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.

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.

Finding Golden Retriever Breeders

A reputable Golden Retriever breeder will be listed in a national registry. The Internet is also a place where you can search to see if your Golden Retriever breeder has ever had a complaint filed against them. When it comes to choosing a reputable Golden Retriever breeder your vet can also be a good source of advice. Local law enforcement is another often overlooked source of information when checking out a potential Golden Retriever breeder.

By far the Internet is the best source for finding breeder registries. Choosing a Golden Retriever breeder that is a member of a registry means you are getting someone who adheres to specific breeding stands that their registry outlines. Be suspicious of any breeder not listed with a registry and ask about what standards they use. If your breeder has a website then it should have a detailed breed history and specific breeding information for the company. Always ask for references and make sure you contact at least a few of the people before buying from the breeder.
It likely you took a long time to decide that a Golden Retriever puppy was right for your household. After this difficult decision has been made it is just as important that you do research on the Golden Retriever breeder you are considering and to set up a quality relationship with your Golden Retriever breeder. By accidentally choosing a fake breeder you will not only have a long relationship with them but your dog's life also depends on the breeder that you choose. So carefully consider the Golden Retriever breeder you are thinking of buying from and make sure they are a quality breeder before you get your next family pet from them. In order to do this you need to talk with the prospective breeder and listen to the information they give. They may not be a quality breeder if they can't offer helpful information. It is also likely that they are a fake Golden Retriever breeder if they seem like they don't know what they are talking about.
You should also get your vet's opinion about the Golden Retriever breeder before you make the final decision to purchase your puppy. This is also a good time to get to know your vet personally and learn what their opinion is, this is especially important if this is your first family pet. If you vet tells you that your Golden Retriever breeder isn't the best then you should take their advice and start looking for another breeder to get your new family pet from. Getting a new puppy is a sensitive issue and it can be difficult to ask tough questions of your breeder.

Therefore, you should also consider talking with local law enforcement to see if there are any law violations against your breeder which can help you determine what they are like. It is likely a good idea to go with another Golden Retriever breeder if you find they have any violations whatsoever against them.

You shouldn't take the task of choosing Golden Retriever breeders lightly. When choosing a breeder knowing Golden Retriever information can help.

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.