A Golden Retriever can play for hours on end, and they love it! Golden Retrievers need at least 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercise or up to 2 hours of light exercise per day, every day. For golden retrievers that are between 18 months and 8 years of age, which is at their prime, more than 2 hours of intense exercise can be too much. So, if you look at a house pet in these terms, you've got a dog that is pretty mellow and then when it's time to play/hike/walk they are ready to rock and roll. These tips will give you the tools you need to keep you golden happy, healthy, and calm. Their love of food and toys makes them ideal as guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, and competitors in dog sports. Some golden retrievers also have short spurts of high energy that does make them a bit hyper when they just seem to be completely out of control running everywhere and jumping on everyone. The full-on sprinting of fetch and single-minded obsession is potentially harmful to their bodies and minds. For example; a three-month-old golden retriever will need about 30 minutes of exercise divided into two 15-minute sessions at different times with a good rest between them. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I think most goldens are medium to high energy level. How Much Exercise Do Golden Retrievers Actually Need? Play fetch at morning for 10-20 minutes, then, Go for a walk around the block at the evening for the same time, A 40-minute session of me cycling with them running by my side in the morning. Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. The boredom can stem from many things like a lack of attention, exercise, or not having enough stimulating activities or training. Golden Retrievers are so energetic because they were meant to be working dogs, so they have an impressive stamina that allows them to stay active for hours. 2) The next helpful tip involves giving your Golden Retriever a lot of attention, but not just when they have annoyed you into it with their lovable clingy attitude. Due to their historic disposition of outdoor activities, this dog loves to be outside in a big yard playing with children or other dogs. But outdoors its a different story-she could give my cousin's border collies a run for their money outdoors! The longer your Golden goes without any playtime, the more they become anxious and let out their energy in other ways, like chewing on things, and jumping on unsuspecting family members. This will help because instead of associating their bad behavior with your affection, they will instead not have to act out for you to pay attention to them. This breed was originally bred to help duck hunters bring ducks back to the boat. Some dogs become so excited to see other people and dogs that they bark or lunge at them. However, they can go for 4 or even 5 hours with light exercises such as walks or easy hikes. Mental activities are a great stimulator for dogs and especially puppies. It is more effective to train your Golden Retriever and reward for calmer behaviors, as this will become a lasting standard for your Golden, rather than a short-lived reprieve due to a procedure. Training your golden is very rewarding for both you and them, and as an added bonus it helps to keep their hyperactivity to a minimum. My first thought is that the lady recommending a golden has probably only seen or experienced goldens that are larger than normal (overweight) who don't get exercised much. Currently, the breed is more often bred as a companion pet than hunting thanks to their sweet temperament. Again, these are just general rules that you should use as guidelines and not as strict guidelines. So, it is advisable to keep your Golden outside playing, walking, or interacting with other dogs, for as long as possible to let them get it all out of their system. The reason is due to their history as working dogs. These popular family dogs generally only live 10 to 12 years. Most people that think their dogs are hyper are just not used to the level of golden retrievers energy and they are usually first-time dog owners. Their bright minds should be fed with training this breed is a lifelong learner that will continue learning new tricks well into their golden years. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "goldenwoofs-20"; I'm guessing they are providing a product people are wanting?? Swimming is less intense than running but is more intense than walking, and most goldens absolutely love to swim whenever they could. The hunting line of this breed tends to have less thick fur. But even though I consider my golden medium energy, I'm sure there are people who would consider her high energy. However, my breeder has a line of calmer dogs that often go on to become therapy and service dogs. These dogs often love playing with children and other dogs, though that is often not enough on its own. To this day, these dogs are generally friendly with strangers and even-tempered with change. In fact, the AKC ranks golden retrievers as the 5th most active dog breed, just after Huskies and right before Labrador Retrievers. amzn_assoc_asins = "B081QZR8B3,B0002DJX3A,B0002DJWS6,B000C8TG4Q,B00CPDWT2M,B07RHQMVKH,B014JXJ2S4,B07XD4M51J"; Many owners believe that spaying or neutering their dog will help to calm them down but that is usually not the case. This is the rule of thumb you can follow with your golden retriever puppy, but its not a one-size-fits-all rule. 7 Causes Explained. Overall, when you choose a Golden Retriever to be your family dog, it is important to know the breed is known to be a hyper, attention-seeking, and very active dog. Puppies under 18 months of age and senior dogs older than 8 years will have problems keeping up with you in the same way that an adolescent or an adult golden retriever could. Think of them as a pot with boiling water inside of it and the stove cant be turned off, they are going to explode sooner or later. Things like hiking and running are now back on the table. I did not go with this breeder. If you have not played with or snuggled your Golden pup lately, they might be feeling a little neglected, which can lead them to act out in order to get you to fixate on them. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; While the golden retriever is a perfect dog for many homes, they require regular exercise. By the way, this high energy level is one of the many reasons goldens actually make good guard dogs, so make sure to check out the 5 reasons golden retrievers make really good guard dogs here and the stories of goldens saving their owners lives as well. Their intelligence and devotion to their families make them extremely trainable as a house pet or competition companion. You can learn when do golden retriever puppies calm down here and Ive also included three time-tested ways to calm down hyper golden retriever puppies in the same post. JavaScript is disabled. In the majority of cases, your golden retriever is not hyper, they are just young and have a ton of energy to spare. Also since goldens do not mentally mature till somewhere between 3-5 years of age that in itself causes some stress in the new puppy people. While we do earn a commission by referring to these sites, no site or partner gets to tell us what to recommend or gets to edit or make recommendations to us. Our Goldens love to wander in the woods while we observe them, Your Resource for All Things Golden Retrievers, Copyright 2008 - 2016 Golden Woofs : Sugar The Golden Retriever, 2016 - 2022 Golden Woofs: Sugar The Golden Retriever. Female Golden Retrievers mature faster than their male counterparts, so they grow out of their puppy phase faster. Dogs can favor spending a good time with you over their comfort. Written permission is required to reproduce any images or words in either partial form or its entirety. She then gave me several examples of young goldens that she knows that really don't need more exercise than a couple throws of the ball. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; The golden retriever is one of the most popular breeds in America, and with good reason. Exercise Routines: Stick to light exercises such as a walk around the block, swimming, or indoor games. More waiting, less movement. They can succeed in homes with young children, young couples, or older owners. This is a great question for new owners or even some seasoned Golden Retriever owners who may have had a Golden with a slightly different personality. Despite being a fantastic family dog, the golden retriever is not a piece of furniture. You should use this rule as a baseline and then find out if your own puppy needs more or less exercise depending on their behavior during the day. These toys will prove to be fun, engaging, and will stand their heavy chewing. Given that this dog was originally bred to share a small boat with strangers, this intense friendliness is not surprising. 7 Causes Explained. For puppies and senior goldens, more than 45 minutes of exercise per day could be too much. We also play daily with tennis balls and Jolly Balls. The point is that your golden retriever should be totally relaxed and laid back after their second exercise session. One of the most common questions and concerns that Golden Retriever's owners have is why my Golden Retriever's nose is turning brown? Their exercise time should be divided into two sessions per day with enough time to rest in-between. Why Do Golden Retrievers Smell Bad and How to Fix It? This will let them know your bond is still strong while letting them get out some excess energy. This is not always the case. Here are some signs that your dog is too tried: Here are 15 fun activities with your golden retriever instead of the usual walking or running: Golden Retrievers are so energetic because they were bred to have high stamina and a ton of energy that allows them to run for hours with hunters. They respond well to clicker training and other reward-based training methods. They have prolonged adolescence, frustrating owners who are unprepared for having rebellious teenage dogs for almost three years. Avoid any exercises that may be tough on their joints like running and try replacing it with things like swimming which is much easier on their bodies. Just how we humans can get cabin fever and want to go outside and do something to alleviate the mundanity, dogs are the same way. Elderly golden retrievers need at least 40 minutes of light exercise per day divided into two sessions with enough time to rest in-between. I consider my golden to be medium energy, but I'm also comparing her to my cousin's border collies who are psycho, crazy, I-couldn't-deal-with-it, high energy with zero off-switch. I agree it would be sad if the entire breed was ramped down though. Golden Retriever females of the breed tend to mature faster obedience-wise than males, so they are more likely to be calmer overall. I think there is room for the highly active field dog, the medium active family dog, and a lower energy "slightly senior owner" dog. While they are quite adaptable to urban and suburban life, the golden retriever requires at least an hour of playtime, exercise, or training per day, and does not do well if left alone for the majority of his time. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'animals_net-box-1','ezslot_8',112,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-box-1-0')};report this ad. Before I got Rukie, I asked for a "couch potato" dog. Give your Golden Retriever frequent attention, make sure to cuddle, and play daily, so your Goldens mental health remains in tip-top shape. But she does get a lot more energized if people come to the house. The best way to keep them interested and to keep you from buying new toys every few days is to invest in high-quality chew toys and treats. Another 40 minutes of exercise in the evening, could be playing outside or running around the block. Adult golden retrievers need at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-intense exercise twice per day to stay happy and healthy, and dogs that dont get enough exercise will develop behavioral problems. When golden retrievers dont get enough exercise, they will start developing behavioral problems and acting in undesirable ways because they have too much energy and dont have anywhere to put it. Golden Retrievers are considered by many to be the perfect family dogs, and this is a sentiment that I wholeheartedly agree with. We live in a 7 acre mostly wooded area near town. Golden Retriever dog breed is especially intelligent and is fairly easy to train, and sometimes they just need a little help with self-control, which can be taught. Age is a major contributing factor when it comes to why your Golden Retriever is so hyper. I just had an interesting conversation with someone on facebook that was recommending a golden retriever for someone that wanted a medium to low energy dog. This is a difficult problem for breeders to screen for, but ask your breeder about cancer in their past dogs. Rest: They should have at least a few hours to rest well before the following exercise sessions. Do not expect to just skate by as a golden retriever owner these dogs need to be paid for good behavior using treats or toys, or they will find other ways to get what they want! Its a really hard thing to answer. Tink is similar in work with a great off switch. The exercises sessions for puppies and senior goldens should not exceed 45 minutes to an hour and should always be followed by a resting break. They should get at least an hour of structured mental and physical exercise per day. link to Why Do Golden Retrievers' Noses Turn Brown? The reduced energy behavior usually comes from the effects of the surgery itself being draining rather than changing their entire demeanor. Now, lets see how you can make sure they get enough exercise and make it fun for both of you. 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