Offered a three year old golden retriever .. we've just met him ..

[goshwhatnow]

And he's divine ! Huge though, mouthy and affectionate.
This will be a rehomed dog as family situation is not suitable for a dog and the dog needs so much more than the family can cope with at the moment.
The dog is from a. Reputable breeder, kennel club , microchipped, vaccinated, wormed etc. I've seen all the paperwork.

When we met him, he was in a small area surrounded by a child safety gate.
He had not been out for his walk but had been out in the garden for
Most of the day.
He was extremely excited, mouthy... pulling at my sons sleeve and hand and actually put a hole in his sleeve. He was dying to get out and knocked through his safety gate. And big! He is so tall also when completely upright.
This is where he spends his evenings as kids are very small.

We are dying to have him as part of our family but need to know that we are a good fit for him and he is a good fit for us.
We are a family of four. Very calm, quiet and relaxed home. Plenty of room but normal sized garden, side passage with a large shed.
What would you advise here ?
Some More training or is this just the way grs are at this age and stage and f development ?

I've got a book Wonderdog by Dr Katrina Warren. It's great for teaching tricks etc Really easy way to mentally stimulate a dog.

THIS
We took on a dog who was a big strong breed, we were used to big dogs, he had lived with cats, livestock, all fine. It wasn't - within 10 days he had killed my old cat. He went back to the lying bastard original owners.
This dog has clearly not had decent training - by 3 he should not be making holes in visitors clothing. Do you have the time to put into some intensive training and are your DC sensible enough to stick to the rules you will have to put in place.
A responsible owner wanting to rehome, unless to a known home, would go through breed rescue, where they would make sure they got a knowledgable home.

Agree with this - and my ‘specialty’ is fostering dogs with bite histories.

I wouldn’t touch this dog.

Some serious naivety on this thread from posters and OP.

I've asked to bring him off for a walk and a play but owner feels that a one off walk won't give us a good idea of what he would be like with us as a family. He wants us to just take him to reduce the stress and sadness on his kids ..
Thoughts ?

They have a problem dog they’re trying to shove off on you and you’re a mug if you go for it.

This will end in tears. It’s got more red flags than the Chinese Communist Party AGM

I mean maybe they are giving you a dog with problems, but does it matter ? You are going to do training with him etc.

Massively back off is what I'd be doing at that suggestion!!

Don't be daft

No. That changes everything.

There is a reason why they are saying this. Either it has had no lead training whatsoever or it's dog aggressive.

No OP, this is a seriously bad idea. Red flags everywhere! How much are they asking for him just out of curiosity, and have you seen the paperwork?

I bet he wants you to just take him, fgs don't!

I used to call our old boy the hairy hippo. He was never happier than when wallowing in puddles, the muddier the better.

I've seen all the papers yes .

It will become your very own nightmare and then what? You'll be looking to re-home

There's rescue centres for golden retrievers. He needs to go to one of these. Our neighbours have had three dogs from one over the decades . The centre is marvellous they said. I only met their third one who was a darling.

Find the one nearest to you and contact them

I've attached a map

This a dog to be rehomed . No cost

Mine needed a lot of exercise. A lot. At least a couple of hours walking a day (a long energetic one in the morning and a shorter sniffy one in the afternoon) plus basically constant attention. He wanted to be chased for hours, or to play tug, or to play fetch... If he wasn't demanding physical activity, he was demanding cuddles. All day, every day. He'd sit on my lap when I watched tv and all would be well if I was tickling his tummy, if I stopped tickling he'd move his head so I couldn't see the screen. He also hated being left alone, increasingly so as he got older. He was hilarious, obedient, far too clever for his own good and the most amazing friend a person can have. I can't begin to tell you how much I miss him. But... he was a huge amount of work. After 18 months, we gave in and bought him a pet spaniel puppy, which helped only a little bit. They can be great for families with children as they can entertain each other, if you think your kids aren't likely to be interested in that he wouldn't be a good fit. But if you think they'll enjoy the endless very physical games and you're happy to give him at least 90 minutes a day of exercise, you'll have the happiest of families.

*Mine was the working type, I believe the show type aren't quite so bombastic!
**If you have any problem with you, your family, your car and your house being permanently coated head to toe in yellow hair, a golden retriever is not for you. And they have the most amazing teflon coats so are really easy to clean - but that's because the dirt falls straight off them onto the carpet. They are not the ideal dog for anyone even slightly overly concerned with cleanliness. They don't smell though, which is some comfort!

I'd be very suspicious that he's actually bitten a child and that's the real reason he's being given away.

If you do get him, he’s likely to be a live wire at first, and fairly disruptive. They take time to settle into a routine. Be prepared for mayhem at first.

(and can we have a picture?)

I don't understand the huge rush on their part. If they've had this dog for three years, why don't they feel the love and responsibility to ensure that you are the right home for their dog? This would make me very nervous about their honesty.

That sounds suspicious to me.

Me too. What are they hiding?

Our puppy has in 18 months done around 2k of damage.

Shoes, boots, rugs, skirtings, door frames, cushions. Handbag, my Emu slippers last night, that's another £80. This happens when we're in the next room sometimes.

Some breeds are terrible chewers.

She's a pedigree working dog too. Adores children, but you're going to have your work cut out for you. It's not just about exercise.

He says he's not willing for us to bring him for a 'test run' ' as he doesn't think a walk etc would be indicative of his suitability or ours...he's loads of others interested etc

How do you feel about his responses?