We had our first golden prior to both out kids. Over the course of growing up they jumped on him, pulled his ears, poked his eyes, the whole nine and he never once got aggressive. And, he was a $350 dog from a no name amish breeder, lived a good 10.5 years. That's why I'm struggling with the cost of some of these dogs were looking at. We're looking at the English Cream goldens mostly because they have a better history with avoiding cancer which our dog succumbed to.