The Golden Retriever is a high-energy dog and one of the more hyper dog races. The reason is due to their past as working dogs. Golden Retrievers love to get care, go on adventures, play all day, and more, but this level of power could get out of hand (especially for new partners) if it remains unchecked.
2 best ways to Calm Down Your Golden Retriever
- Your Golden Retriever’s energy is likely happening from a lack of action. The longer your Golden Retriever goes without any playtime, the more they become uneasy to handle and let out their energy in other behaviours, like jumping on unsuspecting family members and chewing on things.
So, it is desirable to keep your Golden outdoor playing, walking, or socialising with other dogs for as long as possible to let them get it all out of their system. - The following helpful tip includes giving your Golden Retriever a lot of attention, but not just when they have bothered you into it with their lovely clingy attitude.
The pent-up energy could also develop from the inability to get their owners’ care, and they may act out to get you to engage with them.
To help avoid these behaviours, make sure to give your golden care throughout the day, not just when they act out. This will aid because instead of associating their bad behaviour with your affection, they will not have to act out for you to pay attention to them.
Are All Golden Retrievers High Energy?
Most Golden Retrievers have great energy, but that is not to say that every one of them will be. Several in the mix prefer to be calm, cuddly lap partners, especially if you have a female Golden or in their older age. Female Golden Retrievers mature quicker than their male counterparts, growing out of their puppy phase quicker. Most Golden Retriever puppies will be very high energy and need a lot of affection from their partner.
5 Reasons Why The Golden Retriever Is So Hyper?
This is an excellent question for fresh owners or even some seasoned Golden Retriever partners who may have had a Golden with a lightly different character. A Golden Retriever dog breed has tough work and outdoor actions running through their veins. They love to explore and have a free spirit. They were bred to be working, and hunting dogs, so many ages have accumulated one domesticated, fluffy ball of energy!
The Golden Puppy Stage
Age is a significant contributing factor in why your Golden Retriever is so hyper. They are growing social constructs, becoming used to their surroundings, and just like kids, they love to play. Due to their historical disposition of outside activities, this dog loves to play outdoors in a big yard with other dogs or children. This lets them run off all of that power while building interactions with others.
Golden Retriever is bred to be active, outgoing dog
They were raised as working dogs, meaning they have a genetic predisposition for more energy and stamina than other dogs. They were primarily used as partners in mid-19th Scotland to hunt waterfowl and track downed birds during hunting. This history indicates that the Golden Retriever was bred to keep birds tracked on land or in the water over many miles. This sporting breed has always been ready to please and has high energy.
Lack of Exercise can cause extreme hyperactivity in Goldens
Just how we humans want to go outside and do something to alleviate the mundanity or can get cabin fever, dogs are the same way. If your golden hasn’t been exercised, played with, or even left outdoor for several hours, they want to release that pent-up energy and get restless. The best way to fight this is to get them some exercise. At least 30 minutes a day is usually enough for this breed.
Lack of Attention
As we mentioned earlier, your dog may be acting out because they desire to get your attention. Goldens are notably cuddly and somewhat clingy friends (mainly if you have a male Golden Retriever), and they want all of the love you can spare to them.
If you have not snuggled or played with your Golden pup lately, they might be feeling a little abandoned, which can lead them to act out to get you to fixate on them.
If this sounds like the case for you, then the fix is to dedicate a time frame at least twice a day to give your dog the care they have been craving and play one-on-one with them. This will let them know your relationship is still strong while letting them get out some excess energy.
Golden Retrievers Get Bored
Like the lack of exercise, Golden Retrievers get bored and act out by revealing their hyperactivity. The boredom can stem from a lack of exercise, attention, or insufficient stimulating training or activities. To keep your dog unbored, it is best to keep up their training and include new games and activities for them to try. Much like children, they need to be continually stimulated, so switching up toys or taking them to a dog park to have new interactions are great ideas to rectify this.
How to Calm Down A Golden Retriever
If you ask yourself how to keep your Golden Retriever quiet, don’t worry; there are many choices! These suggestions will give you the tools you need to keep your golden healthy, happy, and calm.
Keep your Golden busy with Mental Exercises
Mental activities are an excellent stimulator for dogs and particularly puppies. Mental activities like hide and seek style plays or treat reward training exercises help improve your dog’s brain and training intelligence. Games and mental training will help keep your dog’s attention during training exercises and keep him entertained.
Engage your Golden Retriever in DAILY Physical Activities
The most excellent way to keep your dog calm is to let them get all of their energy out daily. At a minimum, your Golden Retriever requires at least 30 minutes of activity a day. The Golden Retriever can play for hours nonstop, and they enjoy it! This is why if a Golden Retriever doesn’t get a chance to walk and/or play every day, they could become reckless or even restless. Something as easy as daily games of fetch or walk could be highly beneficial to your dog’s overall happiness and mental health.
Training, Training, and More Training!
Training your golden is incredibly rewarding for both you and them, and as a bonus, it aids to keep their hyperactivity to a minimum. Golden Retriever dog breed is brilliant and is pretty easy to train, and sometimes they just need a little guidance with self-control, which can be taught.
Obedience training will enable you to mentally stimulate your dog while learning the proper times for things and commands. For example, you can teach them to end jumping on people or the furniture by teaching them “sit” or “down.”
Also, as you get more in line with your Golden’s character, you can train them to calm down when they are in a hyper mood and then reward them by giving them a treat or going outside with them to play. The more training you give your pup, the more well-behaved they will be and the stronger your connection will become.
Give Your Attention to Your Golden Retriever
The essential thing to think about when getting a Golden Retriever is to know they will need regular attention and exercise. A Golden Retriever dog race is very spirited and affectionate and needs to be loved regularly. Give your Golden Retriever constant attention, make sure to play daily and cuddle, so your Golden’s mental health stays in tip-top shape.
Buy high-quality toys and chew treats
As Goldens can get bored very quickly, and since they are known as solid sporting dogs, they have been known to damage many chew toys. The best way to keep them occupied and keep you from getting new toys every few days is to buy high-quality chew toys and treats. You could also buy specialized chew toys and/or treat dispensers that are made to keep your Golden’s focus and attention longer.
My son’s golden Ollie is about 4 months old and is already almost as tall as I am. (4’11”) She constatntly jumps on me and could get vicious if I don’t stop her in time. She has an outgoing personality and is very smart. I want to stop her from jumping upon me and others. I am training her now as of today to sit and stay thenI reward her for obedience! My son resides with me and apparently this doesnt bother him but it really bothers me,. I have things to do and she wants to occupy my time! HELP! We have had 2 goldens prior and once they get out of puppy stage, they are great and loyal pets.