Working cocker, labrador, flat coated retriever, golden retriever

[Han23]

Any thoughts on these breeds would be much appreciated as thinking of getting a puppy for our family with 3 youngish kids. Plenty of outside space. Although beautiful, slightly off the GR now due to malting. Many thanks

[TheoriginalLEM]

get one of each - impossible decision! ! working cocker probably the most energetic and demanding. flat coated would be my choice but only because of how they look. love all these breeds. not really helping am i?

[lostscot]

We have a golden retriever x poodle, he only moults a tiny bit between winter and summer and has the most amazing temperament. Every one I've met is fantastic temperament and they are brilliant family dogs love to join the kids on every adventure then equally happy to curl up in his bed.

[lk26]

I have 2 black labs. Love them. Older dog sadly in poor health now at 12 but a great family dog. Puppy is a bag of energy and fun and nipping. ! But they grow out of it.
We have s huge secure garden which helps but they get plenty of walks.
Puppies are very tying so be aware you need to have the time. I stay at home with our youngest daughter and I still find it tying at times.

[PiglettWithAttitude]

I agree, one of each. Possibly two of the cocker though. How much time do you have on your hands?

I don't know much about retreivers - do golden retrievers malt more than flat coated then? (I assumed flat coated were the black/brown version of goldens).

[lk26]

Bit of a quiet moment this morning

[mrsjskelton]

All of these dogs have a tendency to malt - I'd go with something like a Labradoodle.

[Devilishpyjamas]

I have a working line retriever. He's very different from the show retrievers in looks & temperament. (Smaller, fox-red, much much slimmer, very energetic - even aged 5). He doesn't malt as much as a show retriever either.

[Devilishpyjamas]

Here he is :)

[tomatodizzy]

If you don't like malting, avoid a labrador. Anywhere my dog sits looks like someone came along and shaved him bald!

[Dibaba]

We have a black lab. He's the nicest, kindest, sweetest dog I've ever known but my entire house is full of black hair.

[Dibaba]

MOULTING

[Dieu]

Working cocker! I love those wee dogs. I do a fair bit of dog walking these days, and live in a place that's doggy central, and these dogs are without exception always friendly towards my dog (not all are, as he's an 'intact' teenage male!).

[lavendersun]

+1 Dibaba. I couldn't imagine a better family dog than my Labrador in every way ...... apart from the hair.

DH has been doing the vacuuming exclusively for a couple of weeks post my op and he is shocked that he fills the hoover (dyson ball thing so not a massive cylinder) in each downstairs room, every second day.

Worth it for the lovely dog but lots and lots of hair.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

We had a working cocker. Utterly fab. Loyal little shadow, easy to train and very hard working. Now have a young lab. Gentle, sweet, obedient, easy to train so far and adores the kids.

Sorry if that's no help!

[Dieu]

Definitely one of the nicest and least aggressive breeds out there, MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig. I have been so impressed with them.

[Dieu]

I mean the working cocker.

[Dibaba]

I know 2 working cookers and they are both mental. Really high maintenance. Of course that might be down to the owners, but I wouldn't consider one ever.

[Dibaba]

I mean cocker

[banff82]

My working Cockers shed tons of hair, pretty much all the time. They have very fine, silky coats and seem to renew each and every hair on a weekly basis. They are also very VERY active; they are fantastic but you need to channel their drive and energy appropriately or they will make their own entertainment. Ideally they need a job to do, mine are trained for working on shoots.

Labs, fab dogs, can be bouncy when young but not all by any means. Contact the breeding department at Guide Dogs; they don't sell puppies but they should be able to recommend you some good breeders, they let approved bitches mate with their stud dogs and all of these will have full health testing and top-notch temperaments.

Ditto on the Guide Dogs thing for GRs; I have a soft spot for Goldies as we had one when I was growing up and he was a beautiful, gentle boy, a perfect family dog.

Flatcoats are lovely dogs in both looks and temperament but I would research breeding lines carefully and look at longevity, they are unfortunately extremely prone to cancer (over 50% will develop cancer by the age of 8).

[Han23]

Yes that is what I feared! Do working cockers shed much? Obviously smaller dogs...
Thanks everyone for your comments - and gorgeous photos.

[ChairRider4]

I have a lab but he moults and also how much time you have for walking ?/training

My boy is fantastic but we walk at least 1 hour x2 a day sometimes more . Plus training

[ChairRider4]

Should add that's in every weather .Other day when was pouring most other dogs we met on walks was labs whole lot of his dog friends his from rain indoors

[nmg85]

My working cocker sheds pretty badly even when brushed on a regular basis. Hoover is always full and clothes covered in dog hair

[villainousbroodmare]

I would have considered all of the above breeds but for reasons of shedding and that intensely doggy labrador smell, chose a setter. Best dog ever. Minimal shedding, gentle as can be, clever and kind and while he does need an hour of off-lead walking and running daily, he then snoozes for the rest of the day so is actually not demanding at all.