Golden Retrievers

[GingerSnaps]

I'm watching the movie Napoleon and the puppy in the movie is so adorable that I am thinking about getting one.

[sisenor]

1. Just don't feed it IAMS

They advertise with Sinclairs without apology.

[GingerSnaps]

3. I buy Eukanuba

I didn't know that they were one of the companies.

[flvegan]

31. IAMS, Eukanuba....6 of one, half dozen of another

Same crap. Both Proctor and Gamble, both use unneeded and cruel vivisectionist testing of their food on animals.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. I have a retriever

He is a great guy. Very smart but they can be STUBBORN. When I got mine, he was already two and a half years old with some very bad manners (the family that had him before were not DOG PEOPLE and failed to train him). YOu must start early on training them. Everything they do is for your approval and they smile like no other dog can smile.

I love my boy and wouldn't trade him for the world.

:D

[GingerSnaps]

6. How big is your dog?

Have you seen the movie Napoleon?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. Haven't seen it

He's about 90 lbs...big guy!

[GingerSnaps]

16. Check this link out

http://www.uia.net/~wildcard/quast/napoleon.htm

[RodneyCK2]

4. I use to house sit for friends and they had a golden retriever.

She was a treat and very intelligent. They have facial expressions, raising the eyebrow (my favorite), looking with full attention, very delightful, all in the eyes. You will understand if you spend more than five minutes with one. She clearly had a working vocabulary list and was very loyal and all around loving. I would HIGHLY recommend getting one.

The dog breed I want, and another highly intelligent breed, is the Boston Terrier. My parents have one and what a little bundle of joy that one is. He hates bare feet for some reason, so in the morning he will search your room for socks, bring them and place them at your feet, then look up and cock his head to the side, waiting for you to put them on. I just love him.

[Mizmoon]

5. This is how I picked a really good dog

I went to the breeder and she let me sit in a room full of available Golden puppies. They looked like clones, each exactly like the other. How to choose from two dozen beauties?

They were wiggling about, running, picking up toys, etc. I watched them for about ten minutes and picked the one that chewed on stuff the least. Mr. Chamilto says that she was the least "chewy" puppy he had ever seen.

Now she weighs 100 lbs and thinks she's still a pup. Tries to crawl into my lap but I only outweigh her by about 30 lbs!

Now, all that said, maybe you should consider getting a mutt from the pound. They are healthier, live longer, and you would be doing a very good thing. In retrospect, I kind of wish I had done that. I love my dog dearly, but those pound dogs need people to take them in. Just a suggestion.

[TaleWgnDg]

7. please be VERY SURE -- VERY VERY SURE -- that any

potential Golden Retriever that you may adopt/buy does NOT have "canine hip dysplasia."

http://www.golden-retriever.com/canine_hip_dysplasia.htm

It's hereditary due to too damn much inbreeding but do be careful of ALL retrievers, labs, goldens, etc., even if found at the local dog pound and of mixed-breed.


edited to add: a photo that looks much like the dog I had years ago

[Lizzie Borden]

28. You said exactly what I was going to say!

Thank you for being concerned about hip displasia. It's a real heart breaker when your dog can no longer rise from a lying position and is in horrible pain when trying.

[TaleWgnDg]

29. you are very welcome, natasha . . . I, too, had a very

faithful old yellow retriever. the family and I loved him to pieces but had to put him down he was in such pain and inoperable.

it shattered my kids. my wife wept as did I too. I burned his doghouse I was so distraught.

may the breeder suffer as did my old faithful friend! it's a known hereditary issue . . .

enough said.

[Maestro]

30. My Belgian Malinois, as are all Malinois, is prone

to that as well. Although so far we are fine.

[GingerSnaps]

8. Male or Female?

Which one has the better disposition? Are they good with Cats?

[RodneyCK2]

14. When you say, "Are they good with cats", do you mean....

will they use one as a rag-doll toy, flipping it from side to side in their mouth? Ummmmm, well.....

LOL.

That I imagine would depend on the nature/spirit of any dog. What I have observed from golden retrievers is that they have a gentle aura about them. They are not the sort of dogs who have a malicious streak in them, but again, that may be due more to a puppies upbring and its master disposition and teachings.

[GingerSnaps]

17. How did you know?

LOL

[havocmom]

18. Yep they will be good with whatever you have in the family

The 90 Pound Hound came as a pup into our 2 (elderly) cat household. He grew and learned to respect cats. He also did comedy routines mimicing their old-cat walks. When the last old cat passed in May, the dog was devestated. I really think they had a very good telepathic link and the dog was lost without it

You should have seen the big dog just about turning cartwheels as I carried the cat kennel with this young lady in it to our car.

He has been so gentle and patient with her. He modulates his strength and tussles with her without any injury.

While we were struggling with what to name the new addition to the family, he decided : My cat, I'll name her! Gave her two licks across the noggin, greatly mussing her fur, and the cat was named. Spike it is!

We gage her growth by the space she takes up next to the dog



My only warning: Like NSMA said, Goldens can be very stubborn. Make sure you feel comfortable with enforcing the fact that you are the boss. Then, if you also recognize the dog is incredibly intelligent and generally will show good judgement, and you respect that, while staying the top dog yourself, you will do fine.

They are great with kids. I mean, really great with kids. But make sure the kids know to respect and treat dogs well.

[GingerSnaps]

19. Your pictures

They are adorable and they sold me on a Golden. You should send your pictures into a magazine.

[havocmom]

20. Another thing about Goldens- VERY photogenic

Really hard to take a bad picture of a Golden. The 90 pound hound figured the camera thing out long ago. He will stop what he is doing and pose, often showing a stylized human type smile to the lens. Just makes candid shots difficult.

Some of my favorite pictures of him were taken during his "scrub dad" sessions. He is very concerned with my husband's grooming and will spend lavish amounts of time cleaning his hair most evenings. On weekends hubby doesn't shave and the dog will actually manage to get hold of individual whiskers and tug on them. We figure he doesn't want any other dog to think his 'dad' is some neglected stray they can just take home for their own.

Seriously, Goldens are wonderful additions to the family. Just make sure they are allowed to be members of the family. Love, acceptance and companionship is probably more important to a Golden than food.

Oh, and get the biggest NYLABONE you can afford and keep them available. You will also never leave clothes laying around your home. A good lid to the clothes hamper is essential, especially if you like to have company over. They all seem to love to dig undies out to show off for company. Did I mention they have great sense of humor and love pranks?

[RodneyCK2]

24. Again, it is all in the eyes.

They take great pictures because of their expressions, very animated facial movements.

I want one now..LOL.

[annerevere]

9. We have a golden and for us, health problems abound

No hip problems, but our 10-year-old has had major allergies for years. We gave her weekly shots for awhile, and then went to prednisone (steroid) once every other day. Her ellergies promote ear infections which is not good (hard to cure and very smelly).

She's had skin cancer in two spots (requiring surgeries) and Tuesday we will take her in for a third lump to be removed.

In retrospect, I think getting a mutt would have been better for us. But we love our dog.

[GingerSnaps]

10. I am so sorry to hear about her condition

:hug:

[frogbison]

12. Our Cookie

also 10. has lumps all over her. Vet said not to worry. How did you know yours were cancerous? Biopsy or what?

[The Other Michael]

15. I have a....

5yr. old goldie (male) that I got when he was 7 weeks old. While all puppies are adorable.the goldies just tug at your heart.
Just know that a goldie, as with other breeds, should be purchased from a reputable breeder. A reputable breeder will value their reputation far more than the mighty dollar.
As with any pet...it takes alot of time and energy to properly train them. Goldies are incredibly intelligent dogs...and nothing makes them happier then to please their owner. My boy has no signs of being aggressive..he thinks all animals are his friends. He happily watches squirrels and birds eat his dry food.
Just be prepared for a huge expense for goldies are prone to a slew of diseases and problems. And also be prepared for the shedding..you have to learn to accept and live with hair 24/7/365.
But I wouldn't trade my big ol puppy for anything in the world...I think I happen to be the luckiest dog owner in the world.

[annerevere]

26. She has many lumps too

Essentially whenever we felt a lump that felt suspicious we took her in and we were right (both lumps were hard and immovable and were just suddenly there; the others feel like fat deposits or look like warts). We also regularly have her vet do a physical exam of all her lumps, old and new.

[Alleycat]

13. We have a 8 month old now

Great dogs. But as stated above they are very intelligent and learn quickly ow to wrap you around their paw! We have done the puppy training thing so things are looking up. Be aware that they are very oral. Love to chew--bones, toys, shoes, walls, couch, etc etc etc....so be aware. They love to have things in the mouths all the time. Everyone I have talk to about them from the breeder to trainers to other owners say the same thing. Make sure they have a constructive outlet or your house and your things will be in danger. She also likes to dig in the yard so my flower beds have been a mess this summer They also apparently mature at a slower rate then other breeds. Be this I mean they will be in this puppy stage longer. But once they hit a year to year and a half they become the best dog ever. I have been told this can happen over night. Nobody I have talked to said they regretted they decision to get one but you must be willing to put in some time with them.

All this being said they are great family dogs. Ours will follow us around the house to be close. They do not like to be alone so be prepared to have your companion with you at all times. She loves my 12 year old with a passion. She also loves my parents, the mail man, our neighbors basically everyone!! Not extremely loyal just wants to be loved by everyone. She gets along great with the cats-we have three which range in age from 4 years to 12 weeks. She know to play more gently with the baby then the adults.

Good luck it you decide this is for you. I have always had pound hounds up til now, but my daughter fell in love with the breed so we went this route this time. Just be careful to interview various breeders and be sure to check out the parents. Hip Dysplasia, heart problems and cancer are common occurances in the breed. Also be aware that they may have ear issues since they have heavy floppy ears that don't get much air. We clean ours once a week.

[Kazak]

21. Great dogs!

Very sweet and intelligent.

[jpgray]

22. Best dog ever. I've owned two

You have to be willing to commit to the training, though, or the dog will control you. :) Both were able to run with me well into their later years--great dogs.

[Neshanic]

23. Great dogs, they want to be surgically attched to you if they could.

[miss_kitty]

25. I have a neighbour who has one and they are very hard to walk

as a puppy. You will always be stopped by people who want to love him/her up to the extreme...:)

[Bunny]

27. Here's a pic of my Golden girl:

Lily - She's a beauty, well over 100#, gentle as can be, dumber than a bag of rocks. ;) Wonderful disposition. Can't recommend a Golden highly enough - but they do need exercise, and they are prone to allergies and hip problems.

Edited to add that she doesn't look like a typical Golden because I keep her shaved - I don't like dealing with the shedding from her naturally long coat.

[flvegan]

32. One word: Adopt

Visit your shelter, check petfinder.com, look for a rescue.