If, by now you’ve decided that Golden Retriever is a right canine for you, and, probably, wisely chose to stay away from pat shops, it’s time to start looking for a reputable breeder. But what makes a good Golden Retriever breeder and how to find one?
Well, the good news is that with an amazing popularity of Golden Retrievers it’s not that difficult, however, there are still a couple of things you should consider. Keep in mind, that your goal is to find a reputable breeder which stands for the love of the breed and not the love of the money. Why? A lot of things about your new friend are going to depend on it, and being able to spend next 15 years or so with both physically and mentally healthy dog is worth the effort.
A good way to start is by contacting your local kennel association for information and advice, as well as checking for the local breeders’ club. Breeders’ clubs have certain code of ethics meaning you are more likely to find reputable breeders there. Another way of course is just looking through your local newspapers or doing some searching on the web to find some breeders nearby.
Once you’ve discussed basic details on the phone it’s time to plan a visit. When visiting a breeder do not be afraid to ask questions. Most reputable breeders like to talk about their breed. They can provide you with tons of useful information prior to and after the adoption.
Normally, they would also be willing to let you see the breeding pair and probably spend some time with them. Ask breeders if they show their dogs and what medals and ribbons they have. The breeders who never show their dogs most likely have very limited knowledge of canine and breeding. Also learn everything you can about temperament and physical appearance of a breeding pair because your new pup is very likely to inherit them. Ask breeders if they have a written contract, and they should be willing to take the puppy back without any reimbursement in case for some reason you won’t be able to take care about the pup.
One of the most common health problems in Golden Retrievers is hip dysplasia, so a reputable breeder will always have the parents examined by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) for the signs of this disease. The result of this examine is the X-ray based diagnostic protocol and there are no excuses why a reputable breeder would not have it. He or she should be willing to show you any papers regarding their dogs’ health. The dogs should also be checked for signs of cataract which is also a quite common problem with the canine.
On the other hand, if you’ve found respectable breeder you might not be able to adopt a puppy at once, but be put on a list. Yes, it might be a bit frustrating, but breeding dogs is a first-come-first-serve business and if there are no available puppies at the moment it means a good demand for this particular breeder.
Also do not be frustrated if the breeders are asking you a lot of questions. They’ll probably ask you about the reasons why you’ve decided to adopt a dog and particularly Golden and probably some more questions about your home and lifestyle. The reason for all these questions is to find out whether the puppy will go into good hands. And of course it’s a very good sign for you, meaning that breeder you’ve found cares about the dogs and their offspring in the first place.
As you see finding a reputable breeder is not nearly as difficult as it seems however still requires some time and effort. Nevertheless, be sure that the effort pays for itself many times in years of owning healthy and stable dog.
If, by now you’ve decided that Golden Retriever is a right canine for you, and, probably, wisely chose to stay away from pat shops, it’s time to start looking for a reputable Golden Retriever breeder.
But what makes good Golden Retrievers breeders and how to find them?
Well, the good news is that with an amazing popularity of Golden Retrievers it’s not that difficult, however, there are still a couple of things you should consider. Keep in mind, that you are looking for reputable Golden Retriever dog breeders who stand for the love of the breed and not the love of the money. Why? A lot of things about your new friend are going to depend on it, and being able to spend next 15 years or so with both physically and mentally healthy dog is worth the effort.
A good way to start is by contacting your local kennel association for information and advice, as well as checking for the local breeders’ club. Breeders’ clubs have certain code of ethics meaning you are more likely to find reputable breeders there. Another way of course is just looking through your local newspapers or doing some searching on the web to find some breeders nearby.
Once you’ve discussed basic details on the phone it’s time to plan a visit. When visiting a breeder do not be afraid to ask questions. Most reputable breeders like to talk about their breed. They can provide you with tons of useful information prior to and after the adoption. Normally, they would also be willing to let you see the breeding pair and probably spend some time with them. Ask breeders if they show their dogs and what medals and ribbons they have. The breeders who never show their dogs most likely have very limited knowledge of canine and breeding. Also learn everything you can about temperament and physical appearance of a breeding pair because your new pup is very likely to inherit them. Ask breeders if they have a written contract, and they should be willing to take the puppy back without any reimbursement in case for some reason you won’t be able to take care about the pup.
One of the most common health problems in Golden Retrievers is hip dysplasia, so a reputable breeder will always have the parents examined by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) for the signs of this disease. The result of this examine is the X-ray based diagnostic protocol and there are no excuses why a reputable breeder would not have it. He or she should be willing to show you any papers regarding their dogs’ health. The dogs should also be checked for signs of cataract which is also a quite common problem with the canine.
On the other hand, if you’ve found respectable breeder you might not be able to adopt a puppy at once, but be put on a list. Yes, it might be a bit frustrating, but breeding dogs is a first-come-first-serve business and if there are no available puppies at the moment it means a good demand for this particular breeder.
Also do not be frustrated if the breeders are asking you a lot of questions. They’ll probably ask you about the reasons why you’ve decided to adopt a dog and particularly Golden and probably some more questions about your home and lifestyle. The reason for all these questions is to find out whether the puppy will go into good hands. And of course it’s a very good sign for you, meaning that breeder you’ve found cares about the dogs and their offspring in the first place.
As you see finding a reputable breeder is not nearly as difficult as it seems however still requires some time and effort. Nevertheless, be sure that the effort pays for itself many times in years of owning healthy and stable dog.