Golden Retriever?

[Ella876]

Hi.

We are looking for a puppy and were considering a GR. We already have a bonkers 4 year old Springer.

Has anyone got one? I am at home all day and not out longer than 2 hours and can walk a dog for about 2 hrs per day inc off lead.

We have a 2 year old Golden Retriever/Lab. He is the most wonderful dog. Lovely temperament, very laid back. I would highly recommend them.

Yes yes yes do it!
I have an eleven month old goldie and i love her to bits. She has a fantastic temperament and is a joy to own.

Dpup's best friend is a lovely working golden retriever - she is fabulous (almost as fabulous as dpup

She's v playful but calm and biddable too

Personally I much prefer the working lines to the show lines - some of the show types are so big (and quite often overweight too). The working dogs are smaller, leaner and with much darker coats - more energetic too and with more drive - if you do a google images search for working and show retrievers you'll see what I mean

Just noticed you already have a springer - a working retriever would be a much better match with regard to size and activity levels

Goldies have a worse land shark phase than most other dogs. They bite a lot harder, our setter didn't bite anywhere near as hard at this stage. Having said that they're brill once out of it. Ours loves playing with everyone and doesn't just focus on our other dog.

Thanks for replies :) We are on a waiting list for litter due today. There are a few ahead of us who want bitches so fingers crossed we get one.

We have such a lovely springer, who is oddly very chilled for one. Cannot wait. DD wants to train the new puppy and she is 11 yrs old so can get more involved this time around.

Yes they are the best dogs in the world
Seriously, I have had them for 30 years now and they are brilliant, my two children grew up with them and they make fantastic familly pets. Highly intelligent and sensitive they are quick to learn, if somtimes a bit stubborn.
We sadly lost one of our darling boys in February. We have his half brother and will probably get another in the next few months.
You do need to be careful with the breeder, and agree that some Goldies look terribly overweight and not how the breed should look. PM me if you have any specific questions if you want x

Love them!
We got our fist one when I was 8 and then me parents had 2 more.
We re getting a Dog next year and I want. GR but DH thinks they are too bit ( sulk) looking into a Toller instead but they aren't easy to get hold of

Now Tollers really ARE the best dogs in the world

I grew up with a Golden Retriever bitch. She was lovely and calm. When my kids were old enough we got a GR too. He was the most docile laid back dog. I childmind and he was perfect for the children I looked after. Lots of them learnt to stand up pulling on his fur and he would just sit there. I have had a few children come to me who were afraid of dogs, but as he wasn't a licky, jumpy dog he did wonders for their fear.
We got a lab cross when he was 7 who was also calm.

We had to say goodbye to our retriever when he was 14 1/2 and the lab got very miserable. I decided to get another dog, but didn't want one quite so large as a GR so we decided on a toller.

A different kettle of fish. More lively than the other 2 put together, but can also be calm too. Very bright and although he has been brought up the same as the others, he does things the other 2 never even tried.
Counter-surfing being the worst!!!

I wouldn't be without him, but he does like to thing he rules the roost. I don't know if it's just him or part of the breed. I would have another one though.

Sorry to hijack but Toller owners - how long did you have to wait for a puppy? I've searched but can't find any litters AT ALL

I was really, really lucky. I phoned a breeder and she had 2 left. A bitch and a dog. I told her I was a childminder and she said the dog would suit my household better.

3 years on she is still in touch with all us puppy owners and the bitch definitely wouldn't have been the right one as she was very jumpy, very full on.

My dog goes to the breeder for sleepovers and she takes him to dog shows when I can't. He was originally bought as a pet, but he is doing very well at showing, particularly on the continent.

If you join the toller forum (www.thetollerclub.org.uk/forum) there is a puppy coordinator on there. They keep a list of breeders who are having puppies.

We started looking in Feb/March, registered with three breeders who were planning litters later in the year and finally brought our puppy home in September

We went though the kennel club assured breeders list and also the Toller club forum

Thank you. Apologies for hijack again, if DH would let me it would be a GR

Female working golden retrievers aren't much bigger than Tollers - much less chunky and weigh about half the amount of some of the big male show retrievers - if you're really set on a golden retriever get your DH to have a look at some of the working ones

Best dogs in the world! I found mine abandoned on the side of the road when he was 3 months old - best thing I have ever rescued! I have had rescues for 20 years and wish I had discovered Goldens years ago - I would have a house full if I could. I can take him anywhere and he is wonderful with children.

The down sides ? He LOVES water - puddles, rivers, lakes, ponds - you name it he wants to swim in it ! And he eats anything - which has resulted in a few trips to the vet . . .. He is asleep with his head on my feet just now waiting for his morning exercise - best get off MN and get walking!

We have had Goldies for over 30 years - great family dogs! They do have a long "puppyhood", they love to chew [the novelty never really wears off so lots of chew toys], they moult, they love water and mud and several of mine have been enthusiastic gardeners!

But, they train easily, they grow into calm family members, they love to be with you, they are very "people" orientated. IMHO, best dogs ever!

Mess,water and chewing not an issue. I think once you have had a ESS you have seen most things :)

sodding my mums Golden used to stay with us and DH says she was too big and hairy. He used to have a Jack Russell so compared to that I suppose he's right.

Hopping - most 'modern' golden retrievers are enormous and I'd agree with your DH that they're too big and hairy but the working bitches can be much much smaller - dpup has two working retriever friends and although they're a bit bigger than him it's not by much

It's just that if your heart is set on a golden retriever you might be disappointed if you get anything else. Personally I love my little Toller and can't imagine having another breed now but they're not miniature goldies - they're quite a bit more driven, mine's toy-obsessed rather than food-obsessed and they're quite a bit noisier - dpup 'sings' during long down stays at training and the Toller scream when excited is (ahem) interesting .. I'd say the Toller temperament is more like a cross between a collie and a goldie

The other option is a girly ESS :) but I just love GR too. It's hard. I am leaving it to fate. There may or may not be enough girls in this litter due yesterday. We will wait and see. Oh the excitement

I just luffs them, if we see one I tend to throw myself at them while crying ( after checking with the owner of course)
I suspect anything else would be a disappointment but DH really wasn't keen on my mums GR, she was a bit nuts
Hope you get one Ella - they are the best!!