I just hate for someone to have the Retriever breeds spoiled for them by a bad experience! (a friend - actually our family real estate agent, she sold all our houses! - had a terrible experience with a chance-bred neighborhood Golden that turned out to have bilateral hip dysplasia and cost $6000 for surgical repair. And then the dog developed heart trouble -- and what a tough experience for her two sons, who were 8 and 10 at the time.) Of course, there are no guarantees, but the fact that my pup's mom's hips are rated OFA Excellent and her daddy's Good tips the scales in our favor.
GRRW is one of the best rescue organizations, they do a splendid job. Big article awhile back in GRN about their new high-class facility, which was inaugurated just in time to save a large number of Goldens from a puppy mill. Actually, if you're not going to go with a top drawer breeder, a rescue organization is just about the best choice because they foster the dog with a knowledgeable person before they place him.
Re: my friend with all the dogs. I have known her for almost 20 years. She had 4 black standard poodles, a mutt that looked like Benji, and a long haired dachshund when I first met her. Gradually all those dogs died.
She is an excellent dog owner and lavishes time and attention and training on all her dogs. She was without dogs for a couple of years and then she added the German Shepherd to her household. I think she added the Lab to that she wouldn't be so off-putting to strangers when she walks the dogs. The bouncy yellow puppy made the Shepherd seem less intimidating.
Truth be told, however, I think that her "mutt" was her most healthy and successful dog. He was beautifully trained -- a real companion dog who behaved impeccably. She kept him beautifully groomed -- he looked like a small sheep dog. I'm quite fond of her German Shepherd too, although I never thought I would like a GS.
I hope I'm wrong about the yellow lab, but she looks quite lame right now.
Funny thing, she (and her husband) thought I was nuts to take on a rescue dog, but Max had turned out to be wonderful -- despite his first night with me. A fine Persian rug in my living room still bears the evidence of his attempt to remove the import label. That is because we did not know that labels offend him and he makes every effort to remove all in his vicinity! LOL.
Someday we'll have the edge of the rug re-woven, but not until we're CERTAIN that he is over his puppy chewing stage. He's about 5 now, so it would probably be safe to have the rug repaired. But it might be safer to wait until he's over the Rainbow Bridge.