriever isn’t bothered by the noise and commotion of kids;;in fact, he thrives on it. He’s a large, strong dog, though, and he can easily knock over a small child by mistake.
As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he’s eating or sleeping or to try to take the dog’s food away. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child.
The Golden’s attitude toward other pets is the more the merrier. He enjoys the companionship of other dogs, and with proper introductions and training, can be trusted with cats, rabbits, and other animals.
Puppy Behavior And Aggression Are Different
Puppies can sometimes seem aggressive when they are playing with other puppies, such as when they wrestle or play rough. You might even hear some growling, barking, see them pouncing, chasing, or biting.
Many pet owners think that normal playing is aggression. Generally, a puppys ears will be up when he is just playing.
Real aggression is when a puppys lips are curling, its posture is stiff and he has a staring, fixed gaze The ears are pinned back and his stance is rigid.
Believe it or not, aggressive behavior in my Golden Retriever was apparent at just six weeks. Some puppies in the litter displayed more dominance than the others.
At this age, it is important to begin socializing puppies with both humans and other dogs as well. Socializing puppies between six to fourteen weeks of age will help them be socialized properly to avoid future problems with aggression.
The moment you find signs of aggression in your Golden Retriever puppies, find out the reason for it. Illness or pain can cause aggression. A vet can help find the cause behind your aggressive puppy.
Unfamiliar circumstances or fear of another dog can also trigger aggression. When this happens, command your dog to stay or sit and pretend as if nothing happened.
When training puppies to become non-aggressive, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, do not use harsh discipline between six to fourteen weeks.
Don’t Miss: Is There An English Golden Retriever
Bring Your Family A Loyal Golden Retriever Dog Today
Golden Retrievers is simply the sweetest and most lovable dog there is. They are also one of the most popular choices among dog owners. A Golden Retriever is a breed that requires a lot of time spent with the owner, yet they are incredibly loyal and have a very gentle personality. This makes them very easy to train and require little or no training at all! The following are tips on how to bring your family a highly desirable golden retriever puppy today.
The first tip that you should keep in mind when getting a Golden Retriever is to get him from the right family. If possible, choose a family with already raised children, as puppies can be quite boisterous and get a bit out of hand if they are not trained from an early age. Once you have picked out the perfect family for your puppy, you will want to take the time to observe and socialize with the rest of the family. When you socialize with your family member, it will give you the perfect opportunity to get to know him better and establish trust.
Be patient when it comes to potty training your new puppy. It is essential for your dogs socialization when he is young. You should not hurry the process, and you should always let her finish one thing before letting her out in the yard. Never leave her unsupervised in the yard because a puppy has a tendency to explore everything around him. You will need to take her for walks at least twice a day to help her get used to her new family member.
Golden Retrievers Are Highly Trainable
Thanks to their intelligence, character, and eagerness to please, Golden Retrievers are highly trainable and receptive dogs. When training your Golden Retriever, you should start from the eighth week onwardssome breeders even start socialization training while still in the litter!
Thanks to their excellent ability to learn quickly, you can teach them to be obedient and trust you, building mutual respect with your dog. However, you should always keep in mind that a dogs behavior mostly depends on the level of training theyve received.
A Golden Retriever thats relatively untrained can be dangerous because it doesnt know better.
You May Like: Syrah Goldens Reviews
Golden Retrievers Are A Medium
Golden Retrievers are genuinely gentle giants who love socialization and being in the company of others. However, remember, they are a medium-to-large breed, and their personality is energetic.
Golden Retrievers love cuddling and the human touch, and it is not uncommon for them to jump and try to catch the attention of their family members in whatever way possible. While this is not a display of aggressive behavior, it can be dangerous for children and adults with reduced mobility.
Indeed, their weight alone can lead an adult or child to fall over or trip. To prevent these situations, dedicate time to train your dog and supervise interactions between your little ones and your Golden Retriever.
How Can You Know Your Golden Retriever Is Aggressive
Sometimes your Golden Retriever does not show the prominent signs of aggressive behavior until it becomes worse. And your pet becomes dangerous.
I know it is hard to believe that your lovely pal can become aggressive. But if it starts showing the dominant signs, you better not neglect this issue.
The signs include:
- Your pet becomes jealous when you are around other pets. Thus, it inserts itself in the middle.
- They start to mount other pets and your legs.
- The Retriever becomes less friendly and welcoming. Hence, it blocks the door and path of entering the house.
- They start showing odd behaviors like sudden barking, stops eating, becomes moody around people, etc.
- Your pet demands more attention and becomes destructive when you lack to give them time.
All these are preliminary signs that your pet is growing aggressive. If you fail to manage this dominant behavior, your furry friend is cruel and aggressive. And it may not be safe for your kid.
The signs that show your Golden Retriever is aggressive are:
- Excessive barking and low range
- Frequent growling, snaps, snarls, and barks
- Stiff movement of the tail
- Erect ears
Have you noticed these signs in your Golden Retriever?
If yes, then your pet is growing aggressive. And you have to manage this behavior.
Read Also: How To Bathe A Golden Retriever Puppy
Your Golden Retriever’s Health
We know that because you care so much about your dog, you want to take good care of her. That is why we have summarized the health concerns we will be discussing with you over the life of your Golden. By knowing about health concerns specific to Golden Retrievers, we can tailor a preventive health plan to watch for and hopefully prevent some predictable risks.
Many diseases and health conditions are genetic, meaning they are related to your pets breed. There is a general consensus among canine genetic researchers and veterinary practitioners that the conditions weve described herein have a significant rate of incidence and/or impact in this breed. That does not mean your dog will have these problems; it just means that she is more at risk than other dogs. We will describe the most common issues seen in Golden Retrievers to give you an idea of what may come up in her future. Of course, we cant cover every possibility here, so always check with us if you notice any unusual signs or symptoms.
Labrador Retriever Dog Bite
The lovable Labrador Retriever may seem like an unlikely candidate for a dangerous dog; however, they are known at attack.
Fiercely loyal, these dogs are very popular as family pets and are usually great around children. It is their love for their human families that can get them in trouble, doing whatever it takes to protect their humans and their territory, including biting other humans.
Also Check: How To Potty Train A Golden Retriever
What Do The Statistics Tell Us About Golden Retrievers Being Dangerous
Not much.;
Organizations that keep such statistics show the Golden Retriever as one of the least aggressive dog breeds.
However, most reputable organizations, such as the CDC, have stopped accumulating statistics by breed. Those organizations have determined that breed-specific statistics unfairly bias a dog breed while discounting an individual dogs history, temperament, and circumstances.;
For example, a dog selected to fight or raised in horrible conditions may be seen as aggressive and dangerous. The breed is singled out without considering the environment and treatment that the individual dog endured.;;
Compounding the issue further is that entities may assign a mixed breed dog to one specific breed unfairly. For example, a 60% Poodle and 40% German Shepherd could be unjustly classified as a German Shepherd dog bite. The bias toward German Shepards is that theyre a more aggressive breed.;
Or a group of dogs is involved in a dog attack with only one or a few dogs biting. However, all dogs are considered part of the attack, even those that did not bite, and the non-offenders are labeled as dangerous by association.
Many entities such as municipalities, police, animal control, etc., may consider knicks or superficial injuries as bites.
R. Scott Nolen discusses the issues with breed-specific legislation in his article The dangerous dog debate. Breed bans are popular, but do they make the public safer?
What Traits Make A Good Sentry Guard Protection Or Watchdog
Certain individual traits and breeds tend to lend themselves better to specific tasks. Its common to see a Doberman Pinscher as a protection dog, just as its more common to see a Golden Retriever as a therapy dog or a Border Collie herding sheep.
The category of traits that makes one dog better than another at being a guard, protection, or watchdog are:
- Temperament; fearless, vigilant, and a natural, deeply instilled protective instinct
- Size; large, strong, muscular, fast, and powerful
- Intelligence/Trainability highly intelligent, easy to train, and very obedient
- Barking/Growling loud bark and growl as an alarm and deterrent;;
So, lets see how the Golden Retriever stacks up in each trait and its suitability in each category of a sentry, guard, protection, and watchdog.
You May Like: Where To Rescue A Golden Retriever
Socialization Is Extremely Important For A Golden Retriever
Socialization is crucial for Golden Retrievers. Through these activities, they express themselves, create essential bonds, and use up their energy. However, socialization should start as young as possible.
If you skip this step, your Golden Retriever can show some signs of aggression because he doesnt know otherwise . Without the necessary steps, they might not understand how to interact with others and what is acceptabletowards humans and other dogs alike.
Ultimately, if you are buying a puppy, you should make sure that he stays with his mother and litter for as long as needed. Once he comes home, keep him as much company as possible and expose him to other dogs early on.
Most Popular Family Dog
The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular dogs in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia, with the highest registered ownership of any breed of dog. These dogs are popular for their outgoing nature and playfulness that makes them ideal for most families. Easy to train and willing to please, most of these dogs are safe around children and family members of all ages.
In addition to being a family pet, Labrador Retrievers are also sporting dogs. Used in bird hunting and in sporting competitions, these dogs love to retrieve, as their name suggests.
Whether it is a ball or a duck, labs are happiest when they are out retrieving items for their human companions. These dogs are extremely loyal, which is why any threat to their environment can change these amiable pets into fierce protectors in a moments notice.
Also Check: English Cream Golden Retriever Lifespan
Are Golden Retrievers Indoor Or Outdoor Dogs
Are Golden Retrievers indoor or outdoor dogs? Golden Retrievers are indoor dogs and shouldnt stay outside for more than 6 hours at a time and they shouldnt sleep outside. Golden retrievers are family dogs and staying outside all the time is very bad for their mental health and will lead to many behavioral problems.
Why Do Golden Retrievers Attack Humans
Golden Retrievers can attack humans when humans are abusing the dogs, mistreating them, or being negligible. Humans can and Ive seen many actually do mistake their dogs good nature as a green card to do whatever they want.
While some dogs like golden retrievers and labradors are incredibly good natured, they are still animals and are prone to snapping.
Golden Retrievers make the perfect family dogs, and you can learn about 20 reasons why here, but they are not perfect. Being great family dogs is not an excuse for some parents to leave their children to pull on the dogs ears, try to ride the dog, or bother the dog in any other way.
Dogs are not horses or toys. They are not those English Palace guards with funny hats that will standby and do nothing as you do things you think are funny. They do have a great deal of self-control, but its not unlimited and they can still snap if they are pushed too far.
Read Also: How To Train Golden Retriever Puppy To Potty
The Case Of The Dangerous Golden Retriever
Employment / Personal Injury / Business
I do not practice criminal law, but I was happy to take the case of a three-year old golden retriever Ill call Rex who was accused of ambushing an;older couple and savagely attacking their Jack Russell terrier.; Ive mentioned in previous blogs that I am the son of veterinarians and have grown up around and worked with a variety of breeds.; Ive also;handled several;civil dog bite cases for human victims.; This was the first time I had ever heard of a golden retriever attacking anything other than;its supper dish.;
Under Pennsylvanias Dog Law, a dog may be judicially labeled dangerous if it severely injures;another animal without provocation, attacks a human without provocation, or has been used in the commission of a crime.; If a dog is found to be dangerous, the consequences can be quite costly to the owner.; There is the initial fine of not less than $500.00.; More burdensome are;the requirements of constructing a special enclosure for the dog on the owners premises with a concrete slab, chain link fencing, and a locking gate, and notification to ones insurance company.; The cost of constructing such an enclosure and the increase in insurance premiums often lead many owners to choose euthanizing the dog instead.; Not surprisingly, my client was quite upset over the possibility of having to make a choice between thousands of extra;dollars she doesnt have to spend and Rex life.
Top Ten Reasons To Not Get A Golden
Thinking about a Golden Retriever as a pet?
Top 10 Reasons NOT to get a Golden Retriever Printed with Permission – Cheryl Minnier
Read Also: Crate Training Golden Retriever Puppy
Bone And Joint Problems
A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Golden Retrievers. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend’s bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life.
- Both hips and elbows are at risk for dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly and results in arthritis. Stiffness in your Golden’s elbows or hips may become a problem for him, especially as he matures. You may notice that he begins to show lameness in his legs or has difficulty getting up from lying down. We can treat the arthritisthe sooner the betterto minimize discomfort and pain. Well take X-rays of your dogs bones to identify issues as early as possible. Surgery is also sometimes a good option in severe and life-limiting cases. And keep in mind that overweight dogs may develop arthritis years earlier than those of normal weight, causing undue pain and suffering!