[NAGDU] Question about Breeds

Mon Mar 4 23:38:09 UTC 2019

I've had a Golden and Lab/Golden as guides, and a Lab/Golden guide dog
dropout as a pet. All three dogs were what guide dog programs would
consider a city dog. Both of the crosses were pretty much bomb proof.
My one cross developed a thunder/firework phobia but literally could
care less about anything else, so it's a little weird. Both crosses
were very hard dogs, in the sense that even a strong correction on a
prong wouldn't bother them much. The Golden is a bit more sensitive in
a way. She is perfectly capable of handling pretty much anything I
throw at her, and in fact I remember a member of the training staff
remarking that she appears fearless. At the same time, she works in a
martingale 95% of the time, is very in tune to changes in tone (high
pitched tone gets her really excited and harsh tone works as well as a
leash correction more often than not), and she flinches whenever she
causes me to trip or bump into something. My cross was like "oh I
guess I missed that" when we reworked an obstacle, while the Golden is
like "OMG I'm so sorry that was my fault" instantly upon making the
mistake.

Both of my guides are very high energy, while the dropout was more
laid back. All three dogs gravitate to water. My more Lab-like cross
in fact will paw water out of water bowls, lay in puddles, and
retrieve a toy in water for an hour or more without stopping. While
all three dogs loved all people and liked as much physical contact
with people as possible, the Golden is the only one who will seek out
attention in public while working.

Both crosses would eat anything that was offered. The more Lab-like
cross in fact has a serious counter surfing/scavenging tendency. The
Golden is quite food motivated as wel; however, not to the extent of
the crosses. She refused to eat sometimes in the kennel, and she
refused kibble rewards in some situations during the first few months
I had her due to a combination of stress and excitement of the
transition I think.

Some other Golden tendencies include being vocal. Most Goldens and
Golden crosses will have a whole assortment of growls, whines, groans,
etc when they are excited, want something, or feel the need to tell
you they are right and you are wrong. Goldens like to rest their heads
on things, and they use their paws a lot. Lab hair coats everything in
a blanket, but Golden hair clumps into giant hairballs floating around
your house. Golden hair will collect snowballs and everything you
never wanted to know was dropped on the floor under seats or tables.

Danielle, Thai, and Jackie

On 3/4/19, Rox Homstad via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Jordan,
> My lab, Soleil hates water also. Mostly she will try and guide me around
> puddles or will stop and then jump over them and hold steady while I step
> over. Buuuut last week, she walked me right through one.  We had been in New
> York where it snowed and then I was hospitalized for a week, and she was
> really bored in the hospital that whole time and so I swear she walked me
> through that puddle when I left the hospital on purpose and then turned to
> me with this look on her face that was clearly like "sorry not sorry." Just
> wait, I'm having the last word, we're leaving for the frozen north and
> Canada in 4 days and so ... she's going to have to pee in the snow.  Poor
> little southern bell!
>
>
> Rox'E and the Kitchen Bitches
> Soleil, Rowan
> pawpower4me at gmail.com
>
>> On Mar 4, 2019, at 3:48 PM, Jordan Gallacher via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I have had a golden, and two labs, and I can tell you that they are or
>> can
>> be all different.  My golden was as sweet as can be and liked being right
>> in
>> the middle of things.  My first lab was hyper major but was eager to
>> please
>> when she was not being stubborn.  My most recent dog was a lab and was as
>> calm as could be but harder to get to do what I wanted him to do.  Funny
>> thing is that my second dog hated water with a passion while my first and
>> third dogs would find every puddle to go play in if I let them.  Lol.  My
>> girlfriend has a lab gold cross, and he has definite traits from both
>> breeds
>> mostly between my first and second dogs.
>> Jordan
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sam Doman via NAGDU
>> Sent: Monday, March 4, 2019 3:50 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Sam Doman <skdoman2001 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question about Breeds
>>
>> Love it! How have your goldens been in terms of tempermant??
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Mar 4, 2019, at 2:44 PM, Janell via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Oh, super cute!  Thanks for the smile!!
>>>
>>> -Janell and Miss Rosy!
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Madison Martin via
>>> NAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, March 4, 2019 2:30 PM
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Madison Martin <maddymartin at mymts.net>
>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question about Breeds
>>>
>>> Hi Sam and all, I'm a sucker for Goldens, but as long as I don't get a
>>> Poodle then I really don't care. I don't want a Shepherd, but luckily
>>> the schools that I'm interested in don't train German Shepherds. Hope
>>> you get a guide dog soon! I saw this on a couple of other guide dog
>>> lists; I don't know if it's of any help to anyone, but I thought that
>>> you guys might find it funny. I don't know where the other lists got it
>> from though. Here it is:
>>> Which Breed Is the Best Dog?
>>> Golden Retrievers must be touching you at all times.
>>> Labs want to touch you at all times.
>>> German Shepherds have to see you
>>> at all times.
>>> If they had a job...
>>> Golden Retrievers would be social workers.
>>> Labs would be stand up comedians.
>>> German Shepherds would be nannies.
>>> If they
>>> were religious:
>>> Golden Retrievers must be Catholics; they understand the need to
>>> confess their guilt.
>>> Labs must be protestants, "What guilt?"
>>> German Shepherds
>>> must be agnostics, "I only did what was necessary."
>>> Golden Retrievers need attention.
>>> Labs want attention.
>>> German Shepherds demand attention.
>>> If Golden
>>> Retrievers could talk, they would be constantly saying, "I love you! I
>>> love you! And if you came home and found a broken lamp, they would
>>> say, "I'm a bad dog! I must have broken it even if I was outside the
>>> whole time! Oh No, you are unhappy!"
>>> If Labs could talk, they would constantly be saying, "Love me!
>>> Love Me!" And if you came home to find a broken lamp, they would say,
>>> "Broken lamp? Yup, I was having tons of fun and I broke it! Want to
>>> see me break the other one?"
>>> If German Shepherds could talk they would be constantly saying, "Where
>>> are you going, be careful! Let me help you with that!" And if you came
>>> home to find a broken lamp, they would declare, I told him not to do
>>> it, but the cat broke the lamp anyway!"
>>> Golden Retrievers -- long hair- on your clothes, in your food, on your
>>> couch, in your bed . everywhere!
>>> Labs -short hair- on your clothes, in your food, on your couch, in
>>> your bed.everywhere!
>>> German Shepherds - multi-colored hair--on your clothes, in your food,
>>> on your couch, in your bed.everywhere!
>>> Golden Retrievers brush daily;
>>> Labs blow their
>>> coats at least twice a year, take them to a groomer for a bath spring
>>> and fall, basically wash and wear. German Shepherds are walking fur
>>> factories capable of creating huge dust bunnies that are intelligent
>>> enough to hide until you put the vacuum cleaner away. You might just
>>> consider giving these names and making them members of the family.
>>>
>>> What do you guys think? Enjoy!!
>>> Madison
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy
>>> Carcione via NAGDU
>>> Sent: March-04-19 11:55 AM
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question about Breeds
>>>
>>> There are only 2 schools that have plenty of shepherds, The Seeing Eye
>>> and Fidelco.  Fidelco only has shepherds, and TSE has about equal of
>>> the 3-4 breeds.  Some other schools have a very few shepherds, but, if
>>> that's what you really want, you should probably look into a school
>>> that has them, or be prepared to wait a while for one to come along that
>> will suit you.
>>> Cindy is totally right to point out that it's not just the breed; the
>>> personality and the way the dog suits your needs is the big thing.  I
>>> had a lab who had many shepherd qualities, and another who had many
>>> golden qualities.  I expect there are sheppies who are lab-like, too.
>>> And that sets aside the lifestyle concerns.  Do you need a dog who
>>> loves the big city?  That kind is usually bored crazy with a quiet
>>> life.  Or are you someone who lives in the country, and walks 3 miles
>>> into
>> town most days?
>>> What do you want the dog to do for you?  That's a rhetorical question,
>>> but an important one.
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sam Doman
>>> via NAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2019 12:37 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Cc: Sam Doman
>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Question about Breeds
>>>
>>> Yeah. I think that leader does. I know all about labs being eaters, as
>>> I have a pet lab who constantly looks for food. I've really been
>>> looking at goldens or german shepherds.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Mar 4, 2019, at 11:28 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Sam.
>>>> Do you get much choice at Leader?  Many schools have mostly labs.
>>>> Not a problem for me, though.  I like labs a lot.  They tend to be
>>>> healthy, even-tempered, and adaptable to any situation.  They can lie
>>>> quietly in an office, or walk around all day.  One thing about labs
>>>> is they're not picky eaters.  Or, looked at another way, they'll eat
>>>> anything, any time, and sometimes it's not something you want them to
>> eat.
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sam Doman
>>>> via NAGDU
>>>> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2019 12:16 PM
>>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> Cc: Sam Doman
>>>> Subject: [NAGDU] Question about Breeds
>>>>
>>>> Hey all. So as I may be getting a dog soon, I wanted to ask your alls
>>>> opinion on the different breeds. What do you like about them, how are
>>>> they with temperament? Thanks..
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
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