[SallyintNorth]

Hearsay but I have heard that there are lines of Goldies which are dog-aggressive.

When I was a youngster, a lot of yellow labs were dog-aggressive.

It just goes to show, whatever breed you choose, do your research as much as you can, don't go by show or field accomplishments; you really want to find lots of happy pet owners of dogs from the same lines!

[trish.farm]

My mother has always had Goldens and bred them all her life.  They drive me mad!  You need to hoover your house and clothes every day, they drool, they are so slow to react to a command, they knock everything over with their tails and bodies, but they are very loving.  I had a golden as my first dog (present from my mother) and did actually train her to beat on our shoot even though she was a showing strain.  She was a bit brainless though.  I never had another golden, have had working labs since then,  so much easier!!!!!!!  Easy to train, quick to respond, loving, much daintier around the house, so loyal.  Would highly recommend a lab!!!

[Ladygrey]

I got a golden a couple of months ago as a companion to my collie

Was a mistake which I shouldnt have made really, I think I am just not a golden person at all

He has improved greatly but still has issues which when meeting other golden people they just turn and say its "normal for the breed, isnt it lovely"

He is far too food orientated, like obsessed, I hate it, If I was falling off a cliff and a crumb of bread was he would rather let me die and eat the crumb, he will grab food out of your hand to eat it, he jumps up at the kitchen counters and if there is nothing to snatch will just leave puddles of drool all over them with his hair stuck to

He STINKS like a dog, im sorry but its a far far stringer smell than a collie ever smells like

He is dim and slow and slow to react to anything, he is slow to figure things out and slow to pick up on things, he weighs 32 kilo and is still growing and runs into me and hurts me, he can jump on the sofa and I have to say off like 40 times a day for 4 days for him to pick it up

He is a dominant dog and it feels like he is constantly testing me and driving me insane, Tully has not been able to play with a single toy since Jim (the retriever) arrived, Jim wont allow him to, he has to have every toy and all the attention and then just gives nothing back apart from frustration, Tully is now too scared to look at a toy

The thing is all of the golden people around here just say "oooh yes they are daft and they love food dont they" "yes they all do that" etc etc

This week me and Tully are having a break from him and have left him at my family, it is pure bliss without him here, the problem is he is perfectly behaved (supposedly) at my family's house, so therefore its just me who cant cope with him and I dont know why 

Sorry rant about goldens over

Good points: his tail wags

[trish.farm]

I got a golden a couple of months ago as a companion to my collie

Was a mistake which I shouldnt have made really, I think I am just not a golden person at all

He has improved greatly but still has issues which when meeting other golden people they just turn and say its "normal for the breed, isnt it lovely"

He is far too food orientated, like obsessed, I hate it, If I was falling off a cliff and a crumb of bread was he would rather let me die and eat the crumb, he will grab food out of your hand to eat it, he jumps up at the kitchen counters and if there is nothing to snatch will just leave puddles of drool all over them with his hair stuck to

He STINKS like a dog, im sorry but its a far far stringer smell than a collie ever smells like

He is dim and slow and slow to react to anything, he is slow to figure things out and slow to pick up on things, he weighs 32 kilo and is still growing and runs into me and hurts me, he can jump on the sofa and I have to say off like 40 times a day for 4 days for him to pick it up

He is a dominant dog and it feels like he is constantly testing me and driving me insane, Tully has not been able to play with a single toy since Jim (the retriever) arrived, Jim wont allow him to, he has to have every toy and all the attention and then just gives nothing back apart from frustration, Tully is now too scared to look at a toy

The thing is all of the golden people around here just say "oooh yes they are daft and they love food dont they" "yes they all do that" etc etc

This week me and Tully are having a break from him and have left him at my family, it is pure bliss without him here, the problem is he is perfectly behaved (supposedly) at my family's house, so therefore its just me who cant cope with him and I dont know why 

Sorry rant about goldens over

Good points: his tail wags

Totally agree with everything you say there about Goldens, my mothers 18 month old bitch is like that, my mum suffers from MS and is seriously struggling with the dog.  If Jim is so good at your familys home, could you not persuade them to keep him.  It really sounds like he is not the dog for you, you could so easily end up hating him.  Sometimes we have to accept that things just arnt right and make a difficult decision.  You have to think of Tully as well, is it fair on him? Really hard one for you.   

[in the hills]

Ladygrey, so sorry that you're still having problems with Jim. 

Maybe you're not a 'retriever' person. It's difficult for me to understand because I was brought up with them and love them but I help look after my neighbours 20 or so collies and there's no doubt that in general they have very different characters.

Like the Goldie people say, most of what you describe is 'normal' for a retriever.

My working line lab would 'die' for food and yes may choose the food over me if it came to it. Most are just greedy and food orientated dogs. She wouldn't take food out of our hands or off the counters if we were in the room but may sneak some if left alone so I try to make sure I move food out of reach.

Maybe if he is not working line he is not as clever as the retrievers I've known but you say he is 'dominant' and 'tests' you. It could be that he is clever and knows that he can to a certain extent 'ignore' you ..... hence having to tell him repeatedly. My male Flat Coat does need a firm hand or he would ignore me and he does still ignore me if he thinks he can get away with it eg. if I'm distracted talking to someone. He knows totally what he is doing, works out the situation and uses to his advantage. Maybe Jim needs some serious training .... now that he has settled in with you. Some retrievers need not to be scared exactly but certainly 'respectful' of you. I have met several people who have rehomed their Flatties because they were too much to handle .... they need to know you are boss and will be happier for it in the end.

My neighbour will always say .... mind those collies don't run into you/have you over etc. I laugh because you are right. They play differently to retrievers. My neighbours collies don't seem to bothered about playing around with each other in the same silly way that retrievers do. Retrievers improve as they get older but yes they can have you off your legs. I carry a stick and use it if they get too close. Also only allow 'silliness' for a short time and then make them calm down.

I wouldn't have any toys around as it could cause problems if Jim is dominant. Could you have some one to one time with your collie and the toys? I personally wouldn't let Jim even 'think' he was the boss and could have all the toys, grab food, etc.
 
Hope he settles down.

Waggy tails yeah 

Cross posted with Trishfarm

[SallyintNorth]

Oh what a situation, Ladygrey 

I'm not a Goldie expert but from the way you describe his behaviour, if you decide to keep him, I think I'd be inclined to try clicker training with Jim.  He's food oriented, so he'd pick up the clicker = reward quickly, then he doesn't need to learn lots of new things, you just associate the behaviour you want with the clicker and hence (food) reward.

Jim gets off sofa = click.

Jim lets Tully have toy = click.

Jim doesn't grab food out of your hand = click.

Jim is being a right pain today - no clicks, no attention, no food rewards.

[Mammyshaz]

Lady grey, sounds like your retriever is going through a normal teenage  'working breed type' stage. Sorry to say this is normal and typical of the large workers/pastorals. My GSDs have all been silly at this age though not food orientated as it's not in the GSD breed, unlike any of the retriever types who are greedy. Been on my back a few times as has OH when silly teen GSD of 40kg runs to us. Taken the boys out a few times as well. There are ways to train it out as with most of the behaviour. Agree with ITH especially regarding stealing things and learning respect. With gsds it's not food but items to run and shred, kids toys, clothes etc. It is trainable and they do become a lovely dog past the teen stage but if it's a quiet collie you are used to then a retriever breed is a completely different type of companion with different needs.

Marches farmer it would maybe worth going to a retriever club and seeing the behaviour of the different age groups and talking to plenty of people for their experiences and opinions on the breed. Spending time around the breed will give you some sort of idea whether you would be happy to live with the traits of the breed.

[Ladygrey]

Sorry I didnt mean to or want to hyjack the thread 

Thankyou for your replies, I think yes I am not a retriever person and I think he is too strong mentally and physically for me and Tully 

He can stay with my family for now

I hope you manage to find a lovely dog Marches farmer! goodluck