Golden retriever puppy?

[Gemmahearts94]

Anyone the owner of a golden retriever? We have 3 children 9, 5 & 2.5

we're thinking of adding a dog to our family in January (my sons 10th birthday)

it's a big birthday and he's always wanted a dog, and I think it's the right time for our family. Happy to wait for my son's birthday to come around because it'll just make his year.

are they good family pets? I have plenty of time to spend with them I work evenings and partner works days. I'll only have my youngest home day to day other 2 will be at school. I know it'll be a challenge to start with but is it a bad idea?

We've always had golden's, and found them to be absolutely great family pet.
BUT there is so much fur....I vacuum twice a day and it still often looks like I haven't cleaned for days. and if it's been wet out you literally have to follow them round with a mop, not to mention the dust caused by drying mud.
That said I wouldn't be without a soppy golden hanging around the house, mine make everything better!

I got a golden retriever puppy when my children were two. He learnt after the first week (when he was still tiny) that they were easy to knock over and has never injured them.

Butter won't melt.

They like to watch you, especially if you have food

I would be very wary of doodle type crosses. Most come from dubious breeders and there’s no guarantee how poodle or how “whatever they’re crossed with” they will be. Plus specialist health testing rarely done.
Sounds like you don’t really know what you want and aren’t ready yet. Discover Dogs at Crufts is great.

😍

I am on my 4th Goldie and they are amazing dogs BUT I probably wouldn't have one with small children. My youngest was a large 7 when we got ddog and he struggled to cope with the dog, also when we got one as a child a family friend got one from the same litter and their 2 year old was injured very badly (by accident) by their dog.
They are generally good natured but large and clumsy and can resource guard and while they do tolerate children not all of them like small people, plus you will have to watch the DC and puppy like a hawk and its stressful.
My DC were 7 and 11 so I could take the dog for a walk and leave them at home if necessary which it certainly was at times

Thats a familiar view

Have a look at Clumber Spaniels , nice and chunky but not so big and mad that they can mug you . We have a friend with a large GR and although he is an absolute softy he throws himself at my adult but 5’5” daughter and literally mugs her .

Don’t get a doodle. So many on the market it’s impossible to tell which are decent breeders and which are puppy farmers. Puppy farmers are extremely good at disguising their operations and just because you’re not shown a litter living in a squalid shed, that does not mean it’s not a terrible breeder.

I’d recommend a miniature poodle. They are hardy, tough little things, great with kids, will walk with you all day but if you don’t give them a huge walk they won’t turn into crazy horrors. They need regular grooming, but you can learn how to do a basic trim yourself and they don’t shed. Fab family dogs. Look on Champdogs for registered breeders who do health testing. Expect there to be a waiting list, so you probably won’t be able to get the puppy on your schedule.

I would wait until your toddler is older though. Whatever breed you get, they are bitey bitey land sharks for the first 6-9 months and they are particularly drawn to small children (move fast, make noise, smell interesting). If you can wait another couple of years until the toddler is able to understand the rules around the puppy then life will be a lot easier.

I have a golden retriever. I simply love this dog. He is a mix of working (dam) and show (sire). Consequently he's a little more slightly built and slightly darker than some but very recognisably the show variety. I don't know if this mix affected his temperament or whether the excellent breeder had carefully chosen the parents for their lovely temperaments but he is an incredibly calm dog, so much so that I've jokingly been told he's "broken". He was a doddle to train and house train because like most goldens he is very food oriented.

However, I put the work in. I took a week off work when we got him and then DH and I carefully arranged our working patterns for the next month to make sure he was never alone. We trained him every day and were consistent with the boundaries. Do not get any dog unless you are committed to this.

I've had several dogs before and personally I like gun dogs. They're biddable and make great family pets. My twins grew up with a Labrador who was wonderful and I still miss. Even when they were newborn though I still took that dog out twice a day (with all-terrain buggy) and this has a lot to do with it. A bored, under-trained, under-exercised dog will be a problem so don't get one unless you want one so much you're prepared to do all these things.