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Your New Golden Puppy
Adding a member to your family is a very important decision. Everyone
should be in agreement, and everyone should be involved. When you
select a Golden, you are making a decision to add a companion to your
family possibly for the next 10 to 15 years. This information is
provided to help you make the right decision.
Do I want a Golden? The Golden Commitment
The Golden Retriever lives to give. That is to give you all they
have, whether in performance or companionship. They need to be with
people, and they are everyone's best friend. They are active
shed a lot, have a need to carry things, and tend to dig. Therefore,
if you are looking for a watchdog or a one man dog, cannot tolerate dog
hair, or have little time or energy to devote to a Golden, this is not
the breed for you. We suggest you contact the American Kennel Club
for other breed information (212/696-8200).
Do I really want a puppy?
Puppies are like babies. They require a lot of time and attention.
It is extremely important that they be cared for properly, introduced
to new sights and sounds at appropriate stages in their development, be
well socialized and well trained. This is the basis for developing
a puppy to its fullest potential as a welcomed family member. If
you cannot make this commitment, you may want to consider an older, housebroken
Golden which has already been socialized and well trained. Another
alternative is our affiliate, the GoldHeart Golden Retriever Rescue organization.
GoldHeart is a nonprofit, all volunteer staffed organization which finds
new homes for unwanted, stray or abandoned Golden Retrievers. You
can visit their web page by clicking here
or they can be reached at (410)877-9697.
Choosing a Breeder
You have made your decision on a puppy, now you must choose a breeder.
This is another very important decision, as the increased popularity of
the Golden Retriever has led to many poorly bred ones. A good breeder
will ask you many questions to insure their puppies are being placed in
the appropriate homes, and will welcome your inquires as an indication
of your knowledge and commitment. Therefore, the following are questions
you should feel free to ask the breeder:
- Have you obtained hip, heart, and eye clearances on all breeding
stock? They should be able to show you an OFA certificate,
a cardiologist report, and an ophthalmologist report for both the sire
and dam (father and mother) of the litter.
- Why did they breed these two dogs? The breeder
should respond with an answer related to health, temperament, physical
characteristics and personality.
- Do they temperament test their puppies? This
is a series of tests which are done at 7 weeks of age to determine the
puppy's temperament and aids in placing a puppy in the appropriate home.
- What information will they send home with the puppy?
You should expect AKC registration papers, the pedigree, a shots and
worming record, and care and training information.
A good, responsible breeder will be available to the buyer for advice
and counseling for the entire life of the dog. You may also ask to what
dog clubs they belong, and if they show their dogs in breed, obedience,
tracking, agility, field, etc. This is an indication of how informed
and active the breeder may be.
Cindy Williamson, Breeder Referral
Chesapeake Golden Retriever Club
July, 2000
E-mail: [email protected]
You may also investigate the following online resources for more information
about selecting a puppy:
Hereditary Problems
Hip Dysplasia - Hip dysplasia, an abnormal development of
the hip joint, is an inherited disease which can leave your puppy or adult
Golden crippled or disabled. In an effort to reduce the possibility
of your puppy acquiring this disease, it is imperative that you ask your
prospective breeder for copies of the sire and dam's hip certifications,
evaluated by the OFA or Penn-Hip, in addition to the pedigree. This
will not guarantee your puppy will not develop hip dysplasia, but the more
ancestors without this problem, the less risk to your puppy.
Eye Diseases - Eye problems which can occur include inherited
cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (the deterioration of the retina),
and Entropion or Ectropion (the turning in or out of the eyelids).
To reduce your puppy's chance of inheriting these diseases, ask your prospective
breeder for copies of the annual eye certification (evaluated by a board
certified veterinary opthamologist) for both the sire and dam of the litter.
Heart Disease - Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS) is an
inherited disease which obstructs the flow of blood to the heart.
This obstruction can eventually cause heart failure. Your breeder
should supply you with copies of a board-certified veterinary cardiologist's
evaluation of both the sire and dam of your puppy. Heart murmurs
may also be detected in puppies.
Crate Training
When you bring your puppy home, you should have a place the puppy can
call it's own; a crate. Dogs are den dwelling, and prefer to be
in a secure, protected place. It is a great aid in house-breaking
and gives you peace of mind when there are times you can't watch your
puppy or dog. For further information on crate training you may
obtain a copy of "A Pet Owner's Guide To The Crate" by Nicki Meyer
by sending your name, address and 25 cents to:
Nicki Meyer Educational Effort
31 Davis Hill Road
Weston, CT 06883
Responsibility
Proper care of your Golden is your responsibility. Goldens require plenty
of daily exercise so that they can maintain physical and mental fitness.
However, they should never be allowed to run loose. This is unfair
to your neighbors and is dangerous for the dog. Your Golden
may become overactive and difficult to live with without regular exercise.
At times when you cannot walk the dog on a leash, he should be confined
to a fenced yard or kennel run.
Also important is regular veterinary care. It is advisable to spay
or neuter your Golden. Breeding should be left to people who are
able to dedicate the time, money and energy to improving the breed.
This has been produced by the Chesapeake Golden Retriever Club in an
effort to educate and inform prospective Golden Retriever owners.
We are an active club in northeast Maryland and northern Delaware.
For membership information please click here
or send an email to our Membership Chairperson Nancy
Grubb or give her a call at (717) 840-8734 .
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