Hi
we are seriously considering getting a pet for our chidren 13and 10. A golden retriever is their first choice.
Can anyone share their experiences or suggest a reliable breeder... or even another breed. (the size of a retriever worries me) I prefer something a bit more manageable... but surely not one of those small breeds.
Thank you
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Thank you
Location: British Columbia
Posted on: 28-07-10 00:19:01
I have a golden retriever. They are a handful, but very gentle affectionate and good with kids. They generally (there is always the exception to the rule of course) allow kids to be rough with them and tolerate this.
The pros: Good with kids, gentle, easy to train, dont bark as much as small dogs,
Cons: they shed A LOT. Be prepared to brush them every day. They also have strong tails so if you have a low coffee table, be prepared to have things swept off. They also may drool sometimes. They need LOTS of excersize. Ours gets 1-2 hours walk daily. Either that or have a large enough yard. They are social dogs and will become aggressive if left alone.
They are good family dogs. Please dont leave them outside alone. That is cruel.
I also own a small breed dog and I prefer the bigger breed. The small one barks a lot, and generally doesnt get along with kids as well as the big ones.
last - please ask yourself if you are prepared for 10-15 years of discipline in taking care of the dog. Kids dont always have the discipline to make sure dogs get brushed, fed and cared for properly. They need regular schedules for walks and feedings and all that.
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~ Morning rain
Thank you for your inputs. I have been thinking about all these issues for a while now. Its a tough decision. But, children really want a pet... and they are growing so quickly... I just dont want them to loose out on this part of chldhood.
Can you tell me something about pet insurance ? or a reliablr breeder as well.
On an estimate, how much would it cost each year?
Thank you
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Thank you
I have a Golden Retriever as well and even though its a lot of work its still a great pleasure :-).
My wife got it from a breader in Holestien, ON which is quite far. We got the contact from searching in Google. It was 8 years ago so i lost the details.
He is a bigger bread though (around 100 lbs). There are medium size Goldens too which might be a better choice (55-65 lbs).
Good Luck with your search.
Cost wise its mostly food and some dental hygiene products (DentaStix) which run about $70 a month. Also we take him for grooming once every 2-3 months (Each trip costs $100 since he is big). When we go on a vacation usually we send him for boarding which costs $50 a day. SO if you travel a lot, you might have to consider this as well.
He is in good health so not much expenses in that side except for the annual vet visit and we get him examined when he goes for boarding.
We don't have any insurance since insurance doesn't really cover many things.
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Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.
Location: British Columbia
Posted on: 28-07-10 10:51:34
Quote:
Originally posted by new2007
Thank you for your inputs. I have been thinking about all these issues for a while now. Its a tough decision. But, children really want a pet... and they are growing so quickly... I just dont want them to loose out on this part of chldhood.
Can you tell me something about pet insurance ? or a reliablr breeder as well.
On an estimate, how much would it cost each year?
Thank you
I dont use pet insurance. However this means if there is an emergency we shell out the necessary costs. We took this into account before getting the dogs.
Our monthly cost is probably around $40-$50 - that is largely for dry -good quality dog food. Of course you can add on costs for balls and other toys and treats. Our dog loves tennis balls and this breed loves to play fetch.
I understand kids want a pet - I think its a wonderful experience. However my point was just to make sure you are settled on those practical issues. Dogs require a lot of attention and are like kids themselves.
I dont know breeders in Ontario (I am in BC) however check this out:
http://www.golden-rescue.net/main/
It is a Golden Retriever rescue in Markham Ontario. The website has a lot of good information about the breed. They may have puppies. It will be cheaper than getting one from a breeder.
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~ Morning rain
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 28-07-10 10:57:09
Have you considered cats. Cats are relatively very low maintenance and can be great pets as they bond very well with people. We had 2 for 8 years and was great. I prefer pets from humane society as opposed to breeders as, first, I am not picky about pure breds, and second, cross-breeds (mutts) tend to be less prone to health problems, not to mention saving an animal from the shelter.
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Dimple2001
Quote:
Originally posted by dimple2001
Have you considered cats. Cats are relatively very low maintenance and can be great pets as they bond very well with people. We had 2 for 8 years and was great. I prefer pets from humane society as opposed to breeders as, first, I am not picky about pure breds, and second, cross-breeds (mutts) tend to be less prone to health problems, not to mention saving an animal from the shelter.
We had a cat too but it is not the same as having dogs. Cats never come to you when you call them and are usually happy if you leave them alone. Dogs r the best.
Humane society is a good idea, but u have to be careful about the history of the dog. Sometimes they can be aggressive if they were abused by previous owner, a risk if you are planning this for kids. And you would miss the Puppy phase which is a great experience.
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Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.
