Moving to another breed

[J&T]

Hello thank you for letting me join , My name is Janice and I've owned golden retrievers for the past 25 years I lost my last Golden Henry at 14yrs and 3 months old to cancer 5 months ago he was the love of my life my soul dog and was very special to me to the point that I just can't have another right now.

I feel lost without having a dog in my house living alone and being of a certain age I'm just so lonely and I can stand it anymore if not having a dog in my house and I need advice on a breed that would suit me as I only have experience living with Goldens.

I intend on going to crufts this year but would like to have a shortlist.

I'm thinking that it may be wise to stick to gundogs as I'm a very active person for my age my main requirements are that I have a dog who is easy to train and somewhat obedient like Goldens , is friendly to people and other dogs as I need a dog I can go anywhere with as I enjoy going to markets especially Christmas markets up and down the country and I love to explore.

Henry used to go into care homes and schools and let the kids read to him and I'd love to do this again it was wonderful to see how happy he made the kids and the comfort he gave to residents of the different care homes we visited.

So I'm looking for a Breed who is not the same but similar to Goldens and is easy to train, can go anywhere , is friendly to all, playful, loyal, mellow like Goldens , happy go lucky , laid back, not overly vocal.


Friends I made in the Golden community have suggested I look at show Cocker or Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers but the toller scream was a little alarming not sure my neighbors would appreciate that.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Parrotperson]

Well labradors spring instantly to mind. I’ve always like Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers. They’re lovely dogs. And make v good companions I hear.

 

[J&T]

Well labradors spring instantly to mind. I’ve always like Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers. They’re lovely dogs. And make v good companions I hear.

Yes Labradors are delightful but I forget to add I have a preference for long coated breeds.

Novas are definitely a breed I'd happily consider if it wasn't for the toller scream my neighbors are the complain about anything type. I haven't met many though so don't know if ifs something I could control with training or if they don't do it that often

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Irish Setter or Irish Water Spaniel?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Flat coat?

 

[AmyMay]

I love Cockers. But how about a Vizsla?

 

[Gloi]

English Setter?

 

[NinjaPony]

A flat coat might suit very well. Or an English/Irish setter if you have an active lifestyle. I’ve known a fair few Tollers and they are fabulous dogs, just a little more drivey than a Golden.

 

[Quoth]

German Longhaired pointer/Large Munsterlander, I’ve no direct experience of them but if they’re anything like other pointers/hprs they’ll have a tendency to range away from you when walked.

I second setters and flat-coated retrievers

On the subject of show cockers I’d be inclined to have a look at a working one, purely on grounds of temperament

If you want an exotic suggestion - Continental Landseer.

 

[J&T]

Irish Setter or Irish Water Spaniel?

I do like setters and am partial to an English or Irish red and white setter but I have been told English setters have a lot of sking issues and I love watching my dogs off leash and setters I've known haven't been good off leash.

Flat coat?

Flat coats are definitely on my shortlist as I want to learn more when I go to crufts because I've always been under the impression they have more drive than a Golden and are not as mellow

I love Cockers. But how about a Vizsla?

I like vizsla's but i prefer longer coated breeds but I've had a fair few advice a Cocker

English Setter?

I am partial to English setters but I believe their not great off leash and can suffer a lot of skin issues

A flat coat might suit very well. Or an English/Irish setter if you have an active lifestyle. I’ve known a fair few Tollers and they are fabulous dogs, just a little more drivey than a Golden.

I agree with a flat coat but I've believe their more drivey than a Golden which I don't want so maybe tollers wouldn't suit either then but I'm keen to learn more about flat coats though when I go to crufts to see if they are more drivey

 

[Smitty]

I'm prepared to be shot down in flames here, but what about a King Charles Cavalier?

 

[J&T]

German Longhaired pointer/Large Munsterlander, I’ve no direct experience of them but if they’re anything like other pointers/hprs they’ll have a tendency to range away from you when walked.

I second setters and flat-coated retrievers

On the subject of show cockers I’d be inclined to have a look at a working one, purely on grounds of temperament

If you want an exotic suggestion - Continental Landseer.

Interesting you mention Longhaired pointer as I'd not need to ask if I could have one of them , their a guy who loves a couple of blocks down who has German Longhaired and German wirehaired pointers and I adore all of his Longhaired ones but he told me to stay clear of any HPR breed as they are not for the faint hearted and very very different to Goldens which was a shame as I really liked them

 

[J&T]

I'm prepared to be shot down in flames here, but what about a King Charles Cavalier?

Cavaliers are cute but I'm aware of the health issues in the breed and I really couldn't go with a breed with that amount of serious health issues

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

All the flat coats I know are lovely calm intelligent dogs. If you don’t want drive then probably avoid the cockers!

 

[J&T]

All the flat coats I know are lovely calm intelligent dogs. If you don’t want drive then probably avoid the cockers!

Thank you for the heads up on cockers does that include show cockers?

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

Thank you for the heads up on cockers does that include show cockers?

The show cockers would be lower drive yes, although I don’t know any so can’t comment as to the rest of their temperament. We have a working cocker who is a wonderful dog, but she at least wouldn’t enjoy going to meet lots of new people and being petted by strangers in the way that a lab or golden might. Very much a one person dog!

 

[Finlib]

Definitely Irish red setter or a Red and White setter .I have had 2 red and whites and 4 Red setters .2 of my red Setters have been PAT going into stroke units and were brilliant with elderly and disabled very sweet and gentle with them.Great with kids.
Despite what people say I have found them easy to train and as with yourself they go everywhere with me country fairs markets castles horse trials . brilliant at the pub stay under the table .They have travelled on steam trains and boats and lived it nothing bothers them.
Plus every smiles when they see them!!!

 

[Katieg123]

Flat coat?

I absolutely second flat coats! Have had them my whole life and they're just the most fun to have around!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I only know of one toller but he is a delightful dog, he will be at crufts!

 

[TPO]

Thank you for the heads up on cockers does that include show cockers?

Not in my experience. I know two families who have show cockers as first dogs and they are so chilled it's unreal. Really loveable, fun dogs.

My parents live next door to show cocker breeders and theirs are very low maintenance. I think they have 5 or 6 of them.

 

[J&T]

Definitely Irish red setter or a Red and White setter .I have had 2 red and whites and 4 Red setters .2 of my red Setters have been PAT going into stroke units and were brilliant with elderly and disabled very sweet and gentle with them.Great with kids.
Despite what people say I have found them easy to train and as with yourself they go everywhere with me country fairs markets castles horse trials . brilliant at the pub stay under the table .They have travelled on steam trains and boats and lived it nothing bothers them.
Plus every smiles when they see them!!!

Both are beautiful but I do love a red and white Irish, how are they off leash though I know setters can have a reputation for not being great at recall?

Aren't they high energy compared to Goldens?

I absolutely second flat coats! Have had them my whole life and they're just the most fun to have around!

I'm keen to learn more about flat coats they seem to be similar to Goldens but more drivey or so I've been told?

And not as mellow as Goldens?

Not in my experience. I know two families who have show cockers as first dogs and they are so chilled it's unreal. Really loveable, fun dogs.

My parents live next door to show cocker breeders and theirs are very low maintenance. I think they have 5 or 6 of them.

This was my impression of them too but unsure on if they would be a Go anywhere dog? I know their used to be temperament issues a few decades back

 

[TPO]

This was my impression of them too but unsure on if they would be a Go anywhere dog? I know their used to be temperament issues a few decades back

One of the dogs I know is owned by an adventurous outdoor family. They take him everywhere including into city centres with them. He's a friendly soul who loves a fuss without getting wound up by it (unlike my working version!). He's been kayaking, wild camping and done tours of Scotland on family holidays with lots of visits to pubs. They have two teenage daughters but they were both <11 when they got him. They have very young nieces and nephews and the dog goes to all the family gatherings

 

[Katieg123]

I'm keen to learn more about flat coats they seem to be similar to Goldens but more drivey or so I've been told?

I'm Not sure what you mean by drivey but if you're looking for something mellow they might not be the number one choice. They're absolutely fantastic and very kind lovely dogs but you'll essentially have a 1yo for 10 years they are the happiest goof balls you'll ever meet also don't turn away a good cross breed! I have a flat coat x irish water spaniel at the moment and he's absolutely epic - best of both breeds! Almost 10 years old and perfectly healthy and handsome

 

[Asha]

So sorry to hear about your loss . Sadly I know how you feel , we lost our golden last year and felt exactly the same .
We decided on a lab, so some similarities to the golden but different enough.
The house now feels alive again, and he makes us all laugh everyday. He has most definitely helped us come to terms with the loss of our wonderful Wallace .
I hope you find your next friend very soon x

 

[J&T]

I'm keen to learn more about flat coats they seem to be similar to Goldens but more drivey or so I've been told?

I'm Not sure what you mean by drivey but if you're looking for something mellow they might not be the number one choice. They're absolutely fantastic and very kind lovely dogs but you'll essentially have a 1yo for 10 years they are the happiest goof balls you'll ever meet also don't turn away a good cross breed! I have a flat coat x irish water spaniel at the moment and he's absolutely epic - best of both breeds! Almost 10 years old and perfectly healthy and handsome

Drivey as in need more mental stimulation and needed a job to do more than a Golden as I should say all my Goldens were Show Goldens and all were mellow in their energy not lazy but they were happy for a long walk or a day at the beach but could happily spend a lazy day home if allowed and I liked that as it suited me.

Sounds like Flat coats might not be mellow enough then

 

[J&T]

So sorry to hear about your loss . Sadly I know how you feel , we lost our golden last year and felt exactly the same .
We decided on a lab, so some similarities to the golden but different enough.
The house now feels alive again, and he makes us all laugh everyday. He has most definitely helped us come to terms with the loss of our wonderful Wallace .
I hope you find your next friend very soon x

So sorry to hear about your Wallace , You'd think after 10 Goldens I'd be used to the feeling of loss but Henry grabbed my soul in a different way than the others he truly took my heart with him when he passed. I hope one day to own another Golden but I just can't now but also can stand how quiet and lonely the house is.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I think Gordon Setters are more mellow than their Irish or English cousins, although it is several years since I knew any.

 

[NinjaPony]

Welsh Springer? Slightly less bonkers and outgoing than English, nice size and lovely feathered coats.

 

[ArklePig]

I wouldn't get an Irish water spaniel with your requirements, they are my favourite breed by miles but I don't know if they'd be great at being with kids etc, the ones I know only really care for their owners can take or leave anyone else.

I would vote for a springer but maybe not as mellow as what you would like. Make sure to update us on the chosen dog and pics will be mandatory

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

@Katieg123 , speak to @Chiffy about flatcoats, she is a mine of information on them.