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Does anyone have a nice dog!!!

7K views 83 replies 62 participants last post by  Sadie53 
#1 ·
Hi, all I read on this forum is about Devil Dog's Hounds from Hell!!! I am really starting to wonder if I did the right thing purchasing a Golden. I am ready to sell him!!! He is pretty good now but, all these problems makes me worry. Good God, all the biting and bad behavior makes you wonder??? What did I get myself into??? So, please does anyone have good stories?? Ugh..... Spent a good buck on my dog and hate to take a loss but, I am nervous. Please some good stories might help!:confused:
 
#3 ·
I have the very best dog in the world! :D She was super energetic in her 1st year but now she's more relaxed. I exercise her a lot...

She is all good will and love. Any fault of hers you can blame on me.

SHE is perfect. She is a rescue and was 4 1/2 months when I got her.

Hang in there. They are so worth it. Half of my heart beats in her chest.
 

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#5 ·
Helo is my third golden. I've had them since 1980 and they are by far my favorite breed. I've had Helo for a year and a half now. I got him from a golden retriever rescue and have no idea how old he is but I'm guessing 7 or 8. He is a wonderful dog. He's funny and silly and loves attention. He wants to be wherever I am, like right now he's sitting at my feet in the computer room and if I get up and go to the kitchen he will follow me in there. He's always happy and when I come home from work he's excited and acts like he hasn't seen me in a week and is wiggly and smiley. He loves everyone and all other dogs. He doesn't jump on people but he does like to enthusiastically sniff other dogs which they sometimes take offense to. :) Helo isn't a "talker" but my heart dog, Leo, was and listening to his noises and grunts and woo woo woos just melted my heart. I am so happy I got video of him "talking" just a week before he passed away. I treasure that so much. I'd have to say 95% of having a golden retriever is total bliss. I'm really sorry you feel there are so many negative stories here. The puppy phase is challenging (hence the reason I rescued an adult this time) but it is also very rewarding and fun. I don't think there's anything cuter than a golden retriever puppy. Helo has his quirks (counter surfing and eating anything plastic are two) but if I keep stuff out of his reach there are no problems. He also has a few health problems but those are kept in check and he's a very sweet, loving dog who makes my life happier and much more fun. How old is your dog? I'd love to see pictures of him. :)
 
#6 ·
Don't sell him just yet. I have the hounds from heaven. I have 5 goldens. The oldest is 6 and the youngest 5 months. I don't post much because people don't respond too much to good dog posts but everyone wants to help with the hounds from hell.
I won't tell you that it is easy. All of my dogs are trained and all of them know what is expected of them. Quite honestly, once you have one dog trained, that dog always helps to train the younger ones.
The only advise that I have, is decide what you will and will not accept for behaviors and then train for those behaviors. If you don't want a 70 lb adult dog jumping on people, then don't allow your pup to jump on people. Don't let the cute puppy face fool you. A lot of people don't start training until the pup starts growing up and misbehaving. It is much easier to train them now than to train them later. Enroll in some puppy classes and enjoy your pup.
 
#7 ·
My Golden, Yukon is literally the best behaved dog I've ever had. I was leaving him alone un crated in the house at 3 months old (he in now 8 months) and he never chewed on anything or made messes. He was/is so smart and has been a JOY to train.

I was lucky with not having to deal with puppy stage or teething stuff but those that do have great advice on how to deal with it. I literally have zero horror stories. Yukon was a rescue but how I wish I could have known his parents and I would get another puppy from them because he's so great. It's like he came with manners and a natural obedience. I couldn't be more pleased with him.

I'm sure some of it has to do with the breed but I think he mostly has a great temperament and personality. The first day I had him I was carrying him with me through my college campus and a lady stopped me because he was cute and I let her hold him and play with him for a minute and she just kept saying, "What a lovely temperament he has, what a lovely dog!" and then she asked me who my breeder was and had her phone out like as soon as I told her she was going to call! I unfortunately had to tell her he was a rescue and I got him at the local pound and she rushed off to see if any more from his litter were still there! Sorry, but I love to brag on how great my boy is.

I would suggest this breed of course but I would also encourage you to ask about or experience a puppy's parents before buying them and get all the stories you can about them. Many times the parents pass on their temperaments and sometimes its how the puppies where raised.

Most of the troubles, I agree, come in the puppy stage and pass. And when they do mess up they learn and it can make for an entertaining story later on. Remember that no dog will be perfect and they are bound to mess up sometimes, just like a child would. Good luck! And don't let the puppy craziness deter you from this wonderful breed!
 
#9 ·
Out first golden was truly wonderful. She came into our home from a BYB at 6.5 weeks and settled in like she had just waited to be asked to come home. She was always wonderful.

Our current golden is from a reputable breeder of field goldens. She gave us cause for reflection for the first two weeks (okay, it was a long two weeks). We exercised her a bunch and it was never enough. She is now eight months old and the delight of both of us. She passed CGC at 4.5 months. She is always the star of every training class we take and we have been in six or seven now.

She is all the things a golden should be, smart, loyal, fun and affectionate (and, of course, drop dead gorgeous. ;))

I worried also during the first few months, for while she was improving daily, there were challenges that worried me. Even more so after reading the posts on here.

I do believe there are a few goldens (very few) that are very difficult. You probably don't have one of those.

Maddie chewed my furniture, attacked my husband and didn't seem very, well, goldenish. She actually barked at us (something Amber would never have done).

I learned to work with her. She's much more confident then Amber ever was. This makes her a better dog in some ways.

It just takes getting used to a new personality that is changing by the day. Your dog is going to grow up to be a golden not a pitbull or a toy poodle. She/he will be a wonderful companion and loving pet. It just may take a few months to get there.

As everyone says, make sure your pup is getting lots of exercise, that you socialize her and that your make very, very sure they (and you) get puppy training.

Your dog will be great!!!!
 
#10 ·
My hell hound is sick tonight and quiet and sad looking. I miss hell hound dog. Actually first 8 months were bad, but she is turning into a good dog. Another year and she will be great.


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#11 ·
My Liberty is the most wonderful girl. She is sweet, loving, gentle and very well behaved. Yes, she has her issues, but who doesn't? Overall she is just awesome. I don't crate her anymore when I go out. I baby-gate her in the kitchen. She's chewed a cord hanging out of the cupboard once, but that's it. She is a lot of work and I'm constantly training her and trying to keep her busy, BUT she is so worth it! I've never loved a dog as much as I love her. She is just so special.
 
#12 ·
Thanks, this was so good to hear. As far a puppy goes he is relly pretty good. He has his moments where he runs wild. We do have outside playtime to burn off energy. He asks to go outside to potty.He can sit,laydown and working on stay. He has a full day. I am home all day so he does not do to much crate time. He sleeps quiet in his crate at night and does not make a sound. He goes out at 4am when my husband goes to work, he goes back in his crate til 6am. He really is a pretty good puppy. It is an adjustment for me. It has only been a week and a half. LOL We start puppy class on Jan 5th! Looking forward to that! Thanks eveyone for the good stories!! Nice to hear and makes me feel a little better.
 
#14 ·
7 month old Bella has never chewed anything that's not hers, other than some little ribbon she pulled off the refrigerator once.

She only peed on the floor a handful of times. That ended at about 10 weeks.

She's never shown aggression toward any person or dog. Ever.

She was first in her class on graduation day for beginning obedience. That's not a huge deal, but it's a start.

She's also not afraid of much, and is very self confident.

I would not be able to report such good news had we not spent countless hours training her, and watching her like a hawk up until about 5 months.

It sounds like you're on the right track. Don't worry about it.
 
#15 ·
Hi, all I read on this forum is about Devil Dog's Hounds from Hell!!! I am really starting to wonder if I did the right thing purchasing a Golden. I am ready to sell him!!! He is pretty good now but, all these problems makes me worry. Good God, all the biting and bad behavior makes you wonder??? What did I get myself into??? So, please does anyone have good stories?? Ugh..... Spent a good buck on my dog and hate to take a loss but, I am nervous. Please some good stories might help!:confused:
I'm assuming you are just being flippant here.... :D You would never consider selling a puppy you are hopefully bonding with, right?

Goldens go through a mouthy and obnoxious stage when they are puppies. Some of that is teething. Some of it is them just trying to see what they can get away with....

But the adult dog is what you make it. You put the training and patience and love into that puppy and young dog, and you will get the adult you want.
 
#16 ·
I too wondered if I was doing the right thing when I got BaWaaJige but I am sooo glad I did. He is perfect. I never crated him at night he never chewed a single thing he shouldnt. We have great fun together. I do spend alot time training him and I do think that makes a huge difference in what behavior you see in your golden. My boy was never a land shark either I waited but it didnt happen. He is hyper in the field and calm in the house.
 
#17 ·
I have a six pack of 'nice dogs', three were raised from puppyhood, three were adult rescue dogs. The oldest is just shy of 13 yrs the youngest is 2 yrs. They have all given a little grief here and there but that is long forgotten- the good times far outweigh the 'bad' times. It has been an amazing journey - no regrets!
 
#18 ·
We got Max at 7 weeks old - he walked in like he owned the place, proceeded to do his business on the kitchen floor and that was one of the three times he had an accident till he was completely potty trained. I admit to setting a timer and taking him out every 15 minutes at first, but it worked, he was trained in a couple of weeks. The only time he ever chewed anything was when I thought he was sleeping and left him alone in the family room while I went off to the computer room. I came back to find happy puppy in the middle of a pile of what was once a pillow. Totally my fault again.
Is he an angel? Well, yeah, most of the time he is. He pulls like a freight train on leash, and he loves to jump on me, but he doesn't have a mean bone in his body and I wouldn't trade him for anything in this world.
Not every puppy goes through the teenage horrors, Max never did. He tested the rules once or twice, and still does, but I honestly think that as others have said, you decide what you can live with, and train for that behavior.
 
#19 ·
Amber is a pain in the xxx but I love her. We are in the middle of a blizzard tonight. I let her out on a thirty-foot leash to go potty. She loves snow. She hit the end of her leash with me standing on an icy porch. The leash snap failed and she was off and running. Fun! Fun! Fun! I whistled into the wind but she was out of sight. I went back in the house for a coat and shoes [I was wearing sandals], but when I came back out she was running in circles in the yard. Full speed and jumping up to bite snowflakes. She stopped and looked at me, like "Do I have to come inside?" But when I held the door open, she bounded inside -- ready for her supper. Quite a scare! I had visions of her getting lost in the storm or hit by a car because of the limited visibility. But now she's napping at my feet like nothing happened.
 
#20 ·
Growing up, my grandpa had a golden retriever that was the best dog! He lived to be 14 and since him, I've fallen in love with goldens and have wanted one since. The time was finally right in our life for us to get a puppy, so of course a golden was the top of our list, and after a lot of research we decided to stick with it. I was really confident with our decision, until I started reading some of the more negative posts that seemed to always pop up on this forum. I was wondering the same thing! "What have I gotten myself into?!" BUT, people post on here because they need help and advice and reassurance. The positive posts are great, but this place is a great resource for people as well, so they may seem more negative. I haven't regretted my decision to get my pup at all. He is 8 months old now and training has been a breeze! Very few accidents (mostly within the first couple of days of bringing him home) and he has only chewed on his toys. He also has a wonderful temperament and it a total love bug and goofball. So don't panic :) I'm sure you will have your ups and downs, but your pup is def worth it! :)
 
#21 ·
Hahahaha oh man we went through days like that. Worst dog in the world award could have gone to Kallie a few times (and by a few, I mean more than a few)...but honestly I don't think anyone in our family would trade a day in the world. She has been there for us through the toughest of times. She listens, cares, and loves unconditionally. I think she has taught us more than we could have ever have taught her (patience among everything else...). I say don't give up yet! Goldens are honestly the best dogs in the world. I can never see myself without one!
 
#23 ·
At five months old, Loki is quite the most beautiful GR puppy. I was so proud when my vet was totally smitten with him this morning, & said he had the true Golden temperament .....well-behaved & smoochy. I can honestly say that he is a polite boy, easy to live with, great with strange dogs & people. As a younger puppy, he had some issues ....a bit of teething mouthing, some jealousy of an older dog, & a few zoomies round the lounge in the evening. We dealt with each issue quickly, before it got out of hand or became a habit. We are very firm with any show of bad behaviour, but we give a lot of cuddles, love & praise. Loki is a very laid back boy, who actually does not require a lot of exercise. He loves snoozing at my feet in between short walks, romps in the park, games of fetch, or splashing about in his pools in the garden. He is totally gorgeous, & I would not change a thing about him ...I have even found myself thinking of adding another golden in another two or three years ....maybe a rescue or a retired breeder. This forum is great for people with concerns, to get advise from more experienced Golden owners. That is why you will see lots of posts that might seem negative about the breed. But most breeds have issues & puppies are like young children ...they are constantly exploring, pushing boundaries, learning. I used to have Maremmas ...stunning dogs with lovely temperaments, but huge barking issues. My mother used to tell all her children that anything worthwhile was worth the hard work, & I think anyone on this forum with an adult Golden, will support that. You only have to look at the team of Goldens who have gone into Conneticutt to give solace to the grieving people there. One day, I hope to do Therapy work with Loki. Enjoy your fur baby. He'll grow up quickly, & then you will have many yers of unconditional love, devotion & loyalty.
 
#24 ·
I really hope this was okay, but this is a quote from another post in the therapy dog section of the forum. It is really a heartbreaking and truly amazing post from Inge, or Tessa and Liza. I had to share it to this thread as well...it really gives you another perspective.

I wasn't quite sure how to do it, being on my own...in the end I just parked my car and we walked up to the memorial site near the river, and later to the memorial site at the entrance of the school road. It is difficult to describe what is was like. We were needed...Tess went up to people on her own, nuzzling their hands, staying at their side, looking up to them with her big brown eyes...she just did everything on her own, even went up to the State troopers.
There were more Goldens, I saw a few of the Chicago dogs, huge Berners, tiny pugs, and all of them doing a great job. In the end you don't even notice the camera's anymore, it's just the people and your dog. It is so impressive to be there, I can't even describe it. We will go back tomorrow, and certainly on Friday, when it is a week ago this horrible thing happened.
 
#25 ·
People find the forum for various reasons, but mostly when things are wrong and we need suggestions from others more learned than we to help, so many of the post sound negative. As you are on here a while you start to see past this. You see families who love their dog so much, want to bring that pup into a full and satisfying adulthood. You see the love of the people here, not only for our breed but each other. It is more than a forum, it is a family.

Yes, we need to post more of the good times and actually the posts are there, but the "family" forum here is the best and always here. Caring, loving, offering what help they can to get you past your delema. They are here when it is calm too, when you need a shoulder or when you need to talk of your acomplishments. As in any family each of us has trying days with our pups, when adults, not so much, but it means we care to change this behavior, we come to ask how. Not many other forums have such caring and loving people, most are quite blunt and rude. Not here! Here you can learn, you can whine and know someone will comfort or advise. Good place and truly fantastic people.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Our Rocky is 3 months. He is completely potty trained and only lasted about 2 weeks in a pen in my daughter's room. He uses the pads. For some reason, he prefers napping and sleeping in the garage! Our garage is a play room with couches and arcade games, pool table and I just leave that door open and he will disappear and go nap/sleep in there. I'm home all day I assume it's the only place that is quiet and mommy isn't cleaning.

He loves playing in the back yard. He walks great on the leash and he loves to be trained. He will run to me and sit. Follow me and sit. I know it's because he wants to train to get his small 'treats'. He knows where I keep the broom that he loves to chase. He loves to be brushed, which I do 2 times a day. He acts like he's going to bite the brush but just gets all relaxed and one of my favorite times I spend with him is brushing telling him how much I love him.

I'll leave the shower door open because he loves to go in there and he barks at the drain. When he's quiet, I go looking for him because I know he has 'something'. And there he goes - mommy's no fun, she takes things from me. Although he's not in a crate/pen, we have so many gates up it looks like we have a toddler. My living room/dining room are gated. Stairs, office, family room, gated. My son came home from college this week and learned quickly why we keep the bathroom door closed -- he had to clean up the toilet paper mess ;) LOL

Last Saturday, we gave him a bath, he was so fluffy and beautiful. We took him to local outdoor mall by the ice rink and ferris wheel and we couldn't get 5 feet. He was just adored and people just came and pet him. Big guys, teen agers, lots of kids, toddlers. It was so heartwarming, and seemed after that past Friday, it was very appreciated and many parents thanked us! His dad is a therapy dog. So there was Rocky, letting everyone pet him, rolling over, ohhing and awing. He just soaked it up. And the conversations we had with other Golden owners were nonstop. :wavey: Everyone was taking pictures of him, him and their kids, etc. Even the valet guy came over and told me he grew up with 3 Goldens and petted him and said "he has his puppy bump on his head". Everyone asked "can I pet him?" We walked buy a restuarant and had people come out to see him. It was incredible. Had tons of people ask me for the breeders number. They couldn't believe how calm, gentle and he is just so adorable and a big huge soft fur ball.

I don't know, we lost our lab in July and maybe it's just us, after losing Max we were devastated. Rocky seems to be a gift from heaven.
 
#27 ·
I have a 6 month boy...he is my first golden and I wouldn't trade him for the world...like anything they take some effort and there are little hiccups, but these dogs are eager to please and easy to train...provided you put in some effort, and i'm not talking anything unreasonable,you will see improvement in behavior every week....the benefits of owning a golden definitely out weigh any little annoying habits they have as pups :)


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