20 Stimulating Jobs for Golden Retrievers

Are you tired of trying to think of new ways to keep your Golden Retriever out of trouble and in shape? Jobs for Golden Retrievers can run the gamut from indoor-only games to sporting events where this breed truly excels.

If you have been searching for jobs that your dog is uniquely suited for, here are several options for every setting.

What Were Golden Retrievers Bred to Do?

Golden Retrievers were bred to do just what their name implies: retrieval. They are one of the most prominent types of hunting dogs that are bred for retrieving ducks and other types of fowl both in and out of the water. Brush, water, and distance seem to be no object for this beautiful dog breed.

Chances are that your dog loves to play fetch and to retrieve objects for you, something that you can capitalize on to put their body and brain to work.

Now, most Golden Retrievers are primarily bred as companion animals. Even so, they still have the natural athletic ability, energy, and drive that made them excellent hunting and retrieval dogs. You might need to give them a job to make this breed happy as a lark.

Do Golden Retrievers Need a Job?

In short, your Golden Retriever needs a job to do to keep them out of trouble. These dogs often have high drives to work and spend time with their owners. They were bred to be highly active dogs and this carries over into modern-day breeding.

While they do strive to make their handlers happy, they cannot help getting into trouble when bored. If you do not have time to dedicate to wearing your dog out, you might be unhappy with the behaviors that result.

Benefits of Giving Your Golden Retriever a Job

The good news is that giving your Golden Retriever a job can give them plenty of opportunity to find success in their relationship with you. One of the main benefits is that working closely with your dog to teach some of these games and activities can strengthen the bond you share with them.

However, Golden Retrievers and other similar dog breeds have a tendency to get in trouble when they are left to their own devices. They might chew on items that they know they shouldn’t, dig holes in the backyard, or engage in nuisance barking.

A little bit of physical exercise can keep them tired – which is good news for both of you!

Not to mention, many of these jobs for Golden Retrievers strengthen their basic commands and segue into more advanced commands and work. It makes your life living with a Golden Retriever easier than ever before.

20 Jobs for Your Golden Retriever

No matter where you want to work with your dog, here are a few activities and ideas that can strengthen your bond and tire them out. After all, a tired dog is usually a happy dog!

Indoor Jobs and Activities

There are tons of ways that your Golden Retriever can work for you without ever leaving the house. Take advantage of their intelligence and drive with some of these fun jobs and games:

Find It: Take your dog’s most beloved toy and hide it. Issue the “find it” command and see them go to work to recover it. Give them a tasty treat when they return with their object.

Clean Up: One of the best jobs for Golden Retrievers is simply to teach them to clean up after themselves. Their natural bent toward retrieval makes them a natural at picking up their own toys or cleaning up a mess you made in the kitchen.

Sort Laundry: Because your dog is good at retrieving, teach her to grab items of laundry and put them into assigned piles. When they go in the right pile (each item should have a cue attached to it), they get a treat and can move on to the next item.

Pick Up: Gone are the days when you had to bend over to pick something up. Your dogs can do the heavy lifting for you, picking up items on cue and handing them over.

Learn Family Members: Teach your dog the names of your family members and have him search for them inside the house. You might teach them to bring items to certain people or simply to herd them back toward the dining room table.

Refrigerator Bandit: If you can teach your dog that only certain items in the fridge are for their use, you can teach them to retrieve things for you. Ask for a bottle of water, a snack in a sealed package, and other items that you might get frequently.

Outdoor Games for your Golden Retriever

If you have access to a backyard or a local park, some of these activities might be a great option:

Carry Gear: A dog who already walks well on leash can be taught to pull double duty. They can carry up to 10 percent of their body weight in a pack. Consider letting them carry your drinking water or snacks when you take a long hike to wear them out faster even if you do not walk as far.

Flirt Pole: Chances are that you have seen cat toys where a desirable toy is attached to the end of a long pole. Make the same type of flirt pole for your dog with a favorite toy on the end. When they get close, move the pole and the toy. It keeps them engaged and wears them out quickly.

Hunting: Your Retriever is bred to hunt and retrieve game. Allow them to do just that by training them to go on the trail with you. They can sniff out game and bring it back to you.

Canicross: Do you love going for long runs? Attach your dog to your waist with a special leash made specifically for cross-country running with your pooch in a clever sport known as canicross.

Mental Stimulation for your Golden Retriever

Your Golden Retriever needs to use both their body and brain. Get them thinking with some of these jobs and tasks.

Hide and Seek: Many dogs love the rush of hunting something down. When they are busy with something else, hide somewhere they would least expect. Call to them and see how long it takes them to track you down. You can also ask them to stay in one spot while you hide in another room.

Blindfold: Can your dog get free if they can’t see? Toss a blanket over their head and see how long it takes them to free themselves.

Training Games

Solidify their training commands and cues with some of these Golden Retriever jobs that will have them practicing basic obedience. We recommend that you learn from the best, Dr. Ian Dunbar’s SIRIUS Dog Trainer Academy, who created the first off leash puppy socialization and training classes.

Flyball: If you want your dog to reinforce basic commands like sit, down, stay, and fetch, then flyball might be the best sport for you. Your dog will chase after a ball down a stretch of jumps, retrieve it, and come back. It’s the perfect scenario for a Golden Retriever who needs a little exercise and structure.

Nose Targeting: Once your dog masters the skill of “touch” or “target” where they hit things with their nose, you can teach them to do all kinds of things. Your Golden Retriever can learn to open and shut doors, turn on lights, and more.

Dog in the Middle: Get your family together to work on your dog’s “come” command. Stand in a circle and take turns calling your dog to each person. Be sure to give plenty of treats and love to your dog as they work!

Go Outside: Train your dog to let you know when they have to go outside by ringing a bell kept by the back door!

Interactive Toys

Toys can be a great ally to help you keep your Golden Retriever happy and occupied. Here is one way to keep your dog engaged even around basic activities like mealtime.

Kong Dinners: Instead of giving your dog dinner his dish, pack it into a Kong ball with some peanut butter and freeze it. They will have to work at it for quite a while before they get the remnants of their dinner out.

Dog Sports

Some of the best jobs for Golden Retrievers are sports-based, allowing you to have some friendly competition and wear out your pup. Consider whether your dog would enjoy some of these dog-friendly sporting events.

Search and Rescue: Golden Retrievers are well-known for their ability to recover missing people. Try training your dog to identify someone’s scent and then work to recover a piece of clothing with their scent or a person who has been in hiding.

Dock Diving: Get your dog in the water for a great way to cool down and get some energy out. They have to jump from the dock or the edge of the pool after a toy that you toss. The farther they jump, the better!

Agility: One of the best jobs for Golden Retriever breeds is agility. They gain access to new stimuli such as seesaws, jump hoops, and more. Not to mention, it burns off some of that extra energy while enhancing your bond with them.

Final Thoughts

Your Golden Retriever has tons of energy and intelligence to learn to put his skills to good use. If you want your dog to learn how to harness that energy for good, you need some of these Golden Retriever jobs. Which ones will you start using today?

What jobs can Golden Retrievers do?

Golden Retrievers are natural hunting dogs, but this also sets them up for other jobs like search and rescue, police work, service work, and more. They can help with daily tasks around the house or participate in sports like agility and dock diving.