Nice doggie!

10,000 puppy kisses by X-mas

I was lucky to find Reagan from a local breeder...my 3rd golden and they never cease to amaze us...

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Yes, she lays on the couch like a cat. Always has a tennis ball with her...always

Best family member ever!

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Good choice, Golden Retrievers are awesome dogs!

There are a handful of GR breeders in MN, but I see they call out the cream color almost separately.

http://www.sunsetvalleyretrievers.com/

http://www.mygoldenopportunities.com/

I have a red lab, and had a few recommend the breeder we picked, which helps. Before the lab we were looking at English style Golden’s, there is a breeder down the road from us but I don’t see much of the cream colored.

There was a lady at the dog park who had a “white” Golden that was just friendly as all get out, however once the temp dropped I haven’t seen her come, should of asked where she got him from.

Are you looking to get on a puppy list or immediately adopt?

Beautiful...love yout avatar also...

So those almost white goldens are called cream? or do they have a white golden?

Might I recommend adopting, and not shopping? There are plenty of fantastic puppers in shelters that need homes. It sounds like you're looking for something specific, but sometimes a best friend doesn't have to be "pure."

This!

my friends just adopted a Hurricane Harvey dog that was rescued.

This may help:

http://heartofgold.bravesites.com/

Cream ones are very pretty in the summer

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Dude find the guy that you commissioned to paint your portrait in your avatar and get your money back. Looks nothing like you!

Agree totally, and I am adopting a dog today looks like. He isn't what I originally set out to get but he got my heart the first time that i laid eyes on him. He's even overweight and has a medical issue, but he needs help and I want to help him. I've actually been laughed at and told that I shouldn't get him by a several people and i can only imagine what is being said behind my back. It's ok though because the joy and love that me and this guy are going to give each other is all going to be worth it in the end. He just needs a chance that nobody except me is willing to give him. He's been in the shelter for over 3 months, and today he is finally going to get the home and the family that he deserves looks like.

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Just an FYI, it does show they are expecting a new litter at the beginning of December:

http://heartofgold.bravesites.com/avail_pups

Rescuing a pet is very rewarding. I hope you can get him up to full health and give him a great life. I always recommend rescue animals first, but some people are set on getting a pedigree animal for a variety of reasons. My brother is in the process of starting a small-scale kennel for breeding show quality labs. He does also have two rescue cats and one rescue dog.

My red lab was ~$2k for first choice of the litter and a male.... kinda just said, you get what you pay for and what you want. But it is expensive :/

I always say that you can pay for genetics now of vet bills later... (i have not researched that breeder, but in general you should not be concerned much with the up front cost of a pup so long as the diligence and genetics are there to back up the price)

From talking with my brother about labs, the show level pedigree labs are higher than $2000, sometimes much higher. Based on that $2200 for a cream golden retriever may not be that steep, but each breed has different price ranges and levels of pedigree.

If you just want one as a pet companion, I recommend going to visit the breeder and see what the parent dogs look like. If they have the physical characteristics you would like to see in your dog then one of their puppies is probably a good choice. Goldens generally have great family friendly personalities so you are not likely to have any problems there.

Sheesh. I paid $500 for our purebred (clean genetic history and fully papered) golden retriever. That was for a male. I was able to meet both parents and they were beautiful and calm dogs.

Fantastic dog, by the way. I've owned several breeds, and there's simply nothing better than a golden retriever for a family dog. They're highly intelligent and I don't think there's a dog with a better temperament.

Here's Ridley (named after the villain in the Metroid series).

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reputable breeders have been doing it for enough years and should be happy to share the sicknesses and reason for eventual death of all knwon parents, grand parents, great grand parents. Good breeders will also keep in contact with the vast majority of owners of pups they have had and sold previously so they will know of other illness/etc...

Just gotta ask the right questions and follow your gut.

There are sadly lots of shady breeders out there. Luckily there are also some very good ones.

When buying a purebred dog, meeting both the bitch and sire are the absolute minimum. You really should be provided with a wealth of information and provenance. Good breeders will also be very scrutinizing of anyone looking to get a pup, esp if it is to fullfill a xmas present/etc...

The breeder that sold us our dog does a yearly check in. They ask for any fun pictures we might have and ask about the health of the dog. They also update us on both parents.

Congratulations! All of our pets have been adopted from a shelter. One of our cats was adopted from our backyard as a feral stray. He turned out to be one of the fluffiest love bug cats I've ever seen. I swear that adopted pets know that you've essentially saved their lives and repay you with unbridled love. All of ours have been incredible companions--even with medical issues. Good luck on your adoption endeavor!

I just meant that good breeders will be apropriately skeptical of people buying at this season (holiday presents) along with being appropriately questioning of anyone looking for a new family member. I find the best breeders typically have a pretty solid vetting process to make sure each pup is going to a responsible forever home.

I agree that making the trip up is by far the most important 1st step. Good luck and hope it works out!

Thanks! Almost every animal I've ever had has been a stray except for two Siamese cats. I've never actually adopted, just took in a bunch of strays. My last two dogs were unbelievable strays. The first one was a pure bred black lab and the last one was a pure bred Basset Hound. You don't find strays like that very often!

Here is the craziest part of my story. The shelter where this dog is at just got in a full blooded Basset Hound, which pretty much never ever happens. I have an adoption pending on him but my heart is telling me to help this beagle so I'm going with what my heart is telling me to do..........I think at least (99% sure). I'm going to evaluate the Beagles medical condition real closely and make a decision.

You are right though, there is no better feeling than helping an animal in need. My Basset Hound that I just lost was badly injured when I found him and I took him to the vet and got him well again and gave him 8 great years until we had to put him to sleep. The fact that I helped him from certain death made our bond super strong so you can imagine how hard it was when I had to let him go. That was 4 months or so ago and I'm still deeply saddened because we lost him.

+1. I also recommend. We visited the breeder 2-3 times before taking out pup home. 1 was to check the breeder, get an idea of their process and dogs, 2, see the parents on the litter we wanted etc. and then meet the pups from the litter.

Have you had a lab? I'm curious about a golden vs a lab...they seem fairly on par with each other, one with long hair and one short. But those were the two breeds my wife and I were looking at before we picked a lab.

I have owned a golden and my brother has had labs. They do have similar personality traits. I feel that labs are more athletic so that is something to factor in if you want to have an active dog.

.....I'll remember that for the next dog. He is very.....mmm excited to run Great dog and has calmed down, but he is a family dog, not hunting, so a golden would of maybe been a great choice as well. As a puppy I swore I wouldn't get another lab, but @#$#@$ they are cute little bastards, great when they are tired

$550

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I have grown up with many retrievers, mainly goldens and labs. The biggest difference I see is that (in general) goldens tend to be more attached and under foot. Labs have a bit more indepence and ability/desire to work under their own choice.

Both are amazing breeds.

We have switched to Tollers as our family breed, but I could see having a yellow lab again in the future.

https://www.lussoretrievers.com/

In Connecticut, we got Otto a few months ago. She shipped his brother to Texas.

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We got out Girl from this breeder here in Canada more a golden than a cream color...so may not be what your looking for but with the exchange rate you would pay 30% less...http://www.charisgold.com/Charis_Goldens/Upcoming_Litters.html

And they have a litter coming... good luck I have had 3 of em and love goldens...I have often thought of getting more than 1 at a time as it is so difficult when we lose them....but its just an easier transition from losing a family member to introducing a new one!

Good Luck

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Back when (1987) pinball was a cheap hobby and my beloved Casey was my best buddy

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Nice pup ....

I like golden and black labs too. Our next door neighbor has one (golden lab) but we are the ones that generally take care of it (we walk it, play with it, let it out to play with our dog). They have a lot of similarities, but labs tend to be a bit more high energy than the retrievers. Goldens are a bit more needy (as in they want your attention more), but they're generally more calm overall.

As for the hair...both shed. Golden hair is a lot longer, and it brushes a bit easier from surfaces, while lab hair is more wiry and tends to stick. A golden's hair will float more than a lab's hair.

Goldens are smarter than labs in general, but both breeds are highly trainable and and intelligent.

Beautiful and silly cheap.

Here’s our chocolate lab. He’s a professional goofball.

I definitely recommend a rescue dog if it’s a good fit for your family, but Goldens & Labs are great dogs.

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What a great day !

LTG : )