Are Golden Retrievers Good With Kids?

Golden Retrievers are usually great with kids. They’re protective, intelligent, and affectionate which makes them not only great additions to the family but also makes them a kid’s best friend. 

Most socialised and trained Golden Retrievers are a perfect fit into a family – and they quickly become a beloved family member. 

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule – you might find a Golden Retriever whose personality simply isn’t geared towards a big family (but this seems to be quite rare for this breed).

Factors That Make Golden Retrievers Good Family Pets

Golden Retrievers have an ideal temperament to live with a family and children. The obedient and calm Goldens are a perfect fit to complete the family picture.

Characteristics that make Golden Retrievers good family pets are their:

• Loyalty: Golden Retrievers are fiercely loyal pets. Once they’re settled in a family, they’ll love and protect their family members forever.
• Patience: In general, Goldens are patient and gentle dogs. Though they might get over-excited and play rough, they rarely react aggressively. They usually get on well with other pets in the house and children.
• Energy: Golden Retrievers have seemingly endless reserves of energy – they can play for hours on end without pause. This makes them a perfect playmate for young children who have equally high energy levels.
• Quiet: Due to how easy it is to train them, Golden Retrievers can be taught to only bark in certain situations, and they’re generally quiet dogs to have in the home. This is extra useful during nap times. 
• Personality: Goldens are eager to please, sweet dogs who you can trust to remain calm around children. They’re naturally friendly which makes them a solid choice for a family pet.

How to Ensure Good Behaviour From Your Golden Retriever Around Kids

There are four key components to ensure that your Golden Retriever is as prepared and comfortable to live with children as possible.

They’re already friendly, good-natured dogs, but if you work with your Golden Retriever you can help them stay on their best behaviour around the kids:

• Training: Teaching your Golden Retriever to be obedient – obeying commands like ‘stay’ or ‘sit’ means that you can have greater control over any situation. 
• Socialisation: Getting used to being around people, animals, and noises will be hugely beneficial to your Golden Retriever. This means your Golden Retriever won’t panic when they come across new things and they’ll be easier to handle.
• Physical exercise: A Golden Retriever who doesn’t get enough exercise is at greater risk of health issues and boredom. This can lead to destructive behavior as they try to burn off pent-up energy.
• Mental Activity: Golden Retrievers need mental stimulation as they’re highly intelligent. Without appropriate stimulation like puzzles, smart toys, and obedience training they’ll suffer and be more likely to act out.

If you reward your Golden Retriever for good behaviour and tell them off when they’re too boisterous, they’ll quickly pick up the ropes and adapt to where they need to be. 

Things to Consider Before Getting a Golden Retriever 

In my biased opinion, Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds of dogs you can get, and they make the best family pet. 

But, they might not be for everyone – these gorgeous Goldens need plenty of time and attention for them to flourish.

Before choosing a Golden Retriever, make sure that you’re prepared for:

• Time: From day one a new Golden Retriever will need to be trained. They’re also social animals that need a lot of love and care. Make sure you have enough time every day to spend with your Golden, especially if you have children.
• Cost: Any dog requires spending – vet fees, food, and toys are just a few examples of ongoing expenses. As well as the price of the dog itself. Make sure that this is manageable before you commit to a Golden Retriever.
• High energy: Golden Retrievers require a lot of exercise – they need to be walked and exercised for at least one to two hours per day. This might be difficult to manage if you have young children.
• Attention: Your Golden will need bathing, nail cutting, teeth brushing, and other regular attention to maintain their good health. As well as this, they need playing with and looking after.
• Health: There are a bunch of health conditions a Golden Retriever could have such as parasites or rabies that could be contagious. Make sure they’re up to date on all their boosters and you have time to regularly get health checks done.

Another thing to consider is that if you have a young baby and get a puppy, it might be difficult to balance giving your Golden the attention they need while juggling feeding your baby, nappy changes, nap times, errands, visitors, and everything else that comes with having a baby.

How to Introduce Golden Retrievers to Babies and Toddlers

If your baby (or toddler) is meeting your Golden Retriever for the first time, there are a few precautions you can take to make the meeting as smooth and stress-free as possible.  

Let your Golden Retriever get used to the new stuff like new furniture and unfamiliar noises, and set boundaries too (e.g. teach them that the nursery is off-limits so they can only go in with your permission).

For the first meeting between your baby and Golden:

• Keep your Golden Retriever on a leash.
• When you feel comfortable, let your Golden smell the baby. You can also let your Golden smell a blanket or clothing item with the baby’s smell on it before the meeting.
• When they’re calm and ready, let them meet face to face.
• Keep treats nearby to reward good behaviour, and similarly, keep a spray bottle of water or crate nearby that you can use if your pup is over-excited or not listening.
• Listen and watch their body language, if it isn’t going smoothly then separate them and try again another day.

When the baby is older, teach them to respect each other. Try to keep a routine too, that’ll make it easier for all parties to learn and get comfortable with each other.

For more information, check out this article and babies and dogs, which applies to Golden Retrievers.

Growing Up With a Golden Retriever

Try to balance including your child in your Golden Retriever’s care to help them build a bond with establishing your child as an authority figure. 

This can include playing, feeding, and brushing the dog which will build an unbreakable bond between them but keeps a clear hierarchy. 

Also, always make sure that you supervise your dog and children when they’re together. A Golden could accidentally push or stand on a baby and not realise. It’s also safer to monitor the two in case of a problem so you can quickly deal with it.

Watch out for your Golden Retriever trying to lick (kiss) your baby too. This is a sweet gesture but might expose your baby to germs they wouldn’t have encountered before. 

And lastly, take plenty of photos! There’s nothing cuter than a Golden Retriever cuddling with a kid –  and they grow so fast so snap it while you can.

Teaching Your Kids How to Act Around Your Golden Retriever

As well as training your Golden Retriever on how to act around your children, there are a few tips you can teach your children that can help them live harmoniously together. 

One key thing is to always introduce them slowly and supervise your Golden Retriever and children when they’re together. 

There are certain things a baby, toddler, or young kid might inadvertently do that could stress the Golden Retriever out and provoke an aggressive reaction.

Explain and teach your children to not:

• Grab the Golden Retriever’s tail, ears, fur, paws, and face.
• Hit the Golden (with their hands or an object).
• Poke the Golden with their finger (or an object).
• Stand on the Golden Retriever if they’re laying down.
• Bother the Golden if they remove themself to sleep or have a break.

Your children will undoubtedly love the Golden Retriever and they’ll be able to grow up together. Once they learn how to gently handle the dog, it should be smooth sailing.

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