When you first got your golden retriever, you just couldn’t help but adore its endless energy and spunk. After all, it seemed like a great dose of happiness that you knew was waiting for you at home.
But it’s been some time and now you’re wondering when this cute little fur ball will take a break and relax! We know that you still love your dog, but with its increasing weight and size, its energy is a little too hard to manage.
You’re probably looking at your pup right now and thinking of how it means the world to you. But deep inside you wish you knew the answer to the burning question – when do golden retrievers calm down!
Well, it’s time for you to rejoice because you’re in luck. Following is a comprehensive and fool-proof guide to knowing how to manage your golden retriever’s excess energy.
And don’t worry. Trust us, they do calm down.
Do They Ever Really Calm Down?
Even though golden retriever has a reputation of being the ultimate family dog, it is essentially a working dog. This means that it is naturally meant for work. Such dogs are born and bred so that they could keep doing the jobs expected of them, and being energetic serves this purpose well.
Therefore, it’s only natural for them to possess relatively high energy compared to other dog breeds. However, their active state means that owners need to commit more time in keeping them occupied, healthy and content.
So, when do golden retrievers calm down, or at least when do they start calming down? You should expect to see your golden retriever become calmer when it’s around 2 to 3 years old. This is because when the golden retriever is in its puppy stage, it has a lot of pent-up energy that it has to manifest. No wonder they love jumping on new people or chewing every possible thing they get a hold off!
Although, keep in mind that there is no particular age for them to completely calm down. While some learn to relax and become much more zen within 4 years, others show no chill even when they’re really old.
Also, don’t confuse this with their temperament, since temperament is usually contingent on the breed’s characteristics and even its environment.
Their calming down, however, doesn’t mean a permanent erasure of energy. They will still possess the same amount of energy, or even more, as they grow up. Keep in mind that it is not about nullifying their energy but channeling it.
Golden Retriever Problems: What Are You up Against?
Being retrievers, this breed can display a lot of behavioral issues if not given opportunities to utilize its energy. Your golden retriever will always require a great degree of physical stimulation, regardless of its age.
Some common behavior issues that can manifest if the energy goes untapped include increased aggression, which results in hyperactivity – leading to troublesome behavior. If left alone, a golden retriever may also suffer separation anxiety and become depressed. You surely don’t want your furry bundle of joy to be in any of those states.
What this really means is that your puppy will find ways on its own to entertain itself to release all that built-in energy. And we all know that this is bound to cause problems. The smartest thing to do here is to take the charge – you decide how to utilize you golden retriever’s energy!
How to Calm a Golden Retriever
Tiring your dog out by playing with it or taking it on a walk, works pretty well when you have plenty of time. But, this can also get mundane and boring real fast. Plus, you don’t know what to do when your dog starts to nag at you at awkward or inconvenient times.
Fortunately, there are many different ways of training your dog to be calm and knowing when do golden retrievers calm down. Whatever you do, however, know that is always a good idea to start the training when your dog is still a puppy.
1. Set up a Routine
While your golden retriever may get a little too excited and over hyped frequently, the good thing is that golden retrievers are known to be fast learners! Dogs are creatures of habit and before training them into any kind of behavior, you need to set a routine.
This could include anything from exercises to obedience training. The idea is to let your golden retriever know when the time to remain calm is, and when it can actively participate.
Make sure to:
- Let them learn at their own pace
- Regularly follow the routine you’ve set
- Ensure repetitiveness of activities until trained
- Give them something to look forward to
- Always have someone supervise them
2. Exercise is the Key
Golden retrievers are known to be athletic given their sturdy and muscular bodies. Hence, no amount of physical exercise is too much for them. Adding one, two or a combination of the following exercises and activities can be a great way for them to burn off some of that excess energy.
- Walking. Go for a walk regularly and multiple times a day. This is the most common exercise, while also being an effective way of creating an emotional bond.
- Running. Your golden retriever can make an excellent companion to go for morning runs too.
- Fetching. This breed loves to chase and fetch things for their owners. A fetching game daily can bring them immense joy.
- Swimming. Their webbed paws make it comfortable for them to be around water. Join in or just let your golden retriever loose in a pool or lake to see them shriek with happiness.
- Socializing. Let them be around other dogs, animals and people. They are famous for their compassion and friendliness. This will be a healthy exercise for their mind and body.
3. Keep Them Busy
As you train your golden retriever to stay calm, don’t stop exploring different options that bring out the best in your dog. This dog breed is naturally very intelligent and dedicated. Don’t let that go to waste! Tire them out by challenging them.
- Teach Impulse Control. This can be advanced obedience training for your dog. Golden retrievers are obedient and you better capitalize on this to teach them how to act in certain situations. Conditioning your dog will make it easier for you and the dog itself to deal with daily routine.
- Activities. Different activities such as Frisbee catching in the park and dock diving can keep your dog occupied and utilize its energy to its full extent.
- Go hunting! As hunting dogs, nothing can be a better practice of their impulse than going as hunting partners.
- Play games. Have them play games that involve search and rescue and let them tire down.
4. Don’t Forget Reinforcements!
Reinforcements are a necessity for a dog breed like golden retrievers because they love positive interaction. When you reward their calm behavior, they will be motivated to maintain it for long. Once they are sure that they will be given enough opportunities outdoors to be their hyper selves, they will try to maintain discipline indoors just to seek a little more of your validation.
Be Mindful: Every Dog is Unique and Different
Even the dogs of the same litter can’t be guaranteed to be similar let alone an entire breed. So, to expect that all dogs will have the same clock is folly. There is really no exact answer to when golden retrievers calm down – some calm down earlier while others take years.
Our Final Thoughts
The good news is, now you know how to channel your golden retriever’s energy. So whether your dog has started to naturally calm down or not, you get to decide how it chooses to its energy and when it calms down and relaxes.
Our advice: as you train your gorgeous golden retriever, let it learn and enjoy at its own pace. Don’t force it to be a completely different version of itself. Everything takes time but in the end it’s all worthwhile!
