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 ?

Just seen your update OP. Feel sad for this poor dog as likely will be difficult to rehome despite being a golden, but hopefully he will get a good home, and that you will find your ideal family soon very soon.

That will be like heaven for that poor dog, am sure you will get lots back from it as well.

Agree, one of mine almost killed a GSD that attacked him. The other owner actually thought it was funny at first but soon changed their mind!
The look like affable idiots and they largely are - until they aren't.

We've a black Labrador she's big and powerful. What a weight like a sack of spuds if she plonks herself on you. A goldie is even larger.

A reputable breeder would not have let that family have the dog if that's the miserable life they've given it.

Hi Op, this is slightly off thread point, but I wondered if you have considered an RNIB young dog up for rehoming? My friend is a dog RNIB foster carer and she often has the most lovely young family dogs (often labradors but sometimes retrievers) whilst they wait to be adopted, who have failed their RNIB training for a variety of reasons. Sometimes she has them for months which is baffling to all of us who meet them! The link to find out more is here:

www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/rehoming-a-guide-dog/

A 3 year old dog probably has some incurable bad habits that you may have to put up with for the next 10 years... bear in mind

I wish people would read the update before posting 🙄

Hard to walk away OP but you are doing the right thing.

I've just read the update- I think you have made the right choice.
The right dog for you is out there- it's worth the wait!

Lots and lots and lots of training and time, patience, commitment and love!

It is a massive undertaking, that you should only commit to if you have the time and energy to deal with it.

My FIL has a 5 year old GR that isn't particularly well trained (it is a bugbear of mine!). He's excitable, but has calmed down a lot since 3. Male GR's are a lot bigger than females and are super strong too.

He is an absolutely adorable lump though who loves cuddling up on the sofa.

The massive advantage is that retrievers are usually very food driven and super intelligent, so you can teach them things pretty quickly, even at 3.

My DH taught his Dad's GR to sit and stay for a treat within an afternoon, and he still remembers it now, even though it's only DH that ever does it with him.

It's worth them looking at the paperwork from the breeder though, as many will say that if you don't want them any more they should be returned to the breeder, rather than sold or given up. We had to have the contract altered with FIL's breeder to say that we could have the dog if something happened to him.

Not sure how it sits legally, but often the breeder will take them back.