What small or smallist breed is similar in temperment to a golden retriever, anyone know? :)

Well my Labs adore cavaliers,my friend has golden retrivever and has rescued a chiwauwa they get on really well but the chi is the boss.

Sheila

Are you looking for a dog similar in temp to a goldie, because for whatever reason you cant have a goldie..

Or one to go with an existing goldie.

I actually find in the latter case that going for NOT identical temperaments is better when picking a new breed to come into the home, instead find ones that complement one another - similar exercise requirements bu say, one likes to retrieve and one likes to point.. so they are not competing for ALL teh same resources.

Sometimes total opposites work well together - my Deerhound and my Tibetan Terrier get on like a house on fire..!!

Cavaliers are, the same happy go lucky gentle nature -except minus the constant retrieving and the jumping in water. (I've had both breeds for many years.) Had a Cocker Spaniel once and she was absolutely nothing like the Goldens.

Do you mean pre or post 3 years. :-D (As there is a world of difference)

If post and the grown up, laid back, people and dog friendly traits are what your after judging on personality alone, (as if comparing to other traits it will get complicated) then in a smaller dog I agree my immediate thought is the Cav, sure there are others but that is the breed which comes to my mind immediately.

I am going to watch this with interest we are looking at getting another smaller dog next year and have a Goldie already, we are torn between a Cav and a Cocker.

One of my Cavaliers has gone to a Golden retriever breeder and she says she's just like a mini golden

Another vote for Cavaliers here, easy going laid back nature, as long as they are allowed to sit on your lap or next to it at all times! Just make sure the breeder's done the health testing, and you should have a wonderful companion!

We have GRs but if we changed in later life to a smaller breed then it would be a Cavalier.

Please forgive me if im wrong, but the 3 cavs i know haven't got the intelligents like a goldie. Plus im allergic to my friends cavs.

Have you any other suggestions?
I like smooth coated too! :)

Please forgive me if im wrong, but the 3 cavs i know haven't got the intelligents like a goldie

Both breeds are thick!! :) (And before a flame war erupts, I stand by that after 10 Goldens and 5 Cavaliers.) You don't realise just how much until you have Malinois and Papillons to compare with, LOL. But being somewhat less intelligent makes both breeds so easy to train instead as they don't ever think to question something. :)

Hmmm, I consider myself reasonably clever - and if I don't question something, it may just be either that; a: I can't be bothered or b: I'm thinking further ahead and can see the benefits of complying :-)  I have a very smart, compliant Goldie :-)

Both breeds are thick!!

Please, please, please, I'm rolling on the floor. :-D :-D  **wiping tears from my eyes** you are soooo..... bad, I know you love GR's so it is said in jest, but I am going to stand up for GR's and Cav's, before their names are be-smudged further, besides I can think of a couple of breeds more apparent as in having brain cells that may not gel as well as others, but wild horses will not drag them from my lips.......... :-D

True, they would never compare to a BC or Terrier, or many, many other breeds (gosh too many to mention) I agree, but they are haplessly friendly dogs who you are right do not question, which is why they have and will always be fabulous family dogs and as you say easy to train.

Well Tricolours if a Cav is out and you want a little more of a thinking breed but still people and dog friendly with a laid back waggy tail I guess next on the list is a Cocker, Show or Working depending on exercise, Working being more intelligent, but good breeder essential as always. Or are you after something smaller?

If you want a short-haired breed you might consider a whippet. Okay- you might struggle on recall and general obedience- though some are very good, but many are lovely and laid back characters happy to go out and about and then lounge around inside. You might even consider something like a small Bedlington lurcher.

Thought of another one, though your not going to get anything as complementary in personality as the Cav but if it is a laid back breed but with more go about them, what about the Basset Fauve De Bretagne? Obviously with different breed traits, but laid back and friendly. I think they are smashing dogs.

I wonder why you are allergic to Cav's, looks like you will need to do a test with any breed you choose first so as not to have to return to breeder afterwards.

The goldie i used to have was intelligent. At training classes she was as good as the border collie who was in the same intermediate class.
It's a pity golden retrievers or labrador retrievers dont come in minuture. :)

what about the Basset Fauve De Bretagne?

Interesting!
Where can i find out about this breed?

> as they don't ever think to question something.

Sounds good to me.

Bichon Frises are meant to be pretty smart? Also Italian Greyhounds rarely put a foot wrong (although can be timid).

Hi Tricolours, Re: The Fauve,

Description of the breed here:http://www.petplanet.co.uk/dog_breed_profile.asp?dbid=24

But if you go to Breeders on CD you will find lots of photo's and information on the actual breeders websites. :-)

Lol!! GRs are NOT thick!! They are biddable, and easily trainable which is a different kind of intelligence to an breed that is an independent thinker and will be cunning and tricky, for example a Ridgeback!

> It's a pity golden retrievers or labrador retrievers dont come in minuture

Don't even THINK it or some idiot will decide its the latest 'new must have' :-(

Must admit my boy was pretty slow, though he must have had brains as he passed his Gold GC. But my two girls I have now are both very intelligent and eager to please. The older one works rally and formal obedience, and although she isn't consistent enough in heelwork to compete with the BCs, she is more than capable of doing recalls, retrieves, scentwork etc. And the young one passed her Bronze at 8 months old and is almost ready to take the Silver at 11 months, and also works in rally. They are very trainable! But if you're allergic of course that's not going to work too well!

>Please forgive me if im wrong, but the 3 cavs i know haven't got the intelligents like a goldie. Plus im allergic to my friends cavs.

Don't even THINK it or some idiot will decide its the latest 'new must have'

OH yes, please don't say that out loud