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The Problem With Having a ‘Golden Retriever Boyfriend,’ According to an Expert

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17.07.2026

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The Problem With Having a ‘Golden Retriever Boyfriend,’ According to an Expert

An expert says the easygoing, eager-to-please partner can also struggle with passivity, boundaries, and asserting their own needs.

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When it comes to the dating world, this generation loves titles. Think: black cat girlfriend and golden retriever boyfriend, everyone’s favorite type, apparently.

“The golden retriever boyfriend is always in a good mood, a people pleaser, eager to make you happy, and often doesn’t have strong preferences or rigidity,” says Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, a relationship expert at Hily Dating App and Harvard-trained clinical psychologist. “He tends to go with the flow and is easy to get along with. He wants to gain your approval and for you to enjoy yourself when together.”

Everyone raves about the golden retriever boyfriend, but is he really as great a partner as he sounds? Here are three potential downsides of a golden retriever partner.

1. They Tend to Be Passive

Unfortunately, the golden retriever boyfriend is often passive in nature.........

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