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The doghouse

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Original poster

Retrievers

73 replies

Autumnpumpkin · 01/02/2021 06:27

Labradors and Golden retrievers as adults, how much exercise do they really need? We are a family who have owned a dog before but sometime in the future we would like to add another dog in to our family.
I'd really like to be 100% sure we would be able to give the dog enough physical exercise. I mean out of the house walking across fields, is it 1.5/2hrs daily and longer at weekend? Does that sound about right or in reality do they need more?

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stilllovingmysleep · 05/02/2021 12:58

Reading this with interest as we are thinking of and planning to hopefully get a golden retriever next year and want to find a good breeder to get info and get on waiting list

Where to start looking? Please send me a personal message too if you have good recommendations

The into about exercise is extremely helpful

I also have another question though: we have a cat! She's a sociable indoors cat. Do GR generally get on well with cats? I imagine that will be a process... to get them comfortable with each other

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 05/02/2021 14:33

Our cat hated out puppy and it's taken him a while to get used to each other but now they are very cute. They sleep on the same sofa (yep! I'm one of those people whose "No dogs on the sofa" rule lasted 5 seconds!) and play fight.

Retrievers
stilllovingmysleep · 05/02/2021 15:02

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

Our cat hated out puppy and it's taken him a while to get used to each other but now they are very cute. They sleep on the same sofa (yep! I'm one of those people whose "No dogs on the sofa" rule lasted 5 seconds!) and play fight.
@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady thanks for this and for the info in my separate thread
onlythewildones · 03/03/2021 22:36

Also following this thread with interest as hoping to get a golden retriever, ideally this year but seems likely to be next given that almost every breeder I’ve contacted has said they aren’t planning any litters for 2021.

Cactuslockdown · 03/03/2021 22:59

Our goldie is a wonderful softy. We got him when the youngest DC was just turned 2 and he was gentle with them even as a pup. He will walk all day or equally happy with a quicker walk, but we’re lucky and have a big garden for him to roam about in.
He gets groomed about once every 6 months and brushed every couple of weeks... I seem to get the same amount of hair (lots) if I brush him more or less often! A good tip is to work out how to trim their paws yourself... they are like giant sponges and trimming them makes it so much easier to dry them! I’d also invest in a decent Hoover!
We didn’t leave him much as a pup, but now he’s older we would leave him up to 5 hours... any longer we would then arrange dog walker for him. This would maybe be twice a week in normal times with work... he’s loving lockdown.
Like a PP said, he’s like a giant warm teddy bear, but a slightly smelly one!!
Friends have a young lab, he’s lovely but so different to our retriever. He’s a bull in a china shop. He has run off several times and chewed furniture and walls!!
Enjoy your puppy!

Druidlookingidiot · 03/03/2021 23:06

Goldies are the best dogs in the world. 🦮❤️

Druidlookingidiot · 03/03/2021 23:07

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

Our cat hated out puppy and it's taken him a while to get used to each other but now they are very cute. They sleep on the same sofa (yep! I'm one of those people whose "No dogs on the sofa" rule lasted 5 seconds!) and play fight.
Gorgeous photo ❤️
Honeyroar · 03/03/2021 23:08

We have had three labs. One show lines who would walk all day (and swim even longer if allowed), but chill happily too. One working lines who was wired to the moon and would fetch balls endlessly. Had to be taught the command “have a rest!”. He would walk as long as you offered, and would hurtle round the house on days he’d not had enough exercise. The third was an ex assistance dog who is very calm. He loves to retrieve too. He will happily do a long hike or wander round the garden and miss a walk. He doesn’t have any desire to swim either, which really shocks me after having had two labs that I couldn’t keep out of water!

biscuitcat · 03/03/2021 23:10

Goldies are such a wonderful breed, can't beat them! Our boy is from show lines - he loves a good long walk, but is equally happy with a shorter one - though if we had to do a whole walk on the lead I don't think he'd be happy, he loves running around. In a week, four walks of 1-1.5 hours and the rest of 30-45 mins, plus plenty of time playing in the garden, seems to keep him happy and calm. We do notice he gets antsy if he has much less exercise than that though.

Our cat doesn't like the dog at all, but she's always been antisocial and a bit vicious so it's not too surprising! The dog desperately wants to be her friend though.

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 04/03/2021 06:48

We have actually been in contact with a breeder but we are not actually ready for a puppy, we have an elderly dog who wouldn't cope with a puppy but I wanted to get in touch with a good and recommended breeder to go on any wait list. She was great and said she would accept us but if we wanted to go back an other litter etc that was fine.
My parents have a labrador who is about 11 months now, hes a lovely happy dog but he is so big, much bigger than other labradors we see. He is also from 2 working parents and you can tell, he has so much energy! I love him but honestly I dont think he would suit our family, would you say show goldies are less bouncy and calmer in the house? I should add he gets plenty of physical and mental exercise but it just never seems to be enough for him!

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Druidlookingidiot · 04/03/2021 08:03

All dogs are different. My brothers lab spends much of his day completely chilled. He loves his walks and his food. He enjoys a game of ball but his very best thing is curled up in his basket.

Honeyroar · 04/03/2021 12:24

Most 11 month old dogs of any breed are bouncy and energetic. That’s the kind of age many dogs find themselves in rescues. You’re going to get a baby then adolescent dog if you get a puppy..

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 04/03/2021 12:52

Thanks @Honeyroar we as a family have had experience with a variety of breeds and understand puppy and adolescent period of a dog growing we have however not had experience with a labrador or a golden retriever. What I'm wondering is, is my parents puppy more energetic than other dogs we have had because he is a working type? Or rather is it just his personality or is this typical with a labrador and how does that compare to a golden retriever?

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 04/03/2021 13:26

All three of our labs were incredibly bouncy at that age. In fact they didn’t calm down until about 4/5. And only one was working lines. The lab rescue I got ours from say it’s quite normal.

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 04/03/2021 13:33

Thanks again. We have spoken to any dog owners that would happily chat as well as online research and it seems that generally (not all dogs of course) goodies do seem to be slightly calmer.

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Honeyroar · 04/03/2021 16:59

I think one of the differences is goldies are probably a bit lighter weight, So when they’re bounding around they probably don’t floor people quite as much or drag you on the end of a lead (towards a river!). Our biggest lab could knock three cups off a coffee table with just one wag of her tail, which was a thick tail. She didn’t realise how powerful she was. She was a goofball, but that’s why she was rehomed!

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 04/03/2021 20:25

That's my parents puppy all over, goofball, loving and lovable but has no idea how big or powerful he is!

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Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 05/03/2021 19:40

So...tonight my husband has said he doesnt know if he would be happy with a goldie. He has never really had dogs apart from the dog we got together who is small, whereas I've grown up with a family full of dog lovers. Hes suggested smaller breeds such as a cocker spaniel and border terrier. He is thinking practically, space in the car, house, been able to pick them up if need be etc. I'm a bit sad...I had my heart set on a goldie and had spoken with a lovely breeder but equally I wouldn't get a dog if everyone in the house was not on board. So what do I do...

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 05/03/2021 19:49

A cocker would be a good compromise. You could get a pretty golden one. And they’re very relaxed, easy going dogs (my neighbours have two).

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 05/03/2021 19:51

Research the downside of cockers and border terriers and bombard him with that information.

A female golden really isn't a big dog. More medium I would say

wetotter · 05/03/2021 20:01

I always think that cockers, particularly working line cockers, have the canine equivalent of ADHD - they are always wriggling and always up for more exercise. But they are the most lovely dogs as they are so clever and learn so fast.

If you want a bit less intense, then a medium/small size terrier might suit. They are generally too obstinate independently minded to be winners in obedience classes, but are readily trainable to general family standards. And as working breeds can run all day when needed, but will be happy on 2x 45 mins or so (partic if off lead) when you have less time

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 05/03/2021 20:15

Yes, I mean I love dogs and would happily have one of each!
A cocker would be a good compromise but there is something lovely about a border too. We camp too so would like a dog happy to join us on that too. Hes thrown a spanner in the works!

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ilovesushi · 05/03/2021 20:19

Reading with interest as we are considering a golden retriever, though it seems most breeders aren't breeding at the moment. Have also come across Goldadors which are a GR, labrador cross. Has anyone come across these dogs?

JulesM73 · 05/03/2021 20:40

My GR is coming up for 10 and he would happily go without a walk! He goes to daycare during the week where there are other dogs and space for him to run around in but he has a little pootle about and the sleeps. At the weekend I am lucky if I can get him to go for a couple of 30 minute walks per day. When he’s had enough he just lays down until he knows we’ve turned around and are going back home!

EnglishRain · 05/03/2021 20:47

I have two, a bitch and a dog. They're really not that big. I adore goldens. Cockers can be little shits for following scents and buggering off on their own. I'm not a massive fan of borders, but I'm biased because there is one who lives at the top of our usual walk and she goes barmy whenever anyone goes by if she's outside and scares the living daylights out of everyone!

Make him watch homeward bound. That's why I have golden retrievers. Fell in love with Shadow...