[Siskin]

My last golden would deliberately hurtle straight towards me then at the very last minute swerve to the side. She knew exactly what she was doing and I’m sure she only did it because of my reaction. All I could do was stand still and hope she didn’t mess up and hit me. She never did.

 

[Alice Childress]

Got to agree with this 100%

No dog I've ever met in 60+ years, is anything like a Golden..............people think Labs are, but they are not!

This is the problem I’m facing. All I want is a portable sized family friendly dog with a calmer presence… but smaller breeds all seem to either be barkers or very bouncy/bonkers or very high prey driver etc etc

I am going to seriously consider if I could go to that size. I adore them (and of course love big breeds) and in every other way they fit the bill. I just like the idea of being able to pick up a dog and move them ifI need to! Or put a dog on my lap if we’re out. I was at my sisters yesterday and imagining a dog with us. A medium sized dog wouldn’t have been an issue but a Golden realistically I’d have to have left at home - and I really want a dog who can come out with us as much as possible.

 

[Teddy-dog]

Just a different option - I’m not sure how old your kids are but have you thought about contacting some rescues? (Or whenever you’re in the position to have a dog). They might have a mixed breed that could be what you’re looking for! We (my parents) got a mongrel from the RSPCA when I was 8, she was a ridgeback X but looked nothing like a ridgeback apart from her ridge! She was medium sized, ginger and white, looked a bit corgi like, bit barrel chested. She was an odd looking thing but perfect. She didn’t bark much at all, loved children, had very little prey drive (would chase a squirrel but about 5 metres and then come bumbling back). I have such fond memories of her, she really was the perfect family dog!

 

[rona]

I am going to seriously consider if I could go to that size. I adore them (and of course love big breeds) and in every other way they fit the bill. I just like the idea of being able to pick up a dog and move them ifI need to! Or put a dog on my lap if we’re out. I was at my sisters yesterday and imagining a dog with us. A medium sized dog wouldn’t have been an issue but a Golden realistically I’d have to have left at home - and I really want a dog who can come out with us as much as possible.

All I can say, is that if I was going to have a small dog it would be a Papillion, Nothing like a Golden but there's something about them that appeals

 

[1543119]

This is the problem I’m facing. All I want is a portable sized family friendly dog with a calmer presence… but smaller breeds all seem to either be barkers or very bouncy/bonkers or very high prey driver etc etc

I am going to seriously consider if I could go to that size. I adore them (and of course love big breeds) and in every other way they fit the bill. I just like the idea of being able to pick up a dog and move them ifI need to! Or put a dog on my lap if we’re out. I was at my sisters yesterday and imagining a dog with us. A medium sized dog wouldn’t have been an issue but a Golden realistically I’d have to have left at home - and I really want a dog who can come out with us as much as possible.

Can I ask why a Golden would have to be left at home if your at your sisters but a small dog wouldn't does she not like large dogs?

I have 2 huskies similar in size to most Goldens and we do a lot of traveling mostly by car but do go on trains on occasions and we've always been fine traveling with them.

They lye quietly by our side when at cafes ect.

Not all small dogs like to be picked up either just another thing to note

 

[O2.0]

This is the problem I’m facing. All I want is a portable sized family friendly dog with a calmer presence… but smaller breeds all seem to either be barkers or very bouncy/bonkers or very high prey driver etc etc

I am going to seriously consider if I could go to that size. I adore them (and of course love big breeds) and in every other way they fit the bill. I just like the idea of being able to pick up a dog and move them ifI need to! Or put a dog on my lap if we’re out. I was at my sisters yesterday and imagining a dog with us. A medium sized dog wouldn’t have been an issue but a Golden realistically I’d have to have left at home - and I really want a dog who can come out with us as much as possible.

I know exactly what you mean.
I've been a big dog person my entire life, great danes and large muttdogs (I'm Bates and Breez's mom from years ago under a new username )

We now have a little 10 pound side of the road terrier thing and while her temperament is not ideal (bad start in life) she's SO much more portable! Bates was as bombproof as they come and very easy to take anywhere because of his training, but this little monster, even without the training and temperament Bates had, is easier.
She fits in the car even when it's fully packed for a trip. She can sit in my lap inconspicuously in crowded areas or I can just pick her up and tuck her under my arm.
And even 3 years later I'm still marveling at how clean my house stays. I sweep in the morning and I can still walk on the floors barefoot in the afternoon and not feel like I'm walking on a beach. I vacuum up more human hair than dog hair.
I won't even start on the money I save on food and heartworm preventative!

It may be worth checking out some shelters to see if there are some small dogs that appeal.
You're not going to find a golden type, but some of the smaller pet breeds - if you can find a good breeder, can be really sweet. Bichon, poodles, cottons... I'm partial to terriers, that's a total switch from a golden, but there are some less terrier types too, carins for example that might suit?

 

[1543119]

@Alice Childress I think if you really want a Golden go for it , if you really want no shedding and smaller size a Havanese would tick your boxes. Their easy to train, great with kids ( provided the kids know how to behave around a dog) , calm and gentle and affectionate little dogs who are less barky than most small dogs.

Havanese Breed information

I think they look sweet in a puppy clip like this one

Happy 1st Birthday of Milo the Havanese Puppy

Happy 1st birthday to Milo the Havanese puppy. Its time to pawty, mother puppers !!!#agilitydog #havanese #havanesepuppy #havaneselove #havaneseofinstagram ...

youtube.com

My friend in the husky community who has huskies and Havanese told me theirs a great forum were you can ask all the questions you want on the Havanese if you consider them

Havanese Forum

A forum community dedicated to Havanese owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!

www.havaneseforum.com

 

[Siskin]

Can I ask why a Golden would have to be left at home if your at your sisters but a small dog wouldn't does she not like large dogs?

I have 2 huskies similar in size to most Goldens and we do a lot of traveling mostly by car but do go on trains on occasions and we've always been fine traveling with them.

They lye quietly by our side when at cafes ect.

Not all small dogs like to be picked up either just another thing to note

I was wondering why a golden wouldn’t have been able to go to your sisters. Our goldens go everywhere with us unless dogs are not permitted for what ever reason. Isla is very used to going to other peoples houses when she’s invited to and apart from checking the kitchen floor for stray crumbs happily settles down somewhere. Having said that, she didn’t come with us to a friends house where a number of the neighbours were there as one person doesn’t like dogs which is completely understandable, otherwise she would have been there under the table hoping for dropped crumbs. Despite being a large dog she seems to keep out of the way and folds up fairly small

 

[karenmc]

Got to agree with this 100%

No dog I've ever met in 60+ years, is anything like a Golden..............people think Labs are, but they are not!

I agree with you @rona. There is something special and unique about a Golden!💛

 

[Alice Childress]

Havanese

I shall definitely look into a Havanese, they have always been one of my favourite smaller dog breeds as a matter of fact so it's interesting to hear they sound similar in some ways. I will also look for the forum.

I was wondering why a golden wouldn’t have been able to go to your sisters. Our goldens go everywhere with us unless dogs are not permitted for what ever reason. Isla is very used to going to other peoples houses when she’s invited to and apart from checking the kitchen floor for stray crumbs happily settles down somewhere. Having said that, she didn’t come with us to a friends house where a number of the neighbours were there as one person doesn’t like dogs which is completely understandable, otherwise she would have been there under the table hoping for dropped crumbs. Despite being a large dog she seems to keep out of the way and folds up fairly small

Hmmm!! Interesting! I guess, I am just used to Maggie who as a 10 stone barky bernese (not that they are suppose to be especially barky, but god she is!), I simply cannot take her to friends houses unless they are VERY dog friendly. She knocks things off tables, leaves a trail of hair and mess everywhere she goes, and gets excited and barky.

It is true that is a Golden really would just settle down under a table or by your feet then this would be a very different experience. I don't think Maggie has ever really learnt how big she is or where her tail ends! So I'm very interested in the idea that Golden's seem aware of their size and other people around them........ Ohhhhh! Hmm...

What about as pups? Maggie was AWFUL and at 6 months would get over excited in the garden and leap and mouth at us. She hurt me a lot as she was so big. She obviously grew out of this, and she hasn't mouthed or leapt up at anyone she she was a teenager, but this has put me off having a large puppy breed (and as much as I'd love to rescue an older dog in some ways, I would really like to have a puppy again).

 

[1543119]

I shall definitely look into a Havanese, they have always been one of my favourite smaller dog breeds as a matter of fact so it's interesting to hear they sound similar in some ways. I will also look for the forum.



Hmmm!! Interesting! I guess, I am just used to Maggie who as a 10 stone barky bernese (not that they are suppose to be especially barky, but god she is!), I simply cannot take her to friends houses unless they are VERY dog friendly. She knocks things off tables, leaves a trail of hair and mess everywhere she goes, and gets excited and barky.

It is true that is a Golden really would just settle down under a table or by your feet then this would be a very different experience. I don't think Maggie has ever really learnt how big she is or where her tail ends! So I'm very interested in the idea that Golden's seem aware of their size and other people around them........ Ohhhhh! Hmm...

What about as pups? Maggie was AWFUL and at 6 months would get over excited in the garden and leap and mouth at us. She hurt me a lot as she was so big. She obviously grew out of this, and she hasn't mouthed or leapt up at anyone she she was a teenager, but this has put me off having a large puppy breed (and as much as I'd love to rescue an older dog in some ways, I would really like to have a puppy again).

I've sent a message to my friend who owns a Havanese to ask what their like as pups as I have no idea what I will say is my experience has been all puppies are nuts and mouthy.

My experience is definitely that goldens are aware of their surroundings and I have 2 high energy dogs who also lie down quietly by our side when out at cafes but we taught them to be like that.

10 stone is also huge so you'll definitely be getting a smaller dog even with a golden

 

[O2.0]

There was a golden up the road from us a few years back. Absolutely super dog, but he was always getting loose (or his owners let him roam) and he would follow me on my runs to the point that I kept having to return him. His way of greeting me was to hurl himself at me and mouth my hands if I tried to push him off. Were I not a dog person I think I would have been horrified, but knowing how to handle a dog like him and knowing it was all "friendly" I just took it in stride.
Anyway, just to say puppy and teenage goldens are not particularly gentle IME.

Another thing I meant to say about a little dog, being able to carry her means she can come in places bigger dogs cannot. Stores like bookstores that normally wouldn't allow dogs are fine with me bringing her in as long as I carry her. Again, no matter how well trained, you just can't do that with a bigger dog.

There are of course benefits to bigger dogs that you don't have with little ones, but the reverse is also true, and portability is definitely a plus.

 

[Siskin]

I shall definitely look into a Havanese, they have always been one of my favourite smaller dog breeds as a matter of fact so it's interesting to hear they sound similar in some ways. I will also look for the forum.



Hmmm!! Interesting! I guess, I am just used to Maggie who as a 10 stone barky bernese (not that they are suppose to be especially barky, but god she is!), I simply cannot take her to friends houses unless they are VERY dog friendly. She knocks things off tables, leaves a trail of hair and mess everywhere she goes, and gets excited and barky.

It is true that is a Golden really would just settle down under a table or by your feet then this would be a very different experience. I don't think Maggie has ever really learnt how big she is or where her tail ends! So I'm very interested in the idea that Golden's seem aware of their size and other people around them........ Ohhhhh! Hmm...

What about as pups? Maggie was AWFUL and at 6 months would get over excited in the garden and leap and mouth at us. She hurt me a lot as she was so big. She obviously grew out of this, and she hasn't mouthed or leapt up at anyone she she was a teenager, but this has put me off having a large puppy breed (and as much as I'd love to rescue an older dog in some ways, I would really like to have a puppy again).

all my goldens have parked themselves under the table as they are very aware that bits of food could be dropped so under the table is the best place to be. We started taking Isla to pubs at 4 months so she is very used to them, enjoys going and likes the attention she gets from besotted serving staff.
They are quite hard work as puppies as they are pretty lively and being intelligent dogs they will test you. Isla stopped the nipping by 14 weeks, was clean and dry in the house by 11 weeks and slept through the night within a few days. She did keep me on my toes initially and I did find it tough going, but I was 62 when I got her and hadn’t had a puppy for 15 years - my last two had very good life spans. Once she was six months she was just brilliant and although she went through a teenage phase, it didn’t last long. By 2 years she was a very well behaved pleasure to own dog.
The show bred goldens are a more heavily built dog with a more profuse coat and are generally more quieter, working bred dogs can often be smaller however they can be quite a handful and some working kennels are better going to a home where they will be worked. There is quite a split formed between show and working bred goldens much like working and show bred cocker spaniels. I ended up going for a dual purpose bred dog, one that has working and show lines on the pedigree. She looks more like a show bred, but doesn’t tha e such a profuse coat and is less heavily built, she’s also clever and has been very easy to train. Most of my goldens have had working lines in their pedigrees apart from one who was all showlines and really put the dumb in blonde, she lived in her own little world and was incredibly difficult to train compared to all the others.

 

[Magyarmum]

I can take the Schnauzer boys anywhere knowing they won't let me down. We go into pet friendly shops and shopping malls. Have lunch or coffee and cake in restaurants and coffee shops. Gwylim and I, but not Grisha, has been on holiday and was happy to stay for a few nights in a hotel.

My previous dogs and cat, have twice made the 3 day journey by car from Hungary to the UK and back, staying in hotels on the way with no problem at all.

 

[1543119]

@Alice Childress please let us know what you choose

 

[CheddarS]

Not a fan of Goldies, my young boy has now been attacked 3 times by male intact goldies…he has been on lead each time and the owners blame us!

 

[DOYLIE]

I know someone who has Nova scotia duck tolling retriever. They're a bit like a small goldie. Lovely dog he is.

 

[1543119]

Not a fan of Goldies, my young boy has now been attacked 3 times by male intact goldies…he has been on lead each time and the owners blame us!

They were not good examples of the breed then and again it's down to their owners why they attacked your boy.

I've been around hundreds of Goldens over many years and not one has ever been aggressive to any of my huskies over the years.

My current 2 my boy is a soppy goofball and loves everyone and loves all dogs but respects their space if they don't want to play. My girl on the other has never been interested in other dogs she's not nervous just is more interested in their owners then them so she tolerates being around other dogs except Goldens they seem to be the only dogs she's happy to play with apart from her brother of course.

 

[1543119]

I know someone who has Nova scotia duck tolling retriever. They're a bit like a small goldie. Lovely dog he is.

@Alice Childress again the above is not correct novas are lovely dogs but they are not small goldens they are way more intense and have more energy than Goldens

 

[DOYLIE]

@Alice Childress again the above is not correct novas are lovely dogs but they are not small goldens they are way more intense and have more energy than Goldens

Hi, for clarity, I didn't say they were small goldens, I just said they look a bit like a small golden. You could be right about their energy levels, the one I know is an old boy.