Are Golden Retrievers Protective? 8 Traits That Assert Their Shielding Instinct!
Are Golden Retrievers protective? This is the question that caught our attention today, and we`ll try get more deep into details.
Dogs of this breed are known for their loyalty and affection for their closed ones, but would they really make good guard dogs? Obviously, this isn`t an easy or simple question to answer to!
If we are to take into account what American Kennel Club`s The Most Popular Dog Breeds in 2019 page says, Goldies are the 3rd most popular canine breed in the United States.
Intelligence
According to Linda Whitwam`s book, The Complete Golden Retriever Handbook: The Essential Guide for New & Prospective Golden Retriever Owners, Goldies are among the most intelligent dogs you`ll ever find.
How is intelligence useful when it comes to guard dogs? Well, a smart dog can sense when immediate danger is near.
Besides this, canines with an “increased IQ” are very easy to be trained, when trainability in the canine field goes hand in hand with the protection a dog`s closed ones.
For instance, there are numerous cases stated out there where Golden Retrievers get very attached to infants and never leave their side when the little ones are left alone. An intelligent dog will always feel when someone is helpless and need protection.
Loyalty
According to Rover.com`s The Most Loyal Dog Breeds Today and Throughout History, these dogs are listed as being among the loyal pooches out there.
Most canines are loyal to their owner or family, but Golden Retrievers are hard to match when it comes to the strong bond they always manage to create with their loved ones. That is to say, Goldies are as loyal as dogs can get.
Once you establish a bond with a dog of this breed, you don`t ever have to concern yourself about being “betrayed.” Golden Retrievers will stick with their owner to war and beyond, which is exactly what trait should a protective dog should have.
Never-Ending Affection
The playful Goldies are most of the time lovable and kind with almost anyone. They are one of those dog breeds that goes as main example when saying that a canine is the man`s best friend. This breed lives to give and get love from its closed ones.
READ MORE: How Long Do Maltese Dogs Live? 7 Enlightening Questions That Will Clear Everything!
One would say that this dog breed doesn`t have a suspicious trait within and that its affectionate side doesn`t make them great guard canines, but we beg to differ.
The never-ending affection of a Golden Retriever is exactly what would make it a good guard dog. Maybe not “Pit bull” style, but you would still be protected, don`t worry!
Obedience
Goldies originate from Scotland`s 19th century and they were bred with the specific purpose of becoming biddable canines which could help when hunting was involved.
As you may have knew already, part of their name (e.g. Retriever) is a reference to them retrieving birds when brought down by hunters.
This breed is obedient and calm by nature. A Golden Retriever`s biddability actually means they are eager to please their owner.
It`s true, it might not be in this dog`s nature to be aggressive, but being so obedient makes them easy to train. Obedient canines can learn any command, home defense included.
Due to their well-known obedience, Goldies manage to learn orders faster than lots of other dog breeds.
Protective Instinct
Have you heard about the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates? One of his well known quotes says “first, do no harm”, which actually isn`t from the Hippocratic Oath as generally believed but from another one of this works, Of the Epidemics,
Somehow, on a subconscious level, Golden Retrievers are big fans of this oath. It`s in their blood! Protection of their closed ones is their uttermost priority. It`s like they were “programmed” to help and protect.
Still, there is a tremendous difference between their loved one being assaulted with a weapon and leading their owner away when he`s about to get hit by a reckless driver.
READ MORE: Seppala Siberian Price: 8 Reasons Why This Dog May Not Seem Cheap!
Obviously, your Goldie wouldn`t want for you to be put in any harm. So yeah, so you can definitely teach them to attack whenever you are danger, because any command can be taught.
However, it`s kind of against their natural instinct to attack, so protecting you this way would only go up to a certain point.
Size
An adult Goldie can reach up to 55 to 75 pounds, sometimes even more.
Some might be intimidated by a large-sized canine as it could a second until they are able to guess if they are a threat or not.
Thieves don`t have seconds to lose during robberies, so they`ll most likely chose to flee when seeing a big dog getting close to them.
Golden Retrievers also have an athletic body, so it`s not too hard for them to chase “bad guys” away
Silent Nature
You might be surprised due to their playful trait, but Golden Retrievers aren`t noisy canines if we are to compare with other dog breeds of similar size. – Check this out!
These dogs are family pets, and they are ideal for families with infants. A Goldie would never bark when a toddler is sleeping, so you can be sure the little one will never be disturbed.
You would think that this doesn`t make them great as natural alarms in case of a rubbery. It`s completely understandable for you to consider this, but any good family pet would have its instincts go wild in such situations, and dogs of this breed are wonderful family dogs.
READ MORE: Do Pekinese Shed? 5 Exclusive Questions to Help You Find Your Answer!
Scary Barks
Not many people know this, but the Guinness Book of Wold Records has recorded Charlie, an Australian Goldie, is recorded as the loudest canine bark on the planet.
So, let`s say your dog hears a burglar trying to get inside your home. It doesn`t really need to protect the old-fashioned way. As soon as the intruder will hear your little pal barking, he`ll most likely get scared not to get caught and try to find his exit right away!
Barking dogs aren`t always fun to have around, especially noisy ones. But they are definitely helpful in this kind of situations.
Final Word
So, are Golden Retrievers protective? Yes, definitely!
Their loyalty, obedience and intelligence (not to mention their loud bark!) can turn into real assets when talking about protecting their loved ones!
Still, this isn`t your average “aggressive” dog breed. Everyone knows how friendly Goldies are! This is mostly a family dog than a guard canine.
