Are you trying to choose between a Golden Retriever and a Rottweiler for your next dog?
Both Goldens and Rotties can be amazing pets and companions but have some significant differences.
It’s important to understand each breed’s qualities to help you pick the dog that best fits your lifestyle, so both you and your dog are happy together.
This article will start by looking at an overview of both Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers, and then we’ll compare the two breeds on a variety of categories, including:
- Energy levels
- Trainability
- Temperament
- Size
- How much they bark
- How good they are with kids
- How good they are with other dogs and other animals
- And much, much more!
Golden Retriever Overview
Golden Retrievers are friendly, happy dogs who enjoy spending time with people, both their family and new friends.
Historically, this breed was developed to retrieve shot birds to a hunter, so they have a genetic predisposition to work closely and cooperatively with their humans.
Some Golden Retrievers are still used for hunting today, but more commonly they serve a purpose as beloved family companions, service dogs, therapy dogs, and dog sport partners.
Goldens are medium to large in size, with a beautiful feathered coat that can be anything from a light cream to a rich red in color.
While there is always variation within every breed, Goldens are best known for their social demeanors and eager-to-please vibe.
This is an active, energetic breed, and Goldens need daily exercise in order for them to settle nicely around the house.
They are also very smart and intuitive and do best with positive reinforcement training methods to bring out the best in them.
Rottweiler Overview
Rottweilers are strong, impressive-looking dogs known for their loyalty and natural guardian instincts.
They are also very playful and affectionate with their families, and can even be quite clownish.
Rottweilers have an interesting history, serving as cattle-herders, cart-pullers, guardians.
Even though most people keep Rotties as companions these days, modern Rotties still have herding and guarding instincts, which need to be properly channeled to keep everyone safe and happy.
Rotties are large dogs with a striking black and tan medium-length, flat coat.
While they love playing and interacting with their family and familiar friends, they are often aloof and reserved with strangers and can be protective of their homes and property.
They have moderate to high energy levels and require consistent exercise in order to be well-behaved around the house.
These are devoted, highly intelligent dogs who love spending time with their families and also tend to enjoy hiking, swimming, herding livestock, and even pulling a cart, a throwback to their unique history.
Energy Levels
Golden Retriever
An hour to 90 minutes of exercise is typically sufficient for most Golden Retrievers.
Walks, hikes, swimming and playing games in the yard are all great outlets for Goldens.
They also love to spend time outside, so giving them plenty of time and space to enjoy the great outdoors is important for this breed.
You can balance physical exercise with mental exercise such as training, dog sports, and interactive toys.
Rottweiler
For Rottweilers, 45 minutes to an hour of exercise per day is usually enough to meet their needs.
As with any breed, younger Rotties may be more energetic and might require more exercise.
While they have a stocky build, these are very athletic dogs and they love walks, hikes, and swimming.
Rottweilers can also have herding abilities so a herding ball can also be a great exercise outlet for them.
Conclusion:
Golden Retrievers require more exercise than Rottweilers, though both will need consistent exercise.
If they don’t get enough exercise, behavior issues, such as destructiveness and excessive barking, can arise.
With their stockier structure, Rottweilers don’t have as much endurance as a Golden Retriever, so if you’re looking for a good running partner, the Rottie is probably not the best choice.
Shedding
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are moderate to heavy shedders and shed year-round.
They have a double coat and need to be brushed a couple of times a week.
Most Goldens will shed more heavily two times a year, usually the spring and fall, so some extra brushing is helpful during those times to move the shedding process along.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers are moderate shedders and also shed year-round.
Just like Goldens, Rotties have a double coat, but it’s much shorter, and do fine with one weekly brushing.
They also “blow coat” twice a year, so you can expect more heavy shedding during those times.
Conclusion:
Goldens typically are heavier shedders than Rottweilers, and their fur is also longer than Rottie fur, which can make it seem like even more dog hair to clean up.
While Rotties shed more moderately, you will be dealing with year-round shedding no matter which breed you choose.
Trainability
Golden Retrievers
Goldens are very owner-oriented and really enjoy working with their humans.
They are eager to learn and usually pick up on training quickly, which is one reason they are so popular for service dog work.
Golden Retrievers are very smart and in tune with their owners, and have an innate desire to engage with you.
Their biggest challenge is often listening to you around other people and dogs, as they are such friendly, social dogs, so this may require a little extra training effort.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers are very intelligent and eager to learn, but can have a bit of an independent streak.
Generally, they enjoy training and require patient, positive reinforcement-based training methods.
Rotties really love working with their humans and so this makes training pretty easy.
Conclusion:
Both breeds are highly trainable, but the Golden Retriever is just a bit easier to train.
Sometimes Rotties can be more independent, while most Goldens are very owner-oriented.
Goldens and Rotties are both highly intelligent breeds and very fun to train.
Barking
Golden Retrievers
Goldens are generally a pretty quiet breed.
They might bark when excited or when the mailman drops off a package, but otherwise, they are not known to bark a lot.
Rottweiler
Rotties are calm, quiet dogs and not very barky.
Because of their guardian instincts, they usually only bark if they perceive something as a threat and want to alert you to it.
Conclusion:
Neither Golden Retrievers nor Rottweilers are big barkers.
While they may have different reasons for their barking, it’s usually pretty minimal.
Lifestyle
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers can thrive within a variety of lifestyles.
Whether you live in a crowded, urban area, or on a peaceful ranch, so long as you are meeting their exercise and enrichment needs, a Golden Retriever can be happy.
They tend to roll with the punches and this easy-going nature helps them feel comfortable in a range of settings.
Rottweiler
Rotties are also a fairly adaptable breed and can suit a variety of lifestyles, so long as their needs are met.
While they do need consistent exercise, adult Rotties are pretty mellow around the house.
With their guardian instincts, some Rottweilers may be a bit more unsettled by the noise and commotion of apartment living, but others can adjust.
Additionally, they are very large dogs, and take up quite a bit of space, so keep that in mind if you live in tight quarters.
Conclusion:
Both Goldens and Rottweilers are adaptable dogs that can thrive in a variety of lifestyles.
How Are They With Other People?
Golden Retrievers
Most Goldens have never known a stranger.
They love meeting new people and receiving attention, and love the company of humans.
Usually, they are gentle, loving dogs, but sometimes they can be a little too enthusiastic so training can help them learn how to interact with people politely.
Rottweiler
Rotties adore their families and close friends, but most are not social butterflies in the way that a Golden Retriever is.
While a Golden might feel they are best friends with anyone who crosses their path, Rottweilers usually take more time to warm up to strangers.
A well-bred Rottweiler should NOT be aggressive.
Rather they are calmly self-assured while around people, but simply not interested in always interacting with them.
Sociability can also vary within the breed, with some being more eager to meet new people with a wiggly tail nub, and others being more standoffish.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a dog that is reliably social with people, the Golden Retriever is the way to go.
While Rottweilers are not aggressive with other people, they are usually less indiscriminately friendly.
Depending on what you’re looking for in a dog, either could be better suited for you in this category.
Are They Good with Kids?
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers can be great family companions, as they love the attention and fun that kids can provide.
It’s important for kids to be taught how to respectfully interact with a dog, and even though Goldens are sweet and gentle, they should not be expected to put up with rude behavior from a child.
Additionally, they are bigger dogs and in their excitement, they could potentially accidentally knock a kid over, so they should always be supervised.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers typically do well with kids, as they have a calm demeanor and enjoy playing with their family.
While they can make excellent companions for kids, they can also have herding tendencies and might try to corral rowdy kids.
They are also huge dogs and could accidentally injure a child.
Again, kids should always be taught how to be polite towards dogs and you should always supervise interactions to ensure both the dog and child are safe and happy.
Conclusion
Both Goldens and Rottweilers have traits that make them wonderful family dogs.
Even though they tend to get along well with children, training and supervision are important to help them develop a good dynamic together.
How Are They With Other Dogs?
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers usually get along well with other dogs and really enjoy playing with their dog friends.
While some breeds tend to lose interest in playing with other dogs as they mature, many Goldens are like “forever puppies