So, do Golden Retrievers make good duck dogs? I would assume they are pretty much the same as a lab just with more fur?

I have a 5 month old Golden that I am training to hunt. I don't do much duck hunting, but he is a natural on water retrieval. When we fetch in the water he brings it back to hand releases on command and heals without a blink of an eye. It's been really fun to watch him work in the water.

They can make really good dogs. Just make sure you get one with decent lines so you have an idea of what to expect. They do have lots of hair which gets muddy and you have to brush dirt out of it.

The ones I have hunted with seem to be fine, just a matter of if you mind all the junk that gets in the fur.

From what I read they are great, however, they don't seem to tolerate the cold as well as labs. You also have their long hair to deal with as for as bryers and such getting caought in the hair. But folks with Springer Spaniels deal with it, but just know its something to contend with.

When we lost our beagle, I looked into getting a golden retriever. We had one in the neighborhood where I used to live and wife and kiddos loved this dog.

We ended up adopting a stray that is half lab and half what got over the fence. She loves to play in water, but lacks drive on fetching. For the most part, she is a pet.

I'd say if you've found one, and its a good price pick it up. But if you're looking, I'd go for a lab for a duck dog.

i dont like swamp collies

Thanks guys. Someone in our church bred their female golden retriever and they are AKC and all that. But, I have always wanted a lab. The wife won't let me get one anyways right now because we're expecting our first child in January. She says we wont have time and I hate to admit that she's probably right. That still doesn't stop me from wanting one.

I really want a female choc. lab eventually...

A buddy of mine hunts with one. Great dog, but after a 4 hour hunt he seems to spend 6 hours washing and brushing the thing. Too much work IMHO I just spray my lab off with the hose and towel him dry takes about 10 min for a dog that works just as good if not better.

A lab will make a better duck dog, and you want a lab, so get lab not a golden. Just becuase someone in your church sells goldens is not a reason to get one.

Yeah, point taken...

I have a golden and I have my duck dog. My golden is a lazy stray but the first dog I hunted with was my buddy's golden. Great dog! He kept it's hair short like during the season and it wasn't an issue..

I've had 2 goldens (one was put to sleep a couple of years ago due to old age and heart failure). Great dogs. The biggest problem with both of mine was/is that they are gun shy. They hate(d) loud noises. The second problem was lack of retrieving drive. They would retrieve, but after about a half a dozen throws, they were done.

In the water was a different story. Both are/were excellent swimmers. Both would retrieve non-stop in the water. Put them near water and they were in it and off swimming.

The gun shy issue basically kept me from using them for hunting. I tried different things to "fix" that issue, but none of them seemed to work. Blame should probably lie with me more than them. More than likely it could be corrected, but I just didn't want to work that hard on it. They ended up being more family pets than hunters anyway and that was/is ok.

About a year and a half ago I ran into an opportunity to get a chocolate lab pup. Not AKC, but from good lines. The retrieving drive is night and day noticeable. Not gun shy at all. He could care less about any noises. He wants to retrieve. He hasn't been as good in the water as the retrievers, but he's by far a better duck dog than either of my goldens.

I've seen some goldens that are good duck dogs, but if you want a dog for duck hunting I'd go with a lab.

My golden is a fine gun dog and also gentle with the kids. As long as you get one from good hunting lines, you'll have a fine hunting companion.

With a kid coming in two months, waiting is the wise thing to do. You need to spend time developing kids and dogs, and putting a dog in the mix at this point in your life means sacrificing either the dog or the kid (not to mention the wife)...both having bad long term consequences.

I have had several goldens within the 25 years of duck hunting.They are great hunters and smart dogs. I just picked another one out sunday that is 5 days old today. I took her in Monday to have dew claws removed. I will pick her up in seven weeks.As far as the long fur they get most of burrs out by the time u get home from hunting except from around ears you may get 3 or four. The last female i got my daughter was 7 months old my daughter is now 6 the bond is something i can't explain. If you do get a hunting dog just make sure and get one from a good line of hunters.

I have a 13 year old female golden that still hunts. She was relatively easy to train, and besides being a good gun dog, she is an excellent companion. I will eventually get another.

I had one that hunted beside me for 12 years. Got him for Haley when she was 3. She named him Casey. Greatest pet I ever had and the best all around hunter I have ever seen. He took up hunting really accident. When he was a pup I took him and my lab out pheasant hunting. Casey just took to it. It didnt matter if it was geese, ducks, quail, pheasant, or prairie chicken. That dog would bring it back. They are easy to train and gentle as they can be.

You can find a great hunter in any gun dog breed. Your going to have them as a pet for the other 9+ months out of the year, so I would get a dog that is enjoyable to be around. I have seen tons of labs that have "drive" which is just hyperactivity. And they are horrible to have in a blind.