Hi, first post here. I've seen some threads generally on this topic but am hoping for some insight directly relevant to my situation. My fiancee and I very much want to adopt a puppy after we get married. She grew up with labs, I grew up around Labs (family and close friends) and Goldens (neighbors). We like both but are wondering how they compare from the perspective of those who've actually had primary responsibility for raising and training them (she was young when her family's dogs were added and didn't have to do the hard stuff). In particular, we're wondering if there's anything we need to consider as we'd like to have kids in a couple years -- both breeds are good with kids, obviously, but we know Labs can have even higher energy levels than Goldens, while anecdotally, we've heard more stories of Goldens having resource guarding issues or generally being more "sensitive," which could become problematic. Thanks!
The main problem with either breed and small children is likely to be boisterousness. I've seen quite a few kids hurt by dogs and most of those have been knocked over by an exuberant friendly dog, rather than being bitten by an aggressive one. Letting your big bouncy dog grow into a more sensible adult before kids come along should help with that When it comes to temperament, I have met more Labs with poor temperaments than Goldens, but there are poor temperament in every breed. Meeting both your puppy's parents before you dip into your wallet (together with socialization of course) is your best chance of a sweet natured dog. This may help you: Puppy Search. Good luck with your search!
I agree about the boisterous nature of Labs and Goldens, but they do get better with time. Cooper is better with toddlers and elderly people than more agile folks. FWIW, I think I've seen more Goldens with poor temperament than Labs, but its a product of both Nature and Nurture. Every dog is different.
Thank you both! That link and the information are very helpful. We'd definitely want to wait at least two years after adding the puppy before a baby.
