doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com OT-Golden Retriever breeder recommendations

I've owned 2 both of which were fantastic hunters. One lived to age 14, the other is 11.5 years old. All field bred lines. Both of my goldens weighed in the 62 lb range. Both were excellent duck dogs, but did double duty of upland. Both were fantastic retrievers and sweet as pie.

I have since moved on to pointing breeds, and it appears my Breeder has retired and moved to Ohio. Far as I know Top Brass is still in business and they were the other kennel I researched when I found my current breeder (fireside out of Keysville Va).

Thanks for all the recommendations, please keep them coming. My wife is getting me a subscription to the Retriever Journal for Christmas.

Goldens have become known by too many owners as cancer retrievers. I�ve lost four to cancer so far over 25 years. My next dog will be black. Love goldens around kids. They will take just about any abuse kids can dish out and never flinch. I had a chessie who would nip at your boot or leg if you missed a shot. Different kind of dog. If I lived back on one of my farms I�d have one. But you must fit your dog choices with your needs and circumstances.

Yeah, set aside an additional 10k for healthcare costs for a golden. Hips, knees,elbows, eyes, cancers, treatments, surgeries, transfusions, and they only live 10 years.

Not if you pick'em well.

11 yr, 4 months, 10 days, yesterday, in his 12th season. Zero health issues. No picks but he was out there again today for a Surf and Turf Sunday. Now I have birds to clean.

Lovely, rare, dog there Brent. Hunt it in good health.
I hope the OP doesn't end up with an expensive heartbreaker.

CZ, I have had 5 goldens so far. They all made it well past 10. None had surgeries or any other major maladies. They were all spectacular dogs. They aren't quite so rare as you think.

SunGold retreivers.

here is what they say about the different retrievers as far as biddability goes
You train a Golden with words,
a Lab with a stick
and a Chessie with a 2x4!!!

LOL

Coming from a Field Bred Springer Man!

Thirty plus years ago I was breeding goldens, labs and chessies. I explained the difference between the three breeds like this using breaking into a house as a guide.

If your house gets broken into, the Golden most like will watch everything and if they are pet nicely by the bad guy most likely will leave with them. A lab will bark and raise all types of hell but won�t leave your house and will stay watching things after the thief leaves. The chessie will terminate the thief in your house and if in a bad mood will track down and kill his entire family for good measure.

They flip side was kids could pull a Goldens ears almost off and they won�t even grow. A lab will pull away to keep from being hurt. The cheasie won�t tolerate as a rule. Finger or worse might get trimmed back. So I would not allow a chessie to go to a family with just a small yard and small children. Just not a good combination. Goldens were a great match for them instead.