Wanting to Get a Golden Retrieve

G., You've probably got 100 answers by now, but here's my two cents.

I grew up with dogs. I LOVE LOVE LOVE dogs. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds in the world, and are terrific family dogs. They are energetic and kind, and can be very very very smart. If you take on the challenge of a puppy you are having another child. Would you really consider having ANOTHER CHILD, INFANT right now? I see you have a 4,3 and 1 yr old girls and this sounds like so much fun, but I wouldn't throw a puppy in this mix! There are many golden retrievers that are looking for good homes that are at rescues due to no fault of their own. Especially right now with the economy being as it is. You'll likely find a perfect gem from a rescue. Do a google search to find a Golden Retriever Rescue near you and go look at the dogs. You may even find a slightly older puppy, or a very gentle, very kind older dog that seriously will adore your children. They are often overlooked because people think that they are not going to be good with kids, when in fact the truth is the exact opposite. And your cats, will stay out of the way if needed; most senior dogs won't chase a cat anyhow! Too much energy!! :)
I urge you to not get a puppy for another reason. (Gosh this is long, I must be a mother! :) ) I have a puppy. Okay, she is over a year old, but she is still a puppy. I love her to pieces. She has just recently decided to stop jumping on me, which is nice being 8 months pregnant. We bought her for our 7 year old last October for her 6th birthday. THIS is a pretty good age to get a dog, a bad TIME to get an outdoor dog, but my husband did the shopping. They need training when they are very very young, and a firm Alpha-dog role needs to be played by YOU. I had the time and the energy, but my husband didn't have the belief. He is now a believer that this would have helped us somewhat. Puppies are puppies for years, and goldens puppy stage lasts 2-3 years. And their paws are so cute!! My dog is a different breed, that husband thought was so perfect for our family. HA! We now constantly worry what she's getting into on the farm, where she went to and if she'll come back via the road (dangerous) or the pastures (fine). She's a jumper and a climber.

That was really long. You're asking a great network of people this good question. Do your research and think really hard about it before you get another baby. I'd be so tired! ;)

V.
married 9 yrs, daughter 7.5 and daughter due in April. Blue Houdini Princess is almost 2, Weimaraner.

We love having a family dog!
I worked as a groomer and as a volunteer with my local humane society when I was in college, and I can tell you golden retrievers are generally very soft and compliant in personality. They are, as already mentioned, a breed created for hunting, so they are high-energy and will become unruly if left alone for long periods of time, or if relegated to being backyard or kennel dogs. Golden have double coats, which means they require frequent, thorough brushing or they will become matted and "clumpy" looking (as well as smelling "doggy" from having old fur collecting dirt).
Personally, I don't think your options are limited to puppy or old dog. I think the young dog choice is the best option out there, especially with young children. Goldens are bouncy, lively puppies, and it would be so nice if someone else went through that intial overly bouncy, chewy stage so you are not exasperated trying to train a puppy not to use your children as a chew toy and everyone could settle in to enjoying the dog instead of just managing a challenging maintenance project. What a bonus if your new friend were already housetrained and/or crate trained! The best dog I've ever had was one we adopted from a divorcing couple. The dog was not quite one year old and was so nicely trained, but plenty young enough that she adjusted well to our cats. Also, she'd been raised around children, so someone else's kids got chewed on! LOL
I notice you are in Ogden. There is a very reputable golden retriever rescue in Logan. I think the women's name is Lani--she is very nice and could offer you a wealth of information, both about the breed and where to find the right one for your family. I think you could Google "golden retriever rescue utah" and find her. She often collaborates with the German Shepherd rescue group up there, and that rescue also has an excellent reputation, as I think both Lani and the other woman have trained dogs for therapy and guide work.
In Ogden, Donna Sellers at Don's Pet Care can offer excellent help with training, behavior and socialization questions. I've been really impressed with the information and techniques she showed me--she had my bouncy dog perfectly heeling on a loose leash after just a 30 minute session.
Consider, too, contacting Weber County Animal Services and checking local shelter and rescue listings on www.petfinder.com. Goldens are not an uncommon breed, and this is the time of year when all the Christmas-gift-impulse puppies are being unloaded by people who realize they don't have the time or commitment to properly train and manage a puppy. You could find a perfect young teen-ager and save a life at the same time.
I suggest you avoid backyard breeders, as you're paying for convenience but not expertise, and the parents are unlikely to have been genetically tested against things such as hip dysplasia or thyroid problems or have achieved championship or even points in the show ring and are therefore not proven to have breed traits worth passing on--if these things don't really matter to you (and they don't matter to me, it's just a perspective I'm offering) then I think finding a family dog secondhand is both the right fit for a family with young children and a highly ethical thing to do. Both for behavior issues and ethical concerns, I'd definitely recommend having your pet spayed or neutered right away if it's not already done.
Dogs are so resilient and retrievers are so cooperative and responsive. Keep us posted--I know you'll find the perfect fit!

P.S. I was on ksl.com and saw a couple ads that might interest you--there is a 5 month old golden in North Ogden that is already housetrained and raised with kids and cats--the ad number is ###-###-#### and there is another ad for a 2 year old golden that is also housetrained and reliable with children--you could find that one by searching on "Buck the Dog." Both are red in color. I think a lot of families are re-homing their pets due to hard economic times. Good luck!

G., Golden retrievers are great family dogs. they are high energy so will need a lot of exercise or they will be extremely hyper but throw the ball around for 30 min a day in the back yard and take them for a walk and it will be a happy puppy. when you introduce the puppy to the family hold it and have your children first present their hand for it to sniff then after a minute when you see that tail wag and a relax of the body a bit let them pet the puppy. as for the cat the cat will have a harder time than the puppy most likely but they tend to avoid the dogs--but for the intro I would suggest one of you hold the puppy and one the cat and put the cats butt up to the puppys nose for it to sniff this is how animals are introduced into a pack. then let the cat sniff the dog only if it is calm otherwise just give the cat time to adjust.
as for where to get one, check the local pounds for puppies first then go to classifieds and then the pet store. it helps save some from being euthanized--
Good luck!!

Ad ####-###-####
Saw this ad on ksl.com it looks in the pictures that there are a few that are red