Can Golden Retrievers Be Guard Dogs? [Loving vs Protective]

One of the most affectionate dog breeds in the world, the charming Golden Retriever is known for its loving and loyal nature, for being a great family dog. It is also an intelligent, trainable dog, famous in sportive competitions.

Known for their patience and obedience, many people are wondering if Golden Retrievers could also be guard dogs, in order to defend their owners in some dangerous situations.

Another question is which male or female Golden Retriever can be more protective. Or, are both genders protective and great as guard dogs?

In this article, you'll find all the answers you need to know about the beautiful Golden Retriever.

Goldens are pure and affectionate souls that wouldn't hurt anyone without purpose.

They are often clingy and needy, acting like babies for attention. However, if properly taught, they can make excellent protection dogs.

Can you train a golden retriever to be a guard dog?

Yes! Golden retrievers are among the most intelligent dog breeds and can be easily trained for a variety of instructions as well as to be service dogs, which means they could be trained to be excellent guard dogs.

Some attributes of Golden Retrievers contribute to their ability to be a good guard dogs:

• Loyalty and obedience - because they just want to please their owners they will follow commands that will make them good guard dogs. They will stand by you no matter what.
• Intelligence - they can be easily trained.
• Size - they are medium to large dogs that can be very intimidating for someone who has bad intentions like an intruder.

Can Golden Retrievers be aggressive?

Yes. Even though you may be surprised, like any other animal (or even human) Golden Retrievers can exhibit aggression.

Injury is one of the most common causes of aggression in Goldens. Dogs do not express their pain in the same way that people do and instead of asking for help, they would lick their wounds alone. They may become violent if someone tries to touch them, especially if the pain is severe).

Aggression in Golden Retrievers is also triggered by:

Abuse
A Golden who has been physically or emotionally (or both) abused is considerably more aggressive.
In general, dogs who have been abused for a long time will expect everyone to hurt them, so it's not surprising that they will react aggressively and fiercely.

Illness or Pain
As previously said, dogs in pain or who are ill might become aggressive. They feel very vulnerable, and if they are in pain or suffering, they may try to be defensive.

Neglect
Neglect is indisputably a type of abuse. It might include depriving any form of affection and love or even just caring. Neglect can also include failing to provide the dog basic essentials of existence, such as water and food.

Fear or Anxiety
Goldens with fear from ex-traumatic experiences can cause fear aggression, which is a defensive behavior - the most common cause of aggression in most dogs.

Territorial
Territorial issues may be another reason for dog aggression that can be identified in Goldens.

Are Golden Retrievers territorial?

Yes. Any dog can be territorial. Golden females, on the other hand, can be more territorial and independent than Golden males.

Which male or female Golden Retriever can be more protective?

Even though male Golden Retrievers are bigger, female Goldens are more protective and independent. But both male and female Goldens are intelligent, affectionate, and goofy.

Are Golden Retrievers good fighters?

I wouldn't know how to respond properly. I wouldn't consider Goldens to be good fighters because they are not aggressive by nature and are not trained to deal with conflicts. But I know that a Golden Retriever will go to great lengths to defend its owners.

In contrast, their size would make them an excellent warning to potential intruders.

So I'm sure that if properly trained, the Golden Retriever can be a valuable asset in dangerous situations.

Paws and love until the next article! 🐾