Rescue vs breeder - looking for adult Golden

[LauraLynn]

Hi, I am new to the board and in need of some help.

I have 2 small children so I feel a puppy is not best for us at this time, but thought an adult with the right temperament would work wonderfully. Do you suggest looking into rescue or contacting breeders or both? I am looking for a NON-BYB Golden Retriever, can they be found in rescue? Also, do you recommend a male or female with kids? Any suggestions, pros/cons would be great - thanks in advance! :)

[My Girl Macy]

Welcome to the boards. I just posted my very first message the other day.

I think getting a Golden from a rescue is a GReat idea! I have two daughters aged 3 and 2 along with a 4.5 female Golden which I had since she was 2mos. I can honestly say it would have been very difficult to have gotten a puppy after my girls were born as puppies require a lot of care and attention.

The Golden Rescues in my area have dogs of all ages. And they really check you out before adopting to you. They sometimes even come out to inspect the home and make sure you have a fenced yard.

As far as male or female I do not know. My female is awesome but I am sure if I had a male he would be just as wonderful.

Good Luck and get ready to fall in love with a Golden!

[Goldenglittergirl]

Thats awesome your considering rescue! :029

There is never a guarantee that a Golden at a rescue won't be from a BYB, as sometimes not a lot is known about their background.

I would recommend going through a rescue as they know the dogs pretty well, and most of their Goldens live in foster homes, so the foster parents are able to tell you all you want to know about that Golden.

They will throughly check your home out as well as your references.

Good luck and I hope you find that "special one!" :485

[allie,hannah,brinkleygold]

Yes a rescue is a great idea! If you would like to do a GR search just go to www.petfinder.com and go to the left side and search whatever kind of animal and whatever region you would like, its pretty awesome! Good luck and please let us know if you get lucky and find a GReat companion!

[Rusty-14]

I also agree with the Rescue part. That is the only way I would go. Not because of the money breeders charge but because all dogs who are in Rescues need our help.

I have only had a male Golden and can't say for the females. I am sure they are all great dogs. I also have a Golden/Chow which is a wonderful dog also.

Good luck in what ever you decide.

[angenbear]

That's great. I would ask the rescue groups to match the personalty that you want in a dog, and see if they find one right for you. I think also, that it's hard to tell if a golden is from a byb if they are rescued, usually they will get a health check before giving them to someone.

[LauraLynn]

Wonderful, I am so glad to see many of you think highly of going the rescue route. I feel that is what's best for us a well!

I appreciate the input concerning NON-BYB in rescue. Let me ask you this ... is it possible to find a Golden correct in conformation as well as temperament there? I don't need a showdog obviously, but as much as I desire to help a Golden in need, I also want one that looks like a Golden. Is this asking too much?

[My Girl Macy]

I do not know where you are located but my area Golden Rescue (which also lists it's dogs on Petfinder) is very upfront with the descriptions of the dog.

They tell you straight up if the dog is not full Golden (most are), if the dog has any problems with children or other animals. They tell you if it likes to play or swim and also if it has any health concerns/issues. I think it is GReat they are so honest, that way they can be sure that you would not adopt an animal with hidden issues only for the animal to be dumped back off at a shelter.

While the dogs are at their foster family's house, usually the foster family tries the dog out for behavioral issues. Usually the application process can take a month or so because they try to fit you with the best Golden to match your household's needs.

[missinbeau]

Welcome, I have not been at this for too long, on the board that is. I believe a rescue is the best way to go and that is what I am trying to do right now. I have no idea how long I will have to wait for one. I know it would be easy and fast to find a breeder and buy a pup but I really want to rescue. I have had two goldens in my life that I raised from pups. They are no longer with me but while they were here they taught me so much. I really need to give back to such a wonderful breed. I have a 7 yr lab/shep mix and I think it will be best for her to have an adult companion. I hope to get a male golden as that is what she is used to living with. If anyone has rescued could you you let me know about how long it took for a first time rescue? Thanks :reddogx

[GoldCountryGirl]

LauraLynn, you might consider contacting reputable conformation breeders who might have an older pup or young adult who they want to re-home. Most of the time these are Goldens who, for some reason just didn't work out in their breeding/show program. Or maybe it's a returned pup or dog. Usually these Goldens have had some basic training, ie; crate trained, leash/off leash trained, housebroken, etc. I know that if I were looking for a Golden in good conformation, bred to standard and from healthy and nice lines, I would definitely look for an adult or older pup from a good breeder.

As for finding a NON-BYB Golden in rescue, I would say your chances are slimmer than one who is backyard-bred. A reputable breeder will almost with out a doubt have in their contract that if a pup or dog needs to be given up for any reason that the breeder has first right of refusal. They will almost certainly take back one of their pups/dogs at anytime during its life. That's another good reason for folks to buy from reputable breeders vs. BYB beause IF they did ever absolutely have to give up their dog, they would feel assured that they wouldn't have to give it up for rescue or to a shelter or someone they might not trust.

Good luck! :dogbark


Wonderful, I am so glad to see many of you think highly of going the rescue route. I feel that is what's best for us a well!

I appreciate the input concerning NON-BYB in rescue. Let me ask you this ... is it possible to find a Golden correct in conformation as well as temperament there? I don't need a showdog obviously, but as much as I desire to help a Golden in need, I also want one that looks like a Golden. Is this asking too much?

[pixiepurls]

what does BYB mean?

I would def. try breeders! Breeders often have 6 month old dogs that turn out over or under size or with the wrong head shape or something. But be careful at the breeder you picked, the dog may not have been raised in a house, and instead a kennel and while it may be a nice dog you probably want one raised in a home enviroment from day 1.

Also you should look up GR rescue's, which are more specific then general rescue's and in my experience are less of a "business" and have some really fantastic people working to help these poor dogs. Be just as careful in picking your rescue as you would be in picking a breeder.

Good luck, defnitley try a rescue, and make sure you can have a week to "test" the dog in your home to make sure it's best for you and your family. If the dog doesn't work out don't feel bad, just make a donation. It's important when deciding something that can effect your life for more then 10 years, to be very thoughtful about it all!

That's all my opinion or course and can be taken with a grain of salt hehe.

[sleepyspencer]

We just got a rescue dog a little over 2 weeks ago. He is 8 months old and is fitting in nicely. I can't blame you for wanting to skip the puppy stage. He was a Christmas present puppy for his former owners and then got too big for them to handle. This dog has a very strong desire to mouth and play bite. We are working on that and he is very smart and has come a long way in two weeks. We have four cats that he usually ignores. This dog does have his moments, but he is also very readable and easy to redirect. It may take longer than a one week trial to see if a rescue fits your home. This dog was very laid back for a week and then as he started to trust us we started to see typical 8 month old behavior (stealing, leash biting, etc.). He is still learning the rules and is learning very quickly. The only reason I would not recommend this dog in a house with small children is simply because he is sill learning the no play-bite rules. He will be fine afterward. This dog came to us fully crate trained, housebroken and knows sit, down and shake. We have also taught him a new name and drop in the short time we have had him. If you have the time and you go through a good rescue it is the way to go. Maybe you would consider a senior dog. Might fit in nicely in your household.

[fourdogfarm]

Rescues get dogs from many different resources - Humane Society, Animal Control, vet clinics, death of an owner, owner surrenders, etc. The 2 Goldens I have now are AKC/purebred - got the male at age 2 1/2 and the female at 5mths. Both were owner surrenders - one was very ill, the other moved to an apt. The male is huge (89lbs) but very calm and patient. He is wonderful with children. The female is all puppy and likes to chew and dig. She is a handful at times, but has our Border Collie pup to play with and tire her out most of the time.

I think it's wonderful that you are considering a Rescue Golden. If you are able to find a good Rescue organization, they will work with you to make sure you get the perfect dog for your home situation. Rescue's goals are to make sure the dog finds its "forever home" and will not be returned to the group. Explain to the Director EXACTLY what you would prefer and what your concerns are, THEN BE VERY PATIENT! You may get lucky and get a call within a few days, or you may have to wait a few months. Check back with them every 2wks or so to remind them that you are still interested.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that adopting a Rescue is a shopping experience...that they're trying to pick out the perfect dog. Odds are you're not going to find "the perfect dog" through a rescue - you have to peel off the layers of issues and make him/her the perfect dog yourself. Thing is with Goldens, they are all wonderful dogs deep down inside. Some just need a little more work than others to bring them out of their shell.

Good luck and thanks for considering a Rescue Golden! He/she will be lucky to have such a new family to love!