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...

[furiouzgeorge]

I LOVE these pictures! What a beautiful dog! Did you mention prices anywhere in this thread?

[weathergirl]

Well last time the price was $1200, which matched the stud fee.  Most puppies with similar lines are about $1500.  So somewhere in that range.  Lokidog and I haven't quite decided yet. 

[mburrows]

Beautiful pup!

[lokidog]

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

As Bobcat mentioned above, an option for the upland hunter would be to trim the feathering on the legs and tail for hunting season.

As far as shedding, honestly, I notice lab hair a lot more.  However, the back sea of the truck would probably disagree.     But, I don't think they shed any more than other dogs and it would probably be less if we brushed her regularly.

If I took more time, or was better at it, I'm sure her training would advance even better than it is.  She is so excited for the hunt but is able to turn it down and just hang in the house as well.  You can also tell how ferocious she is from the pics above. 


Wait, what, did I see something about keeping one...? 

[bobcat]

My German Shorthair's shedding was worse than my Golden Retriever. Yeah the hair is shorter, but it's also coarser, and it sticks to everything and is difficult to vacuum up compared to the longer, softer, Golden retriever hair. That was my experience anyway, others may have different opinions.

[blackveltbowhunter]

  Dunno about goldens as I have never had one, but have had a variety of other breeds both hunting and non hunting and none have shed as bad as my gsp.

[mtaylor]

Just curious how Goldens are as far as energy goes? I have been around GSP's, Wirehairs, Field Cockers, Labs, and Springers, do they have the same energy levels or are they a little more calm?

[lokidog]

I think they have a really good ability to turn it on and off as needed.

[lokidog]

Here's one of Amber from today and one of her pups (Kota) last weekend, first duck at 9 months.  He apparently had to check out all of the decoys on his way out since he didn't see the bird hit the water.   

[Ridgerunner]

We have a two year old field golden from another breeder that had the same stud, Mulligan.  He is the absolute best dog, he's our 2nd golden and his IQ, drive, and personality are off the charts.  From what I've seen here a dog from this litter would be similiar.  If I was in the market for another pup I'd be considering this, but my wife would kill me.  I should add it lokidog that helped me out in my search for our boy Tate knowing that I couldnt wait for his litter. 

[konadht]

Weathergirl, Amber is a beautiful dog. Great pics!

I would absolutely recommend a golden as a hunting dog! They make a great hunting partner and friend. I lost my last one after thirteen years of great times. They are amazing dogs in the field or at home. I noticed a lot of people talking about their shedding. From my experience it's not bad. It seems to clean up better than our old brittany or my wife's old lab because it is not as wiry or coarse. We have a had a few great hunters over the past 20 years and am currently working with my new buddy, Copper. He is one and a half.

[lokidog]

Who was your breeder on your boy? Nice looking pup.

[konadht]

It wasn't my intention to throw out names of other breeders on weathergirls post. I just agree with with her wholeheartedly, that people should "consider a golden retriever." They are amazing dogs in and out of the blind! They work hard, have good instincts, and love to please their owners.

[lokidog]

It wasn't my intention to throw out names of other breeders on weathergirls post. I just agree with with her wholeheartedly, that people should "consider a golden retriever." They are amazing dogs in and out of the blind! They work hard, have good instincts, and love to please their owners.

I think she would be fine with it... I'm her hubby.     She was actually curious on the pedigree. If you would ccare to share in a PM, that would be great.  Thx

[konadht]

haha, ok. I will send you a pm.

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

My wife talked me in to getting out first golden last year after 25 years of labs.  Nothing but great things to say about her.  Glad to see more folks promoting the field lines.

[Happy Gilmore]

The sponsorship for Hunt Wa is a nice addition to using the place to sell stuff. Can't remember what I paid when I advertised a litter but, it wasn't much. Far less than a stud fee. lol. 

[Ridgerunner]

My wife thinks our dog needs a playmate, our dog was from the same stud as you use, I'm not sure I'm ready for two dogs though, lol. 

[lokidog]

My wife thinks our dog needs a playmate, our dog was from the same stud as you use, I'm not sure I'm ready for two dogs though, lol.

Right? Having two dogs is not 2X the work, more like 4x.     But also at least twice the fun.

[Curly]

My wife talked me in to getting out first golden last year after 25 years of labs.  Nothing but great things to say about her.  Glad to see more folks promoting the field lines.

Your lab looks almost identical to my old lab. Good looking dogs.

[Wenatcheejay]

I love Hunting with Goldens.

[tlbradford]

I love seeing a good hunting line.  I hunted with mine all through college and until the age of 14.  He had a little longer coat than yours, but was dark, lean, and athletic.  People would always tell me he had some setter in him, and I would tell them to do some research.  I chose a golden because I was going to school and needed a calm, easy to train dog that wouldn't tear up my apartment.  Hair care is an issue.  They shed, and it is long.  No more or less than other breeds, but it is more noticeable.  Burrs are a pain.  They have to get cut out.  However, the hair is a bonus in the field, because I could push him through gnarly crap that would cut up other dogs.  These lines have less cancer and hip problems typically.

They don't cover near the amount t of ground as a pointer.  I would say about 2/3 less.  Mine could hunt all day in any weather and terrain.

I would take a golden over a lab any day of the week due to better behavior and disease issues cropping up in labs.  If you have the time, patience, and energy to deal with a pointer, they are the far superior breed for upland bird. 

[weathergirl]

I just wanted to mention that we are looking at breeding Amber in a week, which will mean puppies in August!  Watch our website www.islandgoldretrievers.com or follow our Facebook page for updates!   

[Wenatcheejay]

Just cause, Goldens are cute!

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[Duckslayer89]

Goldens can breathe fire too!

[Wenatcheejay]

That's cool Duckslayer!

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[syoungs]

After spending a weekend with Amber and one of her last pups, I would buy in a heartbeat, with a new house and wedding coming up in August, I couldn't make it work out though :/

[lokidog]

That's cool Duckslayer!

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Also, thanks Mr Youngs.