If your Golden Retriever seems to hate you this post will show you why it might be the case and what you can do about it.
So, why does my Golden Retriever hate me? It is likely that it does not hate you and that it shows affection in ways that you are not aware of. It could also be that a lack of exercise, illness, injury, fear or depression are causing it to behave differently.
There are a number of reasons why your Golden Retriever might seem to hate you. However, there are a number of things you can do to get it to like you more.
Why your Golden Retriever hates you
Below, I will show you a number of reasons why your Golden Retriever might be acting like it hates you and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.
It doesn’t actually hate you
It is likely that your Golden Retriever does not actually hate you. Some Golden Retrievers will like being petted and hugged but others will not. If your Golden Retriever doesn’t like it when you try to pet it but you try to pet it a lot, it could be causing it to avoid you (source).
It might also be the case that your Golden Retriever does not show its affection overtly. I have written about ways that your Golden Retriever might be showing its affection towards you in this post.
Previous owners
It might be the case that previous owners mistreated it and it now does not show as much affection. This would be more likely if you adopted it from a shelter.
In this case, it might begin to improve over the course of a few weeks as it gets more comfortable in its new environment. If it does not begin to improve then consider getting the help of a dog behaviorist in your area.
Illness or injury
The cause could be that it is ill or injured. This would be more likely if it has started behaving like it hates you suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill or injured such as vomiting or limping. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Fear
The reason why it has been doing it could be that something has been causing it to be fearful. This would be more likely if it starts acting differently when something might be scaring it. Things that could frighten it could include fireworks, construction works or someone being around that it does not like.
Boredom
Golden Retrievers are a breed that is meant to get exercise on a daily basis. When they do not get enough exercise it can cause them to behave abnormally and it might be why yours seems like it hates you. This would be more likely if it behaves that way more when it has not gotten much exercise.
Generally, it is recommended for adult Golden Retrievers to get at least an hour of exercise per day when they are healthy.
The cause could be that it was not able to socialize much as a puppy. When dogs are puppies they develope many of their characteristics. If a puppy does not get many opportunities to interact with people, it will not have as many chances to learn to be interested in them.
Depression
Dogs can also become depressed and it might be the case that your Golden Retriever has not been showing much affection towards you because something has been causing it to be depressed. This would be more likely if it started acting differently after an event such as an owner leaving home or another pet dying.
In this case, it might begin to improve over the course of a few weeks. It would help to give it lots of training, exercise and to play with it. If it does not begin to improve then it would help to seek the guidance of a vet.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider about your Golden Retriever behaving like it hates you.
If it is aggressive
If your Golden Retriever becomes aggressive towards you then the best option would be to get help from a certified dog trainer in your area so that you can see how to train it safely and why it is doing it.
When it first started hating you
If it has not always behaved that way, it would also help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it since it could be the case that there was an event that caused it to start.
If it has only recently started to behave that way then it would make it more likely that it is due to things such as:
- Being mistreated by someone
- Being mistreated by another dog
- Being ill or injured
- Being depressed perhaps due to another dog or family member not being around anymore
- Being in a new location
- A change in its diet
When and where it seems to do it
It would also help to consider the timing of when it does it since it could also be the case that the timing has something to do with it.
For example, if you notice that it changes its behavior before and after getting exercise then it might be a sign that it needs more exercise. Whereas, if it does it more after being fed then it might be a sign that there is an issue with its diet or it could be ill.
How to get your Golden Retriever to like you more
Below are some options you have when getting your Golden Retriever to hate you less.
Give it lots of exercise
As mentioned above, it is important to make sure that your Golden Retriever is able to get daily exercise if it is a healthy adult. Generally, it is recommended for them to get at least an hour of exercise per day. If it is already getting exercise, you could try wearing it out more by getting it to play fetch.
Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement training is where you encourage your Golden Retriever to behave a certain way by rewarding it when it shows signs of behaving that way.
If you want to get your dog to be more affectionate then you would reward it with a treat when it does things that show signs of being nicer to you. For example, you might reward it with a treat for coming and sitting with you.
Avoid negative reinforcement
It would also help to avoid negative reinforcement which is where you encourage bad behaviors by rewarding them. Instead, it would help to reward your Golden Retriever when it behaves in a way that you want it to.
Avoid punishing it
If you punish your Golden Retriever for hating you or not being affectionate then it would help to avoid doing so. The reason for this is that it is unlikely to know why you’re punishing it and it could cause it to develop feelings of resentment it could also be making it hate you more.
Instead, it would help to interact with your Golden Retriever in a calm manner and to use positive reinforcement training to get it to behave the way that you want it to.
Ensure that its diet is right
It would also help to make sure that it is getting the right diet. You can look here to see what you should and should not be feeding it and it would help to consult with your vet about its diet. It would also help to make sure that no one else has been feeding it without telling you.
Get expert help
If you cannot figure out why your Golden Retriever has been behaving that way, it would help to get help from a vet or dog behaviorist. By doing so you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Golden Retriever.