Goldens are great but plagued with medical issues. If you can't commit to pay when the time comes (see other threads), don't bother getting one. It seems most folks love having their pets until there's an expensive vet bill. Then it turns into "it's only a dog"

My golden also made it to 12, although had cancer at 8. It's pretty common for larger dogs (and really, all purebreds). A good breeder will give you health clearances -- you can definitely ask how old the parents are, how old the grandparents are (or how old at death), etc. You should also get hip clearances on the parents for any golden. (The AKC has a rule that a golden should not be bred unless its hip tightness is above-average for the breed -- that's to gradually increase the hip strength of the breed overall.)

Golden are pretty much the perfect dog, if you don't mind the shedding. But I'm dog allergic, and the shedding never bothered me, for whatever reason. Maybe it's a lot of hair but not a lot of dander?

If you want a rescue, check out grreat.org. They are basically the only golden-dedicated rescue in this area. The dogs that are good with kids and under the age of 10 go really fast. Not a lot of people give up goldens. (There was a bigger supply a couple of years ago, when the combination of the foreclosure crisis and the heavy foreign deployment of military meant that there were a lot of loving families that had to find new homes for dogs that they loved.)

You should do training early and often. Goldens are SUPER trainable -- they love to please and are usually A+ students in obedience classes. But if you don't train them, they pull on leashes, jump up on guests, chew on toys that don't belong to them, etc.

Yes. Dogs are a big commitment for sure. But we've always taken our golden everywhere we go on vacation. She is so steady, sweet tempered, loves everyone and is good with other dogs. She is so much fun to take to the beach - she LOVES the ocean and can go off leash for long stretches.

She was definitely high energy as a puppy but really great with the kids. Overall a real sweetheart of a dog.

No. Too much work and your kids won't help. Dogs really cramp your style so unless you have a yard and a roomba and you never take vacations, I'd steer clear.

22:07 here. Meant to add our Golden didn't develop cancer until she was 11 1/2, so not always before age 8.

Yes, as my five month old Golden Retriever puppy is licking my hand. Cancer PP has a valid point... we put down or almost 12 year old Golden last year. She had brain tumors and physically was failing rapidly. But she was the best dog ever and we had almost 12 wonderful years with her.

See post about Goldens on this forum. They almost always develop cancer before age 8 to 10. It's all genetic.

The shedding issue is why we have a golden doodle. Mine sheds very,very little and is just the sweetest dog ever. If I didn't care about shedding I would also just get a golden.

Great with kids but super energetic....My almost 5yo rescue retriever is still a big goofball that likes to jump in people because he loves them so much.

please get one from a rescue group.

Anonymous wrote:They are WONDERFUL dogs, but you have to be ok with a lot of shedding.

+1

We had one when I was growing up, and she was just such a wonderful dog. So gentle and sweet, protective when she needed to be, smart. The fur is really the only issue. We weren't the best about brushing her regularly, so I'm not sure how much that helps, but I wouldn't hesitate to get another golden.

They are WONDERFUL dogs, but you have to be ok with a lot of shedding.

Yes!

Yes.

Kids really have their heart on one.