To all those people out there with goldies, what are they really like - are they as mad as labs???  Many thanks.

Well all I can say is they get under your skin I had a lab for nearly 15 yrs, loved him to bits, then got my first golden, I have never found a dog so loving, all my golden friends have since told me this is so of the breed, I have now recently just got my second,and yes they do get under your skin....as for mad as Labs, well.....I love them to but...my heart belongs to a golden....

To be honest, I haven't met a mad lab - at least, all the ones that have been given the input they need have been very steady, even as puppies. But they do need a lot of input! ;)

In a word, no. :) Never met a Golden like some of the Labs I've met. I don't think it is JUST the owners either as I remember talking to a long time Labrador breeder who is very exeprienced in handling and training dogs of all breeds, and he admits to having the odd "mad" one born now and then, that differed markedly from the others.  But the lines definitely do differ, in fact temperament even  betwen the different SHADES of Goldens tend to differ quite a lot. Then of course you have pure show ones, pure field trial ones and dual purpose ones. And the difference between a show Golden and a field trial Golden is quite big. Some show lines are outright lazy.

BTW didn't I answer the exact same question a few weeks ago..?

where I go training the are are 2 goldies who spend most if the time asleep! they are very gentle, and the one next door is lovely except he is blind and deaf now!

i have 2 labs, and to be honest, they're only mad when excited. The rest of the time they're either playing together or sleeping. Mostly the latter. My friend has a golden bitch, and she's an absolute nutcase! She never stops. Its like living with a tornado!!

Where I live the Goldens I meet are nuttier than the Labs, the Labs, even when young are more taciturn, and the Goldies very outgoing and bouncy.

Goldens are lovely, nice natured gorgeous animals.  mine is the most handsome and woe betide anyone who dare think otherwise...

Seriously they are lovely, not as nutty as labs... but a whole loads more hairier!!!!

AAhh thing is if you have the working stock like I do the hair isnt as bad...

I have goldens and have found labs a little more wiggly than goldens.
As for MAD I think I am mader than both labs and goldens XXXXXXX

I have a Golden who is 9 1/2 months old and I wouldn't trade him for anything else. What a perfect dog; he's so incredibly good natured and affectionate. He's very active and loves to explore and learn but he's very laid back, confident and relaxed. His idea of heaven would be running through the woods and wetlands for about 12 hours but he's quiet in the house. He is less 'busy' than either of my sister's labs and nowhere near as bouncy as the labs in our training club. All the other owners at the club laugh because every time we stop moving Milo just lays down and chills out. I will qualify though, he get's good long walks, off-lead exercise and training sessions EVERY DAY. I did contact the local GR club to find a reputable breeder, met the parents etc. He comes more from show stock although there are some working champions in the bloodline too - but mostly those big lazy show dogs, the breeder concentrates on temperment for family pets. I can't wait to get my second. He's just earned his Bronze GC so he's almost ready to be the eldest child.

To be honest, I think a lot of madness comes from owners. Thankfully my dog hasn't caught mine!