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 ?

Yes that is a good point. If you get a big breed like a lab you really have no option but to put in the effort required to train it. Depends how much opportunity the OP has to do that really, but they’d need to train any dog. A Goldie would also be a lovely dog too. Can’t go wrong with a retriever.

Of your choices, I'd go for the golden/lab cross. Bernese mountain dogs are lovely but the short life expectancy would be the main reason I'd hesitate.

Temperament and behaviour are never guaranteed with any dog, purebred and crossbreed alike. According to a fascinating recent study, behaviour is much less associated with breed than many people think. Although traits are heritable, the variations within any given breed are huge.

Thanks everyone . CindarellaFant if you had your time agin would you get the dog or not?

There is a beautiful
golden walked past my gates daily- I am going to ask for the breeder’s details.

@Happywhenitrains7 don’t do that. You have no idea from looking at that dog if it’s come from health tested parents or from a puppy farm.
Contact the breed club.

Wolfiefan yes I do I see this dog daily and I see how healthy it is and how well tempered . I have approached before and it is super calm. I am sure the wonders did not get it from a puppy farm as I spoke to them once before and they were nice people.

The owners.

You are being seriously naive. Sorry but you are. Puppy farms aren’t advertised as such. Some basic research will show you how these people use stand in bitches to pretend you’re seeing the mother or rent a house to make you think you’re buying from a home.
You can’t tell that a dog has no inherited health issues by looking at it. And calm? That’ll be age and training etc too.

Ok Wolfiefan thank you I will be extremely careful to never support a puppy farm. Thank you for this .

There are so many rescues in Europe that need a home - I would much prefer to do this but it’s too risky with my kids. I think I will just wait for an older lab/ retriever to become available with a uk based breed specific rescue.

@Happywhenitrains7 being 100% honest if I was to go back in time, no I wouldn't have got him. However now he's here I would never get rid of him, he's my responsibility but he's definitely harder work than the three dc put together!

Oh wow Cindarella Fant that is really interesting.

Can I ask what the main demands you find are?

Please don’t get a rescue from abroad. Most of these dogs haven’t been blood tested for brucellosis which is a notifiable disease and a big risk to humans. Cases are beginning to crop up through the uk and the only option is euthanasia.

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

stats from Guide dogs Uk say 50% of their stock are either lab/goldie or lab/shepherd crosses.

I was suprised it was so high, but makes sense

My godfather used to train guide dogs and the dogs that don't quite make the grade get snapped up incredibly quickly.

Fingers crossed for you, OP. 🤞🏻

Thanks Ameanstreakamilewideni remain on their waiting list! Thanks everyone for all the tips!

Labs are the best.