Mary Allen
#4 Your golden retriever is excited
Sometimes dogs bark when they are excited. If your Golden Retriever tends to bark in situations where you are walking around the house or coming home, that is very likely the reason.
This also often happens when something exciting for the dogs happens, e.g. children run and romp through the apartment. Most of the time it is movement-related excitement.
#5 Your dog is showing aggression
Another reason for barking is that your dog is reacting aggressively. This aggressive bark is clearly distinguishable from other barks. It's louder, deeper, more intense, and often accompanied by snarling.
Aggressive barking and behavior should not be taken lightly. You must do something about it immediately. If in doubt, consult a local dog trainer.
#6 Your dog is in defensive mode (also aggression)
Your Golden Retriever may consider some things to be his property, such as his food, toys, sofa, or bed. When he barks at you, he wants to defend and protect his possessions.
You have to be careful in these situations because dogs can then react very aggressively and bite. If your Golden Retriever is still a puppy, you need to train him out of it as soon as possible.
Don't flinch in fright because that would be a win for your dog. Don't try to comfort him, because he might misunderstand that too. Don't scold or yell either. Instead, calmly remove yourself from the situation and ignore your dog for the time being. Of course, this does not solve the problem, but only eliminates the dangerous situation.
When there is a problem with food, you need to teach your dog that there is no reason to defend the food. For example, by having food in your hand and feeding it to him as well. In this way, the dog learns to associate the presence of people with something positive.
Here, too, it is, unfortunately, true that you can do more wrong than right because sometimes the situation as an affected owner is difficult to assess. Again, the best option is to bring in an experienced dog trainer.