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Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: weathergirl on January 10, 2016, 06:53:50 PM


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Title: Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!
Post by: weathergirl on January 10, 2016, 06:53:50 PM
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

Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Big6bull on January 12, 2016, 01:28:38 PM
Try any shed hunting with your dogs?
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: mtaylor on January 12, 2016, 02:26:12 PM
I was honestly surprised to see she does not have as much hair as I thought. Good looking dog.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Special T on January 12, 2016, 03:40:02 PM
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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Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on January 12, 2016, 04:16:48 PM
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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: hiway_99 on January 12, 2016, 04:27:18 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: bobcat on January 12, 2016, 04:38:01 PM
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) :chuckle:

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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Timberstalker on January 12, 2016, 04:52:16 PM
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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: weathergirl on January 12, 2016, 05:19:34 PM
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. :chuckle:).  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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: ArtistNhunter2 on January 12, 2016, 05:21:06 PM
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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: weathergirl on January 12, 2016, 05:31:27 PM
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.  :)
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: weathergirl on January 12, 2016, 05:33:36 PM
Of course she also gave me this look   :chuckle:
(Ok, I'll stop posting photos now.)

Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: JJB11B on January 12, 2016, 05:36:52 PM
I wish they had short haired golden's. all the burrs and such would be terrible for the long hair where I go
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Jaques Bonet on January 12, 2016, 05:41:10 PM
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
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Big6bull on January 12, 2016, 06:01:33 PM
What do these puppy's run in price? I've been looking at Brittany's but their price is deffinetly a factor...
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: furiouzgeorge on January 12, 2016, 06:49:45 PM
I LOVE these pictures! What a beautiful dog! Did you mention prices anywhere in this thread?
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: weathergirl on January 12, 2016, 06:55:11 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: mburrows on January 12, 2016, 07:11:28 PM
Beautiful pup!
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: lokidog on January 12, 2016, 08:00:05 PM
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.   :chuckle:  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...? 
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: bobcat on January 12, 2016, 08:13:48 PM
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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on January 12, 2016, 09:58:04 PM
 :yeah: 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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: mtaylor on January 13, 2016, 09:50:47 AM
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?
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: lokidog on January 13, 2016, 10:06:44 AM
I think they have a really good ability to turn it on and off as needed.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: lokidog on January 14, 2016, 02:12:24 PM
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.   :chuckle:
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Ridgerunner on January 14, 2016, 02:54:40 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: konadht on February 27, 2016, 09:01:10 AM
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi769.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx338%2Fyfzdr%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20160105_093205_zpsv814ghuc.jpg&hash=801ddfc42ad94aadcc1bd5bf8262db3bc9a635ae) (http://s769.photobucket.com/user/yfzdr/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160105_093205_zpsv814ghuc.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi769.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx338%2Fyfzdr%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20160119_092855_zpsqu4fqzo3.jpg&hash=cf388deddff8f27ef0a1928e2cafe476f8b53d2f) (http://s769.photobucket.com/user/yfzdr/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160119_092855_zpsqu4fqzo3.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi769.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx338%2Fyfzdr%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20160131_075430_zpss14uenms.jpg&hash=74d2ea6641139671400d636d3f4a1e6aac552347) (http://s769.photobucket.com/user/yfzdr/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160131_075430_zpss14uenms.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: lokidog on February 27, 2016, 07:34:49 PM
Who was your breeder on your boy? Nice looking pup.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: konadht on February 27, 2016, 08:47:46 PM
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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: lokidog on February 28, 2016, 11:27:02 AM
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
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: konadht on February 28, 2016, 01:47:45 PM
haha, ok. I will send you a pm.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: ducksdogsdownriggers on February 29, 2016, 10:57:44 AM
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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Happy Gilmore on February 29, 2016, 11:53:23 AM
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.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Ridgerunner on February 29, 2016, 12:43:04 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: lokidog on February 29, 2016, 06:50:10 PM
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.   :chuckle:  But also at least twice the fun.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Curly on February 29, 2016, 07:00:38 PM


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.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: Wenatcheejay on April 03, 2016, 02:20:14 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160403%2F480ceecc9c177b3ba96ccd9ce839582d.jpg&hash=0abe98bbc885ecabf9f104626166fdf2282c70c4)

I love Hunting with Goldens.
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever!
Post by: tlbradford on April 03, 2016, 04:52:28 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!
Post by: weathergirl on May 29, 2016, 12:43:56 PM
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!   :) :) :)
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!
Post by: Wenatcheejay on May 30, 2016, 08:42:21 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160531%2Ff275a74fc17e957d7bf8e8f81ea89fd1.jpg&hash=6adaf3c82f400c52f3917b42e87cd7791c71ef6b)

Just cause, Goldens are cute!

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Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!
Post by: Duckslayer89 on May 30, 2016, 09:13:30 PM
Goldens can breathe fire too!
Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!
Post by: Wenatcheejay on May 30, 2016, 09:14:56 PM
That's cool Duckslayer!

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Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!
Post by: syoungs on May 30, 2016, 09:50:44 PM
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 :/

Title: Re: Consider a golden retriever! Puppies in August!
Post by: lokidog on May 30, 2016, 10:55:53 PM
That's cool Duckslayer!

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 :yeah:

Also, thanks Mr Youngs.
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