Goldador or Bernese Mountain dog

[Happywhenitrains7]

which would you choose as a family dog for a family with two young children on the autism Spectrum ?

Why would you not want a well bred golden retriever?

A Labrador
most are very good with children and they don’t need much grooming.

I know of a Bernese mountain dog who is an absolutely amazing trained therapet. A beautiful, gentle giant.

Exactly

I had heard that Goldadors weee calmer than either golden retrievers or labs and healthier not being a pure breed?

The only thing I know about BMDs is they have quite a short life expectancy:(

At the end of the day a “Goldador” is just a cross breed. Make sure the parents have been hip scored, elbow scored and had their eyes checked as both breeds can suffer with these issues.
Alternatively you could rehome an unwanted dog If you’re looking for chilled then greyhounds are big couch potatoes.

I have been in touch with lots of rescues and I would much prefer to re home but as my children have noisy episodes I don’t want to risk an unhappy placement for an already traumatised dog or risk my child being snapped at or scared .thanks for the advice on health .

I believe most guide dogs for the blind are goldadors (although I don't think the guide dogs charity uses that term), presumably because they are usually calm and biddable. Guide Dogs For The Blind breed many litters each year, but lots of the pups aren't suitable to be guidedogs and are sold as pets. I'd contact the charity, explain your situation and ask if you could be considered to adopt one such pup. By the time they're rejected as guide dogs, they are older pups rather than eight-week-olds, so have got past crazy bitey stage, which is probably an advantage too.

I have been on the guide dogs waiting list for dogs that don’t make the grade for over a year.

Bernese Mountain dogs have a short life expectancy :-( in my experience they scare very easily and are nervous/jumpy (based on the ones I know..)

I had labradors (lost my last one a couple of years ago)
They were the gentlest dogs ever but they do need a lot of exercise

Mine were walked off lead in woodlands where they could run and investigate.

Both sadly had athritis in their later years and it broke my heart to see them struggle to even stand up🥹 God I miss them

I lost my beloved Labrador in June at nearly 14 - I miss him terribly as do my 3 cats who adored him! Labradors are amazing dogs would adopt one like a shot if I could find one! Being disabled I need an older lab & will keep looking! 😊

Crosses just inherit part of each parent, so they’re as healthy as each pedigree parent and their behavioural traits are a mixed bag from each.

They don’t magically become calmer or healthier just because they’re crosses.

I would go for a well-bred Golden Retriever. They are generally calmer than Labradors and more biddable/placid in the home.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are amazing but as PP said, they don't have a huge life expectancy.

A Bernese Mountain Dog every time. I have one and he is wonderful. They are a guardian breed, so are indifferent towards strangers, but they bond with their family very strongly and are absolutely devoted. All they want is to be in your company. They are intelligent so are quite easily trained. Our lovely dog is an absolute gem and so good natured with our two children (both under 4, not ND). He lets the baby climb all over him and poke him in the ears and eyes without raising an eyebrow. The only time he ever gets a big grumpy is when his tail is pulled. Berners need to be around their people, so you shouldn't get one if they will be left on their own for long stretches. They need a decent amount of walking, but don't need to (and shouldn't) race around too much. They are big dogs and very strong, so you need to train them well (our dog is 50kg and is small for the breed). The males are much bigger than the females, so a female might be the best option if you're not used to large breeds.

This is because they are wary of strangers. But to their own people they are extremely loving, calm and devoted. They do have a short lifespan - 10 years if you're very lucky. 7-8 years is the average and I've known some who have died at 5 years.

I think the possibility of losing the dog after five years would be too hard for my children so this would dampen my interest in the breed. Also I like to go jogging a few times a week and would quite like a dog who could come along. I do worry a bit about other people - with the BNM dog I worry that people would stop us all the time which would be very difficult with my two children and with the Goldador too for different reasons. I was looking g into rescue dogs but there js too much unpredictability.

There's nothing wrong with a goldie/lab cross at all, as evidenced by guide dogs. 70% of their stock are this cross, for good reasons.

You really shouldn’t let a child do that to your dog.
Even if the dog doesn’t react it’s completely unfair.
Buy your child a toy one to annoy instead

Why do you let your children do that to your dog?

It's a recipe for disaster.

Creovative please tell me
why questions I should be asking a breeder and anything I should be wary of . I have been quoted £1800 for a puppy with £100 delivery from Manchester to London.

@Happywhenitrains7 never get a puppy delivered. You want to see it in situ with mum at 4-6 weeks and then again at pick up. Anyone offering to deliver you a pup is either an out and out scammer or a farmer.

If they are offering delivery it’s a no

Yes SarahSissions I agree. The breeder said he would deliver when I said it was too far which made me worried for the puppy undergoing that long journey apart from also not seeing mum myself.