Same here. The good ones I know are phenomenal dogs. I'm okay with "vanilla" if it's a good fit. I've known a dozen or more goldens I'd be hard-pressed to turn down if I were offered; I've yet to meet a pointer or spaniel that didn't set my teeth on edge. It's all in what you like!
Exactly, so if you're considering Brittany, pointer or vizla, not sure a golden would hit the spot at all!!! They're all gundogs, sure, but..... No.
Most of the goldens I have encountered have either been dullards, bumbling along with no real drive, or insane stupid (or maybe just badly trained).
And the hair, OMG, the hair.
I really don't enjoy hairy dogs... I really don't enjoy being covered in fluff at all. Having little cotton balls all over the place. Tuft that just come off in your hand, cling to everything... Eeuw. Not that fred hair is nice, it's sharp and sticky. Bodhi doesn't shed like a lab or golden either, although does have a thicker double coat.
Just don't seem like comparable breeds to me, but I'm coming at it from my owns tastes of course!!! Each to their own! This is a thread for opinions after all