So...we are novices, and primarily we are looking for a family pet, but we would also like to start showing and breed an occasional litter, health clearances permitting. In particular, I would like to contribute some puppies to any litter we breed to a service organization that provides dogs to help people with disabilities. My primary goal, both for myself and for my little "line" is a calm, relaxed, attentive, sensitive dog, who can settle easily, which I think will be helpful to people with disabilities.
My second goal is health and longevity, especially avoiding epilepsy and elbow problems. The dogs over here are checked yearly for eyes, and cancer rates are lower, so I worry less about that.
Of course conformation is something to strive for, for a variety of reasons. We also intend to pursue working certificates for our dogs, for their pleasure and ours, and because we think it is the best thing for the breed to keep the instincts intact.
We are on the list for a female from a kennel we adore over here, and feel very fortunate to have found them.
My first question is this--we were planning to get two females, spaced a year to 18 months apart (remember, we are novices). Two females would obviate the need to manage opposite sex dogs when one goes into heat without a real kennel arrangement. But a German breeder suggested we should bring a boy back, because a stud that would work for our girl(s) without being a total outcross would be hard to find in the US. They exist, but there are so few that if they aren't available when we are ready we would be out of luck, and they might be the best bet.
So--if anyone has thoughts about:
1) which dogs or lines I should focus on for calm, relaxed temperament (in European/UK lines)--
2) or dogs/lines to avoid!
3) advice about line-breeding in our specific situation or just in general so that I will pick our second dog correctly
4) about our two girls versus one boy/one girl in our slightly unusual situation of bringing a puppy to a continent in which it would be difficult to do any sort of line-breeding, I would be most appreciative. Of course, as you all are no doubt well aware, goldens are addictive, and I think it likely we will eventually end up with more than two, but I want to plan for two and then see how things work out...
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.