How to Select a Reputable Golden Retriever Breeder
Volume 2: A Guide to Finding Your New Best Friend
These days puppy scammers are out of control and it can be difficult to determine if a breeder is legitimate or not. When looking for a puppy, it is hard to resist the urge to question breeders since we tend to fall in love with the idea of a puppy before we know all the facts. We have created a guide for selecting a reputable breeder to help future puppy pawrents search for their new best friend!
First things first…
Look for a puppy through a website that is established and respectable. Word of mouth is also an excellent source to finding your furry companion. Do NOT try to find a puppy through websites like Craigslist or sketchy Facebook accounts. Definitely avoid puppy shops as these pups are more than likely from puppy mills. Professional breeders will have a website that have customer reviews, credible pictures, possible show titles, and information about their breeding program. They will also have an application to fill out and will ask you just as many questions as you ask them. A reputable breeder will be MORE than happy to answer any questions you may have and will make you feel comfortable throughout the whole process. They will also be an invaluable resource for you throughout the life of your dog to help guide you and answer any questions you have along the way.
When first communicating with a breeder, ask to video chat with them. If they dodge this request, they are likely hiding something. Ask for pictures and videos of not only the puppies, but the sire and dam. Also ask to see where the puppies are being raised. Puppy mills will NEVER show you where their puppies are kept because they are in deplorable conditions. A scammer will also ask for deposit or full payment upfront through instant payment sources such as Zelle or CashApp. NEVER send money to a stranger before meeting them and the puppy!
When communicating with the breeder, pay attention to the grammar they use. If their sentences are awkward with a lot of words out of order and misspellings, this is a red flag! If you end up looking for a puppy on Facebook, make sure to thoroughly review their profile for where their location is. If their account appears to be out of the country, they are a part of foreign groups and have “liked” foreign pages, this is also a red flag. If the breeder is willing to ship the puppy to you, this is a huge red flag. Instead, stick to breeders who are local to you or within driving distance.
Another helpful tip is, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is! If you find a puppy that is very inexpensive, it may or may not be a scam. The “gold standard” of breeders who take the time and money to complete health testing on their dogs will not sell a puppy for a few hundred dollars. The price of a golden retriever varies and some breeders do sell them for less, but just keep this in mind as another way to weed out the riff raff and find breeders who are the real deal.
Speaking of health testing, responsible breeders will complete clearances for eyes, hips, elbows, heart and DNA testing for their sires and dams. Health testing will not prevent genetic issues from being passed onto their puppies entirely; however, it will greatly reduce the chances of them occurring. If a breeder does not complete health testing, it does not mean they are a scammer, it just means you are taking a gamble on the puppy having medical issues down the road.
At the minimum, the puppy should be fully vaccinated, come with AKC registration, and a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian. If for whatever reason the puppy cannot be kept, a reputable breeder will take the puppy back. This, along with other terms, will be listed in the contract that the breeder will give you to sign so be sure to review it thoroughly!
We hope you now have a better understanding of how to select a reputable breeder. There are many signs to look for and its important to know what they are to avoid being scammed. Have fun searching for your new golden puppy!