Lab Breeders Article

Looking for a Reputable Golden Retriever Breeder

When you make the decision to add a Golden Retriever into your family, the next thing you have to decide is what breeder you want to purchase him from. You want to make certain that you get your Golden from a reputable breeder, which can help ensure not only his bloodline, but his health as well. You want to be certain that the breeder has bred Goldens that are in good health, and that have no diseases or genetic problems. But, how can you find a good breeder? How do you know what kind of Golden you are getting?

When it comes to getting your Golden Retriever, you really have three places that you can look. You can purchase directly from your local pet shop or dealer, you can buy from a local backyard breeder, or you purchase from a hobby breeder. Each type has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages, and it can be daunting to try to choose from whom to buy.

If you want them ranked in order of worst to best, then your local pet shop is probably the last place that you should consider getting your Golden Retriever from. You don’t really have anyway to know any information about the puppies bloodline, and you have no way to know what conditions in which they lived before they were brought to the pet shop for sale. The people at the pet shop want to sell the puppies for monetary gain, and aren’t really that concerned about the welfare of the puppies. Pet shop owners know that you won’t take a lot of time to look the puppy over before deciding to take it home, which is in their best interest. You, in your delight of the puppy, may not notice tell-tale signs that could signal health problems, and may not know about them at all until they surface when you take your Golden to the vet. In short, when you get your Golden from the pet shop, you really have no way of knowing what you are getting.

Another not so great place to get your Golden from are backyard breeders. These breeders usually get a few dogs that they think work well together, and then sell off the resulting puppies. They don’t really think about bloodlines, quality, or anything else, other than the money that you will be putting in their wallets when you buy your puppy. Most of these breeders know next to nothing about the breeds they sell, and many of them don’t even think much about caring for their puppies, so you really have no way of knowing what you are getting. Often, these puppies are kept in less than desirable conditions, and are fed just whatever type of food can be gotten for the lowest cost, which isn’t necessarily conducive to a healthy Golden.

If you can find a hobby breeder, this is probably the best place for you to purchase your Golden from. Hobby breeders really care about their puppies, and work hard to ensure their health, as well as their pure bloodlines. They do a lot of research on the types of dogs that they breed, and can be a great source of information for a would-be buyer as well. When you purchase a Golden puppy from a hobby breeder, you don’t have to worry about it, and if you do end up with a sick puppy, the breeder will refund your money. Odds are, your puppy will be happy and healthy, and you will have no complaints about this type of breeder.

So many people are interested in fattening their wallets, rather than caring for their puppies they breed, it can be difficult to find a reputable breeder to choose from. Keep up the search, and hopefully, you will be rewarded with a happy, healthy Golden Retriever puppy!