Golden Retrievers: puppy and dog breed highlights

Considering a Golden Retriever? While every dog is an individual, it can't hurt to know a few things about the breed's reputation before deciding to make one part of your family. For the Golden in a nutshell, check out our list of highlights below. And for an-depth look at the history and personality of this type of dog, take a look at our Golden Retriever breed profile.

Goldens... the good stuff

• These dogs are exceptionally affectionate and people oriented. Typically, they want nothing more than to hang out with their human family.
• Great with kids and friendly toward strangers and other dogs, Goldens are a good choice for first-time dog owners.
• Golden Retrievers are intelligent and like to please, making them relatively easy to train.

Goldens... don't say we didn't warn you

• Some Goldens don't do well with long stretches by themselves and should not be left alone for hours on end.
• Golden Retrievers are highly energetic and quite playful. They require a lot of exercise to be kept happy (not to mention, manageable).
• Goldens can be mouthy. Start training bite inhibition early.
• Did we mention there may be some drooling issues?