Puppy Referral

What to look for in a puppy

Human companionship is an essential requirement for a Golden Retriever. If you are convinced that this is the breed for you, you should take the time to make a sensible purchase. You are making an investment, which over the years may be substantial (a recent survey quoted a figure of nearly $8000 for a lifespan of 11 years for a medium sized dog). It will cost the same whether you buy a good dog or a poor specimen—it may even cost you more if you purchase an animal lacking the hardiness that should be typical of a Golden Retriever.

What to look for in a breeder

Hobby Breeder vs. Commercial Breeder
Commercial dealers who handle many breeds of dogs cannot possibly be aware of the detailed characteristics that distinguish each of them. Moreover, they are much less likely to be aware of the hereditary defects that may occur in each breed. They may breed less healthy dogs, or dogs with bloodlines through which certain problems are more likely to occur.

The Hobby Breeder
The private hobby breeder specializing in one or two breeds usually has taken the time to educate himself about the health or temperament problems that can occur in his breed. He has a detailed and intimate knowledge of the breed. Another important aspect of a hobby breeder is that he spends many hours socializing each puppy and evaluating his or her temperament. This breeder wants to know how to enhance his puppies’ development. His breeding program will be guided to improvement by evaluating the results of previous litters. Moreover, the hobby breeder wants to be sure that you and his breed are suited to each other. He will always be there as a source of information for raising and training your puppy.

Selecting a private Hobby Breeder
Visit dog shows!!
The purpose of a dog show is to select the best specimen of the breed thus selecting those dogs most worthy of producing offspring. Look around, compare puppies, compare adults—are the future parents of your future puppy there?

Litters of Puppies
Every litter, no matter how carefully planned, will contain a few puppies of outstanding quality destined for the show ring, some will be fitted for performance events such as tracking or obedience trials, or for field work. Although some will not have ‘show’ qualities, they will make wonderful, loving pets. You will benefit from the knowledge and dedication of the show-hobby breeder. His average pups will probably be of much better physical and mental quality than the best you will see from a commercial breeder, and the selling price of the breeder’s dog is definitely competitive.

Buyer Beware! AKC registration does not necessarily mean quality. The AKC will readily agree that quality control is not one of its responsibilities.

AKC Registration isn’t enough
Any individual with a purebred dog may breed to another purebred of the same breed and provide puppies with AKC registration. The parents may be very poor specimens of their breed, and their puppies poorer still. The difference in price between a puppy bred by a serious hobby breeder and another individual who has no in-depth knowledge of the breed may be very slight. Golden Retrievers are an extremely popular breed; many people are seeking to make a few extra dollars by having a litter of puppies. These individuals may not have the knowledge or be willing to spend the money to do a correct breeding and may not properly care for a pregnant mother and young puppies. How can you tell? Read the tips below.

Health of a Puppy

Goldens are not more subject to hereditary problems than other breeds. In fact, in some instances, Goldens have far fewer serious problems than some other breeds due to the early and continuing efforts of the dedicated breeders nationwide. (As a word of consolation to those who are now thinking that purebred dogs have too many problems, it is of interest that some hereditary problems were first discovered in mixed-breed dogs. Genetics has no prejudice.)

The knowledgeable breeder is aware of any problem that exists in his breed, and he takes the necessary measures to assure that he uses only sound animals in his breeding program.

As in most large breeds, a potential problem in Golden Retrievers is hip dysplasia—a malformation of the hip joint, which can be severe enough to be a disability for the dog. Some dogs have hip dysplasia even though it is not evident to the naked eye. The only way to determine whether a dog is dysplastic is to have its hips x-rayed. The x-ray is performed by a local veterinarian, and then the film is sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHIP for evaluation. A good hobby breeder has all adults x-rayed if he plans on breeding them.

Health Clearances
Goldens in a reputable breeding program are to be screened for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hereditary eye disease, and SAS, or heart problems. You should ask for clearances (passed with normal or better) on the parents of your prospective puppy.

Hips and Elbows: Most general practice veterinarians simply do not have the time to become expert radiologists. X-rays taken of a dog at age two years or older are believed to be 95% accurate in diagnosis of the disease. Earlier x-rays are not as accurate as evaluation. You will want to purchase a puppy whose parents have had an x-ray of their hips, and those x-rays evaluated by the experts. The breeder should be happy to provide you with copies of the OFA or PennHIP certificates on both parents. Dogs can be bred whose hips were rated fair, good, or excellent. Research has shown over time that because reputable breeders have bred the best with the best, breeding only those dogs with fair, good or excellent hips, the offspring have had better hips. As a result, fewer and fewer puppies have suffered hip dysplasia as adults.

You should never purchase a puppy from parents who do not have their hips cleared with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHIP. While no disability may be visible in the parents, a minor problem with them may be compounded in the breeding. And, yes, it is fair to ask why this breeder did not have x-rays taken?

Eyes: Golden Retrievers as a breed (among other breeds, too) have some incidence of two types of hereditary eye disease—hereditary cataract and progressive retinal atrophy, diseases of the inner eye—as well as hereditary problems, which affect the outer eye. Conscientious breeders all over the country make it a practice to have their breeding stock checked, at least annually, by a veterinary ophthalmologist, not just a general practice veterinarian.

The reputable breeder will happily provide you with copies of the ophthalmologist examination reports or a CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) certificate proving that the parents of your puppy are free from hereditary eye disease. You should not purchase a puppy without evidence that the parents are free of hereditary eye disease.

Heart: Another hereditary disease that all Goldens should have their heart screened for is Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS). All prospective breeding animals should be examined by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist or by an internist with cardiovascular training. If a murmur is detected on auscultation (listening), additional diagnostic tests are available and may be recommended; however, even this does not conclusively rule out heart disease, as some mild but hereditary forms may be indictable except on necropsy.

Animals with hereditary heart disease should not be used for breeding. This rather extensive reference to hereditary problems is not meant to alarm you—but to help you select your Golden Retriever with as much information as possible. So ask for health clearances from the breeder.

Conclusion

The serious breeder knows the faults and virtues of his dogs. The perfect dog has not yet been born.

The challenge is breeding two animals and producing one that is even better than either of its parents. This is the goal of the serious breeder. When it comes to selecting breeding stock, the dedicated breeder will not excuse the faults you might excuse in your pet because of your love for him. The responsible breeder attempts to breed only the best to the best. This is critical in the area of temperament. A faulty temperament is an inexcusable fault in a Golden retriever.

To paraphrase Joan Tudor, the well-known British breeder and authority on Golden Retrievers: “An animal may have a fault in structure, and still rightfully claim the name Golden Retriever, but an animal with a fault in temperament cannot be called a Golden Retriever. Pleasant temperament is the overwhelming characteristic of the breed, and bidability, the desire to please, a close second.”

Recommended Books

Two excellent books on the Golden Retriever are:

1. The Complete Golden Retriever by Gertrude Fisher
2. The Golden Retriever by Joan Tudor (English Author) 

You might also find the following books helpful with a new puppy: 

1. How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Rutherford & Neil 
2. The Working Retrievers by Tom Quinn 
3. The Art of Raising a Puppy, by the Monks of New Skete 
4. How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend, also by the Monks of New Skete.

Breeder Referral

If you are interested in purchasing a Golden Retriever, or have been considering breeding or training a Golden you already own, the Lenape Golden Retriever Club will be happy to assist you in any way possible.

After reading this information, you may call if you have further questions. If you are seeking to add a Golden Retriever to your home, we will also be happy to discuss the virtues of acquiring an older dog as a pet, as opposed to a puppy. There are many situations where such an option is an ideal solution. With regard to purchasing a puppy, you should be prepared to make a reservation. Golden Retrievers are ever-growing in popularity, and often reputable breeders will have their puppies reserved before they are fully seven weeks old (49 days), an age when pups are often placed in homes (some breeders hold puppies longer).

It is worth mentioning that only infrequently will you find puppies of the established breeders advertised in newspapers. Most of their puppies are sold through referrals from other breeders and their many satisfied buyers.

Disclaimer

The Lenape Golden Retriever Club is a nonprofit organization. The club, as a courtesy, provides a puppy referral service. The Club makes no representations, warranties or guarantees, either express or implied, as to the quality, health, temperament, etc., of any puppy. Further, the Club is not endorsing any particular breeder or making any representations as to the breeder’s breeding practices or the quality, health, temperament, etc., of the dogs mated. Nor do we endorse or assume responsibility for dogs that are placed by our members for adoption. Again, this is merely a referral service in which we provide names of members who have available puppies. We hope you find a pet that is right for you and your family.

The information on this page is provided compliments of The Lenape Golden Retriever Club. We get many calls about puppies as this is a popular breed. The information on this Lenape Golden Retriever Club web site will hopefully provide you with information about this wonderful breed. Our hope is that you have information about purchasing a puppy and choosing the right breeder, so that you will be able to make the right choice for you and your lifestyle.

If any of our members have puppies available or have an upcoming litter, we will provide you with that information. Members often have a waiting list for their puppies. If there are no puppies available, we suggest you attend a dog show, where you can meet with breeders and see their dogs.

Lenape GRC Puppy Referral Contacts:
Mary Helen Hoffman and Diane Coyle