Selecting The Right Breeder

A breeder is one who deals in pups and looks after the dogs to ensure he gets a good quality litter. It is important for you to be able to trust your breeder and his ability to provide you with a good pup. There are three types of breeders that one must know about.

Avoid pet shop or pet dealer and backyard dealers. At the pet shop the pups are raised strictly for their commercial value and not much attention is paid to their welfare - they are generally poorly bred and badly raised. The backyard breeder is a person who has a pet Golden and breeds for fun or money. Not much attention is paid to history and standard of the breed. Proper care is not taken and the breeder is generally not aware of problems that he may face while breeding.

Your best option therefore is the serious hobby breeder. Now here is someone who is dedicated to breeding his dogs in the best and safest possible manner keeping all relevant details in mind.

Since the price difference is not much between the pet shop breeder, the backyard breeder and the serious breeder, one needs to know a few things before selecting the right breeder to know that they have someone they can trust.

Firstly, the breeder should be part of the Golden Retriever Club of America, a local Golden Retriever club, or an all-breed club and is up to date with rules and regulations.

The breeder must show his/her dogs in the breed ring, in hunting tests/field trials, the obedience ring, agility, tracking, or in a combination of all. This is so that the breeder is aware of how good his/her dogs really are. He is allowing his dogs to be tested so that he can better his efforts. You know that he is not only dependent on pedigree. You may not want a competition dog but you would like you pup to be part of a carefully planned litter.

The breeder must also have some basics in place like a clean environment; healthy, well-socialized puppies; and a dam of good temperament. He must also allow you to have the puppy examined by a veterinarian and ensure that it is in good health. Then the breeder must have a record of dates and types of vaccinations and de-worming done, feeding instructions, a 3-to 5-generation pedigree, and an AKC registration application so you can apply for registration of the puppy in your own name with the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Written instructions on feeding, training and care must be given. He also must be able to show you proof that the sire and dam have had their hips X-rayed, and evaluated as normal by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and/or PennHIP along with other necessary check ups. The breeder should be willing and able to answer your questions possible hereditary problems.

He must take the trouble to find out what kind of dogs you have had in the past, what happened to them; do you have a fenced yard; and will the dog will be allowed to be a house dog and a member of the family.

Sincere breeders will want the pup’s best interests at heart and will be reluctant to sell them if they have misgivings about you.

He should be able to give you references, a written contract benefiting all concerned, pedigree and registration papers, be there for advice should you need any and help you enjoy your dog to the fullest as much as he can.

Ensure that you ask all the questions you have and clear up each and every little doubt. Before selecting the right breeder, make sure he gives you a satisfactory response to all queries and he meets all the criteria. All the best!