This past Saturday, we added a new member to our family. A seven week old Golden Retriever. His name is Lincoln and he was born on June 13. After losing our adopted Golden Milo to cancer in May, we definitely had a hole in our heart that was longing to be filled. We knew we wanted another dog to join our family.
We spent a lot of time thinking about and researching what kind of dog to get. Ultimately, we decided that we wanted another Golden Retriever. Their temperament really suits us. Golden Retrievers are wonderful family companions. They are obedient, playful, intelligent, well-mannered, great with kids, and strangers. Another plus is that they are easy to train because they love to please you and will do anything for a some praise and a treat.
We considered adoption again, but after taking in an older dog and losing him so suddenly, we decided that we wanted to start with a puppy and have a dog that we would hopefully have many years to enjoy.
During our search to find a Golden Retriever puppy we came across some helpful information that I want share with you. I am sure that a lot of this information can be carried over to most any breed that you are considering.
HOW TO LOCATE A RESPONSIBLE GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREEDER
To help us locate a responsible and good breeder, we contacted our local Golden Retriever Society. We found our local society through the website for the Golden Retriever Club of America. They have a page that will help you locate one near you - http://www.grca.org/allabout/puppyreferrals.html.
TIPS ON KNOWING IF YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER
The breeder will:
• want to meet you face-to-face if at all possible
• ask questions about your expectations, home environment, children, other pets, etc.
• conduct a home check if at all possible, or ask someone from a local club to do it, or ask for several references
• provide proof that sire & dam are at least 2 years old and have their health clearances for hips, elbows, heart & eyes
• provide a 3-5 generation pedigree
• tell you about any possible health issues in that pedigree
• provide puppy wellness details from a veterinarian
• probably provide a copy of the litter evaluation done by another knowledgeable breeder
• provide AKC registration papers
• talk to you about feeding, training and care of your puppy
• have a contract for you to sign that includes responsibilities on both sides
• take back the dog at any time if you no longer can care for it
• be a member of the GRCA and probably a local club
• be an active participant in at least one dog sport or activity
• always be available to advise and consult on diet, vaccinations, injuries, health issues, etc.
(information from the Golden Retriever Club of America website)
We found all of these to be true with regards to the breeder that we used. They have been wonderful about answering our questions and even told us to call them anytime we had a question!
Lincoln has already filled that hole in our hearts. (Although he will never replace our sweet Milo!) We feel so blessed to have him join our family and we are looking forward to many happy years together!
LINKED & SHARED
