Golden Retriever 101: Questions to ask a Golden Retriever breeder |
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Written by Carol Matthews
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Getting a Golden Retriever puppy should take a lot of time and effort on your part. You need not only to find a Golden Retriever breeder, but also need to visit them and interview them. A good Golden Retriever breeder will then do the same with you. With a good Golden Retriever breeder, no money is enough money to sell a beloved puppy to a person unsuitable to own a pet rock, let alone a loving Golden Retriever.
Puppy mills are a sad fact of modern life. Although there are many working to eradicate this unnecessarily cruel practice, there are still many puppy mills in existence in North America. You need to visit your breeder before you make any final commitments to be sure they treat their dogs humanely and get them proper vet care. At puppy mills, the dogs usually never see a vet in their short, miserable lives. Flee from any breeder who keeps their dogs in stacked crates or in their own waste.
This is a very good sign. Also ask what they look for in an ideal Golden Retriever owner. If all they talk about is the check clearing, than this is not the breeder for you.
Ask the breeder for references, whether from past customers or from their vet.
Ask the breeder why they breed Golden Retrievers. Ask them what they think makes a perfect Golden Retriever. Their answers should be more concerned about the dog's health and personalities rather than looks. Also ask whether the parents are gun dogs (hunting dogs) or show dogs. There is a different temperament and sometimes a different body shape between working dogs and show dogs. If you are an avid duck hunter, then you will have no interest in show dog stock.
You need to ask about any training advice or emotional support the Golden Retriever breeder can give you once the check for the puppy has cleared. Get all of this in writing.
You need to be sure the parents have been tested for hip dysplasia and eye conditions that can be passed genetically.
And last but not least, if you want a good pet Golden Retriever, please consider adopting from a Golden Retriever breed rescue group or even your local animal shelter for an adult dog. Most animals are abandoned through no fault of their own and will make perfect pets.
Often, they are already trained and up to date on their shots. Only go to Golden Retriever breeders if you plan on showing or breeding your dog.
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Carol Matthews |
| About the author: |
| Carol Matthews loves Golden Retrievers and has studies the Golden
Retriever standard for a long time. There are several specifics for the
American Kennel Club standard, as it pertains to the http://www.goldenretrievernews.com/Golden_Retriever.php Golden Retriever. They include things like how the tail should be held and whether or not the fur should be trimmed.
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