Are Golden Retrievers Better in Pairs? — Dog Facts

Golden Retrievers are great creatures who need a lot of love, attention, and care. They have special needs because they are one of the most clingy dog breeds out there. With that information in mind, you might be wondering “Are Golden Retrievers better in pairs?” Even though Golden Retrievers are sensitive dogs who want to be around their pet parents and family members all the time, they don’t usually need another Golden Retriever as a companion. 

In this article, I’ll be talking about why Golden Retrievers don’t necessarily need a life companion, but it’s good that they do.

Are Golden Retrievers Better in Pairs?

There is no official research that states that Golden Retrievers are better in pairs. So sadly, the answer to your question “Are Golden Retrievers Better in Pairs?” is no. However, your Golden Retriever is a very sensitive dog. In fact, the Golden Retriever dog breed is prone to experiencing stress and anxiety, especially if they are apart from their pet parents and family for too long.

This is called separation anxiety, which means it is advisable not to leave your Golden Retriever for more than six hours. It makes them stir-crazy because they can’t handle being alone for long periods of time. When they go stir-crazy, Golden Retrievers can become quite destructive around the house. They may start chewing up your furniture, digging into the ground, barking, howling, or in worst-case scenarios, hurt someone else. 

Since they are dogs who can’t express their thoughts through words, they will express these thoughts and feelings through other means. However, this kind of destructive behavior usually makes inexperienced pet parents very frustrated. It seems like bad house behavior, but in reality your Golden Retriever just misses your presence.

Of course, if you have a job that requires you to leave for more than eight hours per day, you cannot possibly bring your dog to work with you. However, you can always find ways to make them feel less lonely like buying things that will entertain them throughout the day. To remedy this, members of the family actually have a number of things that they can do. 

If your family has kids, it’s best to educate them on what is happening to your Golden Retriever. That way, they will also be able to give your dog the support and help it needs. Remedying separation anxiety is easy and won’t even cost a dime.

What can I do to make my Golden Retriever less lonely?

There are actually a lot of cost-free ways for you to make your Golden Retriever less lonely. After all, spending time with your Golden Retriever is absolutely free. You can always look for time to spend time with your dog so that he or she won’t feel left out.

If you are unable to spend time with your Golden Retriever, it may take a while until they can totally accept that you have to be away from them for several hours at a time. If you want to speed up the process, you can train them to calm down and accept you going away. Alternatively, there are obedience schools or group training schedules that you can enroll your dog in. However, that can cost you up to $1,000.

In order to make your Golden Retriever less lonely, there are other ways to do so without having to hurt your bank. Let me share with you some of those methods.

Exercise with them

The first activity that you can do to make your Golden Retriever less lonely is through exercising with them. As you know, Golden Retrievers are medium-sized high-energy dogs. They need at least 40 to 60 minutes of exercise every single day. Sometimes, these Golden Retrievers need to exercise twice a day just to satisfy their energy needs. If they aren’t able to exercise and satisfy their energy needs, Golden Retrievers may start developing destructive behavior.

In order to let them burn the amount of energy that they have, you can exercise with your Golden Retrievers. That way, it can become a way for you to bond with your beloved pet. It is also a way for you to help them become less lonely.

Exercising can come in many shapes and forms. It does not necessarily mean that you should also be exercising or exerting a lot of physical effort. Playing with them can also be a form of exercising. For example, you can take your Golden Retriever’s favorite toy and start playing fetch with them.

Another way to exercise with them is teaching them how to swim. Swimming is a very fun activity that most Golden Retrievers enjoy. If your dog doesn’t like swimming, you should train him how to. Some dogs will automatically learn how to doggy paddle, but that does not mean that they will stay afloat for long periods of time. Eventually, your Golden Retriever will enjoy swimming.

Give one-on-one time

One-on-one time is also a very special moment that you should enjoy with your beloved Golden Retriever. It will make them feel loved and relaxed, especially if your one-on-one time is simply cuddling and giving special attention to your Golden Retriever through petting. 

One-on-one time can be very therapeutic to your Golden Retriever. It helps them calm down if they are ever stressed. Yes, even Golden Retrievers can have a bad day. That’s why special one-on-one time with your pet is helpful to them.

One-on-one time can be in the form of cuddling with your dog. You can also allow them to sit close by you while you do simple chores like cooking. Sometimes, your Golden Retriever will be satisfied as long as he or she is sitting close by you while you work. To them, this is already one-on-one time that is good enough.

I do also suggest taking some time during the day to groom your pet. Maybe once a week, you can bathe your Golden Retriever yourself. Then, blow-dry your pet until he or she is no longer wet. A good combing session should be followed after the bath and blow-drying. Keep in mind that some Golden Retrievers may not like being blow-dried. However, you can always try being calm and collected when they are displaying discomfort. Eventually, they will also adapt your calm and collected demeanor.

When you’re not going to bathe your Golden Retriever, you can sit down with him or her and de-shed their fur. De-shedding is needed for Golden Retrievers otherwise their hair will be all over your furniture, clothes, and things. You can de-shed them every other day.Believe it or not, your Golden Retriever will love these little moments with you as long as you are close by.

Allow them to sleep by your bed

Rest is one of the most important activities to do for all kinds of mammals. Humans are also included in that bunch. We need rest in order to help our bodies heal from injuries, burn fat, and restore the energy that we burned during the day. If we don’t give time for our bodies to rest, we will become sleep-deprived. Sleep deprivation will cause a lot of changes in our mood including crankiness, grumpiness, exhaustion, depression, and anxiety. Dogs, especially Golden Retrievers, also experience these effects when they do not get enough sleep.

Allowing your Golden Retriever to sleep by your bed from time to time will make them feel safe and calm. They are sensitive creatures who love their family. However, if you are not comfortable with your dog sleeping in your bed, that’s okay! You can let them sleep on the floor near your bed. Move their dog bed (if they have one) close to your bed and make them sleep there instead. That way, your Golden Retriever won’t be able to disturb you while you sleep. I also suggest that you only allow them on your bed if they are trained to understand when to get off of it. An untrained Golden Retriever may become a headache for you if you want them to get off your bed.

However, if you do choose to let your Golden Retriever to sleep in your bed with you, keep in mind that Golden Retriever dogs do not have fur that is hypoallergenic. So if you don’t want to deal with a lot of shedding, perhaps you shouldn’t let them sleep on your bed. In order to counter all the shedding that your dog does, you can brush through your Golden Retriever’s fur every day with a deshedding brush. 

Take them to dog parks

The dog park is one of the best places to bring your Golden Retriever. Why? It is because you give your Golden Retriever to socialize with other dogs. I suggest that you bring your Golden Retriever there while he or she is still a puppy. That way, they won’t develop social anxiety around other dogs. Bringing your Golden Retriever to the dog park at a young age will also make sure that he or she will won’t be as aggressive to other dogs they don’t know. 

Socialization for Golden Retrievers is very important because they’re one of the most social dogs. That means that they are friendly, loyal, and are quick to develop bonds with other dogs. Some people consider Golden Retrievers to be so friendly that they are also quick to befriend humans as well. As long as the human who approaches them has good intentions, your Golden Retriever will also reciprocate the same friendly intentions. However, if your Golden Retriever senses danger in someone’s intentions, they will become wary and sometimes aggressive. That’s why Golden Retrievers are great friends and protectors.

Taking your Golden Retriever to the dog park will increase his socialization skills with other dogs. They rarely show any kind of hostility to other dogs and people, which makes them great companions. Sometimes they are even trained to become service dogs because of their kind, calm, and friendly demeanor.

A Golden Retriever who feels lonely should be taken to the dog park often. If there aren’t any dog parks in the area, your neighborhood park should be fine. However, make sure that dogs are allowed in that area first. Your Golden Retriever is naturally friendly to people and other dogs. They will appreciate being around other people and dogs as well.

What are the Benefits of Golden Retrievers in Pairs?

Even though there are no scientific studies that state that Golden Retrievers are better in pairs, there are people who think that it’s better for your Golden Retriever to have another Golden Retriever buddy or partner.

It does not necessarily have to be a Golden Retriever, though. You can adopt another dog (that isn’t a Golden Retriever) so that yours won’t feel lonely. Having another dog in the house will help ease the separation anxiety of your Golden Retriever. However, the dog in question should also have the same level of friendliness and playfulness as a Golden Retriever. Otherwise, the dog that you adopt may just end up being annoyed or aggressive towards your Golden Retriever.

It does not matter what gender your second Golden Retriever is. Two male or two female Golden Retrievers will keep each other company while you’re away at work or if your kids are at school. There are a bunch of other benefits to having Golden Retrievers in pairs. These benefits will improve your lifestyle. It will also improve the lifestyle of your Golden Retriever and take away their social anxiety. However, keep in mind that there are also drawbacks to having more than one Golden Retriever in your household. Later on, I will also discuss the drawbacks of having two Golden Retrievers. 

For now, let me share the benefits with you.

They can keep your Golden Retriever company

As I mentioned above, your Golden Retriever has a high chance of experiencing separation anxiety if left alone for a long period of time. To be exact, that period of time is around six to eight hours. During that time, your Golden Retriever may start wreaking havoc in your home. Such destructive tendencies are fueled by separation anxiety. Your Golden Retriever, who is usually very sweet and well-behaved, may start chewing on things he or she shouldn’t. They may start barking and howling as well. Other destructive tendencies like digging may also occur.

However, getting them another Golden Retriever buddy may just be the thing that stops these destructive tendencies. You might be wondering how adopting another Golden Retriever may become the cure for your dog wreaking havoc in your home. The answer is that your new Golden Retriever will help alleviate the separation anxiety that your dog is feeling whenever you or your family leaves the home.

The new dog will keep your Golden Retriever company. Since Golden Retrievers are social animals, they will be able to keep each other entertained while there are no humans around. As long as your Golden Retriever does not display any aggression towards animals, it’s a good idea to get another pet to keep him or her company. That way, he or she will feel less lonely.

Your new pet can learn a lot from your Golden Retriever. He or she will teach them the rules of the house and how things go. Your new pet will easily adapt to your lifestyle and, with the help of your Golden Retriever, thrive in their new living space. You may not know this, but Golden Retrievers are very intelligent creatures. They easily learn from you and the other dogs around them. 

Boosts their Mental Health

Golden Retrievers are susceptible to anxiety and depression if they are left alone for very long periods of time. Their separation anxiety may get even worse when they don’t get the socialization that they need. That is why it could help if you get a second Golden Retriever to keep your Golden Retriever company. Again, you don’t necessarily have to adopt a Golden Retriever. It can be any kind of dog who has the same level of energy and friendliness as a Golden Retriever. However, if you have intentions on finding a mate for your Golden Retriever, then you may adopt one of the opposite gender for your dog.

A lonely Golden Retriever needs a playmate to grow with. You don’t necessarily have to find them a mate, but instead find them a companion that will play with them and be their friend. These best buddies will keep each other entertained. By doing so, they will boost each other’s mental health. They won’t have to socialize with other dogs as much, but I still suggest bringing them out on walks to the dog park. 

Your dogs will be able to socialize with other people and animals. This will help lessen their aggression towards other creatures. By socializing with other dogs, they will be able to boost their mental health as well.

Keep in mind that your Golden Retriever will still have days where he or she feels gloomy. When this happens, I suggest that you spend time with your beloved pet. They usually feel sad when they’re sick. It’s one of the signs that your dog isn’t well. If you suspect that your dog is sick, you may bring them to the veterinary clinic. Get your Golden Retriever checked up so that the veterinarian can start the right treatment.

More Protection for the Household

Golden retrievers are known to be protectors of their pet parents. They are one of the most loyal dog breeds out there. You can be assured that your home will be well-protected from intruders. If one Golden Retriever is already good protection, imagine what two Golden Retrievers can do! 

As long as you treat your Golden Retrievers right, they will fight until their last breath just for your protection. Even though they are not very aggressive or territorial, when Golden Retrievers feel a threat their protective instincts turn on. Which means that they will do anything in their power to protect the ones that they love.

A Golden Retriever’s companionship is very valuable. You won’t only get a best friend for life, but you’ll also get a great protector. Your Golden Retrievers won’t only make sure that you’re safe, but they will also give you a lot of fun memories. 

Keep in mind that your Golden Retriever won’t attack another human unless you have trained them to do so. So don’t expect that they will naturally attack an intruder. They will only be pushed to be aggressive if an intruder in your home has started to physically threaten you or a family member.

However, if you hire a professional dog trainer to hire your Golden Retriever to attack, then you’ll have yourself a guard dog in your home. Though take note that it may cost you around $300 to $1,000. I highly suggest that you only do this if you have extra funds. You can try to train your Golden Retriever yourself, but it may take some time until they’ll be able to fully grasp their lessons. This is because Golden Retrievers were bred to be very gentle and subservient. It’s not in their nature to be aggressive.

Lifelong Friendships

A pair of Golden Retrievers offer a lifelong friendship. Since a Golden Retriever’s lifespan is ten to twelve years, you can expect that they will for most of your life. Sometimes, your Golden Retriever will live even longer than their life expectancy if they are well taken care of. Assuming that they are on a healthy diet and get the required amount of exercise every day, they are sure to exceed the twelve-year life expectancy. 

However, twelve years is already a long time for a Golden Retriever to be in your life. Your Golden Retrievers will be a great part of your family. They are good protectors and even better friends. When they are gone, nothing can really replace them. They will be remembered fondly for being gentle, friendly to humans and animals, energetic, and very protective. 

Expect that the more that your Golden Retriever ages, he or she will become less energetic. When that happens, make sure that you adjust their dog food to one that is high in fiber. This is because older Golden Retrievers can start to develop digestive problems. They may have bouts of diarrhea or loose stool. To help this, a diet that is high in fiber will help. You should also give them about 20 to 30 minutes of exercise per day only. They will also want to lounge around more than run around, unlike before.

Your Golden Retriever will still protect you even in their old age. After all, you have created a lot of good memories and forged a strong bond with your Golden Retriever. When one of your Golden Retrievers passes away, your other one may feel sad. The best you can do for your furry little friend is give them a lot of love and support.

What are the Drawbacks of having more than one Golden Retriever?

Even though there are a lot of benefits of having more than one Golden Retriever, there are some drawbacks as well. Keep in mind that taking care of a pet is not an easy task. It requires a lot of your time and attention. If they get sick, it is your responsibility to take care of them using whatever means you can. If in case you don’t have enough funds to sustain more than one Golden Retriever, I suggest that you don’t get another one no matter how much you want to. 

You should treat your Golden Retriever as if they are part of your family. The quality of their food and lifestyle in general should be just as good as yours. They should also receive as much attention and care as you would give to a child. That may sound like it’s too much work, but dogs are every part of our families like other human beings. That’s why we should also take care of them like how we take care of ourselves.

If you think that taking care of one Golden Retriever is already tough, imagine if you had two or more! There are other drawbacks of adopting more than one Golden Retriever. Let me share with you what those drawbacks are.

Added Spending

As mentioned earlier, taking care of another Golden Retriever will cost you more cash. If you don’t have the cash to support another Golden Retriever, I don’t suggest that you adopt another one. 

If you choose to buy your Golden Retriever from a breeder, it can cost you up to $2,000. That will already include all the necessary American Kennel Club documentations that will officialize your Golden Retriever’s registration. At least there is also pet health insurance if you do register your dog under the AKC.

Besides spending for the legal documents of your Golden Retriever, imagine how much more you’ll be spending. It will cost you almost twice as much to feed all your Golden Retrievers. You need to purchase another bed for your new pet. You will also need to spend for the vaccinations that your new Golden Retriever will need to get.

If your Golden Retrievers get sick, you also need to spend on their medications and necessary treatment. We all know how much veterinarian treatments cost. Sometimes they can reach as high as a hundred bucks.

Your Golden Retriever should just be as comfortable as you are. They should also have a comfortable lifestyle just as you do. After all, they will rely on you to take care of them since they can’t take care of themselves.

Added Shedding

I’ll leave a friendly reminder that Golden Retrievers shed profusely, especially during the shedding seasons. In case you decide to adopt or buy another Golden Retriever, you should expect that the amount of shedding will increase significantly.

You can help your Golden Retrievers de-shed by purchasing a deshedding brush. I suggest that you comb through their fur at least once a day. This will lessen the amount of fur that your Golden Retrievers shed on a daily basis. However, expect that there will still be shedding no matter what you do.

There are a lot of deshedding brushes that you can purchase online. Some cost as low as $5.00 and there are luxury deshedding brushes that cost as high as $100.00. Yes! You read that right. There are some brushes that cost a hundred bucks. However, that doesn’t mean that it’ll completely take away your Golden Retriever’s shedding problem. There are also tools that remove the shedded fur of your Golden Retriever from your clothes and furniture. You can also find these tools online or at your nearest pet store. Alternatively, there is also laundry detergent that repels dog fur and cat fur without compromising the quality of your clothes.

They Require More Space

It’s known that Golden Retrievers are medium-sized dogs. That means that when they are at full size, they can grow up to 23 inches in height when they stand at the shoulder. Which means that doesn’t count the head yet! That being said, owning more than one Golden Retriever will mean that you need more space to let your dog thrive.

This doesn’t only mean their sleeping area. They need space to play and run around. Additionally, they also need a place to eat their food during mealtime. Sometimes when your Golden Retriever is tired, they may need space to lounge and sleep. If you live in an apartment that is quite small, a Golden Retriever is not the kind of pet for you. Don’t even think of adding more than one Golden Retriever! 

If you truly want a Golden Retriever, there are dogs whose demeanors are also quite like Golden Retrievers. However, these dogs are smaller in size and thus better suited for apartment living. For example, you could get a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling instead. They also share the same gentle and friendly personality of a Golden Retriever but are much smaller. Alternatively, there are also Miniature Golden Retrievers. However, those are hard to find.

Possible Destructive Tendencies

A new Golden Retriever in the family may trigger some destructive tendencies. If your new Golden Retriever is still not trained to behave, they may become destructive. That’s why you should find time to train the newest dog in your family. Luckily, Golden Retrievers are quite easy to train. They have a very strong urge to please their pet parents or the leaders in their pack.

If you have another Golden Retriever, he or she will show your new one how their “pack” works. Your new Golden Retriever will most likely copy and imitate the actions of the resident Golden Retriever. That makes it easier for you to train them if needed.

Golden Retrievers have a habit of sponging up the emotions of the people around them. If one of your dogs is stressed, there’s a chance that the other one is stressed as well.

These possible destructive tendencies include chewing, digging, barking, and howling among other things. However, I suggest that if you find your new Golden Retriever doing these destructive tendencies, try to find the source of what’s stressing them out. That way, you will be able to come up with a solution. Thus, you will be able to calm down your Golden Retriever. 

Final Words

Now that you know the answer to “Are Golden Retrievers better in pairs?” you will now be able to make the important decision of whether you should get another pet to accompany your dog. Again, there is no official research that Golden Retrievers are indeed better in pairs, but a companion to your dog is always welcome.

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