Please somebody advise me, I don't know whether to purchase a golden retriever or a weimaraner, I have read everything there is to read about them, and I just need some advice as to which is the better pet with a family.  Please help!!!!  As I know it is a commitment for the next 15 years or so.

Hi, you don't say how old your family is or what your experience with gundogs is which would be a help :D

Although they are both gundogs that is probably where the similarity ends. :D

Golden Retrievers are bred to retrieve, they are extremely trainable and generally make good pets with children etc.  (Although I would stay away from strong working lines if you just want a family member)

Weimaraners are a slightly different ketttle of fish!  They were bred to hunt, point and retrieve and so are far more independent than a GR!  They were originally bred to track wounded stag and used to hunt wild boar and so are the "hardest" of the gundogs; they also have strong protective instincts and were originally bred to regard cats as vermin!

GRs are, in general "steadier" than Weimis and not quite so demanding as Weims.

You don't mention if you want a longhaired or shorthaired weimaraner (they come in two versions) or docked or undocked.

If you have not had a dog before then I would strongly suggest that you go for a GR.  Weimaraners are very strong willed, stubborn but also sensitive.  They require training from day 1 and, when mature, need a huge amount of exercise and mental stimulation if they are not to become a menace.

Hope that helps!

Hello, I agree with Tohme, we have a darling 6yr old retreiver, Baillie, who is very laid back and a general sweetie, one of my friends has a weim, the same age as Baillie, and he is a whirlwind, they are so different it's unreal.
Why don't you go along to a couple of shows and speak to breeders of the two, take your family along, and meet a few of different ages, that will give you a better feel of the dogs We've got a Dane puppy now who's 5 months old, and I thought I knew a lot reading about them, but I learned far more, going to see the breeders and seeing a lot of different dogs, from puppies to adults. Hope that helps.
Sharon
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Hi Guest, just wanted to add that I agree with everything that tohme & baillesmum have said. You have been given some good advise there. I'd say that Weimeraners are not the right dog for a novice dog handler.
A GR would possibly suit you better if you don't have much dog behaviour knowledge.

It really depends a lot on what you & your family want from a dog & what you intend to do with the dog.

Good luck whatever you choose.  :)