Golden retriever owners tell me about yours to make up our mind

[Notsurewhatsgoingon]

Hi all,

As the title says really.
Tell me about yours.
Was it the best thing you ever did? Is yours friendly? High energy? Easy to train? Good with kids? Ruin your house? Etc etc anything you can think of saying/telling a potential new golden owner.

Thanks

I've got two. They are so different to one another it's unreal. My eldest (boy) is 12 and my youngest (girl) is 4. He is a one person dog and needs a lot of mental stimulation, she is a love sponge and needs to run. Both incredibly friendly and biddable, although I would say my girl has been easier than my boy. I have a 3 month old baby so they haven't had much experience of children but they haven't put a foot wrong since she came home. Not bothered by the strange noises or cries.

I recommend pet plan insurance purely because they pay out fast, they don't hike premiums based on claims and my girl's insurance has actually come down the last two years. Digestive sensitivities and skin issues can be common in golden retrievers. At a minimum make sure mum and dad have hip scores and eye certificates, ideally they should have elbow scores too. A good breeder will effectively interview you. There are lots of 'pet bred' golden retrievers. One from show lines will be less manic than one from working lines. My girl is from dual purpose lines and she is also a therapy dog.

Any questions feel free to ask. Goldens are wonderful dogs. They aren't strictly easy though, you do have to put the work in. They will chew and can be overexcitable, but with the right handling they make fabulous pets.

Shameless GR spam

@JeVoudrais absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks for the reply.

Beautiful loving family dogs. Gental and playful. Easy to train as food motivated. Good with children. Soft mouth so you can open it when you need to remove the item they have stolen ( or discover they have a mouth full of other dog poo)
They are good with cats , rabbits etc etc far too clumsy to catch anything although may make a tocken attempt to chase something.
But
They LOVE mud and water they will always shake over you. Your house will smell of dog especially on wet days.
They do smell
They do malt
They are greedy
They will not protect you or guard your house.
They do chew as puppies but actually as adults ours didn't but do have to walk around holding a soft toy constantly in their mouths.
They have some very nasty cancers we lost an 6 year old 2 years ago and it was devistating.
Also skin issues
Hip issues you must not over walk or allow to use stairs.

You must get very good insurance I advice petplan.

I love them but knowing what I know about the health problems I will probably never get another.

Get a leonberger like retrievers only bigger and slower

Hairy, smelly, muddy, goofy, very handsome, empathetic, hates being told off, loving, people focussed, chilled and calm. Big powerful dogs that can resource guard and like to eat all sorts of gross things .Bitey little arseholes as puppies.

He was the best dog ever. Incredibly smart and gentle, always smiling. He was too smart for his own good. He could learn a new command in three repetitions but if he didn’t want to do something, he wouldn’t.
He would often go on strike if he didn’t want to leave the park or beach.
He shed hair at an incredible rate, fortunately he enjoyed being vacuumed which dealt with the problem at source.
Brilliant dogs, very gentle but was also an excellent guard dog.

I got my first Goldie aged 8 and while they are pretty soppy and scared of stupid random things they can and do protect their humans. It’s mostly noise but they aren’t all fluff

They are really lovely dogs, but the hair! They moult constantly. Mine loved to roll in anything smelly.

Couldn't be without mine! Shes 6 now. Brilliant with babies and children. Very protective of my children.
She plays outside with the children. Easily trained and listens well.
So loving and affectionate.
But ..very hairy ! Moults alot, loves muddy puddles...lucky also loves showers and the hairdryer! Also eats everything in sight so have to watch weight.
If I was to get another dog it would be a GR evertime.
Those photos are gorgeous

DM had 2. Her advice would be not to get a Moloko retriever! She has an elderly gentleman, show line (not Moloko), absolutely gorgeous, gentle, friendly, loves children and puppies. He used to be scared of the ironing board and anything that made loud noises but seems to have mellowed in his old age. However he has epilepsy (diagnosed aged 4, he’s now 12), and snapped a cruciate ligament aged 8.

Her other retriever was a working type bitch, totally different kettle of fish, killed rabbits, ran away, gentle in the house but totally untrustworthy outside. Recall was brilliant when she chose, but not otherwise. Toilet training was never brilliant. She ran away from her dog walker and was killed on a road - hit and run. She was sweet but so headstrong. DM had trainers and behaviourists working with her but nothing seemed to stick.

Had 2 retrievers growing up and a 3rd, rescue, retriever joined us in our teens. They were the most perfect family pets. Loved going for long walks but equally happy with a short one round the block. Fun and lively but also chilled out at home and so good with kids. Easy to train as very food motivated and eager to please. IMHO they are the right combination of smart enough to learn quickly and dopey enough to not get bored too quickly.
Would have a golden retriever in a heartbeat.
What everyone says about the moulting is true though. My mum hoovered every single day when we had 2/3.

I second and third the pet insurance. The moulting - well, I did hoover everyday but since I lost him from very old age I have to hoover up all the crumbs so swings and roundabouts!

When I was 13 our 13old dog died. My dad we (mum, brother and I) could pick a dog but he would have nothing to do with it.

Of course our GR had other ideas and adored him.

She constantly retrieved things that didn't need retrieving, she ate a whole birthday cake and would eat anything, retrieving tins from the bin to lick out.

She would often walk past with a cat attached to her tail seemingly oblivious.

I had a navy blue school uniform, GRs do not mix with navy.

She loved ging in the car, she was happy to sit in the car while it was being washed, or it was just on the drive.

She was also a bit thick, she would lie so close to the fire she would singe her fur, was always startled when she farted, she would look at her bum as if to say, "What was that?".

As a small puppy she would sleep in a ball on the stone square at the side of the fire (60 style fireplace) as she got bigger her head would drop off, she would get up, bark at the stone and try to go to sleep again, cue head falling off and repeat.

As an adult she would sometimes sit (her bum just fitted) on the square looking puzzled.

Again as a [uppy she could get under the cottage suite to hide (eat the latest thing she had stolen) but had no idea she didn't fit as an adult, so she would just hide her head and think we couldn't see her.

The breeder ours came from would only sell to families with either someone home all day or another dog, I don't know if that is common.

Can I jump on to this thread to ask - how much of a difference is there between golden retriever personality and a normal golden Labrador ? I always wanted a golden retriever but it is so difficult to find a breeder just now, whereas labs are easier to come by

Mine didn't like being on his own for more than 2-4 hours, he lived for people and other dogs, he was highly sociable though. I'm sure they vary a bit.

Thanks everyone.
Dh and I grew up with dogs. When I was a teen my family took in a severely abused staff who was extremely hard work but we loved him and he lived a long lovley life until he died of old age. That dog sat with me not moving by my side the whole way through my labour with my first dc as if to protect and care for me. I miss him every day. He was not good with people other than us and could not be trusted around children. obviously that was due to his background but I want to avoid any issues similar again as I have two children so will need a puppy. Other than that we had collies all my life.
Dh also grew up with dogs and has had them as an adult before we met. So we are quite experienced owners. Neither of us has ever had a golden retriever though. We don't actually see many on walks round here either.
Dh can take a dog or dogs to work all day and works in a large unit with places for the dog to run and walk and a place for them to sleep in his office.
I work two days a week and often from home only going out to do visits in the community so can be in and out. My days off are spent with dd2 and we live on the edge of moors, fields etc as with live in the countryside.
I really feel we can offer a dog a good life.
Only worry I have is I have a grumpy 6 year old cat. She's hostile to other animals and most people to be fair. Don't want to push her out but she sends most of her time outside or sleeping on my bed.

We had 2 labs and 2 retrievers in total over the years(all seperatly).
The chocolate lab ( male) was without doubt the easiest pet ever absolutely bomb proof, placid perfect behaviour ( apart from around food he did steel a whole cake off the coffee table in front of my great aunt).
They are very similar to be honest both soppy friendly family dogs that like water mud and fart under the dinning table. They are both greedy. Less hair with labs.
With ours the retrievers were both more problematic health issues and our boy was rather neurotic. The labs lived longer and ours didn't have health issues and certainly no behaviour issues and generally calmer. They are basically the same breed one has longer hair being the main difference.
I rather fancy a black female lab if ever brave enough to get another dog.

Never had an issue with them with cats. Every dog ever owned completely submitted to cats.

Thanks gremlinpoop

Yes, all mine been totally fine with cats
One thing I would say though is that because they have a “family dog” reputation (largely deserved) people don’t treat them with the respect a large dog is due. I have had to peel random children off mine while the parents look fondly on in a way they never would if he were a Rottie or GSD
They are lovely dogs but don’t arrive like that, it takes time and work, they can be stubborn and are very smart (especially when figuring out how to get their own way). Ours resource guarded, which I had never come across but it’s not uncommon and he is a bit of a nightmare at the vets.
They aren’t just the great big soppy teddy everyone thinks - I saw one of mine half kill a GSD that attacked him - the GSD owner thought it was funny at first but soon changed his mind! The biggest danger from them is being sat on or knocked over (friends child was badly hurt by accident by their Goldie) but they ARE big dogs and need to be well trained

My parents (very briefly!) had a rescue one as a child.
Horrendous resource guarder, I have no doubt it wasn’t just noise and he absolutely would have bitten if we hadn’t backed away and he really hated children.

Resource guarding is a known issue in the breed and they have a massive problem with osteosarcoma (bone cancer).
Those two issues would massively put me off

Thanks everyone for the replies. All useful.
So can I ask do any of you know any reputable responsible breeders that you can pm with details. I have come across a few but want to make the absolute best decision and make sure we are not buying from puppy farms or back yard breeders or whatever you call them.
We are willing to travel any distance to get the right dog for the dog itself and our family.

Thanks

Try champdogs/kennel club email loads, research their lines and ask lots of questions get to know breeders, ask people you see where they got their dogs and how they found the breeder. It’s hard work but good research is important for the right dog for your family. Saying that sat with a ten week old golden at my feet. Our first boy was a guide dog who didn’t go further than puppy walking he was an amazing dog and we kept him until he died in May @ 11, this little one was supposed to be his buddy we weren’t expecting to lose our older dog quite so soon. Kids loved him, we were the same peeking kids off our dog and reminding them they should check before they touch a strange dog, lucky I have 4 kids and he was fine. Our wee one is bright as a button loving training has learned loads so far just looking forward to being past the bitey stage lovely having a dog in the house again (cats don’t agree)
Anyway not sure if that was any help, I just love retrievers & I hope you find a lovely breeder & get your own wee bundle of fluff and mischief soon

I had one. I adored her but I wouldn’t get another.

No recall.
Greedy.
Untrustworthy - she would occasionally go into a sort of trance, like a red mist descended, and she’d snap. Then she’d come out of it and be mortified for hours.

It was such a shame.