The most important thing to talk to a breeder about before you buy a puppy are health issues.  The breeder should give you copies of the health certificates or written reports from the specialists listed below on BOTH parents.  NEVER accept “my vet checked out the parents and they are healthy” or anything along those lines.  You should not accept any excuses for not providing clearances – THERE ARE NO EXCUSES!

GRCA recommends both parents of the litter should possess the following examination reports in order to verify status concerning possible hip dysplasia, hereditary eye or cardiovascular disease, and elbow dysplasia:

a. Hips — appropriate report from Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; PennHip; Ontario Veterinary College; BVA/KC Hip Score (Great Britain) or at least a written report from a board-certified veterinary radiologist (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists).  Do not accept a report from a veterinarian who is not an orthopedic specialist.

b. Eyes — appropriate report from a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ACVO) or from a BVA/KCapproved ophthalmologist (Great Britain).  A certificate from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation is preferred. 

c. Hearts — appropriate report from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; appropriate report from a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Medicine, Cardiology Specialty.  DO NOT accept a report from a veterinarian who is not  a Board Certified Canine Cardiologist. 

d. Elbows — appropriate report from Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals; or at minimum a written report from a board-certified veterinary radiologist (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists).  Do not accept a report from a veterinarian who is not an orthopedic specialist.

Only reports from certified specialists as listed above should be accepted.  Puppy buyers should not accept reports from veterinarians who are not specialists. 

 THE PUPPIES AND THE DAM: 

a)     It is best if the puppies are being raised in the family home, being exposed to a lot of handling and loving.  Puppies should be adjusted to regular household sounds… vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, TV, telephone ringing, etc. 

b)     The puppies and the dam should be in a clean environment with fresh water, toys to play with to help them learn to interact with each other and learn problem solving. 

c)    The mom and the puppies should appear to be healthy – clean ears that aren’t red and smelly, eyes clear without discharge, healthy-appearing skin and coat, keeping in mind that the mom may not look wonderful when nursing puppies, especially a large litter of 8 to 10+ puppies, but she should be free of allergies, have clean, clear ears and eyes, and generally look and act healthy. 

d)     The puppies should be well-socialized, friendly, playful, and alert. 

e)    The dam should have a good temperament and readily accept and be friendly with people.  She should also let people gently handle the puppies without objection.

PUPPY BUYERS SHOULD AVOID:

a)     Shy, whimpering, fearful puppies;

b)     Puppies with dull coats, crusty or running eyes, signs of diarrhea, rashes or sores on their abdomens;

c)     Signs of neglect, such as lack of water, pans of uneaten food, and dirty conditions;

d)     A breeder who will sell a puppy under seven weeks of age, as early separation from the dam and littermates can be very detrimental both psychologically and physically. 

e)     Breeders who won't let you interact with the puppies AND the mom.  It is essential for you to watch the puppies play and see how the mom acts. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREEDER: 

You should use your good judgment when you visit a breeder.  If you don't feel good about the conditions the puppies are in, beware.  If a litter is 3 weeks old or older and the breeder won’t let you interact with the litter and the mom, that should be a red flag.  ALWAYS ask to interact with the mom.  Is she friendly or scared?  Is she outgoing and loving?  Does she look healthy (giving credit for having just whelped and nursed a litter)? If not, find another litter.  

If you don't like the breeder for some reason, you should consider whether you want to have a long-term relationship with them.  A reputable breeder will want to know about their puppies for the lifetime of the dog.  Find someone you like and someone you believe you can trust.  Use your "gut" feelings about it. 

THE BREEDER SHOULD:

a)        Belong to the Golden Retriever Club of America, a local Golden Retriever club, an all-breed club, or all three.

b)        Be involved in showing his/her dogs in the breed ring, the obedience ring, in hunting tests/field trials, agility, tracking, or in a combination of any of these.  You should ask for proof of current participation.  What a breeder did 5 or 10 years ago should not be considered unless they continue to participate. 

c)        Provide you with a record of the dates and types of vaccinations and de-worming done, feeding instructions, a 3-to 5-generation pedigree, and an AKC registration application to apply for registration of the puppy in your own name with the American Kennel Club (AKC).  Both pedigree and registration papers are provided by reputable breeders at NO extra charge. The practice of charging extra for papers is forbidden by the AKC, and should be reported. 

d)        Give you written instructions on feeding, training and care.

e)        Provide some sort of written contract and/or conditions of sale.  Puppy buyers should be encouraged to read the contract thoroughly. 

f)         Insist that the puppy be spayed or neutered no earlier than one year of age. This provision should be in the puppy contract. 

f)         Ask a potential puppy buyer questions about previous dogs, and what happened to them; whether or not you have a fenced yard; and whether or not the dog will be allowed to be a house dog and a member of the family. Sincere breeders will be a bit hesitant to sell you a puppy until they know more about you, what you are looking for in a dog, and what lifestyle you have in mind for your dog. 

g)        Be able to give you references: the names of people who have purchased puppies in the past, the names of other breeders, and the veterinarian who provides care for the breeder's dogs.

h)        Make it clear that his/her responsibility continues long after you have taken your puppy home, in fact as long as the dog is alive.

INTERNET SHOPPING:

In this day of the internet, it is very easy to surf the web to find a breeder.  That's fine.  A lot of very reputable breeders have very nice web sites.  Unfortunately, a lot very not-so-reputable breeders have very nice web sites as well.  Here are a few hints about looking at web sites:  

• Is the website an expose' of the breeder's dogs, or is it mainly about the puppies they breed and have for sale?  Reputable breeders are first "dog" people and use their web site to show off their dogs and their accomplishments, not "puppy-selling" people who use their websites to drum up business selling puppies.  If the website mainly focuses on selling puppies, maybe their breeding is focused on profit and not on bettering the breed.  
   

• Can you tell if the owners really love their dogs and are currently active with them, or does it appear that they really love selling puppies and their main activity is just breeding? 
   

• Do the breeders claim to be members of dog clubs?  Most dog clubs have web sites, and a quick Google search for the dog club will give you the club's website and contact information.  Some people list clubs that they don't really belong to. Some breeders list clubs that don't really exist.  If a club doesn't have a web site, one has to wonder if it's really a club.  A quick email to the clubs they claim to be members of might be worth your time.  Just email one of the contacts on the club's web site and ask if the breeders are current members.   If a club doesn't have a web site or doesn't have contact information on their web site, one has to wonder if the club is for real.  If it is for real, why don't they want anyone to contact them, i.e., why don't they have contact information on their web site?
   

• If you visit a breeder after seeing their web page, ask if you can see the dogs that are showcased on their pages.  Reputable breeders are very proud of their dogs and will be more than happy for you to see them.  If they don't want you to see them, then maybe they don't really live with them or maybe they live in conditions that the breeder is not proud of.  You can tell a lot about how well dogs are cared for just by looking at them and watching how they interact with people.  You certainly want to buy a puppy from someone who takes good care of their own dogs.