Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breed of dogs. The Golden Retriever grows between 21 to 24 inches tall and weighs about 55 to 75 pounds, The males usually grow larger than the females. Golden Retrievers have beautiful coats varying in shades of gold to cream. They have long fur that needs to be brushed almost daily. They are one of the most beautiful breeds. Golden Retrievers have a life span of 10 to 13 years.
The Golden Retriever has a great temperament, is gentle, playful and easy to please, making the Golden Retriever the perfect family pet.
The Golden Retriever is Easy to Train
The Golden Retriever is intelligent. They are eager to please which makes training easy.
When I got my Golden Retriever he was 10 weeks old. I bought a training crate. At first I thought it was cruel to have him stay in the crate a few hours 
a day, but it quickly became his home. He learned not to do his business in it which made it easy to train him to go outside.
He also loved to sleep in it. He would bring all his toys in the crate for safe keeping,
Before I knew it, the crate became a place for his toys and for him to sleep during the day. He liked to sleep in my room at night. Actually, in my bed. I spoiled him a little. No, I a spoiled him a lot.
One day when I felt he was getting too big to stay closed in the crate while I was out, I left the crate open not knowing what I would find when I got back. You see, I had a dog, a mixed breed, that I loved very much. I did not crate him and every time I went out and left him alone, I would find something chewed up. So leaving Buddy out of the crate made me very anxious. When I returned home that day, I found Buddy sleeping in the crate. There was no damage to be found.
We soon had our routine. We would go for a long walk at 7 PM every evening. After the walk, we would relax and I would watch television and he would chew on is favorite chew toy. If there was some kind of deviation from the routine, he would sit in front of me staring as if saying, “Well, are you coming”.
He was my pal. I have to say, I spent more time with Buddy than with anyone else.
The Golden Retriever is Gentle and Affectionate
Golden Retrievers can grow to be large and strong. Despite their size they are very gentle.
I had three young sons, when I had Buddy. Needless to say, they loved to play with him. Sometimes the play time became a little rough. No matter 
how rough it became, he would never harm them. He would put his mouth on their arms, but never bite down.
The Golden Retriever is very gentle with small children and babies also. They instinctively know to be calm and be protective around them.
The Golden Retriever gets along well with other dogs. They are not aggressive but usually playful.
The Golden Retriever would be the first one to greet you when you wake in the morning and when you walk in the door after being out of the house even if for a very short time.
That was one of the things I miss the most.
The Golden Retriever is Loyal
The Golden Retriever is a very loyal and faithful companion. As I stated before, they love to please. The Golden Retriever would be by your side just waiting for a command or a pat on the head or any show of affection from its owner. They have the ability to sense your mood and give you whatever comfort and cheer you may need.
When we went on vacation, my mother would stay with Buddy. All he would do is lie around all day, go for a little walk and eat very little.
When we came home, he was so happy to see us. He would jump on us and lick our faces. So happy we were back.
They are not an aggressive breed. They do not make good watch dogs. Even though, if the Golden Retriever senses danger or strangers approaching, he will alert its owner.
The Golden Retriever is Very Active
The Golden Retriever is a working dog. They love to hunt. They love to have a job to do. So they need plenty of exercise.
They love to swim. I would take Buddy to beach on off hours. We would play fetch on the beach. Swimming to fetch the stick was one of his favorite things to do. He would run, jump and romp through the water. He also loved to carry objects in his mouth. He was so happy.
Not being an aggressive breed, the Golden Retriever loves to play with other dogs. A visit to a dog friendly park or a dog run, is another great form of exercise.
Of course, the daily walks. if you are not able to go to the beach or the park every day, one long walk each day is also good exercise.
So Are Golden Retrievers Good Family Dogs?
The answer is absolutely. If you are looking for a family pet that is loyal, gentle, intelligent, affectionate, even-tempered and beautiful, the Golden Retriever is your dog.
The Golden Retriever has to be brushed daily and groomed periodically, but it is a small price to pay for the love and joy you will experience.
I am at the point in my life where my children are out of the house on their own and I’m not home enough to give a dog the time and care it would need. Then I say well maybe I’ll get a small dog that I can take everywhere with me.
I can’t. I have been spoiled. Maybe I’m wrong but every time I seriously think about getting a dog, I want a Golden Retriever.
So if you ask me if Golden Retrievers are good family pets, the answer is they are the best.