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..

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.

Finding A Golden Retriever Breeders Club Online

Any person who is interested in getting a Golden Retriever as a pet is first going to have to learn about the differences between Golden Retriever breeders. There are literally thousands of professional and personal breeders located around the world, but there are those that are worth checking out and those that should be avoided. The bad apples are typically known as mass breeders, who tend to breed large numbers of dogs and then do not properly care for these dogs. They are more interested in the financial aspect of things and not for the breed of dog.

Some of these breeders are actually not educated at all on the breed and have no idea what they are doing. This typically results in poorly behaved, sickly dogs that may never be able to get their behavioral problems fixed, even with professional training. It is well worth it for any potential Golden Retriever owner to take the time to find the right breeder.
There are literally thousands of different Golden Retriever breeders located around the world, but only some that you should consider buying from. There are some Golden Retriever breeders, known as mass breeders, who are usually not educated at all on the breed and therefore really have no idea what they are doing. They do not take proper care of the dogs and are more interested in selling the dogs and making money fast than making sure that the dogs are healthy and happy.

To find the best breeder you should ask lots of questions and for the breeder’s credentials. You want to know how long they have been breeding for, whether they deal with any other breed of dog, and what their reputation is. You may even want to go so far as to get referrals, which means that you will be able to speak to other people who have already dealt with this breeder and who can give you some firsthand opinions on them.
You can speak to your veterinarian to find out more information on Golden Retriever breeders, and you may even want them to check the puppy out before you bring him home just to make sure that there is nothing unnoticeable wrong with him. Of course the most important things is that the dog is happy and is going to be a good pet, and there are several qualities that a dog needs to be a good pet.

He should be healthy and well socialized, both to other people and other animals. The dog should also grow up to look and act like what you would expect of a dog of that breed. This only makes sense considering that you took the time to choose a breed based on the characteristics that you liked. Your best chances of getting a happy healthy Golden Retriever puppy are to buy one from someone whose motivation is to produce the finest possible dogs and not someone who is breeding large numbers of dogs and selling them without a care as to who they are going to.

Take the time to find reputable Golden Retriever breeders and your time and effort will be more than paid off in the end. It is important that anyone looking to buy a puppy learn as much Golden Retriever information first so they will know what to look for in the dogs, both in terms of physical health and personality.

Judging Criteria For The Golden Retriever Standard

The Golden Retrievers is a specific breed of dog that belongs to the sporting group of dog breeds. They are a mid-sized dog, with a friendly and eager to please personality. They love being around people, and are easily trained. There are specific things that qualify a dog to be up to the standard according to the American Kennel Club. These items fall under the categories of general appearance, size, proportion, substance; head, neck, topline, body, forequarters, hindquarters, coat, color, gait and temperament. Under each of these, there are very specific ideals, descriptions of traits that define what the perfect Golden Retriever looks like.

There is also a criterion by which a dog is considered disqualified. For Golden Retrievers, there are two disqualifiers. First, the Golden Retriever will be disqualified if the height is more than one inch from the standard, either too high or too short. The second item is if there is an undershot or overshot bite. Other than these two items, there are no automatic disqualifiers.

The American Kennel Club has specific standards for dogs to meet the category of the perfect dog. For specific information, one should consult the AKC website. Some of the things included in the standard are that the eyes should be dark brown, but medium brown is considered okay. They should have a lot of expression in them, and be friendly and intelligent looking. They should have short ears, where when pulled forward the tip of the ear just covers the eye.

The coat of the Golden Retriever should be smooth and rich. There are various golden shades that are acceptable, but the mid-gold range is best, avoiding the lightest and darkest. The fur should be dense and water-repellant. The fur should lie close to the body, and can be wavy or smooth. The natural look of the coat should be left, and it should not be cut or clipped unnecessarily, though it is appropriate to trip the feet and some stray hairs.
The American Kennel Club has set out the specifics of the Golden Retriever standards. All breeders are aware of the standards and should be selling dogs that meet these standards. All Golden Retrievers that do meet the AKC standards will have some things in common. They will be active, alert dogs that stay involved in the world around them. As typical of a hunting dog, they will be hard workers, and not content to just lie around. They will be muscular, friendly, and love to interact with people. The coat will be a beautiful mid-gold color, with a firm and resilient outer coat, either straight or wavy. The tail will be held proudly, and the eyes will be intelligent and friendly. A dog that meets the Golden Retriever standard will be a dog that anyone could be proud to own and show. To get the specifics of the American Kennel Club Golden Retriever Standards, one should check the AKC website.

The standard for Golden Retriever is laid out in specifics by the American Kennel Club, and can be found at the AKC website. The criteria include things such as how muscular the body is and how well the trot is coordinated. Those who want Golden Retriever information about the AKC standard can find it in this article.