[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Golden Retrievers - Update in OP (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 6/13/2013 9:17:16 AM EDT
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I'm going tonight to look at a puppy, only males are left to choose from. I've never owned one before and I like them for their reputation as loving family pets and easily trained, but what negatives can I expect from this breed? Do they bark a lot, dig, chew up the furniture, shed like crazy, hyper in the house?
If I get him, I'm leaning toward name him "Yeager" after the famous Glamorous Glennis jockey. Thanks ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well guys, after all your great input, I've gone a different direction. 
I went last night and put a deposit on a Brittany (French, not American) the dogs from this breeder have a good reputation as hunters and opportunity knocked, so I answered. I'll be able to bring him home on July 4th and I hope everyone will bbq and shoot off a few firecrackers in his honor. 
Thanks again for the input, I still like the Goldens and maybe there's one in my future yet. 
The dog in this video and the father of my puppy, are from the same litter. 
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| Fantastic dogs, great for families, especially around the little ones. You will be on hair patrol for sure, we had to get one of those Dyson Pet edition vacuums haha. It's worth it, my wife loves them and they are super gentle, plus have a good bark for visitors although i would not rely on them to be protective enough for actual security. We love our Goldens. |
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i've had 5, counting the 2 current ones. never had any issues with barking. my old one now barks about ten times/year.
i've had one that had a few chewing issues but some cayenne tea took care of that. hair is the biggest problem. most of mine have been pretty short haired as far as goldens go, but there is a lot of hair. you probably wont be able to wear dark colors much any more. 
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Ours was a wonderful dog, but OMG the friggin hair!
Think hairy, mild mannered lab. She never chewed anything that wasn't meant for her. Never took food that was left out or dropped, unless you told her it was okay first, and never dug, even at the beach. She was truly a princess. Our new Chocolate lab pup will never "fill her shoes", but she sure is trying! If it wasn't for the coat maintenance, I would have another, but having to dress business casual for work, I prefer not to make the lint roller part of my morning routine. |
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They are great family dogs. Each has their own personality. I have had three. My current one is VERY different than the first two I've had over the years. Quietly observe the puppies without stimulating them. Each is different. Some are alphas, some betas, some high energy, all of them are goofy. Mine is monster energy, an alpha, does everything 100%, needs a lot of human contact time.  |
| The house I used to live at had a Golden. He was the laziest dog I have ever seen. He wouldn't get up to see me when I came home, just wagged his tail as he laid on the ground. He is a very good dog and loves females. He would grab females by the arm and show them around the house when they first would come to the house, it was funny, only females though. He rarely barked, even if the other dog was going crazy. The one time I did hear him bark excessively, I looked out the window to see what he was barking at and he was starring straight up in the sky, just barking every couple of seconds. I went outside to see what it was and realized he was barking at a hot air balloon just above the house. He wouldn't bark at someone at the door, but a hot air balloon gets him going. His IQ level seemed forrest gump like. |
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Hair, everywhere. This. OHHHH YES! And they like to chew. The one I had chewed and ate EVERYTHING until she was about 6 or so. Yup. Hair, chewing, and boundless energy for the first several years. Not nuisance barkers though, pretty trainable, and generally good natured and gentle. Prone to lots of health problems, so make sure the breeder is responsible and has had all appropriate health testing done on the parents. Not just a simple vet check, but screenings for hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, PRA, and heart problems. Responsible breeders will have these screenings done before a breeding takes place and will be more than happy to show you the results. |
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Hair, everywhere. This. That. Also, I've heard that there are a little more prone to not being right in the head. Mine has severe storm anxiety. In the winter after there have been no thunderstorms for a few months, she is calm but an attention hound. The spring and summer months with thunderstorms are bad. She has to be caged when we are not around or she digs/eats holes in walls during storms. |
| Ours will be two in a month. He is great, was easy to teach all the basic commands and listens to them the vast majority of the time. He is a big time chewer and always has been, we don't leave him out of the crate when we leave because the results have varied. He also sheds ALOT. I'm pretty sure if someone broke in he would great them with his favorite toy. He is friendly as can be and loves all people and animals. |
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Ok, maybe I shouldn't have asked for the negatives!
I used to have a German Shorthair and he shed like crazy. His hair was short (obviously) and coarse and managed to weave it's way into the threads of your clothing, meaning you couldn't brush it out, you had to pick each individuals hair out. And I'm single, so that means I would have to do the vacuuming. 
I definitely don't need a barker, I have a coonhound that fills that niche. The best part about my coonhound is she can run all day long if I want her to, or I can take her on a short walk and she is content with a comfy spot to sleep. They're like a cross between a Triathlete and a couch potato. |
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My Golden is 13 years old and I've loved every minute of her.
Seizures are another thing to look for, ours has had them for most of her life, but medication pretty much keeps them under control Sadly, I think she is headed "out", and it breaks my heart to see it. |
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Quoted: I definitely don't need a barker, I have a coonhound that fills that niche. The best part about my coonhound is she can run all day long if I want her to, or I can take her on a short walk and she is content with a comfy spot to sleep. They're like a cross between a Triathlete and a couch potato. Don't allow a habit by a puppy that won't be acceptable when he is ten times the size, 10 times louder and has the mouth of an alligator. Establish that he has toys that are HIS - and other house items are off limits. My dog has learned to tap on the back door to come in (fenced back yard). Barking is for warnings - not to get what he wants. A pointed finger at his nose means a lecture and I mean business. It establishes me as THE alpha. Establish these on Day One - and insist upon compliance. He will know the rules, who is in charge and everyone will be happier. Dogs WANT to know who the alpha dog is and their order in the pack. Help them grasp that and everyone will be happier. |
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Hair, everywhere. This very much, and they need constant entertainment. In return, they provide constant entertainment. Like a bigger Jack Russell, but with an extra helping of the DUHHHH gene. My friend used to have one, and he would always talk about that. I always thought they were considered smart dags. Then my "East German" shepherd (cross between GSD and Caucasian Mountain Shepherd, came out of Russia in the late 90s,) died and I went looking for a new dag. Found a GSD/Golden mutt. Skeletal build and body muscle, bark and mission-capable guard dog abilities of a German Shep; and the coat colors (except the face - all GSD,) hair "tufts" ('80s looking crimped fur mane on the neck and long "sleeve fringes" on his front legs,) and mental acuity of a Golden. My friend says mine acts just like his did unless he's freaking out over something. I don't think it's a DUHHHH gene, but more of a single minded gene. NOTHING gets through his brain when he gets focused. He HATES delivery people - #1 USPS #2 UPS #3 FedEx. I put a cookie in his face while I was getting a delivery once. Didn't care about the damn cookie. The term "untrainable" has been used by professionals around him. I tend to think he's just crazy. ETA - Also, when his attention is behind him while on a walk, then he walks right into the back of a parked car because he keeps looking backwards while walking forwards.... "He's not stupid, he's focused!" OP - Get the pup, you'll be happy. Goldens are also babe-MAGNETS at the park. |
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Mine used to freak out during thunderstorms. That pup would crawl directly up your ass to hide from them. +1 and the hair! Know what? I'd do it all over again if I was convinced that the next pair would attain the bar that the first two set. My wife believes that I was married to the female in another life, such was her devotion. Been gone for 13 years and I still miss them. |
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http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Tweek218/IMG_1523800x624_zpseca204c2.jpg http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Tweek218/DSC_2628536x800_zpsd53edf0d.jpg Fucking Priceless!!!  He's got that " What? I was sleeping. I don't know how that happened. That's terrible! I hope you find out who did it!" look on his face. |
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Do they bark a lot, dig, chew up the furniture, shed like crazy, hyper in the house? Thanks I don't know of ANY puppy that doesn't do this. It's merely a matter of mitigating the damage. My golden chewed the side of my house and I have to keep him constantly exercised and supplied with bones to gnaw on or things disappear, but he's a pretty high drive field golden and a great family pet and hunting buddy. |
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Grew up with them, had three at any given time while I lived at home. I didn't think the hair was that big a deal.
They think they're people and are happiest when you're happy. They all have their quirks (except one of my parents' dogs - she's perfect). Ours have all been excellent upland game hunters. Best general-purpose dog on the planet, IMO. |
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Hair everywhere, shed year around, buy a Furminator comb. Mine loved women, he'd squeal & piss himself whenever he'd meet a women, it was beyond weird. Great family dog that demands constant attention, mine would go find someone to play with if I ignored him for a minute. I've picked him up at a daycare center more than once, from someones house that was having a birthday party two miles away, from other neighbors. He wouldn't eat unless he was leaning against me. Be sure you have a good ID tag on the collar with a cell phone number. They love water, if you have a pool, great. If not, plan on having a kiddie pool. Not a mean bone in his body, everyone was his friend, if there are K9 rock-stars, the Golden is it. If you want a dedicated companion that goes EVERYWHERE with you, go for it. If you want a lazy porch hound that you can ignore, then consider a different breed or better yet, a cat
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| We've had 3, 2 were defects. First was a case of don't know what you've got till it's gone, he was dumb as a box of rocks never thought in a million years I'd miss the shit out of him, second was actually very smart but didn't realize it till she was almost two old. Third is a total lard ass thinks he's a toy poodle, hates being outside unless you go with him. you can't help but love the dopey bastard though. |
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I have had goldens almost my whole life up until last year.
Shadow: got her from the pound. She was young, but it turned out she was house broken, fully trained, and well mannered. Great dog, protective when need be but otherwise very gentle. Great with people and a very loving dog. Never chewed anything. Charles: got him as a puppy from someone who couldn't keep him anymore. He was big. Big. He would come up to the couch and with 2 people sitting on it, he would scratch his ass on the couch and literally lift it off the ground. He tore down the 6ft wooden privacy fence and walked around with a stack of 6ft boards in his mouth. Trying to get inside through the door like that was fun to watch. Once he aged he just stuck to chewing on large rocks. Which make a big boom when they are dropped on tile floors. Would fetch all day and all night. Well mannered with people, didn't jump, and I was a dumb kid when we first got him and he never got mad at me for fucking with him. Protective of me, but great with people. Loved to stick his head in girl's crotches. Snored like a chainsaw. As he aged he calmed down, would follow me room to room, sit outside the bathroom door and sleep next to my bed. He got hip dysplacia around 12 years and we had to put him down. Hardest day of my life and I still miss his big goofy ass everyday. Even when he would randomly start humping the air. He also tore the shit out of anything he could get until around age 4-5, then he was perfect. Mya: only dog we got from a breeder. Great loving dog, wouldn't hurt a fly. She was the lowest maintenance dog ever. When she did something dumb, she would lay there and pretend to be invisible. She died of unknown problem at 8 years old. Came home and she was dead on the floor. Poor baby, wish I could have made it better for her. She was perfectly healthy and active up until that moment. Did have to pull her out of creeks a few times when she got stuck in the mud. She never chewed though. I loved my goldens, can't wait until I get out of my rental so I can get another. Best damn dogs ever. Not a home defense dog, but a great companion and if you ever have kids..... this is the dog for you. They will treat your kids better than any other dog. Edit: yes, also chick magnet. Never met a girl that was afraid of a golden. My black lab, people literally cross the street to avoid, people pick up their kids or pull them close, people step off the sidewalk when they see him coming. Racists.
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| Mine will steal your food the moment you turn around. Otherwise great dog and great with kids. Loving and loyal and always by your side. When he was a pup, we would keep him in a fenced in yard. He would dig his way out and sit by the front door waiting to be let in. Doesn't like to be alone. He can be asleep and if you leave the room, he's on your heels. |
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Yup. Lots of hair. Smart, energetic dogs that need regular exercise. My golden was pretty laid back in the house after he was two or so but outside he was wide open. Loved to swim, if there was water around he was in it. It didn't matter if it was only a puddle. Mine was old by the time we had kids and even though you could tell my daughter frustrated him at times he never got aggressive with her. The only time he really barked was when he was left outside alone and the neighbors were outside. Great dogs for an active family IMO.
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Puppies are puppies and dogs are dogs. You get what you put in to them.
Our Golden, Casey was the greatest companion a man could have. She lived to be 13 I believe. One of maybe 4 times I've seen my dad cry was the day we buried her. I have a very high standard (perhaps too high) of what a dog should be and being like Casey is that standard. Get that Golden, START TRAINING IMMEDIATELY AND STAY WITH IT, and you will have an awesome dog. |
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They are great family dogs. Each has their own personality. I have had three. My current one is VERY different than the first two I've had over the years. Quietly observe the puppies without stimulating them. Each is different. Some are alphas, some betas, some high energy, all of them are goofy. Mine is monster energy, an alpha, does everything 100%, needs a lot of human contact time. <a href="http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Eyesofsilver/media/Family/IMG_1216.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Family/IMG_1216.jpg</a> This. My parents have a golden, and it's the nicest, most friendly dog ever. BUT, it is 100% and needs a ton of contact time. A lot for two people in their 60's. |
We had a golden when I was a kid, through my college years. She got much calmer as she got older, but she LOVED us. They are totally people-dogs, and love their people. If you allow the puppy to sit and sleep in your lap or on your bed, s/he will continue to do so once s/he is full grown.  They definitely require a lot of interaction and exercise, preferably with their people. We got her a cat for company when she was about 3 because she got so bored at home by herself all day that she started licking sores on her ankles. My dad still misses her. |
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I've already planned to go see the pups this afternoon. They are possibly the cutest puppies of any breed, so I guess I better check the price for a good vacuum cleaner at Costco. Thanks for all the input! You won't regret it . My parents got me one when I was little , we were best friends until he died. I had to put him down due to cancer and internal bleeding . Ill never forget him though. |
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Love my Golden!
We got her as an 8 week old pup when my oldest daughter was 6 months old. They have grown up together and are best friends. They are both 9. I have never had a dog that is so gentle and puts up with anything. She is very smart and was easily trained to basic commands. Mine never chewed anything that was not hers and has never been overly hyper. Very well behaved. She is very protective of my 2 daughters and never loses sight of them when they are outside. She is friendly to everyone but will alert bark at strangers. She gets along with other dogs and pays no attention to the cats. She is more of a trip hazard than guard dog but her size may intimidate some. She is a couch potato and loves to be around people but does not care to cuddle. The only down side is the hair. The shedding is not terrible, but the hair matting is a pain. Prior to getting her years ago, a wise co-worker who has had Goldens forever told me "every kid should have a Golden Retriever." He was right. Watching her interact with my kids, the love they share, is something special. |
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hairy lab, nice doggie. don't think they have a mean bone in their body Mine two are the nicest dogs when it comes to people they know, if they dont know you or are another dog its a whole different story. Thy are extremely protective of little kids as well, both of mine when around toddlers will not leave the little one alone and if they for some reason cry they will immediately start licking them. Pics incoming 
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| The shedding depends greatly on the lines. We have one show line golden that is a total fucking hairball that takes some effort to take care of. Also have a field line golden that is very simple to take care of and does not leave a trail of hair behind her. The lines will also affect energy. The show line is happy to lay on his ass all day while the field line would run herself to death if you kept throwing a tennis ball. They are both awesome family dogs. If you can, meet the one or both of the parents. I have seen some that have been inbred to the point of being mentally unstable animals and they can be a real problem. |
