[GoldenHeart6-2]

We miss Samantha more than I can ever describe. But I learned that the Golden lovers here all know and understand exactly how we feel. She can never be replaced! When we are ready, I am so unsure as to going through a breeder, or getting a rescue pup. What is your opinion?

 

[Oaklys Dad]

In my mind there is no wrong answer to you question. Personally I have done it all. Currently I have Oakly who I bought from a breeder and Caue who I got right here on GRF form a gentleman who could no longer give him the time he needs. In the past I have had dogs from back yard breeders and from the dog pound (before they were called shelters : )

 

[Oaklys Dad]

I forgot to add that I have never heard of someone who got a new dog too soon after the loss of a beloved pet. Please open you home as soon as possible to another golden love.

 

[goldengirl09]

I think it's always nice to support the rescues and shelters, especially if you don't have a strong preference. www.petfinder.com is a great source.

 

[GoldenHeart6-2]

Yes, I have heard quite a lot about petfinder. My husband says he needs more time to grieve for Samantha. I believe opening our hearts to another Golden would help us! We agreed we would want a puppy, but don't know if that is possible through a rescue.

 

[amy22]

I think that whatever decision you make, whenever you decide to do it...it will be right for you. I am sorry for the loss of Sam.... I know how it feels.... xxoo

 

[spruce]

In my mind there is no wrong answer to you question. : )

agree!!!

guess it's your decision if you want puppyhood or an older kid who may have "issues".

Whoever you get, they WILL be different than your Sam. When we lost our lab (Sara) to cancer at 5, I think we expected Sadie (lab) to be the same kind of pup. We knew better, but were so glad to have a pup we didn't think of her as an individual (make sense?)

 

[AtticusJordie]

The Forum here is represented by a number of very caring, reputable breeders. There are also lots of members here who work with rescues and shelters.

Our first-born GR is Atticus--nowadays we'd call the person we purchased him from, a "back-yard breeder". Atticus is the most perfect dog I've ever met (no digs on anyone elses furkids ). Would love to clone him if we had the money.

Our next two are rescues: Jordie and Scout. Great dogs. Not perfect by any means but sweet and dear to our hearts. Wouldn't trade any of 'em ever...

We don't have any plans to add a fourth member to our fur family--but if we did--it'll be another rescue. Just too many dogs out there on deaths door with no one to care for them.

If we do decide, at some point, to get a dog from a breeder, we'd probably go through one of the breeders on the Forum. From their comments on the Forum, their websites, blah, blah, blah...I'd certainly have no problem working with one of them.

Which is a long-winded way (I'm a beauracrat, what can I say?) of saying either option can work for you. I'd at least look at Petfinder.com and see what is available--and check with some local rescues (or contact them and tell them what kind of dog you're interested in...).

Timing? You certainly have to feel you're ready to accept another pooch into your home. Tomorrow? January? Next Summer? Your call.

So sorry to hear about Samantha. But there are lots of Goldens out there ready to be part of your family--when you're ready.

Good Luck!

SJ

 

[Jackson'sMom]

Personally, I would never buy a dog. Mine have all been adopted from shelters or through rescue, and that's the only way I will ever get a dog. But going through a reputable breeder is another option. It's really a personal choice.

 

[Penny & Maggie's Mom]

Personally, I hope to always have at least one special needs/ rescue pupper. We have a combo right now... the goldens we got from a BYB ( before we knew better) and they are perfect in our eyes....... beautiful, healthy, well behaved. We have old Syd who was our college aged son's XMas Eve street find. Naturally he went back to school, and she stayed...... that was 13 years ago, and she's wormed her way into our hearts. Then there's our rescue springer Cody who is also our special needs kiddo. He showers us with love and is the definition of velcro. I truly believe that he is so grateful for the love and care we've provided. All different scenarios, but I wouldn't trade one of them. Go with your heart... and your angel Sammy will help bring you just the right pupper to help heal your heart.

 

[jimla]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss of Samantha. Our first golden Dolly was a 3-year old from a back yard breeder who was their retired breeder. A year later, an old stray lab mix Buddy adopted us and was Dolly's best friend. When Buddy died, we searched all the breeders in our state for a young male golden, but couldn't find one. Our application with the golden rescue organization in our area was accepted, but we could not find a match with the dogs available. We happened to visit our local shelter and discovered Elliot, a big 9 month old purebred golden that was relinquished the day before. We were third on the list for adoption and the others backed out. He had too much energy for them! Elliot has been a wonderful dog and companion for Dolly.

Our sweet 10 year old Dolly died 3 months ago, and it broke my heart. I was thankful that Elliot was with me to ease the pain. After two months, I missed walks with a leash for each hand and two golden heads to pet. We found Roxy, an 18 month old golden from a shelter on Petfinder. She was an 8 hour drive away, but she charmed us and we brought her home. She is settling in great with Elliot and out three cats.

From my experience, I waited until my grief subsided before getting another dog. Introducing a new dog to our family helped fill the emptiness. Purebred goldens and puppies occasionally show up in shelters, but they may get adopted before appearing on Petfinder so you must act quickly. The best way to find a puppy may be a reputable breeder.

Jim

 

[pburchins]

It took us 5 weeks to decide to start looking after loosing our 13 year old. Our home became a house without our golden. It was so quiet.

Living through puppyhood has been somewhat tough. It has been 13 years since we did it and we no longer have our 2 sons to help in the raising the pup since they are grown and at college. Things are calming down now that Riley is at obedience school and he is getting more mature. My wife and I talked about it the other day and we both agreed we would look for a young rescue. I have been shocked at how many beautiful Goldens are being turned in here in Atlanta because of the housing crisis. It is very sad.

I do agree with the other poster who said there is no wrong decision here.

Good Luck !

 

[rappwizard]

Ditto--no wrong decision if you decide to go with either a breeder or if you contact your local golden rescue or animal shelter. You're up in NJ and there should be several reputable breeders in a three, four mile radius of where you are, I would guess.

If your mind is made up on a puppy, and if NJ is anything like South Florida, where I'm sitting, it will be quite some time before you'd have any pups to choose from in rescue--older goldens, like 2 or 3 years old--definitely, but puppies are very rare. So I believe your husband is correct--if you decide to go through rescue or a shelter, it could be a long wait.

However, if NJ is like Florida, be prepared to whip out a stack of Benjamins if you decide to go through a hobby breeder. A pup whose sire and dam have all the recommended clearances does not come cheap--at least not here in S.FLA and I would think NJ would be no different. Expect to pay anywhere between $1500 and $2000. If $$$$ is a strong consideration, then the wait for a pup or even a younger dog from rescue doesn't seem so long.

Either way you go, you're choosing a great breed. The first golden my husband and I lost, we also lost rather suddenly like your family, and it was around 2 or so years ago. My Alli's ashes were maybe in the house for only a couple of days when I learned through a friend that Alli's breeder was breeding one of Alli's half-sisters. Although we were still grieving, it was almost as if it was meant to be, and we are so happy with the joy that our young golden Mac brings us every day. Although she's not all that much like Alli, she's got some of her traits, and it's like, in some ways, she's still here with us. Good luck to you and your family.

 

[GoldenHeart6-2]

Whoever you get, they WILL be different than your Sam. When we lost our lab (Sara) to cancer at 5, I think we expected Sadie (lab) to be the same kind of pup. We knew better, but were so glad to have a pup we didn't think of her as an individual (make sense?)

Yes, I know our next Golden will not be our beloved Sammy. We just miss her presence so much. We lost her is such a bad way that we are just so afraid it could happen again. I will NEVER forget that phone call! We couldn't bear losing another at an early age, but I understand there are no guarantees.

 

[maggie1951]

As everyone says no wrong or right to what you deciede but i have always had rescue.
And as Oakleys dad said you may think its to soon and no dog will ever replace Sammy but it does help to know you have given another golden a chance in life.
I have just posted on rainbow bridge that it's 12 years today i lost Charlie one and i will never forget her i got another rescue about 3 weeks after i lost her and it helped me and the other dog who was Sadie.

 

[momtoMax]

Hi!! We've met - kind of. Personal choice - my first dog Willow came from an accidental breeding - half black lab/half chow. She was free. Max, as you know, came from a horse farm in Fleming Pa. I only paid 350 for him. World best buy, I tell you!! He has such a sweet and super kind disposition, he loves to be loved - one of the most endearing things about him is when he gets happy (which happens when we get home or when he just sees one of our cats or when he sees a treat or etc etc) he gets severe happy tail! You can hear him from down the block it is so loud thumping!!! He is more than I could have hoped for and has pretty much ruined me for any other kind of dog. He's proof that you don't have to spend thousands of dollars for an amazing golden.
Either way you go, there are success stories on every side - life itself is a crap shoot so the most important thing to learn from Samantha's loss is that every day is a gift - it should make every day with your children, your husband, and your new golden when it's time to get one all the more important.

 

[Nicole74]

I forgot to add that I have never heard of someone who got a new dog too soon after the loss of a beloved pet. Please open you home as soon as possible to another golden love.

I completely agree with this. Good luck with the search of your new pup.

 

[Bob Dylan]

My first was from a breeder who at the time was involved with starting a rescue (DVGRR). Unfortunately before the opening day of the rescue she passed away. I t was a sad day for everybody. So we decided to go rescue from then on.
It is a personal choice, but rescues do get puppies once in a while.
If interested get your application on file then when you feel it is time your are already approved.
It was hard for me to make that decision until I saw a picture on the rescue site and her face just so cute I had to get her.
Good Luck with whatever you decide.

June

 

[Willow52]

As I posted in another thread, my daughter surprised me with Hank only 3 weeks after my dear Maggie went to Rainbow Bridge. After bring Maggie home to bury her, I wasn't sure I wanted to go through that heartbreak again. My husband had been away on business and I was so glad Maggie held on to see him again.

I remember calling the vet's office to make "the" appointment. I could hardly get the words out. We knew it was time and she was failing fast; could not get up, wouldn't eat, panting, slept almost around the clock. She was almost 14 y.o. and had lived a long, active life.

Hank has brought that life back into our home. For those 3 weeks life was just too predictable and quiet. We talk about Maggie frequently but it's happy memories. There is no time to be sad with a 9 week old puppy tugging at your pant leg!

As for rescue vs breeder, I don't believe there's a right or wrong answer. Do what you feel is best for your family. I've had dogs given to me from accidental breedings, bought from a breeder and given as a gift. I've never done adult rescue. I guess I have this thing for puppies.

 

[Maxs Mom]

We miss Samantha more than I can ever describe. But I learned that the Golden lovers here all know and understand exactly how we feel. She can never be replaced! When we are ready, I am so unsure as to going through a breeder, or getting a rescue pup. What is your opinion?

Sorry you miss your girl! My hugs are with you.

When you are ready, you will know what is best for you. Puppies are a handful, do you want that? There are certainly a lot of goldens in rescue situations who need homes too, in all phases of the life cycle. You need to decide what you "really" want, and if you want a older than puppy dog, then look into rescue. If you want to start from scratch, look for a reputable breeder.