Golden Retrievers

[2Tiggers]

I have never had a dog before. We are thinking about a Golden retriever puppy. I am in need of all the info. I could possibly need about what it takes to raise a dog. Supplies, Cost (food, vet, etc..), time. I want to be fully prepared before I make a decision one way or the other.

Thanks Disney dog lovers!

 

[Deffenm]

Well we got a puppy (black lab) on Christmas Eve for the family. Let me first say that puppies are just like babies. They need a lot of attention. You need to play with them, walk them, feed them, clean up after them. Our lab still does not sleep through the night so I get up with her at least once a night to take her potty (2 or 3 AM). Puppies chew on everything so be prepared for clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, anything in their reach to be chewed on. The first week that we had her she cried almost all night long. She was in her crate, first in the laundry room, and then we put her in our bedroom (she stopped crying after that). Between her shots, heart worm/flea treatments, and to get her fixed we have spent about $500. She should be set though. Her food is about $40/ month and her toys were about $30 to get started. We crate train so a crate is about $80.

If you like to travel you need to determine who will watch the pet while you are gone.

Now given everything that I posted I would not trade Bella (puppies name) for anything. She is so cute and loveable with the family. She is part of our family for LIFE (another thing to remember). When I come home from work she is waiting, wagging her little tail, and gives me tons of kisses.

 

[DISNEYNV]

Goldens are great family pets that are an excellent breed for kids when raised with them They are a medium sized dog which would require lots of walks and areas to safely run..like at a dog park or fenced in yard. They are very intelligent and need to be challenged daily through fun physical play and learning new tricks, etc. I believe the breed has some health issues but a fairly long lifespan if bought from a reliable breeder and well visits from the vet. I am not sure if you live near a Petsmart with a Banfield Pet Hospital inside but we take our cats there and they have a good puppy plan! You pay a set fee and it includes all the first shots, working, and discounts on medications and neutering. It is worth it Good luck on your decision. It is crazy anymore to be a good pet parent it's like makng a decision to have a baby!

 

[GRUMPY D]

if you do decide to get one go to a breeder not a pet store , you will get a better breed of dog at a breeder then a pet store and at most breeders the puppies are all most house broke , and we have a golden and she is the most laid back dog Ive seen , she lets the kids clime on her pull her ears her tail and never growls but if she thinks your hurting a kid (ANY KID ) she will try to protect them

 

[KNJWDW]

We have a Golden Retriever and he is the sweetest thing. We actually got him when he was about 2 years old. He was a "rescue" dog. Which means, that he was given up by his owners, they weren't treating him very well. He is great with our kids, very gentle. He does have a playful side and loves to run and play fetch - he is a retreiver, after all! It does cost a bit to have a dog. Food probably runs about $40/month. They need shots, heartworm medicine, etc. Which would probably total another several hundred dollars a year. Then there is the unplanned expense if they get sick or something. But, this breed of dog is great for families. You could check out some shelters, you never know, they may have some pups. I just saw on Oprah, that she got cocker spaniel puppies from a shelter. Hope this helps.

Amy

 

[zippy2]

I just wanted to agree with everyone that Goldens are wonderful dogs. Very good with kids. If you get a puppy the most important thing is to find a reputable breeder. Not an add in the paper. A breed club could be the place to find one. Also good breeders usually have waiting lists. Another place to try is a rescue. These dogs are often fostered in homes so a lot is known about their temperment. Goldens do shed a lot but if you brush them regularly it isn't too bad. They are wonderful family members.

 

[NMAmy]

Another golden retriever owner. She is our first golden and she is a wonderful dog. They do have a long puppyhood but are pretty easy to train. We got ours from the Humane Society when she was a puppy.

Since this is your first dog ever, you might want to consider rescuing a dog past the puppy stage. They require a ton of attention and training.

For costs--according to my vet, goldens are prone to allergies and often have trouble with their ears. Sunny had to have steroids last fall when her allergies got particularly bad which can add to your vet bills.

I would suggest calling a local vet and asking for their prices for things like yearly shots, well dog visits, nail trimming, heartworm pills, etc. That will give you an idea what the cost will be per year for a healthy dog. Of course, illness will add to that cost.

For food--I buy a huge bag of lamb & rice dog food about every 6 weeks. Oh, yeah, dogs with allergies often need special food. It costs around $45. Then you add in the toys, bones, etc. I've found it better not to keep track of that cost. You'll also need to get the dog groomed or learn how to take care of the matted hair yourself. A crate is a great investment if you do get a puppy--it really helps with the potty training.

I really do recommend a golden for a first time dog owner. They are friendly, anxious to please their owners, good with kids, and smart. (But not TOO smart--at least in our case.) I've had many different breeds over the years and there is now a special place in my heart for goldens.

 

[jms531]

Don't know if this is an issue or not but as absolutely adorable as goldens are-they shed like crazy!!

I have bad allergies so a golden retriever is definitely out of the question!

Good luck!!

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I just have to chime in and say that just being a goldie does not make a dog low key and great with kids. Every dog is different and socialization is key. My sister has 2 golden retreivers. Her female is super sweet and calm. I absolutely trust this dog around my children..she's a doll baby. Their male is an entirely different story. This dog is only submissive to my brother in law...in his mind he's next in line. I totally blame them for not correcting him as a puppy. He has food and toy issues..he'll growl at anyone who comes near his food. He even bit my niece once when she tried to get him to come inside. If that were my dog he would have been gone that day! Anyway, 99% of the time this is a great indoor dog from a reputable breeder...he just can't be trusted.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

We have a yellow lab. SO if they are anything like a yellow lab and I heard they are they have puppy traits longer then most puupies.
BUT if you keep plenty of toys/bones on hand for chewing they won't get bored and chew your stuff.

 

[bamagymmom]

We were given a golden puppy this summer. She is precious, but very active. This is in comparison to my thirteen year old basset hound who has adjusted to her liveliness. They are both outside dogs. We only have one tree in our yard, but she seems to find every stick on our street and brings it to our driveway. At least it is not my neighbors' shoes, doormats, baseball gloves, etc. My girls love her EXCEPT when they are trying to practice tennis I can always count on Daphne to greet me every afternoon with her tennis ball or frisbee. For all the trouble pets can be, it is worth it to us.


Dec. 15-21 POFQ - My 40th birthday trip
Best friend and family decided to go with us this week

 

[worlddreamer]

I LOVE my golden, and wouldn't trade him for the world, but I was totally unprepared for him! He's VERY hyper - from 6a until midnight he wants to play.. and he's 5 years old now. (Don't believe them when they say he'll calm down when he's older).

My "Mo" is also a rescue dog. I HIGHLY recommend that you check into rescue groups. They are usually much less expensive than breeders and they're GREAT dogs. (The original owners wanted to euthanize Mo because he's "too dark colored" to breed for money). Our vet told us that Labs and Goldens are the most overbred dogs in the world and many dogs will have some sort of health problem due to the overbreeding. He's smart, was easily trained, and is great with people of all ages.

He is also HUGE for a golden - 110 pounds - and he's not fat, he just happens to be very big for a golden. In fact, he is MUCH taller and has a broader chest than my Rottweiler!

Please, look into rescue dogs, and be prepared for the lifestyle that a golden requires. As I type I'm also throwing the ball for Mo.

 

[jenb1023]

Just wanted to throw this option out there - we are the proud owners of a one year old Goldendoodle. He is the best dog I have ever had and honestly he is the best dog I have ever met. All the wonderful family-oriented traits of a golden but when mixed with a poodle equals very little shedding.

The bad news. . .puppies are hard work and honestly so are dogs. Just make sure you are prepared for all of the work and hard stuff and not just the cute puppy stuff.

We got ours from a local breeder.

 

[katyjeka]

We got a sheltie on Dec 22nd, because our dd's had been begging us for a LONG time for a dog. I was very reluctant since I had never had a dog, and knew nothing about them. Well, he is the greatest thing we've done for our family. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I love him to death. He was easy to house train, and has been so much fun. I know you asked about Goldens, but I just wanted to give my insight on puppies. I thought we were making a big mistake, how wrong I was. We've had him to the vet twice for shots, for a total of $125.00. He goes in May to be fixed, and a chip inserted, another $200(worth every dime) We did spend quite a bit at Petsmart before we got him, but now we just by an occasional toy at Walmart. Good luck. Janice3

 

[kkmcan]

Golden owner here. We got ours as a 10 week old puppy and she is now 5 years old. We thought the puppyhood would never end! She was still hyper and getting into trouble when she was 3.5. But now, this dog has got to be the laziest dog ever!

Ours is quite the petite little girl- only 60 or 65 pounds. We spend $15 twice a month for a big bag of Beneful. Then you've got dog treats and milkbones and we only do Kong toys since all the other toys only last a minute tops!

She has been very healthy and only goes to the vet once a year for her shots and checkup which usually runs us $100-$150 a trip.

The other expense which is a killer is pet sitting or kenneling for when we vacation. We went thru 4 kennels before we found one we liked. They charge $22 per day. That adds up when you are gone for a week.

Good luck with your decision.

We love our golden. She is very much a part of our family and she has grown up with our kids. They were 4 and 7 when we got her.

 

[2Tiggers]

Just wanted to throw this option out there - we are the proud owners of a one year old Goldendoodle. He is the best dog I have ever had and honestly he is the best dog I have ever met. All the wonderful family-oriented traits of a golden but when mixed with a poodle equals very little shedding.

The bad news. . .puppies are hard work and honestly so are dogs. Just make sure you are prepared for all of the work and hard stuff and not just the cute puppy stuff.

We got ours from a local breeder.

Thanks everyone for the info!

I wanted to ask more questions about the goldendoodle. . . Do they need to be clipped and how often?

What other special care do they need? Being part poodle and all....

 

[jenb1023]

Thanks everyone for the info!

I wanted to ask more questions about the goldendoodle. . . Do they need to be clipped and how often?

What other special care do they need? Being part poodle and all....

Yes, they need to be clipped. How often depends on how long you like their hair. We've had ours clipped about every two months or so. My co-worker has the brother to my dog and has only had him clipped two or three times in a year. No other special care except you need to brush them once in awhile. We had a beagle/foxhound before and I hated the hair everywhere. Our cat sheds more than Mickey (our dog) does.

All dogs of the same breed are not necessarily the same - but he is incredible with our dd. He just loves her to death and follows her around the house and there is nothing she can do that makes him snappy.

The other nice thing about a goldendoodle is that they come in all different sizes depending on the size of the poodle.

I didn't notice where you live but we live in PA and if you are close and interested PM me and I can give you the name of our breeder.

 

[El&Asmom]

I'm not sure where you live, but in the Chicagoland area, there is a wonderful Golden rescue organization called Good as Gold.

Robin who runs the organization is amazing. They will work with you to find the right dog for your family, and the dogs come from foster homes that have been working with them if they need any training. The only reason we didn't get one from them last year when we were getting a new dog was because they will not adopt to families that have children under the age of five.

It's a great way to get a wonderful purebred dog that really needs a home.

 

[nettii]

Hi we have a golden, Pettie he is about the sweetest dog,very needy, he needs to be petted always! he Loves to eat! He is very protective of our boys he Loves to play ball. Very good dogs! They do tend to be prone to hip displasia a hip or joint disorder that can be painfull. you need to watch their diet close, they have slow matabolisms and gain weight easily. the bread is susceptible to alergies so i believe it is best to feed them a good diet. not a bunch of over processed dog treats. They also get fatty tumors as they age. they need their ears need to be cleaned regularly they can get ear infections. Have your groomer or vet tech you how to clean them. We keep the hair trimmed from inside of his ears to let air circulate in. They do need to be trimmed up, mostly their feet. What they need most is love!Have fun nettii

 

[Do_u_beleive_n_magic]

Okay, I am the owner of a 6 year old golden retriever. We adopted her at 4 weeks old (much too young) only to discover that she wasnt yet fully weaned and had to be puppy food mixed with warm milk. She was also dripping with fleas and ticks and had to be given a flea bath at the vet when she was less than 5 weeks old. We have had other dogs but she was the WORST puppy we have ever had. She bit constantly, drawing blood numerous occasions. She also chewed everything we owned (furniture, pant legs, blankets, you name it). To top it off she ate anything left in her reach( barbie clothes, washcloths,socks, paper towels, sanitary napkins), literally swallowing the items whole. We took her to the vet the first couple times but we eventually became so accustomed to pumping her stomach with hydrogen peroxide that we are now experts. Another unanticipated twist of having a golden is the fact that they cannot be left by themselves for long periods. They are very social and if left by themselves ,either in the yard or house, they will become bored and destructive of everything within their paths. Golden retrievers are prone to several health issues including: obesity, hip displaysia, joint problems and anxiety. Golden retrievers are wonderful dogs with a great temperment. However, Before getting a golden retriever you need to seriously consider how much time ,money and energy you are willing to expend. As this breed requires large quantities of each.