Their wonderful temperament has won them millions of fans through the years. Unfortunately, today, it is possible to find shy, hyperactive, and aggressive Goldens. When a breed is popular, be careful where you get your pet. The only difference for our purposes is predictability. When you buy a Labrador, you know, generally, how big he'll be and how much coat he'll have.
Mixed breeds are a kaleidoscope of their special combination, history, and environment.
If you don't mind a bit of mystery in your life, get a mixed-breed pup. He'll greet you at the door, bark at the stranger on your porch, and fetch a ball for your kids just as well as any purebred. Puppies are cute, demanding, and unfettered by any understanding of human rules. Puppies are usually not the best choice for a household with children under the age of five. Adult dogs are often housebroken and past the intense chewing stage.