There is something uniquely special about the golden retriever breed. Your childhood Golden Retriever named Sammy as a kid was probably your best friend and never left your side – with you through thick and thin.

A Goldie’s diverse nature makes them suitable for a range of different families, people and circumstances. They are certainly not guard dogs. And will most likely greet an intruder with a happy face and a wagging tail than a scary bark.  

Historically, golden retrievers were bred to retrieve water fouls like ducks, geese and other game birds. They are old gun club dogs developed in 19th Century Scotland. Nowadays their original breeding purpose has evolved to be much more, and they are now the number 1 pet dog due to their temperament and use as therapy dogs. 

If you are looking to welcome a goldie into your family – we can help you. We’ve created YouChoose Pets and Livestock, an online marketplace app for buying and selling pets. You can easily connect directly with reputable breeders from all around Australia. See their breeding history and upcoming and current litters. Add yourself to their waitlist and easily stay connected with them after your pet purchase for care advice.

At, YouChoose Pets and Livestock we have much admiration for golden retrievers. Having bred and raised many golden retriever litters – we love and know this breed well. We have sold golden retrievers to people from all walks of life and different circumstances. Like families with young children, elderly people and young couples. Some are even first-time dog owners who are pleasantly surprised at how easy they can be from day one.  

Now let’s get into the common misconceptions about golden retrievers so you can see if they are a good fit for your family. 

A popular question we receive from people looking to buy a golden retriever is, “When do they calm down?” 

There is no straight answer to this.  

There is a common misconception that golden retrievers can be a lively animated breed. And the word “calm” is not how some would describe them. From our experience with breeding and raising many golden retrievers litters, I’d say this is not necessarily true. 

All dogs go through a puppy stage and eventually calm down. Usually maturing at around two years old. Their temperament and personality depend largely on their upbringing and how they are cared for.

At their core, golden Retrievers are one of the most consistent and predictable breeds in terms of temperament and personality. They are not very needy and are very loyal. Loyalty is a general dog trait, yes, but even more so with golden retrievers. 

If a golden retriever is locked in a backyard for most of its early life, you can’t expect it to turn into this incredible dog. You need to be training your pup from day one; it’s what they want from you. Golden retrievers are eager to please. More eager than most other breeds. You need to lead them and show them the way. 

All dogs, not just golden retrievers, need to be treated like dogs. That’s what they understand, and that’s how they respond. To get the best mental health out of your golden retriever, you need a well-rounded approach to their upbringing. A balance between,  

With appropriate and consistent training, your golden retriever can be a very calm, non-reactive and patient dog – a lovable part of the family. This is part of the reason goldies make a good first pet. 

Don’t let their goofy affectionate nature fool you. Golden retrievers are very intelligent animals. 

Dr Stanley Coren, canine intelligence and mental researcher, ranked various dog breeds based on their intelligence. He ranked golden retrievers as the fourth most intelligent dog breed. In terms of obedience and trainability. He also found goldies to be smarter than Dobermans, Labradors, Huskies and many others. They are obedient, reliable and easy to train.

A golden retriever’s eagerness to please their owners and high level of obedience makes them quicker learners of commands. Usually, you don’t need to repeat a command over and over.

They are quite calm observers taking in everything around them, unlike Kelpies and Border Collies, who are also intelligent breeds but are highly active and constantly moving to keep themselves stimulated. 

The calm nature of golden retrievers lets them adapt comfortably to the people, energy and environment around them. This combination of calmness and high intelligence is why they are preferred service, therapy and rescue dogs. 

There can be a common misconception that golden retrievers bark a lot. This is usually due to boredom. They are not generally noisy barking dogs like smaller breeds. If your golden retriever is barking a lot, you must correct that habit immediately. Also, he or she could need more exercise or stimulation. 

Golden retrievers have a lush coat of fur. They are a double-coated breed. The outer coat is long and smooth and the inner coat is soft and woolly. Both works to insulate the dog from cold, heat, sun and moisture – making them a breed suitable for most climates. 

Their fur can be a turn-off for people and is their only downside. It’s not as bad as one may think. If they are out and about being active, they will lose a lot of fur. Couple that with a brush once a week, and their coat should be fairly easy to maintain.  

Another common misconception about golden Retrievers is their pre-disposition for hip and elbow issues. People on the hunt for golden retriever pups are often told to buy pups from parents who have been hip and elbow scored. This is all well and good but only one piece of the puzzle.

A lot comes down to diet and exercise when their bones are growing. If they are not fed a good quality diet and under-exercised or over-exercised at crucial growing times, health issues like hip and elbow displacement arise. It has more to do with how they are raised than their genetics (Serpell & Barrett, 2017). 

I recommend learning about how the parents were raised and their lifestyle — including their behaviour, diet, exercise and environment. Finding out what their quality of life was like as pups. 

The YouChoose Pets and Livestock app lets you easily compare animals and breeder profiles to find your perfect match. 

The YouChoose Pets and Livestock team has raised many dogs across various breeds and with varying genetics, including golden retrievers. All our litters are raised on good quality diets and a healthy balance of exercise and stimulation. We believe this has been a large influence on why we have rarely had hip and elbow issues in any of our litters and dogs. It’s more of an exception than a rule. 

We have also had a dog accessed as one of the highest structural-rated female dogs in Australia. It was a mastiff, not a golden retriever, but the point is large dog breeds can have a bad rap for joint displacements because of genetics. When often, lifestyle and how the dog was raised have a bigger influence on health outcomes later in life.

A golden retriever is right for you if you have an active lifestyle and want to enjoy that with your dog. They are a versatile breed for many reasons like their high trainability, solid calm and lovable temperament and eagerness to please. 

Goldies are great for children and breaking up the after-school activity and homework routine. They are a great excuse to get out of the house and down to the dog park. The kids get a runaround and your goldy’s happy to be active and outside with their beloved family.  

They particularly suit families and people who, 

The reason they are such great animals for those with anxiety, PTSD and trauma issues is their capacity to stay calm no matter what is going on around them – acting as a solid point of focus for you.

Retrievers have an innate ability to pick up on your energy and then adapt accordingly to relieve what you might be going through. These dogs give back tenfold what you put in. When you are spending quality time with them, they will make sure you enjoy every moment. 

When you buy a golden retriever, he or she will become more than just a pet. Be prepared for a lovable infectious personality within your family. They are not one-person pets like terriers. They want to share their unconditional love with as many people as possible.

Many of the families we have sold golden retrievers to, it has been their first dog. Most if not all of them come back to us and can’t believe how easy they are from day one. They are brilliant first dogs because they are easy to train and have minimal health issues.

You need to be conscious of your dog’s lifestyle from the get-go. Ensure your dog stays fit and healthy for life with a balanced diet and exercise regime. This will also minimise the chances of any hip and elbow concerns. 

In Australia, golden retrievers start at around $2000. It’s an investment. Do your research and resist the temptation to buy until you feel you are making the right choice for you and your family. Also, do your best to buy from reputable breeders who are easy to communicate with.

The YouChoose Pets and Livestock app allows you to look into the breeders selling history and chat with the breeder direct through in-app messaging. 

You can always reach out to the YouChoose Team for advice here.

We aim to assure you and the breeder walk away feeling excited and confident about the future with your new family member.  

Check out the Golden Retrievers for sale from Bavadar Golden Retrievers Breeders on the YouChoose App Today

Citations 
Serpell, J., & Barrett, P. (2017). The domestic dog: its evolution, behaviour and interactions with people. Cambridge University Press.