Are Golden Retrievers Good With Other Dogs?

It can be beneficial to your Golden Retriever if you have more than one dog at home – to keep each other company and to play with (amongst other reasons). But you have to make sure that you introduce them properly from the start to ensure a strong bond is formed.

Also keep in mind that though Golden Retrievers are generally good with other dogs, certain situations or individual Golden Retrievers might be exceptions to this rule.

For example, if your Goldie has been attacked by another dog in the past, they might be anxious and not comfortable around certain breeds or sized dogs. The same goes if your pet hasn’t been socialised – they might not be good with other animals in this case.

Read on for tips on introducing your Golden Retriever to other dogs, why Golden Retrievers make such good doggy companions, and more.

Why Golden Retrievers Get on Great With Other Dogs

There are a number of reasons why Golden Retrievers get on so well with other dogs. Their personalities are usually a perfect match to get along with a canine companion.

Golden Retrievers are:

• Friendly: One of the first words we think of with Golden Retrievers is friendly. They’re genuinely good-natured, sweet animals.
• Intelligent: As the fourth smartest dog breed, Golden Retrievers can be trained easily and taught to obey commands. This’ll mean they are more likely to accept new pets and understand what’s going on when you’re introducing them.
• Fun-loving: A Golden Retriever will take any excuse for playtime. They love new friends who they can run around with and burn energy.
• Patient: Golden Retrievers will deal with rough play and barking, and kindly help pups fit into the family. They rarely lose their cool.
• Social: These social doggos just love to meet new friends and play. This makes them great companions for people and other pets alike.
• Tolerant: Golden Retrievers are extremely tolerant of their surroundings. They go with the flow and will indulge other dogs in play.

Though every Golden Retriever is different and unique in personality, you’ll rarely find one who isn’t interested in making friends.

If your Goldie isn’t fussed about other dogs, it might be down to their character. But even then, you can usually train them to tolerate another dog’s presence.

Potential Problems When Golden Retrievers Are With Other Dogs

As with anything, there can be complications when putting dogs together.

Golden Retrievers are quite large dogs and can become rather heavy as they reach adulthood. This creates the potential for injury if the Golden gets over-excited and forgets to be gentle with their new friend. It can also put any furniture or people in their surroundings at risk and make it harder to physically move them if need be.

Jealousy – any dog can get jealous if they feel like the other dog is getting more time and attention. Golden Retrievers are so fiercely loyal that they can be hurt and sad if they see their owner making a fuss of another dog and seemingly forgetting about them.

A dog who hasn’t been socialised or trained might be aggressive to a newcomer. It’ll be harder to introduce them and could be impossible for both parties to feel safe and comfortable together.

How to Introduce Your Golden Retriever to Other Dogs

If you’re introducing your Golden Retriever to another dog, there are a few things you can do to make it as smooth and easy as possible:

• Choose the other dog wisely: Ideally, the match will be similar in personality, socialised, and trained. Consider their ages too – a sleepy elderly dog won’t appreciate a hyperactive puppy getting in their face.
• Test the water: If your Golden Retriever hasn’t been around other dogs much, see if you can arrange a puppy play date beforehand to test their reaction to a new dog.
• Keep resources separate: Forcing sharing can cause aggression. To avoid this, make sure they have their own food, bowls, beds, and toys.
• Always reward good behaviour: As Goldies are both food-driven and desperate to please, treats and praise will associate being around other dogs with positive experiences for them.
• Don’t leave the dogs unsupervised: Make sure you’re giving them your full attention so you can act quickly if something goes wrong. Only leave them alone if you’re 100% sure that they’re safe together.
• Make sure each dog is healthy: This includes being up to date on vaccinations, having flea and worm treatments on time, and not sick.
• Make sure they each have a safe space: Introductions can be overwhelming, so having somewhere to retreat to is hugely beneficial to both parties.

The Introduction of Golden Retrievers With Other Dogs

When you’re introducing your Golden Retriever to another dog, follow these easy steps to get them used to each other and comfortable together:

1. Before bringing the dogs together, choose a neutral territory for the meeting to take place. This could be a park or garden that doesn’t ‘belong’ to either dog.
2. Keeping both dogs on a leash, let them smell where the other dog has been. This is getting familiar with each other’s scents.
3. Watch out for any signs of anxiety or depression in the dogs. If you spot any, don’t feel pressured to carry on – it’s better to stop there and try again another day.
4. Allow the dogs to meet face to face. Keeping their leash on, let them greet one another. Make sure that they’re cool and calm, and praise them if they are.
5. If all is well so far, attempt to walk them together. They should still be on a leash, but able to walk alongside each other.
6. Do this several times until the dogs are happy walking together. Once this is the case, you can allow off-the-leash playtime in a secure, neutral area.
7. Hold off on the toys now, just let them run and play. If one or both are becoming too boisterous then feel free to intervene.
8. After a few successful playdates, it’s time to take them both home. Start with them on leashes and only let them off if they’re both relaxed and happy.
9. As they get used to living together, be mindful of giving both equal attention, both having their own safe space, and get them into a routine.

When introducing your Golden Retriever to another dog, remember to be patient – it takes time and trust to form relationships. If they have a bad day and the meeting doesn’t go well, take a breather and try again another day.

Best Dog Breeds That Get On With Golden Retrievers

Properly introduced, any dogs should theoretically be able to co-exist peacefully. As long as they’ve been socialised and trained, it should be fine.

However, there are certain dog breeds that are usually safe options to get along with your Goldie:

• Other Golden Retrievers: These are probably your safest bets. Golden Retrievers are friendly, intelligent, and loyal dogs, so you know they’ll form a close bond with other Goldies.
• Border Collies: Full of energy and one of the most intelligent breeds of dog, Collies can match Golden Retrievers with playing and exercise.
• Poodles: Similar in size, personality, and intelligence, Poodles are similar to Golden Retrievers and make good companions.
• Pugs: Generally, pugs are laid-back pets. They’re unlikely to bother your Golden Retriever, allowing a relaxed vibe at home.
• Beagles: As friendly and energetic dogs (though admittedly small) they have similar personalities to Goldies.
• Boston Terriers: These laidback, affectionate dogs are known as ‘American Gentlemen’ making them courteous companions.
• Portuguese Water Dogs: Golden Retrievers love water, so this is a match made in heaven.

Related Questions

Are Golden Retrievers Good With Cats?

Yes, Golden Retrievers are good with cats – as long as both parties are well trained, socialised, and have exercised. You’ll need to introduce them slowly and properly, but once you do, your Golden Retriever and cat can become first friends.

Are Golden Retrievers Good With Kids?

Yes, Golden Retrievers are good with kids – they’re affectionate, loyal, and intelligent. They fit in well with the family and dote on and children around them. Goldie’s are exceptionally tolerant of kids too, they accept the noise, and rough play. There’s also nothing cuter than a child and puppy growing up together! You can find out more here.

Are Golden Retrievers Good With Rabbits?

Some Golden Retrievers are good with rabbits, but for them to get along well it depends on the personalities of both the Golden Retriever and the rabbit. It’ll take a considerable amount of training and time before the two are comfortable together, and even then they should never be left unattended.