Yep, I've seen retrievers of both types as well. I don't know what it is that just doesn't draw me to them. I was watching a neighbor's lab for a few days and she was wonderful, but not what I think of when I think of my future dog if you know what I mean. For a while I thought it was just because labs and goldens are so darn common in this area that I was just overlooking them, but with labs at least, I think it's more than that. All of the labs that I've met are goofy, gallumphing, mushy dogs that are a pleasure to petsit, but not really "me." They've all been fetchaholic, tail wagging so hard that it wipes everything off of the coffee table, "OMG PEOPLE!" kind of dogs. I love it for a bit, but I don't think I'd want to live with it. The goldens I've met have had similar base personalities, but have all been a little less physical and a little gentler in their actions (ie bouncing around you rather than bouncing into you).
Maybe I have a mixed set of standards. I definitely want a dog with a solid temperament that enjoys or at least tolerates people, but I prefer the "quietly makes the rounds from person A to person B and so on and then comes back and sits by me" type of dog. I could for sure handle varying amounts of enthusiasm in meeting strangers (from the "I could care less" to the "you're pretty cool!"), but I don't like terribly "physical" dogs. Obviously, I know a lot is in the training, but from my experience, some dog breeds tend to be more graceful and "space aware" than others.
Maybe I have a mixed set of standards. I definitely want a dog with a solid temperament that enjoys or at least tolerates people, but I prefer the "quietly makes the rounds from person A to person B and so on and then comes back and sits by me" type of dog. I could for sure handle varying amounts of enthusiasm in meeting strangers (from the "I could care less" to the "you're pretty cool!"), but I don't like terribly "physical" dogs. Obviously, I know a lot is in the training, but from my experience, some dog breeds tend to be more graceful and "space aware" than others.