A big dog with the personality of a golden retriever?

[FancyThatForABagOfChips]

I’d love a golden retriever but DH likes big dogs and says he wants something bigger.

Are there any big breeds with the personality of a golden?

Not this. A giant dog is a whole different ball game and an IW in particular needs an experienced and particularly devoted home.

My friend has a Golden, she is HUGE - easily as big as any of us if not more.

They're also incredibly prone to cancer and don't tend to be very long lived unfortunately

Lt(clueless)b and get a golden retriever

We have an 18 month old male GR. He is 44kg and huge! He is currently sleeping on the kitchen floor and taking up most of the space 😅
We specifically wanted a big one. So we went for a male and asked for one of the big ones of the litter (however it's very difficult when they are so small as then they grow up and may end up being the opposite).
Whatever you do please choose a good breeder and be prepared to wait/be on a waiting list for a few weeks or months. We contacted breeders only from Champdogs, you can see the mum/dad and have an idea how big he/she will be. They are all thoroughly tested for hip displasia, genetic conditions etc and breeders take care to do all the socialisation etc. The result is our boy is the BEST, sweetest, biddable, friendly dog ever! Everyone that meets him says so. Excellent with kids and other animals.
Best of luck! X

I have to admit I also didn't appreciate the size of golden retrievers until we got one.

My friends male spaniel is 2 years old and 15kg

My 5 month old female GR is 25kg.

Leonberger!

Interesting seeing people say their GRs are 40kg - DH’s mates Dobermann is 33kg 😂😂

I like Leonbergers but they’re huge, imagine if you got a reactive one? 😱 plus we’d need a new car 😂

Ultimately it’s my choice as I’m the one that does all the work but I’d like DH to at least be on board. He thinks GRs are boring with no character 🙄

To be fair I see his point. I like them, but they are a bit wet! That said, GSDs can be too.
I'm more of a terrier woman, myself.

What about a greyhound? They're hilarious!

Rottweiler?

I do like Airedale Terriers! And English Bull Terriers 😁

I like the Giant Schnauzer too but from what I’ve read they need careful training and I don’t have the experience for that.

I love greyhounds but I need something that isn’t obsessed with chasing stuff 😂 also I do like obedience training and agility/hoopers style activities which a greyhound wouldn’t really be suitable for

I’ve had a Rottie in the past but I’m trying to steer away from the guarding breeds. I don’t have the personality for them (I’m too soft and they end up ruling me 😂)

Go and see some different golden retrievers. Some can be quite small, but there’s plenty in the show lines that aren’t overweight and the other side of 45kg.
if you are doing most of the work I would caution though that big dogs =strong dogs. I know it sounds obvious, but get something pushing towards 50kg of muscle and it can be pretty difficult to handle

My friend has a male golden and he's ENORMOUS! Definitely bigger than a German shepherd.

We had a 43kg female labradoodle. She was built like a bear and the loveliest nature, but so, so greedy.

My German shepherd is only 24kg.

Newfoundland?

I've got a goldie and I've never known a dog with more character and presence. He is an absolute loon and is a 'small' goldie at 30kg. He is tall, just very lean! When we are out everyone stops and tells me he is huge. They are MUCH bigger than an average Labrador. I also consider myself an experienced dog owner (I've had collies and terriers) but the goldie is much more of a handful than they are made out to be imo!
You can get a working retriever, smaller than the show bred but with a lot more drive/energy. Goldies all the way

We didn’t have any issues with ours - she lived to nearly 12 years old. No joint issues other than a bit of age related stiffness, and not much of a slobberer - although I think we go lucky with that bit.

We’ve had far more issues with one of our Labradors.

I do have to say that our smaller mixed breeds are the healthiest though.

I grew up with a flat coated retriever. They have the best personalised and are highly intelligent:)

You could have a look at Dean Koontz book about his life with his golden retriever - far from boring, very funny and intelligent dog.
www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Little-Life-Dean-Koontz-ebook/dp/B002TU1Q5W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NT88FA3QFZ8T&keywords=dean+koontz+a+big+little+life&qid=1662064292&sprefix=dean+koontz+a+big+little+life%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-1

I second Champdogs as a great resource for finding a decent breeder. Lots of breeders display their health testing results on it-KC register alone does not guarantee health.

@Arwen7 I am going to have to pull you up here.
I am afraid that our boy is the best, friendliest, most handsome, biddable and loving Goldie ever!! 😁