What I can offer a dog and what I would like from a dog. What breed would suit us best?

[LovelyMuffins]

thanks to some wonderfully helpful posters on my last thread I have ended up here seeking advice on potential breeds that would suit our set up. I will be totally honest about what I can offer and my expectations including what I do not expect to deal with. I was ( still am) on the verge of committing myself to a golden doodle puppy from someone I deem to be a responsible and trustworthy breeder. However...........MN has made me think twice so here goes with my spec!
I do not work (no need ) so I have lots of time to devote to the puppy stage. I want a puppy, not an older rescue dog as I want my children to experience the entire 'journey' even though i know at times I will probablly want to tear my hair out and give the dog back! I have a medium sized home and garden. I live very near the sea so would like a dog that likes water. There are loads of parks and countrywalking routes nearby. A dog wil not be left for more than a couple of hours at a stretch. I don't want an oer large dog. It has to get on with chidlren (my children and visiting children). It has to be non threatening to cats. I don't want a barkie or yappie dog. I don't want a lap dog. I want an intelligent easily trainable dog as I would love teh whole training thing. Walking requirments: Would enjoy an hour walk then one or two smaller walks during the day. Want a dog that is happy to join us on family days out traveling by train, bus, car etc. Would LOVE a dog that can be used as a PATS dog when old enough. Not fussed about moulting too much as we have cats anyway. Not too keen on fussy, pretty dogs who need 'hairstyles'!
so..........what's the verdict?!
thank you

Aaah, retrievers gorgeous too and as gundogs, share many of same good characteristics as cockers and probably alot calmer too!

Youre forgiven for not getting a cocker :)

SO jealous of you going to pick up a puppy, such a lovely day.

thank you queenfsuburbia. I haven't found a breeder yet so it will be a while I think. It is exciting though and I am looking forward to finding our new family member. I would love it to be this side of winter so that we can enjoy some warmer weather walks before it gets too parky! Fingers crossed eh.....

Try gundogbreeders.co.uk even if you just want it as a pet, you know the dogs have been bred for good solid physical attibutes with hip + eye scores, breeders gen very concerned about improving health and strength of the breeds (as opposed to dogs bred for showing or just for fun).

They have golden retriever pups on there now and I want one...

It's lovely to get a rescue dog (I have done so myself prev) but my brother & sister in law got a rescue retriever and his joints all shot due to bad breeding, he can hardly walk, its so sad. Im sure this not always the case but I think mongrel rescue dogs often better physically - hybrid vigour!

Please don't bowl straight into a fully working or trial bred Golden without considering what they're bred for. A trial bred dog is not, IMO best suited to a life a a family pet. They are highly intellegent, highly strung and in need of a mammoth amount of stimulation to keep them happy. A blend of a show and working bred dog would be marvellous - both bright and beautiful!

I recommend you have a look on champdogs which does at least try hard to ensure their breeders are good ones - and they actively try to ensure they do not deal with commercial breeders or puppy farms. Of course there are also some bad breeders there, so look very carefully.

I recommend you contact the breed society in your area as a starting point and ask about litters. They will have litters registered from people who are ACTIVE in the breed which is a good start. Ask the contact if there are any litters they recommend and why.

Visit the puppies. Make sure you see Mum at the very least - google the name of the sire and see what you come up with. Learn the meaning of FTCH - field trial champion, FTW - field trial winner, SWCH - show champion etc so you are a bit more aware of what you're dealing with. The parents must be hip and elbow scored and the certificates available to view. They must also have an eye test certificate which is only valid for 12 months. Do not accept any excuse for these things not being present.

Ask to see the dam and sire pedigree certificates and note their pedigree names, and their grandparents names. Go home and google them. See if anything comes up.

I would also visit the Kennel Club website to verify the health certificates are valid.

Make sure the puppies are in a clean and cared for environment. That they're in a house with noise and life all around them, that the breeder is socialising them well - that the get to play outside for example from about 6 weeks onwards.

And if you have any doubts, ask on here. There is a great deal of knowledge here which is happily shared.

evening Daisydo...... I am not about to leap into anything right now as I do feel I am starting from ground zero again in terms of my dog search. I do 'get' what the different retriever types are for (I mean it is farly obvious that I would not want a working dog as I do not intend to 'work' a dog as such. But am a bit confused as to your recommendatin for a show and working blend dog. Why would that be best? I was reading up some breeders blurbs today and there seems to be a heavy emphasis on home reared, with family, socialised etc. which I would consider very important. some appear not to show or trial and they appeal to me the most as I am assuming that means they are family pets who are bred occasionally....is that right? I know I need to actuallly speak to a breeder as a starting point and gradually build up knowledge. All input gratefully received!

LovelyMuffins where about are you in the country, roughly? The breeder who we got our golden from has a litter that is about a month old now. I'm not sure if she has any puppies still available (she usually has a waiting list) but I would be happy to give you her details if you want, that's if you're in a reasonable distance from her. She's on the south coast near Chichester. I can recommend her as a breeder.

Hi lovelymuffins
Have a look at Black Retriever Rescue X on Facebook. They rehome retriever crosses and have a lovely 5 month old puppy called Maddie who is looking for a home. She is in Marlborough, Wiltshire - have a look!
I had my dog from them a month ago - he is fabulous - and I have 3 children between 5 and 10, and thought I would have to go down the puppy route because of the children. But he is 2 and because they foster their dogs they can give you a really good idea of what type of dog they are and what type of home would suit them.

Sophia, I'm near chichester! I'll PM you :-)
annie, I will look at that site, thank you! Do they rehome across the country?

Well, for me, it's because it's my ideal dog. The looks of a show dog, with a bit of 'legginess' and a bit of lightness of frame from a working dog, along with the brains of a working dog, toned down by a bit of the 'less bright' show side.

I know that's so subjective - but it is good for me.

I've not yet met a breeder, good or bad who doesn't say their puppies are home reared and well socialised - and it is absolutely vital that they are. But, the proof of that can only be established by visiting. They can SAY anything, IYSWIM.

And personally, I would absolutely avoid a breeder who is breeding from a family pet because I think breeding needs A LOT of skill to be done well - skills that your average pet owner just doesn't have. The pairing of a dog and bitch can be done by anyone, but some people have the experience and knowledge to do it really, really well and produce well rounded pups which are fabulous examples of the breed.

I also think experience in rearing puppies is invaluable in turning out good ones, and you don't get that by just breeding a family pet. I have 4 dogs and the dog which is the most robust, the most balanced and the easiest to have by a country mile is the one bred by someone who has at most one litter a year BUT who has been breeding for 20 years, shows, works and adores these dogs. Her skill and experience REALLY shows.

Recommend you get in touch with the Southern Golden Retriever Society who would be a good place to start.

Yes they rehome anywhere. The dogs are fostered in a home environment so they really get to know the dogs. My dog was being fostered in Wiltshire, so I had to travel (2 hours) from South Wales to see him, and once we agreed for me to have him, they kindly met me half way to collect him. They also give loads of support. They also have a website but it is out of date. (Jacob is my dog!)

My previous Lab was working stock, I never realised how much work she was when she was when young till now. Hully Lab is working / show mix, she chills out with us and is quite content to sit in the kitchen and watch people being busy, if she's tired. It's very disconcerting Her predecessors was permanently on springs for at least the first four years of her life. Always poised and ready to go. A beautiful, passive and loving dog, but very headstrong. The best thing we did for her was have a baby, as having ds gave her something to do

Hey annieapple your dog is gorgeous! What a striking face, and what a change from the picture in the pound. That rescue looks like it is doing a fabulous job and what a group of handsome dogs :)

Have you thought about a Field Spaniel? I think they are somewhat rare in the UK - you would have to contact the breed association to find a breeder - but they are very good natured, love water, and ime are not as loopy as springers.

Thanks Nooka - I fell in love with him at first sight. I thought I would have to go down the puppy route because we have children and many dog homes won't rehome if there are children under 8, or even under 12. I would highly recommend an older dog that has been fostered first to assess its temperament. I actually found out about BRX Rescue on Mumsnet - and I am so glad I did! They are always looking for foster homes too.

Fairphyllis, I will look up Field Spaniels. I didn't realise there are so many breeds Ihave never heard of! I am bit wary of the Spaniel breeds as I always understood Springers to be completely nuts in terms of hyperactivity!

Yes, I love springers but they are just totally crazy. Fieldies are not hyperactive in the same way but they are quite nosy and keep busy and active.

Other than that, a cocker?

I think a Springer and I don't think they are totally nuts.....just sometimes! We've had ours from a pup. She is 4 now. She is daft, affectionate, soft and gentle, amazing with our 2 year old DS - she adores him and he her. Yes she is bouncy and excitable but generally when she is out and running off the lead - she is amazing to watch. At home, she is always quiet and chilled out and sleeps by our feet on the sitting room floor. She does like an evening cuddle for a few minutes and then back to the floor. She is very quiet - not a barky dog. She goes to bed every night in the kitchen and is always quiet and settled. She is very relaxed, eg, totally unfazed by fireworks unlike our other dog. She is gentle and submissive with other dogs in the park. She's amazing and I would totally recommend a springer.

Oh and she is brilliant with cats - to the extent that they sleep with her and pinch her food! We have three. She is also very good with other people.

I am now on a waiting list for a litter of golden retrievers due in August! the breeder is via champdogs and sounds very experienced and attentive. Asked me loads of questions as well as me asking her. Hefty price tag though! Yikes! But I figure I am only going to do this once and it will bring 10-15 years of joy.

Lovelymuffins the link isn't working for me, I tried copy and paste into browser but it says page unavailable. Did you get my message btw?

oops, sorry, just realised the link you posted was from page 1 of this thread.

yes sophia - i've replied

Lots-sounds like you're describing our Springer pup. What is it with Springers and sleeping on feet?

I think you've made a very sensible decision :) I know the price can sound like a lot but when you factor in the cost of health testing and rearing a litter with the care and attention they deserve, it really isn't that much. And broken down over the lifespan of the dog, it's peanuts. Plus you should have the lifetime support of the breeder who will be willing to offer advice and support at any stage.

Time to start thinking about names :)

i know :-D