Who’s a Good Boy? All About the Golden Retriever Boyfriend

It’s been a while since we talked about positive dating trends here at Once’s blog. But even a broken clock is right twice a day, so here we are!

Who’s a Good Boy? All About the Golden Retriever Boyfriend

What is a golden retriever boyfriend?

It’s very easy to find out the meaning of the golden retriever boyfriend (GRB). Just think about golden retrievers (the actual dogs) and start describing them. They’re loyal, always happy to see you, super supportive and reliable, devoted and loving. All those adjectives apply to human GRBs as well. A perfect match, no matter how you spin it!

Signs of a golden retriever boyfriend

Women are so used to the glorification and romantization of toxic emotionally unavailable men, that dealing with a golden retriever boyfriend can feel very weird at first.

Watch out for these signs: 

  • He’s there for you when you need him.
  • He’s empathetic, gentle, and supportive when you’re going through a rough patch. 
  • He’s affectionate and is not afraid to show his feelings, in public or in private. 
  • You feel secure in your relationship.
  • You guys plan for the future together.   
  • He’s actually listening to what you’re saying. 
  • Your conversations are a healthy mix of silly chats and deep talks
  • He’s optimistic and positive about life and your relationship. 
  • You know you can trust him and rely on his honesty. 

Basically, a golden retriever bf is someone who fills your life with love, joy, and laughter, but also stability, and a sense of being protected. They’re the definition of a healthy relationship and the opposite of those nasty guys who always try to drag you into a situationship or ghost you for no good reason. 

Golden retriever boyfriend and black cat girlfriend

If you go online and type “golden retriever boyfriend” you’ll at some point stumble upon the black cat girlfriend paired to it. So what is this all about? 

In essence, it’s the good old concept of opposites attract. A golden retriever and a black cat complement each other’s personalities and balance each other out. If a GRB is more open, playful, and outgoing, a black cat girlfriend is more independent, intuitive, calm, and sophisticated. Such couples often look like they barely have anything in common, but in reality, they share the core values and beliefs, and the rest simply come together as a puzzle. 

Golden retriever boyfriend vs German shepherd boyfriend

Just like a golden retriever boyfriend, a German shepherd is loyal, protective, and dependable. Yet, contrary to GRB, German shepherd men are more focused and disciplined. They’re not as playful or easygoing, but nonetheless reliable and worthy of your love. Some say that GRBs lack depth and smarts in some areas, while this is typically not true for German shepherd bfs. 

How to be a golden retriever boyfriend  

Now that’s a million-dollar question, isn’t it? First and foremost, you need to be emotionally available. A romantic relationship is so much more than hot sex and cozy dates. Emotional bond is an inherent part of the GRB experience, and you can’t do that unless you’re in touch and in sync with your feelings. 

Once we’ve overcome that obstacle, here’s what to do next:

  • Make an effort to be sociable and engage with others. 
  • Bring positive energy to all interactions. 
  • Be approachable and welcoming. 
  • Show loyalty and mean it. Keep secrets, don’t mess around. 
  • Get a sense of humor and don’t be afraid to use it or appear silly or goofy. 
  • GRBs are very caring, so express affection and be thoughtful with little things. 
  • Your partner needs to feel safe with you, so be protective and supportive. 
  • Integrity needs to be a cornerstone of everything you do in life. 

We don’t want you to change your entire personality to fit into a new hot dating trend, but it would definitely help if you adopted most of the positive traits associated with a golden retriever personality boyfriend. The majority of them are genuinely good characteristics to possess, so take your chance to jump on this self-improvement train. 

How to get a golden retriever boyfriend

There’s no clear path that leads you to a golden retriever boyfriend, but there are steps you can take to find one. 

  1. Block out all the bad boys. Delete dating chats with them if you’re dating online, unfollow their socials, and stop watching thirst trap TikToks with movie characters that are baddies. You need to shift your mindset and change what you deem appealing and exciting in a man. 
  2. Do inner work. Bad habits die hard, so before you decide to turn your love life around and find your personal Mr. Peanut Butter, work individually or with a psychologist on your dating patterns and attraction to men. A GRB deserves an equally loving, empathetic, and enthusiastic girlfriend. Or at least a girlfriend who’ll be able to appreciate them. 
  3. Go to places where GRBs can be found. Sports events and country clubs, volunteering gigs, communal events – all those things sound like a GRBs breeding spot (no pun intended). If you don’t fancy leaving the house, go to your favorite dating app and look for options out there. Immediately skip guys photographed in front of the cars, with their shirts off, or with a list of requirements for future partners in their dating profile bio.  
  4. Share your needs and boundaries. As you start seeing someone new, be upfront and honest with them about the type of person you’re looking for, about the things you expect from a romance, and about your relationship boundaries. Many are afraid to do any of that for fear of being perceived as pushy, desperate, or both. And yes, it’s true that you’ll scare some people off with that, but a golden retriever boyfriend will appreciate this kind of honesty. Plus, you don’t need to attract everyone, only the right people. 

Last but not least, be patient. Finding the one takes time, and the core principle of mindful dating is to take your time and not rush, but even adopt the slow dating principles. Instead of hoping to jump through the relationship stages to your happily ever after, take the time with every date and every conversation you’re having with your potential GRBs. Slow and steady wins the race, including the love race.