Getting a Golden Retriever: Where to Go and What to Look For
By: Ali Prescott
(Left): Bella at age 3 months (Right): Princess at age 7
For many people, the golden retriever is the ideal pet. How can one resist the adorable basketball-playing Buddy in “Air Bud?” Who doesn’t tear up a bit when Shadow comes over the hill at the end of “Homeward Bound?” With that being said, there are some things to consider when bringing a new golden retriever in to your home.
Where should you buy your golden retriever puppy? Many people think that buying a puppy from a pet shop or a dealer is a good decision. However, that is not always the case.
Many of the puppies that are sold in pet shops are not bred properly. Puppies at pet stores are often a source of cash, not animals that are going to be part of a family. Puppies in pet stores are often sick and have no training at all. This can result in an extremely unhappy experience for the buyer.
It’s often hard to pass up a puppy in a store, but it’s better to consider the potential investment at hand. The best way to get a golden retriever puppy is to purchase one from a reputable breeder.
“Check with the AKC to make sure the breeders are registered with the club,” said Patricia Prescott, my mother and former golden retriever breeder, “It also helps to ask to see the mother of the litter and the father if possible. A visit with the mother of your puppy shows the disposition of the mother, which is a good indicator of how the puppy will act. It also will show how the breeder raised the mother and how the puppies were raised.”
Prescott also said that to use caution when talking to breeders and to ask how many litters the mother has had to make sure the breeder isn’t just using the dog to make money. She said it also wouldn’t hurt to see if the mother has had a hip x-ray because golden retrievers can get diseases that need to be prevented.
There is always the choice of adopting an adult dog. According to the Golden Retriever Club of America, there are about 10,000 golden retrievers that are taken in to rescue organizations each year. The reasons for rescue range from owners not being prepared on how to raise a golden retriever to a family member having allergies to the dog.
The club ensures that all of its various organizations screen the golden retrievers that come in to the rescue shelters. They screen the dogs for health issues, training issues and temperament issues. The facilities have staff and trainers to make sure the golden retrievers are ready to be adopted and in good overall health before they can be adopted.
There are many benefits to adopting an adult golden retriever. Adult golden retrievers at GRCA facilities are trained in basic obedience and are housebroken. Now, there is always an adjustment phase to getting a new dog accustomed to a new home, but often times the rescue centers are willing to help when there are problems or if new owners are in need of assistance.
Remember: Do your research. If the breeder is not registered and has no affiliation with the AKC or the GRCA, then the breeder is most likely disreputable and is looking for easy money. Only deal with breeders who are registered, have documentation and are not afraid to answer questions. If you can’t commit to the work it would take to raise and train a puppy, consider adopting an adult dog. If adoption is right for you, the GRCA has a map of registered golden retriever rescues by state on their website: http://www.grca-nrc.org.
Where should you buy your golden retriever puppy? Many people think that buying a puppy from a pet shop or a dealer is a good decision. However, that is not always the case.
Many of the puppies that are sold in pet shops are not bred properly. Puppies at pet stores are often a source of cash, not animals that are going to be part of a family. Puppies in pet stores are often sick and have no training at all. This can result in an extremely unhappy experience for the buyer.
It’s often hard to pass up a puppy in a store, but it’s better to consider the potential investment at hand. The best way to get a golden retriever puppy is to purchase one from a reputable breeder.
“Check with the AKC to make sure the breeders are registered with the club,” said Patricia Prescott, my mother and former golden retriever breeder, “It also helps to ask to see the mother of the litter and the father if possible. A visit with the mother of your puppy shows the disposition of the mother, which is a good indicator of how the puppy will act. It also will show how the breeder raised the mother and how the puppies were raised.”
Prescott also said that to use caution when talking to breeders and to ask how many litters the mother has had to make sure the breeder isn’t just using the dog to make money. She said it also wouldn’t hurt to see if the mother has had a hip x-ray because golden retrievers can get diseases that need to be prevented.
There is always the choice of adopting an adult dog. According to the Golden Retriever Club of America, there are about 10,000 golden retrievers that are taken in to rescue organizations each year. The reasons for rescue range from owners not being prepared on how to raise a golden retriever to a family member having allergies to the dog.
The club ensures that all of its various organizations screen the golden retrievers that come in to the rescue shelters. They screen the dogs for health issues, training issues and temperament issues. The facilities have staff and trainers to make sure the golden retrievers are ready to be adopted and in good overall health before they can be adopted.
There are many benefits to adopting an adult golden retriever. Adult golden retrievers at GRCA facilities are trained in basic obedience and are housebroken. Now, there is always an adjustment phase to getting a new dog accustomed to a new home, but often times the rescue centers are willing to help when there are problems or if new owners are in need of assistance.
Remember: Do your research. If the breeder is not registered and has no affiliation with the AKC or the GRCA, then the breeder is most likely disreputable and is looking for easy money. Only deal with breeders who are registered, have documentation and are not afraid to answer questions. If you can’t commit to the work it would take to raise and train a puppy, consider adopting an adult dog. If adoption is right for you, the GRCA has a map of registered golden retriever rescues by state on their website: http://www.grca-nrc.org.