Can anyone help... re buying a golden retriever.

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Christmas_Kate

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Okay, after lots of long talks, internet searches and talking to different people we've whittled our choice of breed of dog down to two... a lab or a golden retriever. The kids have recewntly been spending time with a friend's puppy (to help puppy get used to kids) which helped us see how they would behave. They were very calm and gentle, and played really nicely, they left the puppy alone when they realised she was tired.
Next week my parents springer is coming to stay. OH has never had a dog before so we're hoping it'll be good practice for him.
Now, having grown up with working dogs (mainly springers) I don't know anyone who breeds Golden Retrievers. We don't want a working strain, or showing or breeding. We'd like a bitch, and to have her 'done' asap lol. We just want a nice family pet. Whilst OH understands puppies can cost upwards of 300 pounds, I am really reluctant to pay alot for a pet. I know that sounds awful, but I am a miserly farmers daughter lol. We havent told the kids we've decided to go ahead as we realise that it may take months to find one.
We're in Leicestershire, but are prepared to travel to bedfordhire, northants, lincolnshire, warwickshire etc for the right puppy, right price.

can anyone recommend anyone? any particular lines to go for reknowned for their docile nature?
 
my mum is breeding her goldie this year-kc reg with good bloodlines.but she is based along the south coast-she also breeds choclate labs, also beautiful dogs-one of her pups went to hearing dogs society and has passed all their tests! if you need any more help let me know!
 
i would choose a lab over a retreiver. I work in a vets and we see more nasty retreivers than labs. hardly ever see a nasty lab but when reteivers are bad, they are bad. They are not as trustworthy as labs. I know ill get shot down by all retreiver fans for saying that and im sure there are many very lovely retreivers out there that wouldnt put a foot out of line, but you do get the nasty ones and certainly in my experience, there are more grumpy retreivers than labs. That would be my choice anyway. I also tell you this bearing in mind you have children. I would much rather have a lab than retreiver if kids are involved.
Apologies to all lovely retreivers!!
 
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i would choose a lab over a retreiver. I work in a vets and we see more nasty retreivers than labs. hardly ever see a nasty lab but when reteivers are bad, they are bad. They are not as trustworthy as labs. I know ill get shot down by all retreiver fans for saying that and im sure there are many very lovely retreivers out there that wouldnt put a foot out of line, but you do get the nasty ones and certainly in my experience, there are more grumpy retreivers than labs. That would be my choice anyway. I also tell you this bearing in mind you have children. I would much rather have a lab than retreiver if kids are involved.
Apologies to all lovely retreivers!!

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thats like saying short people are more likely to be nasty than the taller ones, when in actual fact thats not true(obviously) you cant tar all dogs with the same brush, it largely depends on that dogs breeding, if its parents had certain traits these will be passed down, ive known labs to be tempremental just as much as any other dog ive met.
 
Okay, here's my thought. I know you might not want to pay a huge amount upfront, but by going with a breeder who does all the genetic testing, you'll be saving youself a lot of money down the road. Most pups from show breeders -- like my dog -- are exactly what you described, wonderful pets who would be laughed out of the show ring for their "faults", but come from great lines, both in terms of temperament and health. I got my dog at 15 weeks, and she was already crate-trained, housetrained, leash-trained a little, and had been around eight dogs of varying sizes. The breeder pours her heart and soul into her pups, and it shows.

I, too, have met plenty of nasty Retrievers and Labs, believe it or not, one of which lives down the street from me. This Golden is a nightmare, and has to be muzzled. Unsurprisingly, the woman found the dog in the back of the local paper and "he's always been a bit funny".

Unless you want to go down the rescue route and know in detail the dog's background, particular foibles, and such, I always think it's best to really research your breeders -- don't go for the cheapest option, necessarily.

This isn't intended as a lecture -- just my opinion!
 
I too would go for a lab having seen more nasty retrievers. I would also not be surprised to pay 300 and would ensure the parents of these two particular breeds have had all hip/eye testing done-we're about to get our labs hips replaced as she's so badly arthritic and has been since 2/3.
 
I have to agree with you Kat - I have also met more unpredictable Retreivers thank Labradors.

If I was you Katy, I'd go for a yellow Lab.
 
Just to add, I think retrievers are more expensive, I think you can get a lab for 200-250. They are also a lot less work re: coats!
 
My neighbour is an occasional Lab breeder. She has 2 litters (8 pups in total) born last weekend. They will all be for sale through the kennel club website. Contact me if you are interested. They are approx £500 or so, the going rate for a lab I'm afraid. They have a mixture of lines but tend to be more 'show' bred, the smaller stockier labs. A friend has one of hers and it is a delightful dog, 3 years old but genetically a full sister to one of the litters.

She is in N Herts, about 5 miles from the A1M at Baldock, so not a difficult journey for you.
 
I've also heard that pet bred retrievers can be more unpredicatable temprament wise than labs. (although a well bred retriever will probably be lovely).

I would also agree with everyone that has said to go with a reputable breeder with KC reg puppies.

My lab is working bred (finer built) than show labs - but I must agree that he is the most lovely temprament - adores children (has a tendency to lick their tummies oddly!) - and loves to learn and please.

He cost £450 - dogs are slightly cheaper than bitches often.

ETS: Our breeder is in Daventry and is breeding her other bitch (My puppy's half sister) in July/ Aug - not sure when you wanting a puppy? But I can pm you her details.
 
We've been ringing round breeders all morning
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. I'm sorry, but 750 quid for a pet just isnt my idea of a fair price
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I've just phoned the local Dog rescue home, and had a long chat with them. They said they often get Labs in, young (under a year old) and would be happy to let us come and see one. They assured me they know the history of all dogs, and if they're not 100% they'll let me know, said most get brought in as people can't cope with the chewing. They said they'll accept a donation in exchange for an innoculated spayed dog. I'm quite happy to bung them a couple of hundred and a couple of crates of food and some blankets in return.. so I think that's the route we'll be taking.
 
Glad to hear it Katy..I'd go with a rescue everytime. Most good rescue centre's neuter/innoculate/microchip and assess all their dogs before they are rehomed and will always take them back should it not work out.
 
contact Guide Dogs for the Blind - they have a breeding programme and sell on any pups unsuitable for their work - for them, temperament comes top of the list so you'll be almost guaranteed to get a lovely natured dog ( although I believe that they charge around £500 )- another thought ...go for a bitch ...young males can be MONSTERS when they hit the teenage stage - they do come out the other side but can be very hard work.

As to price ...well I'm afraid you get what you pay for - try to do this on the cheap and you MAY be lucky and get a healthy good tempered dog of your chosen breed ....or you may find yourself paying out hundreds in vet fees to counter the affects of Hip Dysplasia etc. and counting the costs in many other - non financial - ways
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Never, never buy from the local papers or free ads - puppy farmers use these to adveryise their stock and these two breeds are the puppy farmers 'bread and butter' - if the demand for their pups dries up then this horrible trade would too !
Finally - contact GR or Lab breed rescue - they may have an older dog/bitch that needs a good home .
 
My mum breeds Retrievers and we charge £550 for dogs and £600 for bitches which unfortunately is the lower end of the price range for them! I know it is expensive but we worked out all the costs recently. For a litter of 9 pups it cost us £1955, this included the mating, hip and eye testing, all food for mum and pups and vet checking worming of pups. If our pups also were innoculated and parents had genetic test this would push the price up considerably. This means she made a profit of £3195 for 8 weeks work (and it is hard work looking after a litter of pups!)
You will find most breeders charge this amount because at least if you have £600 to buy a puppy we assume you then have enough to spend the money on the dog. For instance innoculations, neutering, insurance, good quality food and plenty of toys as none of these things come cheap.
These are not show dogs, just family pets and we have not had a problem homing any of the pups.
Regarding nasty Retrievers, that is down to the parents genetic traits (we research the stud and tend only to use dogs we know) and also the owners allowing them to get away with it.
 
My daughter and I are new to dog owning! We bought a Springer Spaniel bitch almost two years ago ("my" dog) and although I love her to bits, and she's loyal and loving, she is totally HYPER. Walk her for hours and she's STILL hyper! My daughter reckons she's permanently on Ecstasy! Anyway, because my daughter was very ill last year, I succumbed to ber pleading for a Golden Retriever and on the day before her return home from hospital, I went to view the only available golden retriever bitch puppy in East Anglia (well, it felt like that!) and I drove God knows how many miles from Hertfordshire to Swaffham, Norfolk, where I bought Lottie, the last puppy from the litter at a pig farm! "Ah, I see you're wearing the right boots!" was the greeting when I knocked on the farmhouse door wearing my Le Chameau wellies! I suppose the farmer was expecting a townie in stillettos! Anyway, I fell in love with the puppy........as did my daughter on her return from hospital the following day........and, whereas my Springer is bottom of the class at obedience (although she did very well at agility today - her first attempt!), Lottie the retriever is a superstar! Laid back, lazy, docile, dopey, adorable, cuddly, sweet, gorgeous.....what more can I say???? GO FOR A GOLDIE!!!! (Small problem, during Badminton, she discovered water, in the the shape of the lake, and now we can't keep her out of water, including the very small garden pond!)
 
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