| p>A quality golden retriever is a truly remarkable | | | | These animals have to be checked before they are |
| animal. However, in order to find one, a person must | | | | bred to ensure that their off spring will not carry the |
| know where to get one. When asked where to get | | | | recessive genes that will cause these diseases. Good |
| a pet, too many people either don't know where to | | | | breeders are aware of these requirements and will |
| start, or they simply say, "The Pet Store!" | | | | have done this prior to trying to breeding or selling |
| Pet stores may have readily available golden retriever | | | | the animal. They will readily show these papers to |
| puppies, but these are bred for profit and not for | | | | any prospective buyer. A breeder without this proof, |
| quality. The true golden retriever enthusiast will look | | | | no matter the excuse, is a breeder not to be |
| for a quality animal through a breeder. Breeders are | | | | trusted. |
| by no means immune to poor quality as many | | | | Quality breeders genuinely care for their dogs. They |
| breeders also breed Goldens not as true enthusiasts | | | | are generally very talkative and proud of their animals |
| but as a business - solely for profit. Finding the right | | | | and will not resist any prospective buyer's efforts in |
| breeder for the true quality dog can be a daunting | | | | getting to know more about their animals. This can |
| task, but finding that perfect canine companion is | | | | include general knowledge about their breeding pair's |
| worth it. | | | | personalities and accomplishments, to the health and |
| As in tackling any other task, the first step to finding | | | | physical attributes of the dogs. |
| the right breeder is to gain more knowledge. By | | | | They will also be looking for a good home for their |
| knowing how to identify a quality dog, through its | | | | puppy. If the breeder puts greater emphasis on the |
| health and personality, a quality breeder will not be | | | | puppy's well being than the monetary gains, then he |
| too far away. Pure bred golden retrievers, as is the | | | | is a good breeder. One guarantee that good |
| case of many pure bred dogs, are prone to defects | | | | breeders give is that they will take back the puppy |
| caused by problems with breeding. | | | | without reimbursement should the buyer find that he |
| A lot of golden retrievers develop health | | | | no longer has the capacity to care for it. |
| complications like hip dysplasia. In looking for a golden | | | | The key to a good, quality, and healthy golden is to |
| puppy, it becomes imperative that the OFA or | | | | find that quality breeder. It may seem like a daunting |
| Orthopedic Foundation for Animals checks the | | | | task but with work and effort, it can be done. And |
| parents of said puppy, through a procedure of | | | | there is no greater reward than the years of |
| x-rays, to ensure their health. | | | | companionship a healthy, quality golden retriever will |
| Goldens are also prone to diseases of the cataracts. | | | | give his owner. |