I was just wondering how much golden retrieves actually shed. My wife
and I would like one but we have heard stories of houses full of hair.
If anyone knows please let me know.

All dogs shed and most shed more if you don't groom them daily but even with
grooming you will have hair in the house. If hair is an issue then maybe a
dog isn't for you.

Celeste

"ty" wrote in message
oups.com...
I was just wondering how much golden retrieves actually shed. My wife
and I would like one but we have heard stories of houses full of hair.
If anyone knows please let me know.

In article .com,
"ty" wrote:

I was just wondering how much golden retrieves actually shed. My wife
and I would like one but we have heard stories of houses full of hair.
If anyone knows please let me know.

A lot. Some more than others. A Dyson and an undercoat rake are both
essential items.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:07:21 GMT, Janet Boss
wrote:

Dyson

I love my Dyson. It sucks more than JH. I may get a second one for the
basement when it's finished (the height of decadence?).

--
Lynne

In article ,
Lynne wrote:

I may get a second one for the
basement when it's finished (the height of decadence?).

Sure is. If you're going to be decadent, it may as well be something
practical!

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

Lynne wrote:
on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:07:21 GMT, Janet Boss
wrote:

Dyson

I love my Dyson. It sucks more than JH. I may get a second one for the
basement when it's finished (the height of decadence?).

I do too - every other vacuum cleaner we had would get the
corrugated hose that connects the floor unit to the canister
clogged with pet hair (OK, I don't vacuum every day!), but the
Dyson, which has smooth tubes, picks it up off the carpets
without a hiccup.

The only thing I don't like about it is the hose for attachments
- the spring is too strong and stiff, and so it's kind of
unwieldy when I'm trying to go after blinds and upholstery. But
at least it doesn't clog!

FurPaw

--
My family values don't involve depleted uranium.

To reply, unleash the dog.

on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:39:04 GMT, FurPaw wrote:

The only thing I don't like about it is the hose for attachments
- the spring is too strong and stiff, and so it's kind of
unwieldy when I'm trying to go after blinds and upholstery. But
at least it doesn't clog!

That will loosen up with time. I've had mine for YEARS. I actually just
replaced some parts on it. One was a piece of that same type of hose that
is on the bottom. Somehow I trashed that and the dust bin. Dyson has
great customer service. You give them your serial number and they pick out
the right parts for your machine. Pricey, but worth it.

--
Lynne

"Lynne" wrote in message:

I love my Dyson. It sucks more than JH. I may get a second one for the
basement when it's finished (the height of decadence?).

I was thinking of getting one when my Hoover dies, but some friends of mine
said that a) it is NOT highly rated by Consumer Reports and b) too many
people were experiencing breakage, because it was really flimsy.

Suja

In article ,
"Suja" wrote:


I was thinking of getting one when my Hoover dies, but some friends of mine
said that a) it is NOT highly rated by Consumer Reports and b) too many
people were experiencing breakage, because it was really flimsy.

I can't say enough good things about mine, and I've had it for about 5
years.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

I was just wondering how much golden retrieves actually shed. My wife
and I would like one but we have heard stories of houses full of hair.
If anyone knows please let me know.

Who snuck in my house and told??

But, yes, Goldens shed. There are ways to mitigate the amount of hair,
the primary of which is NOT to get a show-bred Golden, also know as a
"fluffer-puffer". The more like a teddy bear the dog looks, the more
hair you'll have on the floor (and on the furniture, and in your bed,
and of top of the fridge, and in the air conditioning filter, and in
your food, and all over your clothes, etc etc). The upside of show-
type Goldens is they tend to be couch potatos and don't need quite the
physical and mental stimulation that most sporting dogs do (note I
said "not quite" - *all* dogs need mental and physical exercise
daily!)

Field Goldens have much lighter coats and so shed a whole lot less. As
an added perk, they also love to swim, and swimming is a great way to
return some of their hair to nature while cutting out the middleman
(you with a brush). But be warned!! Field Goldens have tons of energy
and are wicked smart. So if you aren't committed to at least
consistent daily ongoing classes/outings of some sort (field,
obedience, agility, flyball, etc) then this isn't the dog for you
either. (See the "Agility Pictures" thread for field Golden caot
examples)

There are now agility and obedience lines of Goldens that are a kind
of happy medium, both in coat and drive. However, if you're not an
active family who love to do things outdoors with a big ole wet dirty
dog, these aren't going to fit the bill either.

But either way, I will say that Golden hair is longer and tends to
roll up, like little tumbleweeds, that are easy to suck up in any
decent vacuum cleaner. Unlike short haired dogs like labs, whose
copious shed hair is coarse and stiff and just the right length to
stick INto the carpet and upholstry and be a real bugger to get out.

Goldens that have been bred *without* health screening are prone to
debilitating, expensive, painful, and heartbreaking genetic defects
which include hip and elbow dysplasia, blindness, heart and thyroid
problems, and cancer. A responsible breeder will already have screened
their breeding stock for generations which greatly increases the odds
of you getting a dog that will be a happy and healthy familiy member
for the next 15 or so years. A bit more research and expense now will
result in a whole lot less heartbreak and expense down the line during
the dog's life.

If you are still interested, contact the Golden Retriever Club of
America's breeder referral program (GRCA). Another resource to learn
about Golden Retrievers is to subscribe to the Work-Gold subscription
email list. (Google)

Come back and let us know what you and your wife decide!

Susan "In Gold We Trust" Fraser
and the (self-grooming but non-vacuuming) AuH2Ok9s:
SheBop, Shammie and Gris-Gris