Golden retriever for duck hunting?

[Duckslayer89]

My last lab and the one prior were absolute killer duck hunters but I really like golden retrievers as well. Any experience duck hunting with them? Drive to retrieve? Thanks for any input

[ThurstonCokid]

Just posted some pics of mine. She’s 1. Doing great. The one thing i notice between them and labs is the goldens are a little more timid. Not sure why. Maybe I’ve always had super bold labs. I love the tendencies of goldens. Having it around the house and people is better. I’m not a huge waterfowl guy but go enough to have a good dog. I’d recommend giving it a shot.


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[Widgeondeke]

Lokidog raises & breeds them. Both his girls hunt waterfowl with him

Maybe send him a PM for more info

[Duckslayer89]

Just posted some pics of mine. She’s 1. Doing great. The one thing i notice between them and labs is the goldens are a little more timid. Not sure why. Maybe I’ve always had super bold labs. I love the tendencies of goldens. Having it around the house and people is better. I’m not a huge waterfowl guy but go enough to have a good dog. I’d recommend giving it a shot.


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That’s what I was wondering about. I loved how aggressive and passionate about duck hunting my lab was. But I also really like goldens for house dogs

[vandeman17]

My uncle and cousin train hunting dogs for a living and travel all over the US competing. One of their best dogs with the most ribbons and accolades is a male golden. 

[ThurstonCokid]

Just posted some pics of mine. She’s 1. Doing great. The one thing i notice between them and labs is the goldens are a little more timid. Not sure why. Maybe I’ve always had super bold labs. I love the tendencies of goldens. Having it around the house and people is better. I’m not a huge waterfowl guy but go enough to have a good dog. I’d recommend giving it a shot.


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That’s what I was wondering about. I loved how aggressive and passionate about duck hunting my lab was. But I also really like goldens for house dogs

Yeah. The biggest separation which gives my golden a leg up is around the house, everyone loves her and around people. She’s not gun shy but she will act scared around the deer mounts in the house, garbage bags, weird things like that. My labs have never done any of that.


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[dilleytech]

I grew up around both. The only reason I personally would never get a golden is due to the way there hair glues itself to any cockabur or any plant like that. My cousin would have to shave the long hair off his golden every fall for that reason and that’s enough for me to think it’s not worth having one. They hunt just fine though.

Never noticed labs not being good around people? Everyone seems to love my dog.

[KP-Skagit]

I grew up with goldens before my dad started getting labs so I have seen both. I think that either are great people dogs though labs seem to be busier and a little bit more of a bulldozer.

I just got my first dog, a golden. She is a great duck dog and absolutely loves it.

My dad just got a lab pup, they are two weeks apart. She is a better swimmer, more rambunctious but very cautious. My golden is the leader of the two.

I don't think you can go wrong with either, I just love goldens because I grew up with them.

[3cityhuntr]

I have a male golden on his second year.  Got him mainly for Waterfowl since pheasants are tough to come by anymore.  Compared to my yellow lab, who was an American upland lab that was pretty high strung, this golden is super relaxed all around but has tremendous drive in the field.  My lab would whine a bit in the blind until he had a few good retrieves, whereas this golden is just as quiet as a church mouse and likes to watch the birds.  You can’t go wrong with either but I’m very happy with my choice.  I got him out of sky river kennels in Ellensburg.

[KP-Skagit]

My pup is from Skyriver Golden as well. Same story. I swear she sits at attention in the blind watching the birds.

[Fletch]

I hunted a golden as well (RIP Sparky).  He did just fine and had many of fun days with him.  I would not get another for hunting however due to the cocklebur issue and all of the sand their hair holds on to.  In the basin there is a lot of sand, the labs get sandy and by the time they are back to the truck it has dried and fallen out, no burs...my golden was always a mess, lots of work when I got home.  But I loved that dog, great family dog lots of shedding.

[Duckslayer89]

Thanks for the input guys sounds about like what I was thinking with both breeds. Cool picture too fletch! Any other experiences keep them coming