golden retriever

[torpid]

Willie's post made me want a golden retriever...

My cat shreds paper when she wants attention. And by attention I mean food.

 

[Vonkhan]

Nothing I can add that hasn't been already mentioned - they're awesome dogs :thumbsup:

 

[Josh123]

Once I get my own house, a golden retriever is going to be the first thing I get as a house warming gift to myself.

 

[DrPizza]

Tennis ball to keep them occupied?
Heck, when we first moved into this house, there was the most god-awful looking plastic garden statue of a squirrel. Think dollar store quality, then pick the ugliest one you've ever seen. Our golden went nuts trying to get to that thing; it was pretty amusing. He'd go outside and stand at the end of his leash barking at that thing forever. One day, he got loose and got to it; the statue is no more.

Oh, he was also a better mouser than our cat; he caught plenty of mice and a couple chipmonks. But, there's nothing worse (or funnier, since nothing was broken) than a live chipmunk escaping in your living room, running behind furniture, and a 100+ lb dog chasing after it. Couches and chairs were flipped over.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

a key to avoiding problems with any active breed, including golden retrievers, is exercise.

a well-exercised (tired) dog is more likely to sleep while your out of the house, an energetic dog is going get bored and start chewing on things, barking at stuff, and generally misbehaving as they try to do something with all that energy.

The difference in my Chesapeake Bay Retriever is very noticeable if he doesn't get his daily dose(s) of playing fetch.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: ShockwaveVT
a key to avoiding problems with any active breed, including golden retrievers, is exercise.

a well-exercised (tired) dog is more likely to sleep while your out of the house, an energetic dog is going get bored and start chewing on things, barking at stuff, and generally misbehaving as they try to do something with all that energy.

The difference in my Chesapeake Bay Retriever is very noticeable if he doesn't get his daily dose(s) of playing fetch.

Yea, same with my family's black lab. Labs are very high-energy when young. If he does get a walk (jog) and some fetch ... he is annoying! 77

 

[WisMan]

Nothing better then retrieves and labs!

I have had 5 different black labs and golden retrieves. Every one has been well behavied loyal and great with children. There really isnt one bad thing i could say about any of them.

 

[Miramonti]

If you don't mind their hair all over your house. They shed a lot.

 

[TCPpacket]

what's not to love about this and this

 

[hiromizu]

Our golden retriever was dumb, fat, lazy, cowardly and had the biggest appetite but he was the sweetest and gentle dog imaginable. I miss him. He had a puppy face until his very last day.

You won't regret getting a golden but you'll regret not being able to spend more time with one.

 

[bctbct]

My experience with a golden was pretty much like most of the negatives posts above. Our dog ate everything, she was extremely jealous of other pets, same thing with nudging my hand to keep me off the computer, ate the handrails and siding, never stole anything but everytime she went outside she ran to the muddy ditch

She was obsessed with my attention and got destructive if she couldnt have it.

She was a great dog but the problems just took over the household. She began attacking the other pets and hopped the fence and took after the elderly neighbors so we made a tough decision and found someone with a farm for her. She is about 4 now and starting to settle down.

I think all dogs are going to be different so I am not saying yours will be that way, however I would wonder why she is at the pound.

In contrast our neighbors just got another golden and he is the total opposite personality at 4 months.


edit.

goldens require lots of room and excercise.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

it doesn't seem like you need me to add another "hells yea" to this thread...but i will anyway.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: kalster
me and my wife are looking at adopting at golden retriever from the local dog shelter, its a 2 year old dog that is supposed to be trained. is this is a good breed for first time dog owners, we live in a large 2 bed room apartment

a golden retriever in a shelter?

those things costs like $800.

even a mix golden retriever can costs alot.

lucky u.

and they are very friendly and protective dogs.

be warned tho. if you have kids, and the kid gets startled by a stranger, i saw my friend's golden retriever charge at him.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: CatKillaZ
get a labradoodle. Sounds extremely gay, but they do not shed at all like labs or retrievers.

That's what I will most likely do. I love golden's but can't stand all the shedding. Also supposedly poodles are top5 intelligence-wise too so you aren't dumbing down the dog.

 

[TheSlamma]

They are awesome dogs.

Watch the ears for dirt (easy fix), the hips and get him checked up atleast twice a year as they are prone to cancer.

Also they should be groomed atleast 4 times a year and brushed multiple times a week.

 

[Schfifty Five]

GRs are so awesome, but yeah give them a lot of space to run around in...since you live in an apt which is genearlly small, make sure you give them walks each day and let them loose to run around in a park or something

 

[CKent]

Pros: Excellent temperament, great around kids, gorgeous breed

Cons: Big; lots of food consumption, and what goes in must come out. Will teach you that you only thought you knew what shedding was.

Note that while they do generally have good temperaments, this varies on an individual basis, both due to nature and nurture.

And for the dog's sake, don't get one if you live in a 500 ft^2 apartment with no yard. Dogs need space and it really saddens me to see that the smaller the living space, the larger the dog the occupants generally own. If space is a concern consider a smaller breed. Not all are yappers, that's just the Terrier genes present in many smaller breeds.

 

[jadinolf]

Another vote for the Golden Retriever and a thumbs up to you for adapting one.