The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: Marches Farmer on November 29, 2016, 02:00:29 pm
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Our choice for a companion dog is (slowly) narrowing down, boosted by the 9 year old GR on our contractor's farm, who's a star. Any experiences, tips or similar most welcome, including dog or bitch.
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I have a friend who keeps them, they will need a fair amount of exercise, absolutely stunning animals! :)
This may help.....
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pets4homes/home.nsf/breedinfo/goldenretriever (http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pets4homes/home.nsf/breedinfo/goldenretriever)
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Gender is purely a personal choice. Males in general have stronger wills, females have the problem of seasons unless you have them spayed(not before a year old)
Check the parents have had the recommended health tests.
Schemes or advice relevant to this breed -
It is strongly recommended that both Kennel Club Assured Breeders and non-Kennel Club Assured Breeders should use the following schemes, tests and/ or advice.
BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (GR_PRA1)?
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (GR_PRA2) ?
ICT-A (Ichthyosis
Bitches under 18 months not to produce a litter
Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
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I've never owned a goldie, but just my personal experiences:
Can be grumpy with other dogs (show type maybe?)
Show types can tend to fat and be a bit "ambling"
Seen some working types which were lovely dogs - lightly built in comparison and nice temperament with a real want to please.
This is my very limited experience, but just my penneth worth for you.
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Seen some working types which were lovely dogs - lightly built in comparison and nice temperament with a real want to please.
This is our contractor's dog. Question is, how do I get a working type and not a show type ....?
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you could try these people?
http://www.gaytonwood.co.uk/ (http://www.gaytonwood.co.uk/)
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Never owned one but father trained gundogs so been around the working type.
The saying goes that Labs are the easiest to train, then Goldie's and then Flatties.
They are all different of course but the working goldens tended to show a bit more aggression towards other dogs and possibly a little more capable of being sharp towards humans. Nothing awful but maybe just something to be aware of. I'm not sure if this is true of show/pet types but guessing that in general they would be more easy going and laid back. Same is true of working labs.
I love the really dark red working line Goldens. You will find advertisements for them on the internet. You could try buying the Shooting Times. You could ring Gundog groups or there is bound to be a special society for Golden Retrievers. I'd probably talk to them first.
Doganjo has filled you in on health checks to be aware of.
Have fun!
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We have a GR who is two years old next week. She is undoubtedly the most beautiful dog anyone has ever had. For her, life is a continual game. She likes her daily walk in the morning and during the afternoon just to hang around me while I'm doing my stuff outside and does not like me to be out of sight for too long. She gets very excited when she meets anyone and can barely contain herself, but I have now managed to stop her jumping up. We are careful with her diet as she has a pre-occupation with food and will consume her meals in 30 seconds in the most single-minded of ways. She goes to bed in our utility room at about 9pm each evening with a biscuit to see her on her way. At 8:55pm she sits stock still directly in front of me, her black eyes looking at me without flinching, alert for the signal. I'm very happy with her and she is very happy with us.
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Yup, that's the sort of thing. Not that I'm unhappy with either of our dogs (Border Collie X and a Welsh Sheepdog) but that's not their sort of thing.
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I have 7 golden retrievers two nuetered males and five females ages 6 to 3 years. They are all different. Look on champs dogs for breeders local to you that might have puppies becoming available. I would agree with Doganjo that parents should have had all the necessary health tests with good results. It can't guarantee that your puppy will be healthy all of its life but it goes a long way towards insuring that it will not suffer from that problems that the parents have been tested for.
Good luck with finding your perfect dog.
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we got a working bred goldie pup this year. he's an absolute star-the easiest pup we've ever had. he's far more leggy (at 7 months) than his show-bred playmate but at 25kg already, will not be a small dog. he is a calm but fun boy, I do tracking and scent work training with him which he loves. He's great with the cats, poultry and horses. he has a lovely nature and is very switched on-very bright-not the boldest pup but not neurotic, tries really hard all the time. fab with disabled step kids. parents had excellent hip and elbow scores, great temps-the mother in particular is a completely sweet dog-dad is too and a FTCH. I am used to setters, so bar is quite low on the trainability score ;) but his recall and manners are great.
he's the first goldie I've had, had never even considered one before someone suggested one to me-we'll almost certainly be getting another next year. next time we'll go for a bitch but only due to size considerations and because you can get goldie bitches with very pretty faces ;) I do not intend to breed and have enough options and experience to cope with one or two seasons before she's neutered.
working quite hard to find up here at least, there are some very good breeders about though-we got lucky but mine mean a bit of a wait for some.
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Seen some working types which were lovely dogs - lightly built in comparison and nice temperament with a real want to please.
This is our contractor's dog. Question is, how do I get a working type and not a show type ....?
ask about-I can point you in the direction of some breeders. I also know of a litter but they may have all gone by now.
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[member=24953]lord flynn[/member] I know just what you are saying about setters - had 3 Gordons and can't face another although I love them to bits. If I'm ever in the way of getting a planned puppy (keep getting fosters and keeping them!) I fancy a working goldie.
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[member=24953]lord flynn[/member] I know just what you are saying about setters - had 3 Gordons and can't face another although I love them to bits.
I feel the same about the Irish Setters :)
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I found my Goldie on the side of the road 8 years ago when he was 3 months old - best thing I have every rescued - Best. Dog. Ever.
If I could I would have a whole houseful, He is fab with the other animals, only downside is that he eats everything - EVERYTHING - and we have to watch his weight, He is a sofa dog, not a working dog = not really bright enough for that I think :D Here he is with his fellow sofa surfers :cat: :dog: :-[
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The big white fluffy ones that look a bit like a bear are less likely to be inbred than the honey coloured ones (which is not to say that all the dark ones are inbred by any means) this is because the big white fluffyness is a result of bringing in pyrenean mountain dog genes to enlarge the breed in the 50s, 60s, and 70s
also big white and fluffy what's not to like...
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The big white fluffy ones that look a bit like a bear are less likely to be inbred than the honey coloured ones (which is not to say that all the dark ones are inbred by any means) this is because the big white fluffyness is a result of bringing in pyrenean mountain dog genes to enlarge the breed in the 50s, 60s, and 70s
also big white and fluffy what's not to like...
Not true
There is line breeding and inbreeding - Kennel club differentiates between the two and tehre are many articles that are easily found on the internet. Colour can be bred out or in, but it does not necessarily mean that white dogs are more likely to be in- bred or even line-bred than dark brown dogs.
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Just picking up on DesertMum. That is one fabulous picture!