Do golden retrievers have a mean side to them?

Answer 1

Some of them, yes. We were just talking the other day at work about how Goldens are becoming the new Pit Bulls. They are just getting so overbred that they are getting "stupider".

I watched a co-worker get attacked by one at work a few years ago, and I have seen more aggressive goldens as the years pass. True, this "mean streak" can occur in any dog or dog breed, but the incidents with goldens are increasing, IMHO.

Answer 2

Actually yes I have person experience with this in fact. My parents bought a $1200 Golden Retriever puppy and from the day they brought him home he was food aggressive. Trainers did not beieve her on the phone that she had a mean G.R. But once they got there they saw it was true. He ended up biting my 8 yr old brother in the head twice for no reason. Then the breeder replaced the dog with an adult G.R the new dog had been "over trained" for obedience trials by the breeder, I am told they use a drop chain on the dogs rear end to startle the dog into healing in exactly the right place. Well this made the dog overly skittish, and when my 2 yr old daughter ran by with a basket full of a child's china tea set (the clanging sound it made)(similar to drop chain) made the dog viciously go after my daughter. So they gave that dog back to the breeder as well. They now have a 3rd golden and he is very sweet and typical of the breed.

Answer 3

No specific breed of dog has a "mean side to them". A dog's temperament -while certain behaviors are based on breed- is based on a dog's rearing. A puppy can grow to be whatever kind of dog you want and train it to be: family pet, guard dog, show dog, competitive athlete...

As the owner of a wonderful Golden Retriever mix, I'd like to say that he's the best dog I've ever had or could ever ask for.

Answer 4

All dogs can have a mean side to them, depending on how they are treated growing up and the conditions they live in. But as for a Golden Retriever in particular, not normally. They are kindly and trustworthy with children, and works well in obedience and easy to train.

Answer 5

Any breed can have a mean side if not properly trained and socialized.

So yes, a poorly raised golden retriever could have a mean side.

Answer 6

Some dogs are meaner than others,they are known to be not so much.I say always remember a animal is, an animal they could bite.I never leave the kids alone with a animal.Why wait until after they are bit then say oh I guess it doesn't matter what the breed all animals can bite.Now you have a child hurt over a animal? it isn't or ever will be worth it.You have to be cautious about any animal.I don't see why anyone would purposely own one known to naturally be dangerous.

Answer 7

i do have a three year old golden retriever who i thought would never hurt a fly until i saw her stalking one like a cat....

anywho! like what previous people have said, it's almost impossible to have a 'bad' dog. the only thing that makes a dog 'bad' is the situation in which they are raised and what they are taught.

this may be baloney, but back a long time ago, breeders added irish setter genes to golden retriever stocks to produce their red color. irish setters may have brought this 'mean' gene that the Goldens didn't have before. (i know they brought the stupid gene that my cardinal golden has...)

Answer 8

ANY dog that is mistreated or not properly trained can have a mean side; including golden retrievers.

ANY dog that is well socialized and properly treated can be an excllent dog; including the bully breeds that people tend to vilify.

Answer 9

Mine certainly doesn't...he's the softest dog I know and has never ever been violent or mean to anyone, human or animal. He even loves our cats and follows them everywhere. We bought him to be a guard dog which was pretty stupid cause all he does is sit down and want to be patted by any visitors. I've never met a mean golden retriever

Answer 10

Normally, Golden Retrievers are the best dogs around. I have never ever encountered a GR with any meanest to it. If they bark, its only as a warning. They are very gentle dogs. But like any dog, if mistreated it can learn not to trust people and it can bite. But I feel very comfortable around GR's any day of the week.