One of these dogs has a severe bite history and was left by their owner at the vet to be PTS at just 18 months old after biting everyone in the household.
Why did this happen? They were bought by a family who didn’t take the time to understand the genetic predispositions of the breed. They didn’t meet the needs of the dog, which grew up undersocialised, insecure, and fearful. Resource guarding was the main issue.
The other dog has never had any known issues with people, including possession/guarding – they can just be too excitable and exuberant at times!
How do you think the descriptions match up to the two dogs in the photo (golden retriever and Belgian malinois)?
The truth is that many people will assume it is the mal with the bite history and possession issues. The breed have a reputation for being difficult and prone to possession and aggression. And while it is true that they are not a beginner’s breed, that’s a post for another time. In this case, it is actually the golden retriever with the bad upbringing and bite history!
So, this is your reminder not to judge a book by its cover. Any breed has the capacity for aggression. I find it a huge failing by golden retriever breeders and rescues that the predisposition the breed has for resource guarding is not talked about enough. There are plenty of other known genetic issues in many breeds equally being ignored. Please, always do your homework before getting a dog and be aware of any and all issues the breed may be known for so you can be prepared to get ahead of those things while that dog is young.
