Should we get a golden retriever?

[Anonymous]

Our 10 year old Golden sheds a lot. I vacuum every day, sometimes twice a day. If I miss a day you can see it.

But she has been a joy and totally worth it. She is easy to take anywhere. We can leave her home and she has never created a problem while we've been gone (we did crate her when she was a pup). She loves everyone but is also a good watch dog.

She is 10 and in good health. Active, eats well and I'm hoping that she'll be with us for years to come. But if we do lose her I would definitely consider getting another Golden in the future. Vacuuming once, even twice a day is just not that big a deal when you consider the awesome dog we get in return.

[Anonymous]

Also consider that many dogs shed and the hair is just shorter. I've never had a golden - would get one but somehow we became a labs. Prefer the English lab classic temperment. Doodles I've met are different than labs and goldens. You either go for the preferred temperment or hair. I'd rather vacuum.

All the breeders I've known are not into releasing dogs for doodles. Maybe they get those goldens and labs from puppy mill type places or amish.

[Anonymous]

If you are asking about shedding, it will probably bother you. It doesn't bother me. I only vacuum weekly and it's pretty bad by the end of the week! (We have another small dog as well.). It helps to brush the dog a lot, a job you can give the kids. Not sure if anyone has mentioned this group yet, but we have had 2 rescues from there, and they were wonderful. We now have a golden we got as a puppy. That was frankly a ton of work, so maybe start with an adult, ideally one only 4-6 so you have several good years with it. The rescue process takes at least a couple weeks to fill out the application and have a home visit, then you wait for an appropriate dog. Good luck! http://www.grreat.org

[Anonymous]

No sugar coating the shedding. Still totally worth it IF you have the time. GRs are incredibly smart and social. They like to be with people.

And they shed on people, clothing, floors, stairs. We found the iRobot Roomba (costco) to be a game changer in terms of keeping up with the daily mess on the first floor where pup hangs out.

Regular brushing helps. They need to keep the undercoat (shedding part) b/c it both acts as SPF/AC in summer, and heating system in winter. Don't shave a golden.

But really, forget the shedding. There are awesome goldens in the rescue pipeline. If you want a puppy and don't have time or patience to really investigate breeder and the genetic line then move on to another breed.

You don't want to get your heart broken too soon. Unfortunately, the breed's popularity means careless breeding practices abound.

Do a lot of homework about your pup's origin story. A good breeder will make all the paperwork on lineage available. Take that info and look into it on the AKC K9.com site. Ask too many questions.

You will fall so madly in love with every bit of your GR, the fur, which will definitely be all over your stuff, will become the new normal. Your biggest worry will be keeping your pup safe and happy because they will give you so much entertainment and love right back.

I am sure if I was raised with another breed I'd feel the same way, but there really is something special about the individual connection a GR makes with each member of his/her human family.