Monday, June 23, 2008

Golden Retriever 101: Finding Golden Retriever Puppies For Sale

So, you want a Golden Retriever puppy, do you? If you've taken the time to do research on Golden Retriever information and think they can fit well into your life, than you can continue looking for Golden Retriever puppies for sale. If you have no idea of what you are getting yourself in for, stop and go check out the requirements for these big energetic dogs. There's no point in getting a Golden Retriever if you can't be sure you can commit to his or her proper care.

The best places to find Golden Retriever puppies for sale is from licensed breeders or from Golden Retriever breed rescues. Technically, a breed rescue will not have Golden Retriever puppies for sale, but they will have adoption fees of a few hundred dollars. The adoption fee is to discourage those who would use the dogs for nefarious purposes. Breed rescues rarely have young puppies and usually have males.
The worst place you can go to find Golden Retriever puppies for sale is your local pet store. If you can help it, never even buy any Golden Retriever puppy supplies from any store unethical enough to sell puppies. All Golden Retriever puppies for sale at pet stores are from inhumane puppy mills – all of them. These puppy mills not only treat the adult breeding dogs very cruelly – often never taking them to see a vet in their short, miserable lives – but the puppies produced are usually sickly, mentally challenged troublemakers instead of good pets.

A good Golden Retriever breeder would never sell their puppies to a pet store because they would not be able to control what puppies would go to what home. A pet store never stops to check your references or cares if you've ever owned a dog before. They just want your money. They are usually not a very good source of Golden Retriever information when you inevitably have problems with your new puppy.
The best place you can go to find Golden Retriever puppies for sale is from an AKC licensed breeder. You can find them on the web, by going to dog shows, through classifieds in dog magazines or from personal recommendations by people you know with well-behaved Golden Retrievers. When looking online, ignore any site that has puppies 365 days of the year. That's a puppy mill (or puppy broker) in disguise as a breeder.

A Golden Retriever breeder knows the personalities of all of his or her puppies and knows how to best match a puppy to your home, lifestyle and level of Golden Retriever experience. Fortunately, there are far more breeders who love dogs and treat them well then there are evil breeders. Go to see the parents of your prospective puppy to see what kind of dogs they are – and what conditions they live in. Never buy a puppy you have never met.

Golden Retriever puppies are much sought after in both America to in Europe. Proper Golden Retriever puppy care will ensure a long healthy life for your pet..

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Spun Gold: Finding Golden Retriever Breeders

Golden Retrievers originated in the British Isles. A Scottish lord, Baron Tweedmouth, was the first Golden Retriever breeder. The Baron desired to breed a yellow-coated water spaniel that had tracking and retrieving skills as well as the charm of a family pet. Using various dog breeds including the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel, the Newfoundland, the Irish Setter and the Bloodhound, Baron Tweedmouth bred an eventual litter of four Golden Retrievers. These four puppies were the ancestors of modern Golden Retrievers.

The British registered the breed as the Flat-Coated Retriever in 1913. The breed was renamed the Golden Retriever in 1920. The United States registered the breed in the sporting group in 1925 and Canada followed in 1927. The American Kennel Club sets the standard breed characteristics for all dog breeds that engage in AKC competition. A champion Golden Retriever breeder will select and breed dogs with the most desirable genetic traits and pedigreed bloodlines.
A Golden Retriever breeder will attempt to breed dogs with the best breed specific traits. A cream to light gold colored coat is preferred. Intelligence, trainability, an even temper, tracking and hunting skills, and overall health and beauty are the standard for this breed. Because the breed is prone to health problems like hip dysplasia, eye disease, cancer and obesity, breeders must have all dogs medically screened. Breeders do not mate dogs found to have medical or behavioral conditions. A Golden Retriever breeder will be able to educate potential buyers on the pros and cons of the breed to make sure buyers and Golden Retrievers match. They may also urge buyers to look into rescued Golden Retrievers. These are purebred Golden Retrievers that have been abandoned or neglected. They can be bought for a much lower price and often need loving homes even more than purebred puppies.

Unfortunately, the popularity of the Golden attracts unethical breeders who wish to make a profit with no regard for animal health and well-being. These backyard breeders sell unhealthy and uncertified Golden Retriever puppies to pet stores and/or unsuspecting buyers.
It is never acceptable to buy a Golden Retriever from a pet store. Pet store puppies have been shipped (and often sedated) across the country and put up on shelves like other store merchandise. These puppies have spent their entire lives in cages, receiving little to no socialization and there is no guarantee where they have come from. A Golden Retriever breeder that brokers or sells to pet stores should be avoided and reported. These puppies have most likely come from puppy mills or puppy auctions and may have significant health and behavioral problems.

Good breeders want to see puppies go to loving, permanent homes. They want to interview buyers and have buyers interview them. Breeders who sell to pet stores don't know what type of home their puppies will go to and never meet buyers or see their puppies again. The only good places to buy Golden Retrievers are from respected breeders with references and their own kennels or from rescue centers, which are often run by knowledgeable breeders.

Reputable Golden Retriever breeders would never sell puppies to a pet store. This article provides Golden Retriever information about how to recognize a bad breeder.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Golden Retriever Information And Ancestry

The history of the Golden Retriever dog breed is brief. A Scottish Lord living on the Tweed River developed the breed in 19th century Scotland. Lord Tweedmouth wished to breed a yellow water spaniel. He mated the Tweed Water Spaniel, Irish Setter and several other dog breeds to create a breed similar to the Golden Retriever of today. Perhaps due to their Irish Setter ancestry, many of the first Golden Retriever had much darker gold to copper-colored coats than those seen today. Golden Retriever Breeders prefer dogs with cream to light gold coats. Though the American Kennel Club, which sets the desired breed characteristics, does not prohibit darker coats, copper or rust colored coats are not allowed.

Classified as a breed in England in 1913, America in 1925 and Canada in 1927, the Golden Retriever has consistently been in the top ten most popular dog breeds. It cannot be overstated that the Golden Retriever has excellent traits for both sporting and family living. The breed is mild-mannered, extremely intelligent, loyal, eager to please, easily trainable, and beautiful. All of these traits make the Golden Retriever a beloved pet and a champion competitor.
Golden Retriever breeders mate dogs with the best breed specific traits. Currently, a cream to light gold colored coat is preferred. Golden Retrievers are also bred for intelligence, trainability, even temper, tracking and hunting skill, as well as overall health and beauty. The breed is prone to health problems such as hip dysplasia, which can be a problem in most medium to large-sized dog breeds. Eye diseases such as cataracts and retinal atrophy are common. Some lines of Golden Retrievers have so many health problems that it may be difficult to find a purebred Golden Retriever that lives the average ten to thirteen years.

The breed is prone to obesity if not exercised daily. A reputable Golden Retriever breeder will educate potential buyers on the health problems they may face as well as how to properly care for Golden Retrievers. Unfortunately, due to the beauty and popularity of this breed there are many illicit, or backyard breeders who sell unhealthy Golden Retriever puppies to unsuspecting buyers.
Golden Retriever breeders you should avoid have the opposite characteristics from the traits listed below. All of the following are signs of reputable Golden Retriever breeders:
-Breeders maintain their own kennels and allow buyers to visit
-Puppies have been socialized and are allowed in the breeder's home.
-Puppies and parents have been screened for common genetic defects.
-Breeders provide documentation of ancestry, pedigree, etc.
-Medical records and immunizations are available upon request.
-Breeders will inform buyers of any known physical or behavioral problems in a line.
-Breeders do NOT sell to pet stores.
-Breeders provide warranties and may accept returns.
-Breeders either run or are affiliated with Golden Retriever rescue centers.
-Breeders answer all of buyers' questions thoroughly and are knowledgeable on the breed.
-Breeders interview buyers to make sure buyers and puppies are a good match.
-Breeders educate buyers on how to train, groom, and care for puppies.
-Breeders have references available upon request.

Look for breeders with these traits and avoid those that cannot meet these requirements or even cannot answers questions about the Golden Retriever.

Golden Retriever breeders can provide the information and history of Golden Retrievers to potential buyers. This article provides Golden Retriever information about breeders.

Golden Retriever for Sale