Golden retriever

They shed like crazy.

Watch out for hip dysplasia.

Loyal, GREAT with children, awesome dogs, will dig to China for two years or so.

LOVE them. Best breed evar IMO.

From 6 months to around 2 they can be difficult going through their adolescent stage, but they learn quick.

Love to run, swim, play, wrestle and chew.

I'm probably getting one later this year.

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will dig to China for two years or so.

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Great dogs but this is so true. We fostered one for about 4 months and my yard looked like a mine field. Chewed up my wood blinds, furniture, and window trim.

She costed me about 2Gs, but hey... Great dogs. I will keep my beagles.

We had one for 14 years and loved her. Our kids grew up with this pet. A big yard is advised. They are very good with kids and very loyal. They like to go into water. It hurts when you have to say goodbye.

You asked for us to share experiences, here is one. Our Golden had to go to the vet. Seems like it was at least overnight. I picked her up at the vet and put her in the back of my pickup secured with a chain leash. About a half mile from the house I rounded a curve and felt the truck move. I looked back and the chain was hanging over the passenger side.
I stopped and quickly ran around and the dog was gone, the chain and collar hanging there. I called and called but no dog. When I got home, my son (about 12 yrs old) met me on the driveway asking where his dog was.
Man I felt bad. As I was explaining what happened, the dog showed up at the house, unharmed. Apparently she sensed that we were close to home and she jumped out to run home.

I had one named "Breaux". Good dog, but I didn't have him too long. There was some in-breeding in his lineage. As a result he would have the worst seizures, grand mal type where he lost total bodily control/restraint. Dad finally felt it was best to put him down rather than watch him suffer, even on the medications.

Grandfather had one when I was a kid. Loyalest damn dog I ever seen. Her disposition totally change after he passed away and she realized it. She went downhill quick.

I'd own another one, but I'm partial to labs. I'm sure Golden's are just like Labs...don't whip a kid in front of one...unless you don't want your hand. I know my first black lab was like that.

Agreed I am on 3rd GR. Never groomed until I saw a GR service dog at Disney that hab been trimmed/groomed. Came home and 1st thing I did was take her to groomer. Keep her groomed now year round.

I agree to them mellowing out. I have two with two totally different personalities.

As far as the hair, it can get excessive, but I shave mine in the summer and it looks great, keeps them cool, and cuts down on the hair.

Great dogs who are very loyal. Also, make sure you clean their ears often and keep their ears dry. Mine get ear infections quite easily.

For those that have them, how big are yalls?

Mine are both around 90 pounds and I know that is bigger than breed standards. Also, I think lines that come from the south have shorter hair tighter to the body then ones from up north.

I've got one of those big dumb oafish bastards. He's dumb as a box of fricking rocks. But he's pretty awesome.