Which Breed....

[~Shepherd~]

While my daughter was raised with dogs and knows exactly how to treat dogs with respect, not everyone elses children do.

My dogs will tolerate pretty much anything from children and this is how they should be. In an ideal world all children would be taught proper behaviour round dogs but not all are. If my dogs can't escape it (which is never the case) then they will sit there and tolerate it. They are not often in the position where they have to "tolerate" behaviour from extra rough children but whenever the dogs have been (or past dogs have been) they are excellent. I have never owned a dog that I could ever say was bad with children. They have all been excellent.

Actually, correction, our little dog has only been round miss 10 (and sometimes the kids at afterschool care) so not 100% sure if she would be good with kids but she does think being punched int he head is a great game. LOL at how that sounds - I am sure you all know what I mean.

Anyway, I am trying to say, kids are rough but when they "hurt" a dog, particularly a good sized one its not as painful for the dog as we imagine it would be and I don't have a problem with a bit of whacking and jumping on. My friends rough children have taught my dogs patience and tolerance.

EDIT: Just to clarify, excessive roughness is always stopped but a bit of rough play is good, the dogs love it. They are so rough with each other it's ridiculous.

its not the children who dont have respect for the dogs, its the people supervising them.

We dont rough play, we do hi 5's and other rewarding games. We teach respect.

Edited June 21, 2010 by Chewbacca

[lanabanana]

While my daughter was raised with dogs and knows exactly how to treat dogs with respect, not everyone elses children do.

My dogs will tolerate pretty much anything from children and this is how they should be. In an ideal world all children would be taught proper behaviour round dogs but not all are. If my dogs can't escape it (which is never the case) then they will sit there and tolerate it. They are not often in the position where they have to "tolerate" behaviour from extra rough children but whenever the dogs have been (or past dogs have been) they are excellent. I have never owned a dog that I could ever say was bad with children. They have all been excellent.

Actually, correction, our little dog has only been round miss 10 (and sometimes the kids at afterschool care) so not 100% sure if she would be good with kids but she does think being punched int he head is a great game. LOL at how that sounds - I am sure you all know what I mean.

Anyway, I am trying to say, kids are rough but when they "hurt" a dog, particularly a good sized one its not as painful for the dog as we imagine it would be and I don't have a problem with a bit of whacking and jumping on. My friends rough children have taught my dogs patience and tolerance.

EDIT: Just to clarify, excessive roughness is always stopped but a bit of rough play is good, the dogs love it. They are so rough with each other it's ridiculous.

its not the children who dont have respect for the dogs, its the people supervising them.

We dont rough play, we do hi 5's and other rewarding games. We teach respect.

We do high fives and stuff too but my dogs love nothing more than a good play fight with mum or dad, rolling round the floor or yard.

I love rough play with my furkids, they are dogs thats what they do with each other and I love being able to do it with them.

I teach respect to both my child and my dogs but respect doesn't exclude rough play. They can and do go hand in hand.

[Crisovar]

A good Golden coat that is actually gold and not the favoured pretty pretty pale fluffy bear type that is so often seen should actually shed the dirt fairly well. I believe they shed less too.

I'm sorry this comment on colour is something that really bugs me. Goldens originated in Scotland and they were from light gold to cream, never mahogany or red.

Golden puppies are lighter in colour and as they get older they darken. White is a fault (I've never seen one) but cream is acceptable in Australia (not favoured in the US). A good golden coat can be light cream and is still very much acceptable. I prefer my dogs with a lighter coloured coat. I have english goldens and am not a fan of the American dogs. Each to his own.

Every Golden sheds differently same as GSD's do. Goldens that are kept more as outside dogs grow a thicker winter coat and will have more of a major shed when the weather gets warmer. Also being outside you may not notice the hair as much as it gets blown away. I had a short coated GSD who shed a lot more than my friends long haired.

I never said mahogany or red, I said gold, which is not white or near white. Some of the so called cream dogs today are really stretching the imagination.

[Crazy Daisy]

A good Golden coat that is actually gold and not the favoured pretty pretty pale fluffy bear type that is so often seen should actually shed the dirt fairly well. I believe they shed less too.

I'm sorry this comment on colour is something that really bugs me. Goldens originated in Scotland and they were from light gold to cream, never mahogany or red.

Golden puppies are lighter in colour and as they get older they darken. White is a fault (I've never seen one) but cream is acceptable in Australia (not favoured in the US). A good golden coat can be light cream and is still very much acceptable. I prefer my dogs with a lighter coloured coat. I have english goldens and am not a fan of the American dogs. Each to his own.

Every Golden sheds differently same as GSD's do. Goldens that are kept more as outside dogs grow a thicker winter coat and will have more of a major shed when the weather gets warmer. Also being outside you may not notice the hair as much as it gets blown away. I had a short coated GSD who shed a lot more than my friends long haired.

I never said mahogany or red, I said gold, which is not white or near white. Some of the so called cream dogs today are really stretching the imagination.

Sorry, can you clarify what you mean by so called cream? Cream is an acceptable colour in Goldens. It really is a preference. When it comes down to it it really is what you like. My light coloured Golden is more than acceptable in colour and will (hopefully) be judged on confirmation than the colour of his coat.

[jacqui835]

Bit OT, but since a few people commented on what I said, just wanted to clarify. The kid was a toddler, he could barely lift the stick and he was trying to throw it, but instead was hitting the dog half the time. Not hard or anything, dog didn't even seem to notice half the time. And both I and the childs' father stopped him and helped him to throw the stick properly, but he often relapsed because he wanted larger sticks. Dog loved interacting with them and the family told us they had owned Akitas in the past, so they liked large dominant breeds. Was just making the point that if you're going to have young kids and a dog, odds are things like that will happen - stepping on the dog, pulling the tail and other bits, throwing things at the dog etc even with supervision - just watch youtube to see what I mean, and thought it was useful to know that the working breeds can be fine with it and families in general, it just depends on the individual dog and the family.

You said "I have a doberman, and when he goes to the park, strange kids come up and want to play with him. They literally jump on him, take sticks away from him, pull his tail, sometimes half whack him with the sticks etc. He loves little kids. He sits and waits for them to throw the sticks even though he's bigger than them. He loves them to chase him, and he runs with the stick in his mouth looking back to make sure they're still following, just running slowly. We watch him to make sure he still looks like he's having fun, and we teach the kids on how they should approach dogs. The parents always comment on what an excellent temperament he has, but they don't know he's a doberman because he's red with a long tail and floppy ears, and when we tell them they are always surprised"

Well you certainly supersized your story if thats all that happened. Perhaps you should have prevented the situation from half stick wacking to NO stick wacking.

This is how accidents happen, particular breeds get a bad name and children get injured. Re read your post. Children should NOT be chasing any dog but you encourage it, then you go on to say you teach toddlers how to approach dogs?

Poor confused toddler may end up with severe injuries some day and a poor confused dog may get the green dream.

Children should not be chasing a dog? How about you reread my post. If they stop chasing he comes back to them, it's a game and the dog knows it, initiates it and enjoys it. The kids always meet the dog first, and then the games begin. But that said, there have been several occasions when I've been at the dog park, particularly when he was a puppy, that kids literally just hugged and patted him without any introduction. He has never had a problem with it, and short of avoiding, oh, I don't know the world, I don't see how it's possible to ensure 100% that these sorts of situations won't arise.

My old dog was no where near as tolerant, or interested in playing with children and so these sorts of things didn't happen. With this guy though, if you get to the park and there's kids, he's always overjoyed. Of course though if you know you have a less tolerant dog, well you wouldn't risk it would you?

And of course we don't just wander off and leave them unsupervised, I am constantly watching my dog to see where he's at, physically and mentally, but I'm not going to keep him isolated just because there is always the chance something could happen, or tell everyone to leave him alone.

I sometimes wonder what some of the people on this forum actually do with their dogs. They don't take them to dog parks, they don't let them interact with strangers, strange dogs etc. I guess you know your own dogs and what they will and won't tolerate/enjoy, but you don't have to attack everything that is different from how you raise your dogs.

I would never let anyone or anything hurt my dog, and my dog knows it. If you have ever seen kids and dogs play, you would know what I'm talking about, and it seems a lot of the other posters here do understand.

[~Shepherd~]

Bit OT, but since a few people commented on what I said, just wanted to clarify. The kid was a toddler, he could barely lift the stick and he was trying to throw it, but instead was hitting the dog half the time. Not hard or anything, dog didn't even seem to notice half the time. And both I and the childs' father stopped him and helped him to throw the stick properly, but he often relapsed because he wanted larger sticks. Dog loved interacting with them and the family told us they had owned Akitas in the past, so they liked large dominant breeds. Was just making the point that if you're going to have young kids and a dog, odds are things like that will happen - stepping on the dog, pulling the tail and other bits, throwing things at the dog etc even with supervision - just watch youtube to see what I mean, and thought it was useful to know that the working breeds can be fine with it and families in general, it just depends on the individual dog and the family.

You said "I have a doberman, and when he goes to the park, strange kids come up and want to play with him. They literally jump on him, take sticks away from him, pull his tail, sometimes half whack him with the sticks etc. He loves little kids. He sits and waits for them to throw the sticks even though he's bigger than them. He loves them to chase him, and he runs with the stick in his mouth looking back to make sure they're still following, just running slowly. We watch him to make sure he still looks like he's having fun, and we teach the kids on how they should approach dogs. The parents always comment on what an excellent temperament he has, but they don't know he's a doberman because he's red with a long tail and floppy ears, and when we tell them they are always surprised"

Well you certainly supersized your story if thats all that happened. Perhaps you should have prevented the situation from half stick wacking to NO stick wacking.

This is how accidents happen, particular breeds get a bad name and children get injured. Re read your post. Children should NOT be chasing any dog but you encourage it, then you go on to say you teach toddlers how to approach dogs?

Poor confused toddler may end up with severe injuries some day and a poor confused dog may get the green dream.

Children should not be chasing a dog? How about you reread my post. If they stop chasing he comes back to them, it's a game and the dog knows it, initiates it and enjoys it. The kids always meet the dog first, and then the games begin. But that said, there have been several occasions when I've been at the dog park, particularly when he was a puppy, that kids literally just hugged and patted him without any introduction. He has never had a problem with it, and short of avoiding, oh, I don't know the world, I don't see how it's possible to ensure 100% that these sorts of situations won't arise.

My old dog was no where near as tolerant, or interested in playing with children and so these sorts of things didn't happen. With this guy though, if you get to the park and there's kids, he's always overjoyed. Of course though if you know you have a less tolerant dog, well you wouldn't risk it would you?

And of course we don't just wander off and leave them unsupervised, I am constantly watching my dog to see where he's at, physically and mentally, but I'm not going to keep him isolated just because there is always the chance something could happen, or tell everyone to leave him alone.

I sometimes wonder what some of the people on this forum actually do with their dogs. They don't take them to dog parks, they don't let them interact with strangers, strange dogs etc. I guess you know your own dogs and what they will and won't tolerate/enjoy, but you don't have to attack everything that is different from how you raise your dogs.

I would never let anyone or anything hurt my dog, and my dog knows it. If you have ever seen kids and dogs play, you would know what I'm talking about, and it seems a lot of the other posters here do understand.

are you serious????????

My daughters 4th birthday party was a disco dog party with Rottweilers interacting the whole time including playing musical chairs I took my newborn, 2 year old, 4 year old and GSD to a DOL meet at Kepala for mothers day, My dogs are run every day at an off lead park whilst my kids play soccer!

You have totally missed the point. No one said to isolate dogs, I have said dont take stupid risks like you claim to have done.

ETA as far as other members go here, they helped me organise my daughters party, and they were Rotties owned by a member here!! There are often kids at DOL meets, and many kids at dog shows.

Edited June 22, 2010 by Chewbacca

[huski]

My dogs will tolerate pretty much anything from children and this is how they should be. In an ideal world all children would be taught proper behaviour round dogs but not all are. If my dogs can't escape it (which is never the case) then they will sit there and tolerate it.

I wouldn't expect my dogs to sit there and take it if a child was too rough with them, anymore than I would expect a toddler to sit there and take it if a teenager came up and smacked them around.

I socialise my dogs to be gentle and calm around kids but I don't encourage rough play.

[dee lee]

Ladies-

Why don't you start your own thread on the subject?

[DerRottweiler]

GSD.

Can't go wrong with a solid GSD.

[~Shepherd~]

Ladies-

Why don't you start your own thread on the subject?

sorry OP, unfortunately I cant agree with people who engage in risky behavior. I will refrain from further comments now I have made my point.

[Crisovar]

A good Golden coat that is actually gold and not the favoured pretty pretty pale fluffy bear type that is so often seen should actually shed the dirt fairly well. I believe they shed less too.

I'm sorry this comment on colour is something that really bugs me. Goldens originated in Scotland and they were from light gold to cream, never mahogany or red.

Golden puppies are lighter in colour and as they get older they darken. White is a fault (I've never seen one) but cream is acceptable in Australia (not favoured in the US). A good golden coat can be light cream and is still very much acceptable. I prefer my dogs with a lighter coloured coat. I have english goldens and am not a fan of the American dogs. Each to his own.

Every Golden sheds differently same as GSD's do. Goldens that are kept more as outside dogs grow a thicker winter coat and will have more of a major shed when the weather gets warmer. Also being outside you may not notice the hair as much as it gets blown away. I had a short coated GSD who shed a lot more than my friends long haired.

I never said mahogany or red, I said gold, which is not white or near white. Some of the so called cream dogs today are really stretching the imagination.

Sorry, can you clarify what you mean by so called cream? Cream is an acceptable colour in Goldens. It really is a preference. When it comes down to it it really is what you like. My light coloured Golden is more than acceptable in colour and will (hopefully) be judged on confirmation than the colour of his coat.

I mean that some of the "cream" dogs are so pale that you have to stretch your imagination to see how they can be called cream.

[HollyE]

Husky?

hahahah! ;)

I've owned a Curly coated retriever but never a golden, i have had a Labrador though!

Seeing both breeds a lot i have to say Golden Retriever.

[Aidan]

Husky?

Now if anyone comes on here and says a GR sheds more than a Husky I'll know they're taking the mickey out of me ;)

[HollyE]

hahaahah they would, Although my two are yet to blow their coats, i've never experienced it yet, i am SO excited!!

[gundoglover]

Nadine,

Since you grew up with German Shepherds and have found a breeder that has the temperament that you want, I'd recommend getting a German Shepherd. I have had Golden Retrievers for many years and they are a lovely family dog. But if you are used to German Shepherds, you may find the Goldens a bit too neurotic for you - they do require you to be patting them constantly. You can train this out of them, but it is hard work! If you get a Golden and expect it to behave like the German Shepherds you grew up with, I think that you will be disappointed.

[Serket]

Amidst the arguments it seems to have been overlooked that the OP has made her decision.

gundoglover - I have to say that saying goldens are "neurotic" is really going a bit far, and another huge generalisation, like saying GSDs are vicious. Yes they like attention (as do many breeds of dog!), but unless you encourage them to constantly chase you for affection, they're perfectly happy to sit by you, or even be in another room sleeping quite happily - mine is quite happy to do her own thing 95% of the time, doesn't need to be with us and certainly doesn't need us to be patting her even when she is around.

Again, it comes down to training and manners, and teaching them what is acceptable, and it's not hard work, just consistency from day 1.

[Golden Rules]

Amidst the arguments it seems to have been overlooked that the OP has made her decision.

Has she??!! I must have missed that. What was the final choice?

[Bubitty]

I would pick the GSD.

I have met so many obnoxious, rough, clumsy, food obsessed, toy stealing GRs, and it's hard to imagine any dog but a Saint Bernard shedding more than a retriever. Anyway the problem is that owners rely on the good well meaning nature of a GR and ignore all the faults and fail to put any effort into training. There's one at our local park, a puppy, but big enough to knock adults down and does frequently, loves to roll in the mud - the sticky black stuff in the cricket pitch, and steals other dogs toys (can hold three tennis balls in his mouth at once), and won't let go of my lead (tug toy) when I'm trying to take my dog home. He's got no recall at all and if there is any food or food like substances left at the oval after the footy - you can't peel him away. And the owner is quite happy to have him like that. Well actually maybe she's not. He's getting some special training from a police dog trainer for the recall, which has been delayed after he ate a large amount of persian rug and was sick because of that for a week.

Don't seem to encounter problems like that with GSD - because the owners make more effort to train those. And I find them easy to train at the park too for basic stuff like we're going home now, leave us alone.

If I had small children I think I'd actually choose a dog that was not as tall as them and easy to train. I do like the finnish lappie that I met recently. It was full on (boisterous) but had less (crash tackle) momentum than a GR and seemed much less clumsy/accident prone.

Absolutely NOTHING to do with the breed and everything to do with the owner. I have a golden puppy who has perfect recall and since coming home at 8 weeks old has only ever committed the crime of stealing a total of 6 tissues.

[Bubitty]

Gremlins

Edited June 22, 2010 by Bub

[all that glitters]

Nadine,

Since you grew up with German Shepherds and have found a breeder that has the temperament that you want, I'd recommend getting a German Shepherd. I have had Golden Retrievers for many years and they are a lovely family dog. But if you are used to German Shepherds, you may find the Goldens a bit too neurotic for you - they do require you to be patting them constantly. You can train this out of them, but it is hard work! If you get a Golden and expect it to behave like the German Shepherds you grew up with, I think that you will be disappointed.

TOTALLY my mums GR.... so obsessed with 'attention' it's crazy lol. That's all she wants in life, 100% of the time to a point where it's annoying Anyway interesting both the GRs we knew were like that!