| shouldn't mean much to a good Golden Retriever | | | | creature into your home and your heart for however |
| breeder needing to find good homes for puppies. Ask | | | | long the Golden Retriever should live. You might as |
| for references and what they like to see in a dog | | | | well know what you are getting yourself in for. |
| owner. You must visit the Golden Retriever breeder | | | | Forewarned is forearmed. |
| to be sure he or she isn’t a puppy mill in | | | | Ask the breeder for references, whether from past |
| disguise. Good dog breeders will only have a few | | | | customers or from their vet. Ask the breeder why |
| pups for sale a year. Ask to see health certificates | | | | they breed Golden Retrievers. Ask them what they |
| and ask for a written contract. Great Golden | | | | think makes a perfect Golden Retriever. Their |
| Retriever breeders will ask you more questions than | | | | answers should be more concerned about the dog's |
| you ask them. | | | | health and personalities rather than looks. Also ask |
| There's no way around the issue – a Golden | | | | whether the parents are gun dogs (hunting dogs) or |
| Retriever puppy costs a lot of money. Depending on | | | | show dogs. There is a different temperament and |
| the health assurances and reputation as a breeder, a | | | | sometimes a different body shape between working |
| pure bred Golden Retriever puppy can run you | | | | dogs and show dogs. If you are an avid duck hunter, |
| anywhere from three hundred to three thousand | | | | then you will have no interest in show dog stock. |
| dollars. If you are going to be investing that much | | | | You also want to ask for a written contract, which |
| money in a pet, a show dog or future breeding | | | | spells out what the breeder is responsible for. A good |
| stock, then you need to ask a lot of questions to | | | | Golden Retriever breeder will already have such a |
| your Golden Retriever breeder. | | | | contract for you! A good breeder will also be able to |
| This is one reason why you should never buy a | | | | not only show you the puppy's mother, but also her |
| puppy from a pet store or from online puppy | | | | health certificates. You need to be sure the parents |
| brokers. You will never be able to ask questions of | | | | have been tested for hip dysplasia and eye |
| the breeders. That, and the slight fact that all pet | | | | conditions that can be passed genetically. |
| stores and online puppy brokers get their stock from | | | | Then ask yourself why you are going through all of |
| inhumane puppy mills. These puppy mills are the | | | | this. If you want show dogs, breeding dogs or |
| reason why there are sadly, very unhealthy and | | | | hunting dogs, then stick with the Golden Retriever |
| un-trainable Golden Retrievers running around. In | | | | breeder you can best get along with and is as proud |
| order to assure yourself that your puppy is healthy | | | | of his or her dogs like they would be their children. If |
| and sane, you need to meet the breeder. | | | | you want a pet, then please do not go to a breeder. |
| First off, do not be afraid to ask any questions of | | | | Instead, go to a Golden Retriever breed rescue |
| your Golden Retriever breeder. It is your right | | | | group and adopt an adult or older puppy. You'll save a |
| – not just from a business standpoint, but | | | | life and get a financial break that way. |
| from an ethical standpoint, too. You are bringing this | | | | |