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Golden Retriever Education
and Health:
Some
questions to ask yourself before you consider bringing a Golden Retriever puppy into your
family:
Golden
Retriever puppies are hard to resist but they may not be the right breed for
you. There are some questions you may want to ask yourself when
considering adding a Golden to your family.
After bringing a Golden Retriever puppy home are you prepared to:
Let your puppy out first thing in the morning before you get to potty your
own self :-)
Have patience with a puppy who thinks everything in the house within its' reach that
is not nailed down is 'fair game' ?
Vacuum daily all the gold colored 'tumbleweeds' on your floors, and blankets of fur on your
furniture and carpet ?
Take your puppy to Puppy Kindergarten and Basic Obedience Classes because
you know there's really no difference between a two-legged and four-legged
'child' when it comes to testing its 'parents' and they have to learn who's
the boss ?
With an adult
Golden Retriever in your home are you prepared to:
Accept that dog hair may
be a daily condiment on your food?
Step over, be under,
or have a 60-70 lb dog leaning on you?
Wake up to a warm wet
tongue or a cold nose in your face?
Understand that a Golden
Retriever's wagging tail means keeping your coffee tables clear at all time?
Always carry a lint
roller in your purse or car unless you don't mind wearing some of your dog's
coat over your clothes when you leave the house :-)
Now... more
seriously... are you and your family prepared to:
Be committed to the
health and welfare of your Golden Retriever DAILY by feeding a
quality food, spending quality time with, and ensuring your dog will be
protected with a safe environment both inside and outside your home?
Be committed to the
health and welfare of your Golden Retriever MONTHLY by ensuring that
your dog will receive a dose of a Heartworm Preventative every month of the
year?
Be committed to the
health and welfare of your Golden Retriever YEARLY by taking your dog
to a veterinarian for its annual checkup which includes at a minimum, a
heartworm test, fecal analysis, and thorough physical examination?
Be committed to the
health and welfare of your Golden Retriever FOR ITS LIFETIME by
treating your dog as a member of your family, giving your dog unconditional
love and devotion and willing to receive the same back from your Golden
Retriever?
If your answer to any
of the above preparatory questions for a dog to be a member of your
household is "no", then you may want to reconsider
the addition of a dog to your family.
If your answer to all
of the above is "yes", please read on :-)
Starting your search
for a Golden Retriever Puppy
What To Look For In A
Reputable Golden Retriever Breeder
Finding a reputable
breeder for any breed is a difficult task but may be even harder for a
breed as popular as the Golden Retriever because there are so many
people out there breeding Golden Retrievers. We are here to help you
find out how to determine who is a reputable Golden Retriever Breeder.
In our opinion, a Pet Shop that is "Selling" dogs would not be a place
to look. This does NOT include such places as PetSmart and Petco that
allow rescue groups to use their facility to try to place/adopt pets.
These rescue groups typically match the dogs temperament to the
families. Some rescue groups will do all vetting before adopting; others
don't have the funds and will let you know what needs to be done. They
will also help educate you on the dogs to determine if that breed is a
match for you.
Reputable breeders should always have a link from their website to a
Golden Retriever Rescue organization as those Goldens need homes more
than any Golden Retriever breeder's puppies. Some benefits to adopting
is that you are helping a dog in need, you get to meet the adult
temperament, you can evaluate the energy level of the dog and you can
get a dog beyond the puppy chewing stage. These dogs are not always
abused dogs as some think. Some are from homes who have lost jobs,
moving, kids activities keep them to busy, or they have to move to a
retirement home. Some simply can't afford the medical needs of the dog.
A reputable breeder can help give back to the breed that they love and
care for so much by referring you to a local rescue group, especially
when 1) they have sold all their puppies 2) you can't afford a breeder's
fees and 3) an adult dog with some training would better fit into your
household. Please ask a Golden breeder if they are a member of a Rescue
organization and how they help that rescue group. If a Golden Breeder is
a Golden Retriever Rescue member, it would be likely that they are also
a reputable Golden Retriever Breeder! It shows how much they love the
breed.
We would also caution you on going to BYB's, otherwise known as Backyard
Breeders. More likely than not, these breeders will not have done health
checks on their dogs and will have breeding 'pairs' and don't know or
care of the health issues that are in the breed. They may sell their
puppies to anyone who will pay the price for them. If you cannot afford
to pay the price for a puppy from a reputable breeder, please do
consider a Rescue Golden as mentioned above! BYB's typically may not care
if the dog would be a good match for your family. They may not ask you
questions about how you plan to care for the puppy initially when it
can't go a "work day" without a potty break. They may not care if you
spay/neuter your puppy. They may simply want the puppies gone once the
puppies become too much work for them. They may also sell the puppies
before they are ready to leave their dam and littermates.
Puppies should remain in the litter until at least 7 weeks old.
The best place to find a reputable breeder would be by finding a serious
hobby breeder. This would typically be a breeder who participates in dog
events and competitions such as AKC conformation, obedience, field, or
other performance events such as agility and rally. Most reputable
breeders will ask you lots of questions before they consider selling you
a puppy. They will be able to explain why they produced this litter (not
just my kids wanted to see puppies born). They will be able to tell you
what health issues are found in their pedigree (there are NO pedigrees
that are completely free of health issues.) The task is to minimize and
create the best odds of a healthy puppy with a great temperament. Many
reputable breeders also have dogs that have come from their breeding
program who are certified therapy dogs. These Reputable breeders will
have at minimum, health clearances by the OFA for Hips & Elbows (after
dog reaches the age of 2) , Board Certified Cardiologist clearances for
Heart (after dog is 1 year old) and Board Certified Ophthalmologist
clearance for Eyes (tested within past 18 months). Their puppies should
be raised in their homes and well socialized.
Puppies should be sold on a Limited Registration, preventing them from being
used in a breeding program unless you are a vested breeder, looking
towards a great future for the breed. It's easy to think two dogs
should be bred just because they have their clearances, but a lot of
research should be done to see if those lines are compatible -- have
those lines already produced problems or have they already proven to
produce good results? Sometimes, an experienced breeder will cross lines
that are totally unrelated and unproven together but they will have looked
at what the individual lines produced and not doubled up on health
problems.
A reputable breeder should
ask what you expect from your new dog. Do you want to hunt, do therapy
work, take the dog to dog parks, or sit on the couch and go for quiet,
short walks? A breeding done for high drive hunting dogs could produce
puppies too energetic for you. A very alpha temperament puppy wouldn't
be good for a household with young children. Is the breeder experienced
enough to know the difference?
Finding A Reputable
Golden Retriever Breeder
What To Initially
Look For In A Reputable Golden Retriever Breeder
A Breeder should be open to any questions
you may have with regards to Golden Retrievers, their breeding program
and their puppies. Do not hesitate to have a list of questions to ask
that will require the breeder to take some time out of their busy day to
answer for you. A breeder should be just as committed to finding a good
home for their puppies are you are to find a reputable breeder to
purchase your puppy from.
What should be the first thing you ask the breeder? You may want to
start with what organizations the breeder is associated with. Most
reputable breeders are members of the Golden Retriever Club Of America (GRCA).
They may also be associated with local Golden clubs, kennel clubs or
competition clubs. More important next to being a GRCA member would be
is the breeder also a member and volunteer of their local Golden
Retriever Rescue.
Is the Breeder active in showing their dogs in conformation, obedience,
field, agility, rally or any other AKC competitions? A Breeder who is
not active in any of these venues will not have the opportunity to
compare their dogs to others out there and know if the dogs they are
breeding are competitive. Most reputable Breeders are only breeding for
themselves in order to compete in these areas and strives with each
breeding to improve upon the qualities that their dogs have and need to
be competitive in those rings. Breeders cannot rely on pedigrees alone,
what looks good on paper won't necessarily produce what they want in the
whelping box.
If a Breeder is not a member of either the Golden Retriever Club Of
America, a local Golden Retriever Club or Golden Retriever Rescue, and
is not active in AKC competition events, you may want to look elsewhere
at that point.
Finding A Serious Hobby Golden
Retriever Breeder
Where To Look For A
Serious Golden Retriever Hobby Breeder
 As
discussed above, a serious hobby breeder is one who participates in AKC
competitions with their dogs. If you are doing your initial breeder
search online, bookmark those websites for Golden breeders who state
that they compete in those events and have produced Goldens who have
titles in those events. The more venues their offspring have titles in,
the better, as the Golden Retriever is an intelligent dog and has the
potential to excel in all of the AKC Conformation and Performance
events. Look at the pictures of the dogs on those websites and see if
that is the 'look' you wish to wake up to every morning. While every
Golden Retriever should meet the AKC breed standard, there are different
'types' of Goldens. Some Goldens who are conformation champions may also
have performance titles and may have a different 'look' than strictly
performance titled Goldens.
The best place to find a serious hobby breeder would be an AKC dog
show. You could then see what 'look' each breeder has in the rings and
perhaps have a brief meeting with the breeders after they are done
competing. Please do not be put off if the breeder cannot speak with you
while they are either grooming or preparing their dog for their ring
competition. Watch the rings you are interested in and then afterward go
up to the breeder and ask if they have the time to speak with you. If
they don't, ask for their business card and when it would be convenient
time for you to call them. Dog shows are usually at least two days, try
and get there on the first day and if the breeder doesn't have time the
first day, ask if they can make time for you on the second day.
If the breeder is rude or doesn't seem interested in speaking with you,
that is obviously not a breeder that you would want to consider
interviewing or buying a puppy from.
Now That You've Found
A Serious Golden Retriever Hobby Breeder
Questions To Ask
The Breeder - Health Clearances
Whether you've found the serious hobby
breeder on the internet or at a dog show, you will want to ask the same
questions to each. It is much more personable to ask questions via
telephone rather than email with a breeder you have found on the
internet. A brief introduction via email is fine, then ask the breeder when
it would be convenient for you to call them to ask questions.
Some questions to initially ask about clearances would be:
Do you have current health clearances on your dogs?
Which heath clearances do you do?
Where do you get your hip and elbow x-rays done?
Do you have OFA certificates for both hips and elbows?
Where do you get your heart and eye examinations done?
Do you have Board Certified certificates of examination for Heart and
Eyes?
When looking
for a Golden Retriever Breeder, please be sure to ask for 'health
clearances' on both the sire and dam of the litter. These
clearances should include but are not limited to an OFA Hip rating of ‘Fair’,
‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’; an OFA Elbow rating of ‘normal’
; an eye report from a Board Certified Canine Ophthalmologist indicating
‘normal’ in both eyes or with a possible notation of 'other'
which will indicate that it is not an inheritable issue or condition;
and a heart clearance from a Board Certified Canine Cardiologist
indicating ‘normal’. Do not accept any reports that are not on
authentic OFA or CERF forms.
Samples of OFA Certificates:
Hips - http://www.offa.org/samplecerts.html#hiprpt
Elbows - http://www.offa.org/samplecerts.html#elrpt
Cardiac -
http://www.offa.org/samplecerts.html#cardrpt
Cardiac Application Form:
http://www.offa.org/cardappbw.pdf
GRCA Update on the big four health
clearances (Hips, Elbows, Eyes, Heart)
http://www.grca.org/health/bigfour.html
Please
understand there is no such thing as a ‘perfect dog’. Breeders should
do their best to reduce the risk of genetic defects but there is always
a risk when breeding that one can produce such defects. It is simply
impossible to avoid all genetic problems in a breeding program. If any
breeder tells you otherwise, they are not being truthful with you. A
reputable Golden Retriever breeder should be able to produce OFA
certificates for Hips and Elbows, Board Certified examination reports
for Eyes and Heart. Accept no excuse for a breeding not having those
reports!
Why do Reputable Golden
Retriever Breeders get 'Clearances'
The Golden Retriever Club Of America (GRCA) requires that any member of
the GRCA use the GRCA Code Of Ethics as a guideline for breeding. A
'reputable' Golden Retriever Breeder should not only use the GRCA Code Of
Ethics as a 'guideline' but should 'strictly adhere' to the
recommendations of the Golden Retriever Club Of America for breeding.
Why would a 'reputable breeder' *not* strictly adhere? Perhaps
because their dog failed a health clearance!!!
GRCA Code Of Ethics
Before You Visit The
Breeder
Rules Of The Visit
At this point you have spoken with the
breeder, so far they appear to meet your requirements and it's time to
go out and visit the breeder in person. The breeder should allot a
sufficient amount of time for your visit and let you know what to expect
when you arrive at their property.
A Reputable Golden Retriever Breeder *MAY*...
Advise you that in order to qualify for one of their puppies that they
must meet the entire family that lives in your household so they can see
the interaction between your family and their dogs in order to determine
if you are the right family for one of their puppies. Families with
children who are not well behaved or supervised at a breeder visit most
likely will not qualify for a puppy from a reputable breeder.
Advise you in advance that you must visit their property first before
any other location on that day so that you will not potentially bring
any disease or parasites from another breeder's property.
Advise you that before you get into the area where their puppies or dogs
are located that you will need to spray the bottom of your shoes with a
bleach solution as to not bring in any potential life threatening
diseases to their property. Parvovirus and other viral or bacterial
infections can be carried in on on your shoes and are invisible to the
eye.
Advise you that you may not handle the puppies until they reach a
specific age, breeders may vary on the age range that they allow
visitors to handle their puppies. Some breeders will not allow visitors
to handle the puppies at younger ages until after multiple visits and/or
have reserved one of the puppies.
Advise you that if the puppies have not been whelped yet or the puppies
are too young that they will be able to interact with their other dogs
of different ages so that you can get an idea of what to expect when the
puppies are older. Young puppies are hard to resist but you need to know
what to expect when the puppies are full grown in terms of height and
weight and overall size not to mention their adult coats which means
ALOT of Golden hair everywhere!
Please keep in mind that every reputable breeder has their own comfort
level with regards to people visiting their property and litters and please
remember that any requests the breeder makes of you are in the best
interest of the puppies with regards to the health and safety of their
puppies.
Your First Impression
Of A Golden Retriever Breeder
Curb Appeal
First impressions can be everything
when you first arrive at the breeder's property. Here are two scenarios:
First scenario... is it just an empty lot with puppies in a pen or is
there a building structure? Is it a run down mobile home with outdoor
kennels or pens of which look like they're going to fall down any
minute? Are there fleas jumping around in the grass? If so, is that
where you would want to get your puppy from? Remember, a breeder is not
reputable just because they have health clearances on their dogs or
impressive pedigrees.
Second scenario... is it a 'home'... a place when you drive up that says
"come on over and sit a spell"... It can be immaculate and elegant or it
can looked well lived in and comfortable.
The property should be one where the dogs and puppies appear happy,
clean and healthy!
Meeting The Dam and/or
The Puppies
What You Should See
Some breeders will start
interviewing while the bitch is pregnant and you can meet with the
breeder before the litter is whelped. This would usually be done after
the breeder has confirmed that a litter is expected and the bitch is
definitely pregnant. Some breeders will wait until after the litter is
whelped so they will know what potentially will be available and if they
will have any pet puppies available. Typically breeders keep the best
prospects for themselves and sell the others to companion homes.
If the breeder is interviewing before the puppies are whelped you should
see a healthy dam. Do not be alarmed if she has a large litter and has a
little bit of trouble getting up and down, that would be normal. Ever
see a pregnant women with twins or triplets!!! Ask the breeder where the
whelping box will be set up if it isn't already and where the puppies
will be raised. Some breeders use a plastic kiddy pool to whelp the
litter in and then move the puppies to the whelping box soon afterward.
Pools are sometime used because they are easy to quickly wipe down and
disinfect during whelping.
If the breeder starts interviewing after the litter is whelped, it is
possible and actually probable that you will not have access to the
puppies and have to look at them from afar. Some breeders will not let
you into their home when the puppies are just recently whelped. A
reputable breeder is more concerned about the health and safety of their
puppies than just to make a sale. Please do not be insulted if you are
asked to look in through a front door or window. Newborn puppies only
have antibodies through their dam at birth and are extremely susceptible
to virus' such as Parvovirus.
The breeder may bring the dam outside for you to meet the dam if she is
not nursing at that time. If the puppies are very young, the dam may be
more interested in going back inside to her puppies, that is also
normal. If the puppies are a little older, she may welcome the excuse to
go outside and meet you! A dam with a large litter may not look her
best, her teats may be hanging down, she may be tired. A dam with a
small litter may look and act like she never had puppies!
Again, please keep in mind that every reputable breeder has their own
comfort level with regards to people visiting their property and litters
and please remember that any requests the breeder makes of you are in
the best interest of the puppies with regards to the health and safety
of their puppies.
Questions To Ask The
Breeder About The Litter
Why This Particular
Sire?
The most wonderful thing about breeding in
this day and age is that breeders have options that they didn't have
years ago. Breeders can do natural breedings, artificial insemination,
fresh chilled semen or a 'blast from the past' using frozen semen. It
used to be that if you wanted to breed to a dog in a different part of
the country, you had to ship your bitch to that stud dog wherever he was
located. Typically you will not find the sire of the litter at the
breeder's home. Now when we say 'typically', that does not hold true in
every circumstance. Sometimes breeders purchase male puppies from
outside of their own breeding program in the hopes that he turns out to
be what they were looking for and can then use him for that breeding
program in the future. Some breeders start out with a male puppy and
then purchase a female puppy that they believe will be a good match for
that male puppy later on. It is not always a 'red flag' if both sire and
dam are on the premises but more often than not it doesn't happen that
way.
Some questions to ask the breeder about the litter:
Why did the breeder choose this particular stud dog?
What research tools did the breeder use?
What was the breeder trying to achieve through this breeding?
What are the strengths and weaknesses in both sire and dam?
Did the breeder achieve the goals they were hoping for through this
breeding?
What can the breeder tell you about the sire's temperament and longevity
history in his background?
What can the breeder tell you about the dam's temperament and longevity
history in her background?
Health Issues in the Golden
Retriever
Now that you have found a particular Golden
Retriever breeder that you are comfortable with and are seriously
thinking about purchasing a puppy from, let's talk about health issues
in the Golden Retriever that cannot be screened for through
'clearances'.
Some of The
diseases that Golden Retriever breeders are very concerned about do not
have screening tests available but reputable breeders are both
aware of them and should do the most they can to minimize environmental
contributions to those issues. The environment in which a Golden
Retriever is raised and lives within can be a contributing factor to
canine cancer and other diseases such as dysplasia and diabetes.
Reputable Golden Retriever
breeders should not use herbicides, pesticides, or any chemical means
know to cause Cancer in the areas that their dogs reside in.
Ask
your potential breeder about how they maintain their property and what
chemicals they use both inside and outside their home or kennel.
They also should be
feeding a quality dog food of which the ingredients do not contain
by-products, chemical additives or chemical preservatives.
This usually
cannot be be accomplished by the breeder without extensive cost to the
breeder be it financial or time consuming or both.
This page is a work in
progress, thank you for your patience and please check back for more
information on Golden Retriever Health and Education!!!
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Brooke, Nugget (Cassie's son) & Brooke's daughter Dazzle
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Robert and Ranger nap
time
Contact:
Goldenwind Goldens
Ellen & Alan
Meyer
goldenwind@att.net
972-442-9723
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