Well, good news, I talked to my husband today and he is more than happy to find a reputable breeder and had concerns of his own about the one we were going to. I really appreciate the feedback and I think it will be a good decision in the way of our cat too. With a breeder we can ask them for a submissive puppy and go visit when they're little and take blankets home that smell like the puppy for our cat to get used to and vise versa. I think our cat will be ok as long as we train the puppy as soon as possible. He's a pretty tough cat and although he occasionally hides from loud groups of people(until he can't handle missing the fun and reemerges) he's more of a fighter than a hider. He used to sprint across our kitchen and whap my husband's family dog across the nose and she's 130 lbs. She being the sweetheart she is started holding her head up really high when she saw our cat running so he couldn't reach her. we'll also put up baby gates so there are safe places for him, we did that with my husband's dogs visiting and it worked well. But I do think that a breeder who knows what they're doing will help our cause a lot.

And we can find a breeder that socialized with cats making our job much easier thanks again

You've talked about getting a "submissive puppy" on the theory that this will help the pup and cat get along better. I don't think that's right, though. I think you should be looking for a pup with a bright, cheerful temperament.

I've had cats and dogs (Goldens and others) together for years. At the moment I have two dogs and two cats, and I'm adding another Golden puppy to the mix soon. What I have found is that a Golden puppy raised with cats will bond with the cat and get along fine. You don't need a submissive pup. In fact, I think you're just asking for problems with a submissive puppy. Now, if you mean a "calm" puppy, that might be different. But still, I think a bright and happy typical Golden will suit you just fine.

I had a Golden puppy that was raised with a bunny. They even slept together (which the bunny definitely did NOT enjoy, but the puppy insisted upon, so quickly bonded to the bunny did the pup become). That puppy grew up adoring bunnies.

Your pup will bond with whoever/whatever is in your house. Even if you get a pup that naturally wants to chase cats (i.e., strong prey drive), it will be different with your cat, because your cat isn't a cat, it's a member of the pack. That's the way dogs think. They are very specific, and your cat will be a family member, not a cat. Your biggest problem will be your cat, not the puppy. The puppy will adapt, and growing up with a cat will just be "normal" to the puppy. So, please consider getting a puppy with a classic Golden temperament, and avoid any shy/submissive/fearful/overly calm puppies.

My opinion, for what it's worth. I've had cats and dogs together for a very long time, and introduced various kittens and puppies to adults of the other species. As I type this, I have a cat and a terrier cuddled up together on my lap.





Of course, every puppy loves to play and has to learn boundaries. Whatever puppy you get will want to play with your cat, eventually, and your cat will set the boundaries with an occasional swat across the nose. Puppies are generally pretty good about getting those boundaries, as they naturally learn to moderate their bite and play behavior. Our cats will occasionally play with our terrier mix, but not the Golden (though the cats are constantly rubbing up against and cuddling with the Golden), and the Golden respects that pecking order.

My family and I visited one of those English Creme Golden Retriever - Goldens of the Michigan Vineyards breeders yesterday. I was nervous going in due to the fact that the area wasnt all that nice. Right next door to a trailer park. Not that i have anything against
folks that live in trailer parks. Anyways we saw the pups and of coarse we fell
in love with a little girl pup. We asked this so called breeder for customer references several times. She will not give us one. I know bad sign right.
Her name if Heather Elwell /Golden's of the Michigan Vineyards or English Creme Golden Retriever - Goldens of the Michigan Vineyards

Is anyone familiar with this breeder and should we stay away?

Thanks

Gib Rist

I suspect you already know the answer to your question.... listen to your gut... If you were buying a car from a car dealer and he wasnt nice and refused to give you any references...would you buy the car?

I KNOW puppies are not cars....they are far more important and valuable than a car.

Trust me, you will fall just as deeply in love with a beautiful fluffy puppy from a reputable breeder - and you will know you did your part in ending uneducated back yard breeders...

__________________
Mary and the Goldens from Maine

"Trace" - Can. CH Bramley's Light Up The Night, CD, RA - (CGC, CCA, TDI-Therapy Dog and Novice DockDock)
"Rumor" - Jackson's Leap of Faith

Waiting at the Bridge
"Lexi" - Wise Teacher and Best-est Puppy Raiser
"Liberty" - Bramley's Golden Moments Libby CD, RE - ASCA-CD, Can. CD - (CGC and TDI-Therapy Dog)

After looking at thier website, I would look elsewhere.

__________________
"You own what you condone." ~ Mike Lardy

I was never aware English creams were a red flag, so people with ultra light goldens that are reputable just call them regular?


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English cream is a red flag because the dog is being marketed for color. You can actually get very light Goldens who have no foreign lines in their pedigrees. And the English style golden can be all of the golden colors... Not just light.

As far as the website. They say their dogs are Ch lines. I do not interpret those pedigrees as Ch lines...

__________________
Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

To me it's the cream/Creme part that is the flag. There are dedicated breeders in the us who prefer to breed to the UK standard. I have no problem when people are doing so and proudly promoting "English Style" or though it is technically incorrect "English type". I also don't care what anyone's color preference is and we all have one. It is when the focus is color that is the issue. I have never seen a breeding program where one trait, especially color is the focus actually produce sound dogs that consistantly meet the standard. When you focus on one thing you loose sight of the whole. Personally, when I hear English Cream I also hear cha ching in my head becuase the term is widely used by "greeders".

__________________

Laura, Jinx, Tilt and Rocky
UKC CH Wildfire's A Kind of Magic CGC
http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=474956
Rocky the old min pin who thinks he's a golden

Bang on. I have light dogs, and use UK/Euro lines a part of my breeding because I like what it brings to the equation in terms of front structure and head character, and some of my dogs are on the pale end of the spectrum (although my most mid-gold boy has the most overseas lines in his pedigree!), but you will not see the creme/platinum/polar bear, etc etc crap anywhere on my site. I breed GOLDEN RETRIEVERS.

__________________
Shelly & the Sterre Goldens
"Breeze" HR Trowsnest Sterre Autumn Breeze Can. SH WCX, Am. MH CCA
"Winter" Can/UKC Ch. Amberwood Winter Wonderland Can. SH WCX CD VCI, Am. SH CD WCX CCA VC, 2007 GRCC Nan Gordon Trophy
"Butch" Sterre Badlands Outlaw JH WC (Ch ptd), Am JH
"Bonnie" Sterre Texas Bluebonnet JH WCI, Am JH
"Wings" Sterre Widgeon on the Wing
"Chrissy" Halfmoon Embellishment (Cavalier)
"Juniper" Amberwood Northern Exposure CD RNCL (Apr15 2002-Feb12 2013)
http://www.sterregold.net