Are Golden Retrievers Good Apartment Dogs?

Some insist that large dogs should never live in apartments, but everyone’s living conditions are different. Someone living in a house may have 15 square feet of free space, no backyard, and no time to exercise their dog.

In contrast, many apartment dogs live a long and happy life because their owners walk them multiple times a day and have enough living space, albeit no backyard.

Before buying a golden retriever, consider the caveats and pitfalls of keeping a large dog in an apartment.

Golden Retrievers Are Large

Golden retriever size is certainly something to keep in mind when considering getting one for apartment living. Golden retrievers are far from the largest dog breed but aren’t small either.

Male golden retrievers reach 2-24 inches in height, and females 21-22 inches. These dogs need enough space for a happy life, but how much is enough, exactly?

Many people think big dogs can’t live a healthy and long life in apartments. This isn’t true because every dog and every apartment is different.

The truth is that the dog’s personality and the owner’s effort play a more significant role than the dog’s size. Still, a golden retriever can’t live in a small apartment where it can’t even turn around or walk freely.

Ideally, the apartment should be large enough for a golden retriever to play and move around. Specialists recommend about 500 square feet for large dogs, but the minimum living space for a dog also depends on how cluttered it is.

Another point to note is that some property owners have a limit on pet weight and size, so if you’re renting an apartment, talk with your landlord first.

Golden Retrievers Are Energetic

Golden retriever high energy levels is a more important point of a concern than their size. These dogs were bred to hunt and have naturally high stamina. They need regular exercise to maintain their mental and physical well-being.

Golden retrievers are explorers at heart. They love to wander in wild terrains and encounter new people and animals.

Meeting golden retriever exercise needs is easier for someone who owns a house with a backyard because the dog can play outdoors whenever the owner is busy. But not every home has a backyard.

People living in apartments can go to local parks to play and exercise with their dogs. But if there’s no park nearby and you can’t let a golden retriever freely run around, consider breeds with lower energy levels.

Golden retrievers aren’t a breed that can calmly walk on a leash around the town for 20 minutes, then go home. They need at least an hour of exercise daily, sometimes more, depending on a particular dog’s temperament.

If you have the time to invest in walking, your living conditions shouldn’t affect your dog’s health. But if you’re constantly busy, research alternatives.

Golden Retrievers Can Be Mischievous

If a golden retriever doesn’t get enough physical and mental stimulation from exercise and play, it may display mischievous behavior. It can chew furniture and other things in the home, dig the floor, and run around bumping into everything.

A mischievous golden retriever is a problem for a family with children or smaller pets. It can knock over a child or accidentally hurt a cat or smaller dog – not because it’s vile but because its energy is overflowing.

Golden retrievers may also be naughty because they lack training. The good news is that living in an apartment doesn’t affect the training’s success.

Overall, these dogs remain puppies at heart their entire lives and can behave goofy even with sufficient exercise and proper training. That’s something to keep in mind if you live in a rented apartment.

Golden Retrievers Are Prone To Obesity

Apart from behavioral changes, a large dog not getting enough exercise may develop health conditions. Golden retrievers are prone to obesity because they are highly food-motivated, and many owners fail to meet their exercise needs.

The problem is prevalent with golden retrievers living in apartments because not all owners have a suitable space to let their dogs run around.

Even at a local park, a golden retriever likely won’t be allowed freely roam the area because it may encounter danger or hurt someone.

Obesity in golden retrievers leads to other conditions, including diabetes, heart diseases, and joint disorders due to the inability to hold weight.

On the other hand, walking up and down stairs is an excellent exercise on its own. If you live on a high floor, have a public park nearby, and dedicate enough time to walking with your dog, it is unlikely to become obese.

But if you live on the first floor and can only spend 15 minutes a day walking with your dog on a leash, it is very likely to gain extra weight.

Golden Retrievers Don’t Bark a Lot

The biggest drawback of living in an apartment is the neighbors. They can be sweet, friendly people, but you will inevitably hear them remodeling their home, loudly watching TV or their baby crying.

The problem is that they can hear you, too, and a dog barking non-stop can be annoying for people living in your apartment complex. Fortunately, golden retrievers are known for their quietness.

Golden retrievers were bred to retrieve waterfowl, and evolutionary learned not to bark for no reason. Otherwise, they would scare off the birds and would never be taken on a hunt again.

A golden retriever won’t bark out of boredom or to draw the owner’s attention. However, like all dogs, golden retrievers do bark at times; they aren’t entirely mute.

This trait makes golden retrievers excellent family apartment dogs, provided other caveats are taken into account. But while golden retrievers don’t bark a lot, they can cause noise by running back and forth.

Golden Retrievers Shed

Golden retriever lustrous golden fur has one significant drawback – it sheds a lot. Golden retrievers have a double coat – a dense, fluffy undercoat that keeps them warm and dry when swimming and a long topcoat.

Goldens shed year-round, but twice a year, they blow out their undercoat to adjust to climate change. As you may imagine, this means dog fur everywhere – on the couch, in the kitchen, and on your clothes.

Of course, intense shedding is a point to consider regardless of your living conditions. But an enclosed apartment space may become a problem during seasonal shedding for people with allergies.

When you live in a house and get a sudden allergic reaction, you can let the dog run outside, but people living in apartments lack this privilege.

Another point to note is that people living in rented apartments with furniture bought by the landlord should put effort into keeping it clean.

Potty Time

Cats make the best apartment pets because they can go to a litter box. Dogs, however, need to go outside on a schedule. Someone living in a house can let their dog out to do its business.

People living in apartments don’t have it so easy. Even if your apartment complex has a gated area for walks, dogs may not be allowed to go potty there, so you need to establish a walking route for this specific purpose.

Furthermore, you need to be disciplined and give up your wants to walk with your dog. While people living in houses can make their morning coffee as their dog does its business, people living in apartments need to go outside every time.

Apartment Training Can Be Tricky

Golden retrievers need proper training to avoid mischievous behavior and reveal the best traits of their temperament.

The problem with keeping a golden retriever in an apartment is that you’ll need to find a suitable place for your training sessions.

Some commands can be taught indoors, such as “sit” and “come.” But sometimes, training requires more space, and you will inevitably have to go outside.

The great outdoors is full of distractions. Sure, your dog must obey your commands in any environment, but it doesn’t happen magically without the owner’s effort.

Puppies should be gradually introduced to new environments. In ideal circumstances, the training should begin in one’s backyard, where the puppy has enough space but will feel safe and continue in a public area.

You can’t just bring a puppy to a crowded public space it has never been in before and expect it to behave. So, consider whether you have a dog school or a quiet park nearby.

Can a Golden Retriever Live in An Apartment?

To conclude – can a golden retriever live in an apartment? Yes, but only if the apartment is large enough and located close to a park, forest, or another open space where the dog can run freely.

Furthermore, you should ensure that your apartment complex rules don’t prohibit large dogs.

With enough time and effort invested in training and exercising the dog, a golden retriever makes a great apartment pet. It’s not the best apartment dog breed, but not the worst either.

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