Selecting a
Breeder
One thing all the Kennel Clubs and Dog Clubs agree on is
to buy your puppy from a responsible and well-respected
breeder. This cannot be stressed enough. Responsible
breeders are concerned with the betterment of the breed. For
example, they
work on breeding healthier dogs with the appropriate
temperament for their breed. Once you select a breeder,
screen the breeder. Ask to see at least one of the parents
(the dam or the sire) of your puppy. See how the dogs in
your breeder's home interact with your breeder. Are they
friendly and outgoing or do they shy away? The responsible
breeder will be screening you, too, looking for the best
home for each puppy.
These tips come from the Humane Society's
How to Identify a Good Breeder resource. Look for one
who at a minimum:
-
Keeps dogs in the home as part of the family---not
outside in kennel runs
-
Has dogs who appear happy and healthy, are excited to
meet new people, and don’t shy away from visitors
-
Shows you where the dogs spend most of their time--- in
a clean, well maintained area
-
Encourages
you to spend time with the puppy’s parents--- at a
minimum, the pup’s mother---when you visit
-
Only breeds one or two types of dogs and is
knowledgeable about what are called “breed standards”
(the desired characteristics of the breed, such as size,
proportion, coat, color, and temperament)
-
Has a strong relationship with a local veterinarian and
shows you records of veterinary visits for the puppies
Selecting a
puppy:
Look for some basic health indicators first. Are the eyes
clear? Is the nose clear of mucus? Does the puppy run around
with enthusiasm or is it lethargic? Does it respond well to
you as a stranger?
Then move onto personal preferences. Do you prefer darker or
lighter hair? For puppies, the color of the ear tabs is a
good indicator of their color when they are full grown.
Males tend to be slightly larger (~10 pounds) than the
females. There is very little difference in temperament
between the sexes, so again, its a matter of personal
preference.
What's Special
About Our Puppies:
Our puppies are hand raised and loved by our eight children;
literally from birth as we are all at the whelping kennel
cheering on the mom. We even assist with the nursing the
first two weeks to ensure that all the puppies have good
milk (and therefore nutrition). Because of this our puppies
are very well socialized and healthy. We also leave them
with the mother until you come and get them. We have 36
acres and a pond that our dogs have access to. So the adult
dogs and puppies get lots of exercise and playtime with our
children.
Additional
Resources
AKC Tips on Buying a Puppy
Golden Retriever
Club of America -Acquiring a Golden Retriever
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