Mary Allen
Possible reasons are that your Golden Retriever has strong protective instincts, was not adequately socialized as a puppy, or has a history of being mistreated by some people.
If your golden retriever keeps barking at strangers, you probably want him to stop. There are a number of reasons that I want to detail in this blog post. There is often a combination of reasons why your Golden Retriever barks at strangers. However, there are also a number of things you can do about it.
#1 He protects his territory or his owners
The reason for this could be that he sees himself as the leader of the pack and wants to protect you. He thinks you're weak. Under no circumstances should you support his behavior with affection or petting. So he thinks you actually need protection and will repeat this behavior over and over again.
When your dog barks at everyone outside your door or people walking in front of your home, that's also his protective instinct. Either towards you or your house. Although dogs are pack animals, they are also territorial.
#2 Lack of socialization
As puppies, Golden Retrievers learn who and what to trust and who not to trust. The reason your Golden Retriever barks at strangers could be because he didn't get to interact with many people as a pup. Some breeders and owners miss this important formative phase and this then affects adult life.
#3 Lack of education
Unless your Golden Retriever has received a lot of training and education, he will behave in a way that he believes is right. Most of the time, the way he wants to behave isn't the way you, the owner, want it to be.
Because of this, it's important to train your golden retriever to recognize you as the pack leader. If you haven't already done so, it's best to start right away with the basics, e.g. B. with the basic commands like “sit”, “stay”, “down” and “come”.