[NAGDU] Golden Retriever Question

Sun Jun 26 17:52:04 UTC 2016

Back in the nineties, there were a couple darling movies with golden
retrievers as stars, Homeward Bound and Airbud golden receiver. From what I
was told by someone at GDB, for a while, the breed was so overbred, that the
goldens available for quality breeding stock were few and far between. Many
of the goldens had diseases, cancer, serious allergies, and they were not
learning very easily. I can only speak for GDB, but over time they
rehabilitated their goldens and now have a lot more than they did twenty
years ago. When I got my last dog, I knew I needed a special dog, due to
other physical issues, and I told them I'd accept any dog that was  the best
match, but if at all possible I'd love another golden. My first golden was
the easiest dog to handle, the most bonded, the most loving. Though I'd
loved all my labs, I wanted another golden. And I got one. Every week I see
goldens in their lists of dogs in training, so it's happening. They aren't
really stubborn, at least all the goldens I've known, my two and others,
haven't been stubborn at all. But they are definitely different than labs.
My golden doesn't care for food rewards, and it's rather hilarious to me, as
I'm a strong convert and advocate for food rewards! Grin.

Sherry

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of S L Johnson via
NAGDU
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 2:22 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: S L Johnson <SLJohnson25 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Golden Retriever Question

Hello:

I don't know why the schools don't use more golden retrievers.  When I had 
to retire my last dog, I spoke to all the schools and was very disappointed 
in how many do not have any golden retrievers in their training kennels. 
They make wonderful guides.  I love their long soft luxurious coats and 
enjoy grooming them to keep them looking beautiful.  The golden is not for 
everyone.  They do take a lot of extra grooming and leave quite a bit of 
hair around.  One strange thing I found out is that I am more allergic to 
the Labrador fur than I am the golen even though the golden fur is thicker 
and longer.  I also find the golden to be much calmer, gentler and easier to

work than the labs I had many years ago.  Finally I insisted on only a 
female golden when I applied for a new dog.  Since that time, I have been 
blessed to work with four wonderful female golden retrievers.  So, thanks to

Taffy, Cinnamon who have crossed the rainbow bridge,  Tara who retired and 
now my sweet gentle Eva.  They all gave me unconditional love, great guide 
work and enriched my life.  Anyway, in my opinion, the golden makes the 
perfect guide and I wish more schools would use a lot more of them.
Sandra and The Wonderful Golden Eva

-----Original Message----- 
From: Danielle Sykora via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 10:38 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Danielle Sykora
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Golden Retriever Question

I think the health issues, mainly allergies, are one of the main
reasons. Obviously Labs or any other breed can also develop allergies,
but they usually occur more often in the Golden. I also think guide
dog schools prefer Labs because they tend to be more adaptable, while
Goldens sort of have a sensitive but stubborn personality. I'm
thinking that the slightly lower grooming requirements of the Lab are
also a minor consideration. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but
I've heard these reasons at one time or another.

Obviously Goldens still make great guides though, and allergies can be
seriously reduced by providing a quality diet and managing certain
environmental factors.

The Lab/Golden cross is typically intended to combine the best of both
breeds: the adaptability and slightly lower risk of medical problems
of the Lab with some sensitivity of the Golden.

Danielle and Thai

On 6/24/16, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Golden Retrievers tend to have a lot of skin and allergy issues. They 
> often
> develop these hot spots which are systemic. I think they may be ear
> infection prone, too. They are wonderful guides though; I think my really
> best dog was a Golden Retriever, but I retired him too late. He would get
> to
> panting even just walking down a hall. I didn't listen to him and he  (and
> I) paid dearly for it.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J. via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 6:01 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Golden Retriever Question
>
> I don't know about personality comparison, but my understanding of why 
> more
> Goldens aren't used as guides has to do with health issues.
>
> Julie
> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now
> available! Get the book here:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lisie Foster via NAGDU
> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 12:27 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Lisie Foster
> Subject: [NAGDU] Golden Retriever Question
>
> I have a sort of random question, I don't know if anyone will have time to
> answer!
>
> I'm wondering what the traits are in purebred (versus Golden/Lab mixes)
> Golden Retrievers that cause them to make up such a relatively small
> percentage of the total number of working guide dogs?
>
> Thank you!
>
> Lisie and Finn
> lisiefoster at yahoo.com
> Sent from my iPhone
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