Golden retriever or border terrier

[RoseaPlena]

Would welcome any thoughts on these breeds. Us:

Late 40s couple, two grown up children.
Live quite rurally but spend time in London regularly visiting family
Very active, love walking
We go to the beach almost daily and swim a lot
Work from home (apart from one day a week when our pup would go to daycare)
Fairly experienced owners- grew up with dogs and have had a dog for the last ten years. But neither of these breeds.

My thoughts

I love goldens and think they are beautiful and all the ones I know have beautiful natures.
Am not too houseproud so don't mind a bit of shedding
We have a large garden and house so space for a larger breed

Borders are also beautiful and look so full of character but I don't know any well. Slightly nervous about digging and barking a lot?
We do have cats although I've had cats with a high prey drive dog before and know how to train (and would be getting the dog as a pup).

Thanks for any views!

They are healthy to a point. As they have become popular health issues have been creeping in. SLEM is a recommended test and then also PRA and not breeding from lines with shown CECS (a form of epilepsy). A lot have skin sensitivities and some luxating patellar. Hip dysplasia has also been shown in some more recently which is very rare in small dogs.

We chose a breeder who breeds from the show lines and health tests. Pup had also have SLEM even though both parents were clear. We met multiple generations and all healthy and happy with good quality coats, even when spayed after finishing breeding. We saw dad's show notes which commented on movement and conformation as well as coat quality.

Pretty much the only breeders health testing were the show breeders and then as they are line bred you have an elevated COI but having seen low COI with no health tested pups have problems it's a gamble I was willing to take. I am not talking crazy direct relative mating, just higher than the breed average.

Border terriers are fab but head strong and often don't like other breeds. Ours hated anything big and energetic like spaniels, Dalmatians, labs, huskies...long list. I knew several which were the same. Loved other borders!

He wasn't yappy when young, but did get more vocal as he got old. They're not lazy dogs. He didn't particularly cuddle on the sofa a lot, though he was an absolute sweetheart and I loved him dearly.

He loved digging. He was quite cat like and loved escaping the garden.

Was insanely angry at cats and hedgehogs.

Oh and ours was not easy to train. Not food driven. The dog class instructor tried to demo with him once. Only once though 😂Recall was fine unless he got distracted and then he could not be trusted. Awful with horses.

But they're a great size and very portable. I still want one over any other breed if I ever get another. Not terrible for shedding but you do need a good groomer as they need hand stripping. Lots of people seem to use clippers but it's not right for their coat. It's a double coat so they get all moth eaten looking when they're due to be done.

Oh and he was totally crazy for about his first seven years 🤣

Again I met other owners who had the same. They looked exhausted ...like parents of toddlers ....and asked how old before they calm down.

Grew up with both, it would be GR every time for me, just wonderful dogs. A bit hairy, but wonderful.

We have always had borders.
My DH says never to have a dog that can shit more than you.

Brilliant article ref Terrors 😆

Re. Borders and other dogs they can be fine but need careful socialisation and also teaching frustration tolerance helps. Terriers have none naturally. They don’t need it. Ours started to become reactive at adolescence but we did a lot of engage disengage and as she’d been to training classes and learnt to work with us around other dogs she’s now fine. It is common but not normal and can be mitigated with good training and exposure.

same with cats and small animals. Management and training.

One of each.

I have a golden who brings so much joy to people by sitting on their feet and gazing up at them like they are the best person in the whole world. She does this a few times a day. I stopped apologizing and started saying she really likes them. It makes people feel special and spreads a little joy.

Her downside is that she eats shit. Any she can find. I've tried everything, she came like this and apparently it is a breed trait. Be warned.

oh this is what heaven looks like!

I mean, you could just get both…..

I'm reading the pros and cons of each breed and your "spec" and whilst both are lovely dogs, I'm wondering if you really need a spaniel!