Small dog with golden retriever personality

[1990s]

Love golden retrievers, have had them before. For various reasons now need a smaller dog (mainly to do with transport and needing to be able to pick them up). I’m well versed in that fact that smaller dogs still need a good amount of exercise.

I love the personality of goldens, anyone have any advice on a smaller breed with a similar personality?

Ah @dontletthemugglesgetyoudownn I was about to say Border Terrier, especially a female. I have labs but they play with friends Border Terrier like they were littermates.
Lovely dogs

Much as I love the breed, Tollers definitely aren’t mini Goldens. (I’ve had both & currently have a Toller.) Tollers aren’t nearly as laid-back as the average adult Golden and have a tendency to be standoffish with strangers as well as the potential for dog-reactivity unless very well socialised - and even then it’s a bit luck of the draw. They also need plenty of mental stimulation as well as the exercise you’d expect. Gorgeous foxy dogs though, who bond tightly with their family.

@icedcoffees. The ones I’ve met have all been really sociable and well trained, but then I’ve met them through/at dog training clubs/classes. I’ve seen them do obedience, heelwork-to-music and agility, but I suppose those dogs live with people who are keen to train to a high standard anyway, so they will have invested a lot of time an effort in them.

From what I’ve read about the breed they are high energy and need plenty of training and stimulation, but also have an off-switch and are lovely family dogs, as long as their needs are being properly met. From the few I’ve come across and speaking to their owners they strike me as really smart dogs, good natured and very family loyal, but you do need to know what you are doing training-wise and training has to be positive ++ in order to motivate them to work with you, rather than try to outsmart you. Definitely more like a Goldie than say a Border Collie, but with the collie intelligence thrown in, hence the training needs.

None of the ones I’ve known have been dog aggressive - or aggressive in any other way - but again, they all attended dog club from pups, so were well trained and socialised.

@FourFourthsDontCare

Much as I love the breed, Tollers definitely aren’t mini Goldens. (I’ve had both & currently have a Toller.) Tollers aren’t nearly as laid-back as the average adult Golden and have a tendency to be standoffish with strangers as well as the potential for dog-reactivity unless very well socialised - and even then it’s a bit luck of the draw. They also need plenty of mental stimulation as well as the exercise you’d expect. Gorgeous foxy dogs though, who bond tightly with their family.

This is pretty much what my own research indicated, but for the record: dammit! They're just so pretty too. I love the colour.

I have a mini golden doodle. So a mini poodle crossed with a golden retriever. He can be very laid back and sweet and intelligent. Unfortunately he has a side that is completely opposite to that too, he can be a nervous or nightly strung in some environments. But overall a very sweet dog, easy to train. I think it's always a bit of a gamble what personality you'll end up whatever the breed of dog.

Pug

Ours is the friendliest, easiest dog ever! He's a dream with kids, people in general, dogs, sleeps most of the day etc.

@FourFourthsDontCare

Much as I love the breed, Tollers definitely aren’t mini Goldens. (I’ve had both & currently have a Toller.) Tollers aren’t nearly as laid-back as the average adult Golden and have a tendency to be standoffish with strangers as well as the potential for dog-reactivity unless very well socialised - and even then it’s a bit luck of the draw. They also need plenty of mental stimulation as well as the exercise you’d expect. Gorgeous foxy dogs though, who bond tightly with their family.

That’s kind of what I was trying to get across. They aren’t mini Goldies, as they definitely need a lot of mental stimulation and are less laid back, but I’m not sure there is such a thing as a mini Goldie, so to me they’re the nearest option for someone who is prepared to fully commit to proper socialisation and training when they’re young.

The ones I’ve met wouldn’t actively seek attention from people outside of their families and would politely say hello rather than be what I’d think of as stand-offish, but again, context is everything and they’d been attending clubs and shows all their lives so, again, maybe that was why.

To be honest, there are several dog reactive Golden-Retrievers around here. (Not sure if that’s to do with a particular breeder in our area or just that they aren’t properly raised/socialised, as the same dogs will also jump all over other dog walkers and knock them over/cover them with mud.)

Do you think it’s certain lines of Tollers that can tend to be dog-reactive or is it definitely more of a breed trait?

I find the comparisons between breeds fascinating. I’ve had more cross/mixed-breeds than purebred dogs over the years and several of those have confounded both sides of their heritage and been the absolute opposite of what people might expect from them. My most biddable dog (other than my current lovely old Lurcher) was a Belgian Shepherd x Border Collie - bonkers as a pup, nightmare as a teen, took ‘a lot’ of training, but an absolute dream of a dog as an adult, total sweetheart. When I took her on, based on her breed mix I fully expected her to be a nightmare for life, but I was very wrong, she was awesome.

was a Belgian Shepherd x Border Collie - bonkers as a pup, nightmare as a teen, took ‘a lot’ of training, but an absolute dream of a dog as an adult, total sweetheart
@PermanentlyDizzy, you have given me hope! I have a young gundog (one of the more, um, spirited breeds) who is currently adolescent and is (and always has been) a bloody handful. Her mother is a delightful dog, so between that and your experience, perhaps there is hope for Princess Pain-in-the-arse currently innocently snoozing on the sofa!

@Grumpyosaurus, honestly, I have rescues with all sorts of problems that needed a lot of work, but she is the only dog in over 30 years that had me tearing my hair out when she was a youngster. I would never have predicted how she turned out. There’s always hope. Hang in there!

@newusername1977

I have a mini golden doodle. So a mini poodle crossed with a golden retriever. He can be very laid back and sweet and intelligent. Unfortunately he has a side that is completely opposite to that too, he can be a nervous or nightly strung in some environments. But overall a very sweet dog, easy to train. I think it's always a bit of a gamble what personality you'll end up whatever the breed of dog.

I would have said the same even though we will both get shot down for that. You do get some responsible breeders. I would have said half golden though, not bred back to poodle.

Goldie puppies start quite small...

You could get into training by lifting her every day and you'll be stacked enough to carry her when she's bigger...

Westie?

@JaffacakeJanine

Westie?

God no. They bark all the time.

Nice enough dogs but bloody everything sets them off.

CKCS I think are most like Golden Retrievers.
When we got our dog I actually wanted a Golden Retriever but DH put foot down and said too big, hairy and smelly!

They are lovely lovely dogs but CKCS are too - maybe a bit more needy (spaniel) and not as intelligent but they like a Retriever they are incredibly loving and biddable.

Some have health issues but just needs careful selection of a breeder.

My mother moved from retrievers to a Caveller king Charles spaniel on vet recommendations exactly for those reasons OP

She is getting older and when her last retriever became ill she couldn't lift her easily.
Her Caveller is a truly lovely little dog always happy very loving not yappy, great with children and cats. Still gets muddy and will roll in fox poo also unfortunately. But at last small enough to be picked up and dumped in kitchen sink to be washed off! Can happily go on long walks but also can cope with a day in the garden.
She is very happy with him and she is a lifelong retriever owner. The vet was spot on with this recommendation . But as the breed is known to have health problems they also pointed her in the direction of a very good breeder with a healthy line. This is why having a good vet is important!

I've never had a retriever (I'm onto my second shihtzu x) but my first shihtzu was a dream; really laid back chilled little guy loved people and all other animals barely gave me a days trouble in his life

That says I've got a new shihtzu cross and she's your typical small dog and I've got a lot of work to do to stabilise the poor thing lol

I tend to think it's pot luck to a large degree but what you put in is equally important

@Sidneysussex my Mum has a cavalier cross absolute dream dog

Bichon frise? They always seem pretty chilled.

Sadly I think the breeds that would have fitted this (pugs and CKC - even bulldogs though they can be dog reactive) have been ruined health wise thorough extreme and/or inbreeding.

One of the many sad aspects about such breeding is the threat to breeds with otherwise beautiful and easy going temperaments.

I have a Cavapoo and she's the most adorable , friendly , good- natured little dog. Pretty easy to train too.

Have a look at Tibetan terriers. Lovely temperament, though not much smaller than a retriever.

Tibbies are independent thinkers who will do what you want as long as it aligns with what they want. Living with multiple tibetans left me yearning for an easygoing, biddable goldie. They really aren't what the OP is looking for, amazing little dogs though they are

I can't imagine life without a golden retriever in it. Just go for one OP . Be meticulous with training from day one, including using a ramp. Also consider a working retriever if you have plenty of time for exercise and mental stimulation, they are smaller and much more biddable. Nothing quite compares to a Goldie