Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!

[weathergirl]

I've been working on updating our website as we look at breeding early summer.  We would love to place puppies in hunting and/or competition homes as there is some serious talent here. 

I know this has been discussed in the past, but I'm always surprised that more people don't consider a golden retriever from hunting lines.  Our Amber is the sweetest in the house, and seriously driven in the field.  She is smart and, well, pretty much perfect. 

I can't help but think that few really understand the difference between the large, white, "showdog" type of golden and the smaller, sleeker, darker, and very athletic hunting lines.  I've seen the difference at hunt retriever competitions and it is like night and day.  Amber is a joy to watch work, and everything you could want as a family dog.

Anyway, check out our website.  I've added more photos.  Breeding to take place in early June for puppies a couple months later, going to homes in the fall.

www.islandgoldretrievers.com

[Big6bull]

Try any shed hunting with your dogs?

[mtaylor]

I was honestly surprised to see she does not have as much hair as I thought. Good looking dog.

[Special T]

I had a professor at CWU that was the only partime tenured professor on campus. He ran a duckhunting guide business. He swore by goldens because he thought they were the easiest to train because of thier need/drive to please.

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[blackveltbowhunter]

Beautiful dog! What is the care like of their coat? Lots of shedding issues? They certainly do not look nearly as high maintenance as most goldens I have seen. Have always loved the temperament and look of goldens but maintenance of the hair has been a factor.

[hiway_99]

I think my golden sheds less than my dad's yellow lab.  But they need to be brushed regularly as mine will get some knarly knotted up hair balls on her rump. 

[bobcat]

My golden was the best pheasant dog ever. She loved water but hated duck hunting. She was bored and apparently didn't like the taste of a duck in her mouth. She would retrieve them out of the water but once she hit land she'd drop it and I'd have to go get it. Pheasant, chukar, grouse, totally different. She'd carry them around all day.

The shedding is no different than a lab, the hair is just longer. It's not any more difficult to clean up. If you have a hunting dog in your house, you're gonna have hair on your floor. (and probably your couch)

I would take electric clippers and trim the hair short right before hunting season. She wouldn't pick up as many burrs that way and if she did they were easier to brush out.

Great dogs. Nothing better for a family dog. Labs are good too but not as good.

[Timberstalker]

Amber has to be one of the best looking Golden's I've ever seen.

The website development looks good.  Best of luck with your sale on the new pups.

[weathergirl]

Thanks for the positive feedback.   

To answer some questions, Amber actually doesn't shed much, and if you look at the photos you can see her hair is shortish, as the hunting lines of golden retrievers tend to be.  Honestly I don't do anything for her fur besides wash her when she gets into something stinky.  I don't even brush her.

Her desire to please is off the charts which makes her great in so many ways.  I know Ed is often impressed by how steady she is to the shot.  She trembles with excitement to go hunting, and shoots off like an arrow to retrieve, but will obediently wait until she gets the command. 

Most likely I will keep one from this litter (someone tell lokidog for me, OK?  Thanks. ).  I know this is my dog and of course I love her and thinks she's the best, but seriously...she's amazing.  We were so impressed with the previous stud, Mulligan, that most likely we are doing a repeat breeding.  If you look at the website, you can see what the pups are looking like now that they are over 9 months old (I'm still doing some updating).  Talk about happy families...they all are thrilled with the puppies.

I know there are lots of other breeds out there that are great, but these golden retriever lines are something special.  I'll post a few photos in case you don't want to go look at the website.

[ArtistNhunter2]

The best dog I ever owned was a Golden. He was, as some call them, a "Field" Golden Retriever. A little smaller with dark reddish hair. Smartest dog, excellent hunter and a great family dog. He loved the water, but couldn't sit still long enough for duck hunting. Pheasant hunting in close, was his expertise. He wouldn't go out in front of me more than 20 yards.
I miss him dearly.

[weathergirl]

Here's a photo from today.  How can a dog so driven to go after birds tolerate the torture of putting baby chicks all over her?  I guess it speaks to her character. 

[weathergirl]

Of course she also gave me this look   
(Ok, I'll stop posting photos now.)

[JJB11B]

I wish they had short haired golden's. all the burrs and such would be terrible for the long hair where I go

[Jaques Bonet]

I lost my Golden awhile Back 13yr old, stroke. She was the smartest dog I ever Had , would hunt , bring in the mail , newspaper . Trained her not to leave the property. Lassie had nothing on her , sounds corny, but what a dog. But she did shed a lot. Haven't been able to get another dog, still in mourning. You can't get a more loyal animal. I's hard to lose one.  Jaques Bonet

[Big6bull]

What do these puppy's run in price? I've been looking at Brittany's but their price is deffinetly a factor...