Have you got a golden retriever??

[T181]

2 years ago we lost our 14 year old lab and after much grieving I feel now is the time to think about another dog. I'd love a golden retriever we have 2 kids, age 6 and 8 and I don't work husband does so i can give plenty of my time for he or she, husband also will take them for walks. We live in a moderate size home not a huge garden but literally a park across the road and plenty of spaces to walk in (our lab lived here for 6 years of his life and the garden was adequate for him and he enjoyed being out there )

Anyway so my point is do you own a golden retriever how do you find them do they molt a lot ?do they need to have their coats cut ? Are they good with kids? Is there any negative things about them?

We know someone thats just had puppies so there may be a possibility in the next few weeks we might get introduced to one and go from there but trying not to get my hopes up too much

I have one (my 4th) and it’s the only breed for me.
They are generally pretty soppy but are bitey little gits as puppies and can resource guard. I think people think they are just goofy teddies but they are big powerful animals and one of mine almost killed a GSD that attacked him.
They do shed but it gathers in clumps if you don’t have carpets so easier to pick up than Lab hairs and they do attract mud and if there is a puddle around they will find it. They are quite chilled at home but can be stubborn and just plant themselves if they don’t want to do anything. More people than dog focussed and think everyone is their friend (especially people who don’t like dogs) but ours has converted some of DSs friends who were terrified of him at first.
I would wonder about a breeder with available puppies though as most have waiting lists

I have two.One old one young. Yes they moult, but nothing you can't vacuum up. I think most puppies do the shark biting thing but you just have to divert like you would with any dog and it stops around 12/13 weeks. To be honest they are amazing with any age group. Old and young alike.I wouldn't go for another breed. Absolutely no problems but I would only get from a reputable breeder that I could see the parents, relevant paperwork etc

Yes I have a girl she is 11 and we love her. My kids are 5 and 9 and she is amazing with them. Very calm even tempered if a little standoffish at times. I think males can be a lot more boisterous. Does she malt yes a lot. I dont let her upstairs as it is heavy so I couldn't cope with it on the beds. She doesn't mind and keeping it downstairs means I can hoover downstairs daily but dont have to worry about upstairs. She looses hair constantly but a full coat goes maybe twice a year. That's my only downside other than that there isnt one.

Goldies are lovely...but wow they moult...i thought my springer was bad but my neighbours golden is another league.....but lovely nature ...she hoovers a lot....its also quite big and pulls which is hard for her as shes litt ....

We have a goldie, he is our first but we now wouldn’t go with any other breed. He is 2 now and he is so chilled, great around people (any age), great with other dogs, and is very affectionate and playful. He does love company and will follow me around the house and plant himself wherever I am. He does shed a lot of hair so I’m forever vacuuming! And like a previous poster said he is drawn to mud and water so a lot of our walks result in him needing a good clean, and can also be very stubborn and just plants himself down if he’s not ready to finish his walk! We also need to watch him as he has a thing for socks and slippers, we often find them at the back of the garden!
He is just a big softie really, the puppy stage is tiring (as with any breed) but well worth it 😃

Why not another lab?

For me, goldies are like labs but with more downsides.

• more prone to health issues (statistically speaking)
• more likely to be reactive and resource guarding (even though they are on balance, still soppy)
• still got the lab moulting issues but this time in a long haired coat!

They are beautiful dogs though.

They are lovely but can be stubborn, you do need to put the effort into training when they are young. And yes, they moult like the clappers.

We have a working Goldie, so not a big fluff ball that a show Goldie is.
He’s nearly 8 months and never stops during the day 🤨
I always wanted one and don’t regret it, but it’s pretty full on - we have an 8year old DD and 10 year old DD

Yes I have one. I know many and they are my obsession. Never met a bad one.
The moulting is insane. You hoover, turn round and its as if you never bothered. No, you don't cut them as their fur is essential for keeping them cool and keeping their skin healthy. You can shed the dead undercoat with a rake which helps a bit. If you are house proud they are not the dog for you. They will find water, bogs, muddy puddles etc in a desert. They then splash mud and fur all over and they like to roll about on carpets and furniture. Like a pp we don't let ours upstairs but she does sneak up on occasion because they love company.
They do need a lot of exercise too.
They are extremely trainable in the right hands and mine is the best behaved dog I know.
I have very young children and mine is so patient and loving with them. She puts up with them and is bombproof. I know people say you shouldn't trust a dog 100% but I can trust mine 99.9%. Shes super soft. She has never guarded etc is soft with people and animals. Downside is mine often dosnt remember how big and heavy she is and will accidentally knock over a toddler on occasion when wanting hugs or running past so we have to watch that.
They do like to wander but you have to trust they will come back because they will in there own time.

We had one for 14yrs he was lovely, but I wouldn't have another. Long walks in the pouring rain lost their magic after a while. Constant bathing after walks as mud is heaven to any golden, house stinks of damp dog all day. Neverending brushing of clothes, as the hair gets everywhere. He was such a lovely chap, and if you don't mind any of these things, go for it.

Yes @Runmybathforme my children have black uniforms and it does get quite tiresome brushing them off every day especially when I'm in a rush. We have to do it outside on the drive or no point.

Oh my god. So, so much moulting. It is never ending - they are a breed which moults all year round not just at the change of season. I can brush and brush mine until there's a pile of fur the size of her, and she'll still fluff up a room in seconds.

You can't clip their coats as that messes up their temperature control.

I love mine, she's a gorgeous idiot of a dog but the loveliest temperament and has been amazing with our kids (we got the dog first, then had the babies) but I don't know if I'd have another one, purely because I'd like at some point not to live in a fur storm! And I'm not a house proud person. But the inability to ever get a room really clean is very annoying.

Have the Parents been health checked @T181?

@PritiPatelsMaker out of interest what specific health tests should OP be asking about? I know it’s different for each breed.

Far too much moulting for me. I’m often very allergic to them. Plus I’ve been knocked off my feet by one. They can be very exuberant as young dogs and (coupled with their size) this can be an issue.

And yes @T181 , do not buy one from a friend on trust alone. Both parents should be properly health tested (not just health checked by their family vet). They should have hip & elbow scores and eye certificates as a minimum. Also look at the inbreeding score of the mating (how related are mum & dad). There are other DNA tests for genetic issues too. This is a good guide
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/retriever-golden/

Sorry, my link didn't seem to have worked.

The recommended health checks are here.

I have 2 retrievers - a golden and a flatcoat. They are wonderful dogs and I wouldn’t want any other breed now.
They both are wonderful with babies, toddlers, children, teens and adults - they think everyone is a friend and are always happy to meet new people. Both have come with me to visit my nanna in the local care home and into school to meet the children for ‘how to look after a pet’ day.
They do need long walks, and we’re both very shark-bitey as pups. I had to wait until the youngest was 3 before being able to buy soft toys as they just got destroyed in minutes! now they absolutely love teddies and blankets and carry them around from room to room.

Have you considered a flatcoat rather than a goodie? They don’t have the same issue with moulting (she still moults a bit, but nowhere near as much!) and is AMAZING with children - they are often referred to as the Peter Pan of the dog world because they retain the puppy like exuberance for life and don’t get into that reluctant/plodder stage that goodies develop as they age.

The fur! Everywhere.
But it also glistens in the sun and waves in the breeze as he trots along, tail held high. Mine is nearly 4 and a joy. Very easy to train. Perfect recall. Fabulous off the lead. Well behaved in shops and cafes. Loveable. Characterful.
But so food driven! I swear mine knows when it is 7.15 am and 4.30pm (his feeding times). But the plus side is it makes him easy to train. He'll do anything g for food.
Never had a resource guarding issue. Reading about it here is the first inkling I had that the breed could have a problem. I wouldn't have guessed it could be a problem.
But lest you think he's perfect, he adores a good mud wallow. I have to be vigilant when out and be ready to distract and divert!

I carry an undercoat rake with me and every time we go out just give a 30 second comb all over which really helps. In the shedding season I go the the park and do a full groom twice a week.
lovely dogs, take a long time to mature but well worth it. Great dogs

I worked in a house where they had one. Gorgeous natured but omg the hair. I could never have one just for that reason

I carry an undercoat rake with me and every time we go out just give a 30 second comb all over which really helps. In the shedding season I go the the park and do a full groom twice a week.

My lab loves it when we find a whole pile of hair that she can investigate when we're out 😀

I've met some lovely ones on walks, but the hair and the washing would be too much for me. We also know a couple that are muzzled due to their scavenging habits (although I guess that can go for labs too). I'm not sure I could cope with them planting themselves when they don't want to move either, that seems a particular habit of golden retrievers over other retriever breeds.