[Anne1377]

Hi Friends,

I need some advice from dog lovers. First, let me say that I have never had a dog nor really gave any thought to getting one. Having a dog is really unchartered territory for me. Yesterday we were given the opportunity to get a two month old purebread golden retriever puppy. She is really beautiful!

Well.....the kids and my hubby went nuts. They wanted to take her right home with us. I just didn't want to make that decision right on the spot so we paid a deposit to hold her until tonight.

I really know nothing about puppies and dogs and I am somewhat scared of that. At least when my first baby came along, I had experience babysitting. Puppies.......ummmm.....zilch, zero, nada!

So I come here this morning looking for advice. Does anyone have a golden retriever- are they good dogs? The person who is selling the dog said the dog would need to be in a crate until it is housebroken and doesn't chew. How long does this take? Is it fair to keep a dog in a crate? We travel several times a year- is it fair to the dog to kennel her during this time?

I know hubby ( who has always wanted a dog) and the kids really want the dog but I need more information before I decide.

Any help anyone here can give me will be MUCH appreciated!!! I truly know nothing about raising a puppy!!!

Thanks,

Diane

[mcnay1]

Golden Retrievers are wonderful puppys and dogs for kids and families. I grew up with GRs and then switched to labrador retrievers when I was on my own (also great dogs for kids and families). I thought that because of the shorter hair that the shedding would be a little less...I was wrong.

Raising puppies, whatever breed, is difficult but a lot of fun and very rewarding. Crate training, in my opinion, is the best way to go. This does not mean that the puppy is in the crate at all times. But, rather in the crate at night, when you arent home or able to watch him/her. Puppies, especially 2 months old puppies, sleep a lot...they are like babies for at least another few weeks...they play, eat, poop and sleep. Dogs will not or usually wont pee or poop in the place that they sleep and if the space which is the advantage to crate training. They should housebreak faster...

I think you should go for it, but then again, Im a dog lover and think we will always have a dog in our family. Some of my favorite memories - child and adult - have been with my dogs.

[becky]

I agree...great dog. Definitely go with the crate training, and do NOT feel bad about doing it. Dogs are pack animals, and in their past they would live in small caves...similar to crates. They actually find that space calming. Be sure you are strict about it until your dog is completely potty trained...otherwise you will face a long life with a dog that goes in the house and that is not fun!

[adoptnky]

We always had dogs growing up, and many goldens.

Go to the American Kennel Club website - they have lots of good information on breds. Goldens are GREAT dogs - especially for a family. They do get pretty big, and they like to be outside for exercise. Do you have a fenced in yard? Are you willing to take him/her on walks everyday?

Raising a puppy is HARD. Growing up, we always got dogs from the kennel, but when DH and I first got married we decided we wanted a puppy. Think newborn - up multiple times during the night - potty training (and the accidents that go with it) - chewing (ours ate a pair of my tennis shoes and a couch - but the couch was unusual - and now a funny story) - "teething" (they can be mouthy - nippy - have to work with them on it)

But, like babies - they can be so much fun - so loving - hilarious to watch them learn about the world around them - and once they get out of the puppy stage - a wonderful addition to your family.

The other thing to keep in mind is that a pet is not cheap. You will have regular vet visits - and shots since the puppy is so young, the cost to spade/neuter, heartworm medication - flea medication (depending on where you live) - and then if your's is anything like ours - a few vet appointments when they get into things they aren't supposed to. Not to mention the food, toys, treats, collar, leash, etc. We had two Dalmations. One ended up with Doggie Dementia and was on medication that was $75 a month for 6 months. Our other one ended up with a tumor and had to have surgery and a couple of nights stay at the emergency vet - that was not a cheap week - but one we would have done all over again for our baby. (unfortunately, she didn't make it through the week)

Also, dogs have to eat at certain times and be let out. Are you willing to do that? You may be out in the evening and have to come home to take care of the dog. Sometimes for us, it was who was going to get home from work in time to let the dogs out. (this was pre-kids) (they aren't like cats where you can kind of leave them alone)

Goldens like to be around people and will want to be with your family most times.

Kenneling - we kenneled our dogs multiple times a year. The key is finding a good one - one where your dog has a "run" (ability to go in and out) or where they are let out to play at least once a day. Our dogs always liked going to the kennel. They got to see other dogs and bark for a week. Keep in mind that this will add to your vacation budget as kenneling is not cheap.

I say all of this not to talk you out of the dog. We haven't had a dog now for about 2 years and it's the longest I've ever gone without one. I LOVE dogs and I know we will have one again soon. There are just a lot of things to think about as they are a big committment, and, in my opinion, a life long commitment.

PM me if you have any specific questions.

Kim

(and aren't golden puppies just the cutest thing EVER! )

[My Isela]

Yes, having a puppy is HARD....we just brought home a 3 month old puppy last week. She does need to potty during thr night, but she just wasn't into the crate. I agree, that if you can be strict about the crate your life will be easier. We have a one year old dog here as well and when she heard the new puppy "crying" in the crate she went crazy....that is why the new puppy now sleeps in bed with us and needs to go out during the night.
Like kids...they are only puppies (babies) for a short time. It is well worth the time and effort to get them past that stage.
We don't have goldens, but I have heard they are GREAT family dogs. If the rest of your family is really wanting a dog, it sounds like a great opportunity just jumped in your lap.
There will be a few vet bills at first...spay/nueter, shots, heart worm meds etc. But after that they only go to the vet once a year for their shots and heartworm and they are done.
I am a dog lover so I would go for it....be ready for some work, but you'll SO love seeing your puppy grow with your family.
Good luck with your decision...

[blminter]

i agree with everything everyone else has said. some really thoughtful, thorough responses. hair, hair, hair, is the biggest drawback. after my dog died, i didn't realize how much hair i was cleaning up-or missing for that matter.

anyway, if you don't have the time to attend to a puppy-like someone can stay home or make house checks every 3-4 hours, i'd consider a rescue golden or lab. they are usually great options with great dogs. i know several people who've done this. they've usually calmed down a bit, too.

good luck and enjoy true unconditional love.

[AngelQT]

First let me say...I wouldn't change anything for the world... GR are not only Mans Best Friend... But Kids Best Friends... !!!!

My brother started the family with GR about 20 years ago... At on point, everyone in the family had at least 1 GR... And yes, when we had family get togehters we would have FAMILY get togethers... DOGS and ALL! At one point there were 9 GR all together. I had 3 at one point... WE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH KIDS AND DOGS....

GR are one of the most LOVING and AFFECTIONATE breeds you can find... Yes, some of them can get quite large, they do shed, they do grow up, they do have big turds, (but you can train them to go in a specific spot!) they have their bad moments, (heck sometimes they act like they are puppies when they grow up)... I wouldn't change anything... It is just like having another child... They have thier needs too! Mostly it is walks, baths, playing, ball, doggy socializing, love, grooming, and SLEEPING!

Some of them grow to be very old, some of them have shorter life spans. I lost 1 at age 11 and one at 16... Their lifespan is usually about 10 years... But, that is the hardest part of all... My golden I have now, is 9 years old, and LOVES MY KIDS... She hangs with them whatever room they are in... She is an Indoor/Outdoor... She is their protecter! Here is a few pictures of my GR, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, and Rosie... Along with Honey hanging with the kids...

I would go for it... Your kids will LOVE it... Just be ready for the PUPPY years... Once you get through that, it is easy sailing!!!!

PM me if you have any questions...

Hugs
Ellie

[LRA]

I will try hard to not be biased here but I know I will fail. I am an animal lover. We currently have 2 dogs, 4 cats, a ferret, guinea pig and fish. We had a golden before the current 2 residents (a shephard mix and a lab) I remember calling my husband after stopping home to get dinner before heading to school and crying, telling him to get rid of that beast, a woman overheard me and stopped me and said, they are the worst puppies, and it seems that their puppy hood lasts so much longer than the other breeds, but please trust me..give her a chance. I listened and just had to keep in mind that she was a puppy, and really it was just a wicker basket, pillow, feather duster, stuffed animal...you get the picture. Fast forward to now, I miss that dog so badly, she was without a doubt the best dog I ever had. She taught my daughter to walk, by letting her hold on to her fur and pull up, then she would take a step and wait for the baby to step. She would pin my daughter against the screen to keep her out of the pool. She had the craziest obnoxious bark, but now I long to hear it again. The day we had to have her put to sleep was the worst, my daughter clung to her dog and cried and cried. She understood why we had to do it, our dog had cancer and was suffering, but she just did not want to let her best friend go. I would get another golden in a heart beat. Dogs are messy, dogs are alot of work, but they will give you soooooooooooo much back in return that you have to be willing to overlook their bad points. Not sure if it will help but I was raised in a home without any animals except fish in the house. My mom was a stickler for cleanliness (not saying it's a bad thing) and never wanted to have the mess. I now understand her point, but to me it is worth the mess.

I wish you luck in your decision and just know that if it were me, I would be running to go get that little ball of fur.

PS I stay home and there are days my dogs stay in their crates all day, they are fine, I do it so they are used to it for times when they HAVE to be in all day.

Sorry to go on and on...

[robandjulie]

Don't feel bad about the crate. Our first dog (beagle) was not correctly crate trained and DESTROYED our house everytime we left (or tried to bite us when we tried to put him in the crate). He tore the carpet out of the living room, destroyed our living room set, pawed and scratched at doors to the point of tearing off knobs and taking 2" out of the door, etc etc etc. We still loved that crrrazy mutt but man alive...and that was when he was ON anti-anxiety meds. We had to put him down when DD was born b/c he had gotten so crazy he bit DH almost every day and it was just not good.

Our current dog is a far bigger more gentle mix breed. She's crate trained and loves her crate; it's her favorite place to be and she runs in there to chill out, take a nap, take a break from the kids, etc. She used to spend full days in there when we were both working but now that DH is home with the kids she is latched in there far less often; she just hangs out in there with the door open. We do latch it sometimes just to keep her in the habit.

We had a GR growing up and he was a wonderful pet. He was an outdoor/barn dog so I can't speak to their indoor personalities but I do recall a lot of hair.

Kids usually love dogs if they grow up with them. If they're in the house they do make a mess (muddy prints unless you carefully wipe their feet each time they come back in; hair, dirt & dust falls off of them; tracking in pollen in the spring/summer/fall; food crumbs around the bowl, yucky mess around the water bowl sometimes; ours has a habit of puking about once a week in an inconvenient spot; accidents with puppies...) so I'd suggest considering a small spot-cleaner or vacuum steam cleaner and maybe a roomba vaccum as part of your investment into a pet. There are studies that show kids growing up with pets tend to have fewer allergies, but on the other hand you should probably be sure none of your kids have allergies or you're looking at even more cost and hassle.

I'm honestly currently very very sick of my dog and cat and would gladly hand them over to anyone offering them a safe home. So that's my rather negatively biased opinion as my beast sits here barking her fool head of at DH and Jorge having a tickle fight... But the kids adore her and so she'll stay.

[JillnChris]

I've never had a GR but from everything I hear there are WONDERFUl dogs especially with kids. The only thing is they take A LOT of work. These dogs have a lot of energy so they need to be exercised everyday.
No there is nothing wrong with crating a dog until they are housetrained, many professionals recomend this. I don't think there is anything wrong with kennelling a dog while you are on vacation either.
Good luck on your decision and let us know!

[MamaS]

A crate is not a "doggie jail" but instead it is the dog's "personal space" where he can go when he is tired of the kids' playing or afraid of the noisy vacuum cleaner. A crate is a GOOD thing.
A GR needs exercise. Do you have a fenced yard? I would say that would be a deal-breaker.
All dog care is expensive! Check your budget and see if you can afford, shots, heart-worm medication and flea medication monthly, twice a year professional stripping, and the cost of kenneling in your area. If you can -- go for it!

[Hopingsoon]

GR's are great dogs. I'm biased - I'm a dog lover, and in the past 20 years since I moved from my parents house, I've been without a dog 5 days, and it was the worst 5 days of my life.

Dogs are expensive; puppies are notorious for chewing and generally being obnoxious until about the age of 2 for large breeds when all of a sudden something clicks and they suddenly "get it" and stop the nonsense.

Crates are great for training, several of my dogs used to go back to theirs long after we were done with training, just to relax with the door open. I also don't feel bad (well at least too bad) about kenneling when we go on vacation.

[2xaround]

Great dog for families!!! Be prepared for shedding. I agree with crate training and would advise that you do some reading on the internet about the proper way to crate train. Make sure the crate you buy is big enough to fit your dog when full grown, but also make sure it has a divider that you can use to make it smaller while still a puppy. Dogs like their living quarters to be clean, but if it's too big they will do "their duty" in the crate away from where they lay. Puppies also chew, so I would advise investing in plenty of chew toys and bitter apple spray for those areas where puppy wants to chew (furniture, flooring, walls, etc.)

Puppies are very much like toddlers. They have to be watched carefully and removed from areas that could harm them. Do lots of reading on the internet about raising puppies, there is tons of information out there.

Good luck!

[0328Lisa]

Diane.

Our GR is just the best dog ever & I wouldn't be without him. GR is 10 yrs old and adores DS (who's been home for just 1 yr). The dog adapts well to our new life. Many people are scared of the hair, but we take GR to the "spa" regularly (every 6-8 weeks) and the hair issue is under control. I vacuum 1x week just like normal. At about the 6-7 week mark, I notice hair balls under the table & call for a "spa" day. GR loves getting a bath. He prances around the house showing-off. It's really cute & so endearing.

Dogs are creatures of habit, so you may want to experiment with kenneling to get the dog used to the idea of staying somewhere other than home and knowing you'll be back to pick him up. For example, every few months take the dog to the kennel for the day, next time overnight, next time for the weekend. This way, when you leave for an extended time, it won't be tramatic.

We kennel our dog with the people we bought him from. Even though he has to stay in the garage (attached to house, heated & air conditioned), these people love him to death and GR loves going there, too. Although, when we pick GR up he makes a bee-line for the car & can't wait to go home.

Dogs are very rewarding. Sure, they take a bit of work, but their love is unconditional and for us the experience is extrordinary.

Good luck in your decision.

[kiplingmom]

You've gotten lots of great advice already, but I will "second" the crate training. I never had a GR, but a couple of cocker spaniels and a shepherd mix. My first dog (pre-kids) appreciated her crate as a place she could escape to when visiting children got a little overwhelming to her.

My cockers never learned to like other dogs outside our "family", so with my shepherd mix, we went to "puppy school". I HIGHLY recommed that! It's a commitment, but especially as you are not experienced with dogs, it would be good for both you and your dog. You'll learn good techniques for training your dog, your dog will learn to trust you and to be social with other dogs. (makes it easier when walking in the neighborhood, at the park, etc.) Depending on the age of your kids, one of them could go with you and puppy to puppy school. JMHO!

Let us know what you decide!