Things
to think about before buying a Golden
Please
take the time to read
Before rushing out to
buy a Golden Retriever puppy (or for that matter any puppy) first of all
do your homework. There are many questions you should be
asking yourself. Then there are the questions to ask the
breeders you will encounter along the way when searching for that new
family member.
We cannot stress
strongly enough not to buy a puppy on impulse or a whim. Owning a
dog is a lifetime commitment and you must be willing to put the necessary
time and effort into raising a new puppy. In choosing a puppy,
you have to visualize what the adult dog will be like both physically and
in its behavior. Also how it will fit into your home facilities, as
well as into your life style.
A Golden Retriever is a
large dog. They have a thick dense coat that requires regular daily
grooming and yes they do shed all year around. Some Goldens love to
dig, so be prepared not to own the best lawn in the neighborhood.
Also expect to be washing dirty floors and walls more often. If the
hair shedding and dirt are going to be a problem this is definitely not
the breed for you.
The Golden
Retriever requires lots of exercise and attention. They
"demand" tremendous amounts of human companionship, seemingly
needing more social interaction
with people than most other breeds. Goldens that are left alone for
extended periods of time, day after day, become bored. Sometimes
this can incite excessive barking which can be annoying to your neighbors.
If work or school keeps your family away from home 6 to 10 hours a day,
please do not choose a Golden.
Goldens are a very
active breed requiring lots of exercise on a daily basis. A secure
fenced yard is a must. This will allow your Golden to go out to have
some exercise in a safe environment. This is by no means the only
exercise he or she should receive as an adult. Regular walks and
runs in safe areas are a must as well, regardless of the weather.
Goldens are intelligent
and can learn very quickly given the right guidance from an early age.
Puppy socialization classes can be started as young as 12 weeks and
obedience classes can follow starting at 5 to 6 months. Both of
these will ensure your dog develops into a good canine citizen and will
help it develop good manners. Both of these are a must with a breed
that is of this size and activity level. There are many activities
you and your Golden can become involved in that will not only help with
the human contact requirements but also for the stimulation and exercise
that is required to keep you and your Golden happy. Some of these
activities in which you and your Golden can become involved - obedience,
agility, tracking, hunt tests to name a few. We would be more than
happy to supply names of trainers in your area that would be able to help
you get started with your new puppy.
If you still think that
this is the breed for you and your family then your work is just starting.
Finding a good supportive breeder is your next step. Look for a
breeder that is going to ask you a lot of questions but who is also be
willing to answer all your queries.
Things to look for
when trying to find the right breeder:
Make sure both the sire
and dam of the litter have all their clearance documentations in order.
This means that the breeder has had veterinary specialists examine their
(but not necessarily limited to) hips, elbows, eyes and heart prior to using them
for breeding purposes. The hips and elbows must be x-rayed after the age of
two years, and then certified through the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation
Association), OFA will only accept and grade hips and elbows for their
final grading after the age of 24 months. Though the hips can also be certified by OVC (Ontario
veterinarian College) after the age of 18 months we highly recommend the x-rays
to be taken after the age of 24 months even with OVC. The eyes should be
examined on a yearly basis by a Board Certified Ophthalmologist.
Their hearts should be checked once, after the age of one year, by a Board
Certified Cardiologist. Ask the breeder to show you the proper
clearances for the sire and dam. They should be willing to fulfill
this request.
Seek the breeder whose
first concern is producing puppies of sound temperament and structure .
Also look for a breeder who is not only knowledgeable and experienced, but
whose responsibilities are also directed to the betterment of the breed.
Search for puppies that are home raised and well socialized. Those
first 8 or 9 weeks are very important for the future development of the
puppy.
We cannot stress enough
the importance of a well-socialized puppy.
We feel the puppies
should remain together as a litter until at least 8 weeks of age so they
have the opportunity to interact not only with mom, but with each other.
You should always be able to view mom when you go to visit the litter.
Her temperament and actions will be a good indication on how the puppies
will be as she has played the major role in raising them for the past few
weeks. It is not always possible to see the sire as many breeders
send their females away to be bred or do breedings through the use of
fresh or frozen semen that has been shipped from a distance. You may pay more for a puppy
from a responsible breeder but the knowledge and wealth of
information they will be willing to give you in raising your puppy will
pay off in the long run. Remember you are purchasing something that
you are going to have for companionship for the next 12 to 13 years. Don't
make a hasty decision.
Ask the breeder if they
belong to any breed clubs (National or Local). These clubs each have
a code of ethics the breeders are required to follow
with regards to the breeding sound dogs.
These will include but
not limited to:-
Your puppies final
registration papers should be given to you within six months from the date
of purchase. A good breeder will also be willing to take the puppy
or adult back for any reason or help you find a suitable home. Most
reputable breeders have a contract into which this stipulation is built.
Remember, just
because a breeder belongs to either the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) or AKC
(American Kennel Club), this does not provide any guarantees or mean they
have to perform to any specifically ethical standards. These
are only breed registries who deal strictly with registrations. When
we sell puppies that are going to family homes as pets, they will be
placed on a CKC non-breeding contract. Also they will be required to
be spayed of neutered by a specific age as stated in our contract.
Things to avoid when
trying to find the right breeder:
You do NOT want a
breeder
Remember no one can
sell a "registered" dog (in Canada) unless they are going to be
supplying you with registration papers within the appropriate time frame.
It is against the Agriculture Canada livestock law.
Stay away from a litter
if Mom is nervous and snappy around her puppies or you. You do
not want a puppy from that litter, as mom will pass some of her
temperamental traits onto her puppies. If the puppies are not being
raised in the house, being well socialized or the environment is dirty and
over crowded think again about purchasing a puppy from that breeder.
A good reputable
breeder should be available to you for the many questions you may have
once your get your new addition home.
__________________________________________________________________
If you would like
further information or have any questions please feel free to contact us
by e-mail or phone and we would be more than happy to help.
We have included a Check List
linked to the litter page, it consists of questions to ask yourself and
the breeders you will be contacting in your search for that new puppy.
Please take the time to print it off.
