Questions For A Golden Retriever Breeder

Don’t assume that all Golden Retriever breeders are alike! They definitely are not. That's like saying that all car salesmen are alike. You have to meet and ask questions of the car salesman before you can decide whether you are getting a good deal or not. You will be overwhelmed by all of the dogs and Golden Retriever information the breeder is ready to give. Write down the questions you need to ask your breeder before you start shopping.

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.
Here are some of the main questions you want to ask any Golden Retriever breeder you are thinking of buying a puppy from. Ask them why they breed Golden Retrievers. What are the qualities they like in a dog? They should talk more about breeding sensible and healthy dogs rather than just show winning dogs. Do they use their dogs for hunting or obedience work, or just for shows?

Ask them about health certificates and hip dysplasia test scores on both the mother and the father. It is thought that hip dysplasia is a genetic problem. You also need to be sure what the breeder is responsible for in terms of the puppy's health and what you are responsible for. You need to ask if you can call for advice at no extra charge if you have training problems with your puppy. And ask for references and check them out.
You also want to ask for a written contract, which spells out what the breeder is responsible for. A good Golden Retriever breeder will already have such a contract for you! A good breeder will also be able to not only show you the puppy's mother, but also her health certificates. You need to be sure the parents have been tested for hip dysplasia and eye conditions that can be passed genetically.

Then ask yourself why you are going through all of this. If you want show dogs, breeding dogs or hunting dogs, then stick with the Golden Retriever breeder you can best get along with and is as proud of his or her dogs like they would be their children. If you want a pet, then please do not go to a breeder. Instead, go to a Golden Retriever breed rescue group and adopt an adult or older puppy. You'll save a life and get a financial break that way.

Golden Retriever breeders should breed for the love of the breed not the money made from selling puppies. Golden Retriever information is abundant on the Internet.