Golden V Labrador - Which is best with children? Questions

Narc and OSD are not tests most Labrador breeders utilise, because they are not a problem within the breed.

If looking for a Lab, they should be from hip scored parents, preferrably elbow graded as well, although elbow grading is a more recent health test so grand parents may not have this in place. Other than that, you need to have a current clear BVA eye cert, and should know the status for PRA (eye condition) and CNM (myopathy which is fatal more often than not) - EIC is another genetic test, which I personally don't think we know the full picture for yet, so wouldn't test for it.

I have a 14 yrs 10 month, Golden Retriever and he is most loving dog I have ever owned, from the age of 3 months I trained him to do all the basic commands and he has obeyed them with willingness, he does his buisness on command if need be, yes he tended to be quite excited playfuly with young children when he was a pup, but we addressed this, my children were age range 5 yr, 7 yrs, 8 yrs and 10 yrs when we got him and he loved them and if we let the children walk on and we stopped he'd go with the children, very loyal always walked nicely and can be walked off the lead, he never barks only if we are playing with him, he is certainly no guard dog, his colour is the dark golden type, he was very easy to train and loved being trained, but labradors are also very loyal and easy to train, it's the owners that makes a good trained dog! good luck with whatever you choose, can't go wrong with either! I have found my golden was a very relaxed dog, we had to make him exercise, he loved diving in the river or sea, but most of all he loved retrieving & searching!

My Goldie is nearly 11. I've never owned a lab although family have, and I would say that my Goldie took much long longer to mature and was very excitable when young. Having said that he has always been great with kids, and if you want a loyal loving dog, then look no further. He would be happiest being by my side 24 hours a day, and as my father always says when I'm moaning about him 'That dog would lay down his life for you'. I don't doubt this for one second.

Having said that, as much as I love him to bits I wouldn't have another Goldie. They, if he is representative of his breed, are too clingy for me. I prefer a more independant natured dog. He has also had lots of health problems, is FA and brings in half the garden on his coat.

My friends Mother is a puppy walker for Guide dogs for the Blind and is on her 11th dog and always requests a Goldie over a Lab.