What is a golden retriever boyfriend? All About the Pet-Inspired Personality Type – NBC New York

If you’ve ventured into the relationship-oriented side of TikTok in the past year, you’ve probably come across the concept of golden retriever valentines.

Just like their adorable canine counterparts, Golden Retriever sweethearts are friendly, faithful, and affectionate.

If you want takeout, they will pick up your favorite meal without you asking. They’re not afraid to look a little goofy, whether it’s showering you with kisses or diving into the pool while you’re tanning. They’re always thrilled to see you when you walk through the door – even if you only left an hour ago.

Most importantly, they’re always willing to go the extra mile for their favorite person: think Travis Kelce flying across the world to see Taylor Swift in the middle of football season, or Ryan Gosling wearing Eva Mendes’ initial on a necklace at the Barbie red carpet.

In most cases, being a golden retriever’s boyfriend is considered a green flag. After all, who wouldn’t want a loyal, attentive partner who prioritizes their needs?

However, there’s a lot more to your golden retriever boyfriend than meets the eye—especially if you tend to adopt the black cat personality type.

Here’s what you should know about the golden retriever boyfriend trend and what it means for your relationship.

What is a golden retriever boyfriend?

A golden retriever boyfriend shares many positive characteristics with the dog breed itself: he is devoted, outgoing, affectionate and always ready to have fun.

According to Liza Gold, LCSW, founder and director of Gold Therapy NYC, characteristics of the golden retriever boyfriend include the following:

• Malleable
• Love
• Social
• Eager to please
• Devoted

“They are obviously very loyal,” Taylor Frazar-Green, MA LPC-A, told TODAY.com. “I think the biggest thing similar with the golden retriever dog is that they are very eager to please and are always very pleasant to their partner.”

In addition to social media trends, the golden retriever boyfriend trope has taken off in film and TV

Notable examples of golden retriever boyfriends in popular culture include Peter Parker from “Spider-Man” (specifically the role of Tom Holland), Jeremiah from “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Jake Peralta from “Brooklyn 99” and, of course, Travis Kelce of Kansas City Chiefs fame.

For Frazer-Green, the golden retriever boyfriend archetype represents a shift in what we consider ideal qualities in a male partner.

In contrast to the taciturn charmers of the past, the golden retriever boyfriend is open, caring and affectionate.

Gold also thinks the golden retriever boyfriend trend represents a shift in gender roles.

“I think maybe one of the reasons this concept has gone so viral is because it has a kind of zeitgeist of women empowerment. Like, ‘I don’t need to be the one doing the chasing,’” says Gold.

The Pros and Cons of a Golden Retriever Boyfriend

On the surface, the idea of ​​a golden retriever boyfriend seems universally positive.

“A relationship with a golden retriever boyfriend is likely characterized by lots of affection, tenderness, and playfulness,” says Gold.

However, even the best-behaved Golden Retrievers are not immune to alert behavior.

Just like their canine namesakes, golden retriever sweethearts can be high maintenance.

If you’re an introvert who needs time to recharge, you may struggle with the demands of an energetic partner who always wants to spend time together.

“It can be quite draining at times, because I think at some point everyone needs to switch off to recover,” says Gold. “I mean, playing is wonderful. The affection is wonderful. But what about those times when you don’t feel like being optimistic, playful or affectionate?”

Your devoted nature can also turn into clinginess. Still, Gold understands the allure of a golden retriever boyfriend.

Amid a dating scene filled with mind games and “playing it cool,” a partner who isn’t afraid to express affection is especially attractive.

“It’s the idea of ​​having a partner who shows up, who wants to put work into the relationship, who wants to show you that they love you and that they care about you,” says Gold. “I think these are lovely traits that most people would want in their partner.”

At the end of the day, Gold recommends asking yourself if these idealized characteristics align with your real-life needs:

“Am I getting what I need from this person? Are they showing up for me in the ways I need to feel good? Do I feel valued and respected by them?”

Are golden retrievers and black cats compatible?

In sharp contrast to the golden retriever boyfriend’s outgoing and friendly personality, the black cat girlfriend is reserved, mysterious, and occasionally aloof.

Despite their differences, black cat girlfriends and golden retriever boyfriends are a popular duo – at least according to social media.

However, Gold warns that you and your partner could end up fighting like cats and dogs. She associates golden retriever boyfriends and black cat girlfriends with anxious and avoidant attachment styles, respectively.

“Sometimes relationships work out long term, sometimes they don’t,” she says. “But these are generally relationships with a fairly high degree of conflict due to opposing needs.”

After all, contrary to popular belief, opposites do not attract.

“There is a lot of research that supports the notion that opposites do not attract. People with similar interests attract and people with similar personality traits attract.”

However, all is not lost for the black cat and golden retriever duo. Regardless of external appearances, the most important factor in a relationship is whether the couple’s values ​​and characteristics are compatible.

“People are attracted to each other when they have complementary characteristics, which can sometimes seem ‘opposite,’” says Gold. “But they have to be opposites that complement each other, not conflict.”

This story first appeared in TODAY.com. More from TODAY: