Before purchasing a Golden Retriever or any breed of puppy, we strongly suggest that you do your homework and research the breed and potential breeders. First of all, you should be fully informed about the responsibilities of owning a Golden Retriever; and secondly, you should be prepared to ask breeders numerous questions.

We cannot stress this strongly enough -- DO NOT purchase a puppy on impulse or a whim. Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment and you must be willing to put the necessary time and effort into raising a new puppy. In choosing a puppy, you should visualize the adult dog, both physically and in its behavior. Also you need to consider how it will fit into your home, as well as into your lifestyle.

A Golden Retriever is a large dog. They have a thick dense coat that requires regular daily grooming. Please keep in mind that even with the most diligent grooming and care, Goldens shed throughout the year. Some Goldens love to dig, so be prepared to remove your yard from the list of homes being considered for the annual Garden Tour! If shedding hair and dirty paws are going to be a problem, a Golden is definitely not the breed for you.

A Golden Retriever requires a great deal of exercise and attention. They "demand" tremendous amounts of human companionship, needing more social interaction with people than most other breeds. Goldens that are left alone for extended periods of time, day after day, become bored. Sometimes this can incite excessive barking that can annoy your neighbors. If work or school keeps your family away from home 6 to 10 hours a day, please do not choose a Golden.

Goldens are a very active breed requiring lots of exercise on a daily basis. A secure fenced yard is a must. This will allow your Golden to exercise in a safe environment. This is by no means the only exercise he or she should receive as an adult. Regular walks and runs in safe areas are a must as well, regardless of the weather.

Goldens are intelligent and can learn very quickly from an early age, given the right guidance. Puppy socialization classes can be started as young as 12 weeks (following the third combo puppy shot) and obedience classes can follow starting at 5 to 6 months. Such classes are a must for a breed of this size and activity level, and will ensure your dog develops into a good canine citizen.

As the puppy grows older, participating in such activities as obedience, agility, tracking, hunt tests and therapy work will help form a strong bond between the two of you. We would be more than happy to supply names of trainers in your area that would be able to assist you get started with your new puppy.

If you still think that a Golden is the breed for you and your family, then your adventure is just beginning. Finding a reputable, supportive breeder is your next step. Look for a breeder who asks you many questions, but is willing to answer all your questions as well.

Seek the breeder whose first concern is producing puppies of sound temperament and structure. Also look for a breeder who is both knowledgeable and experienced, and whose responsibilities are directed to the betterment of the breed. Search for puppies that are home raised and well socialized. Those first 8 weeks are very important for the future development of the puppy.

We cannot stress enough the importance of a well-socialized puppy, raised by a responsible, reputable breeder.

We feel the puppies should remain together as a litter until at least 7 1/2-8 weeks of age so they have the opportunity to interact not only with mom, but with each other. You should always be able to view mom when you go to visit the litter. Her temperament and actions will be a good indication of how the puppies will turn out, as she has played the major role in raising them for the past few weeks. It is not always possible to see the sire as many breeders send their females away to be bred or do breedings through the use of fresh or frozen semen that has been shipped from a distance.

Make sure both the sire and dam of the litter have all their clearance documentations in order. This means that the breeder has had VETERINARY SPECIALISTS examine and certify the parents' hips, elbows, eyes and heart prior to using them for breeding purposes. The hips and elbows must be x-rayed after two years old, and then certified through the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation Association). OFA will ONLY accept hips and elbows for their final grading after the age of 24 months. The eyes should be examined on a yearly basis by Board Certified Ophthalmologists, and hearts are checked once after one year of age by Board Certified Cardiologists. Ask the breeder to show you the proper clearances for the sire and dam, and they should be willing to fulfill this request.

Ask the breeder if he or she belongs to any breed clubs (national or local). These clubs each have a Codes of Ethics that breeders are required to follow in regard to the breeding sound dogs.

Providing the terms and conditions of a contract
Performing all the clearances on the dogs prior to breeding
Proper care of all animals on their property
Limited registration requirements and spay/neuter conditions for puppies sold as pets or companion dogs
Buy-back or placement conditions regarding unwanted dogs/puppies
Agreeing not to release puppies too early to their new homes
Ensuring the puppies have been examined by a veterinarian at which time they received their first vaccinations and de-worming medication
Providing clients with a "Puppy Package" containing information on pedigrees, diet, clearances, grooming, training, safe toys to use, pictures, reading materials and so forth

Your puppy's final registration papers should be sent to you within six months from the date of purchase. A good breeder will also be willing to take the puppy or adult back for any reason or help you find a suitable home. Most reputable breeders include this stipulation in their contracts.

Remember, just because a breeder registers its dogs through the AKC (American Kennel Club), this does not provide any guarantees or mean that he or she adheres specifically to ethical standards. AKC is only a breed registry that deals strictly with registrations.

A reputable breeder should be available to you for the many questions you may have once your get your new family member home.

THE BOTTOM-LINE: You probably will pay more for a puppy from a responsible, reputable breeder; but its health and temperament as well as the environment in which the puppy was raised should be the most important considerations. Although there are no guarantees in life, a healthy puppy from a healthy litter will save you time, money and heartache in the future. Additionally, the knowledge and information that a reputable breeder will be able to offer will pay off in the long run. Remember, you are purchasing a dog that will hopefully be a part of your family for the next 10+ years. Don't make a hasty decision as it will likely be one that you regret.

You do NOT want a puppy from a female who is less than two years old. Besides possibly not having all her final clearances, we feel she is not mentally ready to be raising a litter as she is still a puppy herself.

Be careful of breeders who want to get rid of their puppies as early as six weeks old. After this age, puppies start to become more work and cost more money to raise. Again it is important for the puppies to stay together longer to learn how to socially interact with each other appropriately.

Avoid breeders who sell their puppies without a guarantee of registration papers. Usually there is a reason the parents are not registered. This may be:

Stay away from a litter if Mom is nervous and snappy around her puppies or you. You do not want a puppy from that litter, as mom will pass some of her temperamental traits onto her puppies. If the puppies are not being raised in a home setting and are not well socialized or the environment is dirty and over crowded, think again about purchasing a puppy from that breeder.

If you would like further information or have any questions, please feel free to contact us by e-mail or phone and we would be more than happy to help.

To assist you in your search, we have included two Check Lists of questions to ask yourself and the breeders you will be contacting in your search for that new puppy. Please take the time to print them off and have them handy as you start your interview process.