Lucrative? Not so much. As you're new to the forum I encourage you to spend some time reading threads on what the reputable breeders go through to produce those fluffly balls of joy & the expenses associated with it. And if you're by chance associated with the blog/website with the same name as your username, you would be served well by the section, "Choosing a Golden Retriever and Puppy".

No, I'm making the assumption that good hobby breeders prove their lines by showing their dogs to at least point them if not finish them, and that twice the number of breeders means twice the number of breeders trying to prove their dogs in the ring.

From what I understand owning, showing and breeding dogs (of any breed) is not a lucrative undertaking. It appears to be demanding of time, energy and resources. Realistically there is only a certain number of people who have the time and money it takes to be a reputable hobby breeder. So although nice to think about it seems unlikely that increases in reputable breeders will occur in the near future ( especially given the current economy)

It is also my understanding that the desire of the consumer is not the motivating factor when those who love golden retrievers obtain their foundation dogs and open a kennel. Perhaps I am wrong ( experienced breeders please step in here) but these people love the breed and their goals are to ensure the longevity of the breed through producing dogs that meet the standard not as a means to provide well bred puppies to the consumer. If reputable breeders were really making such large profits from selling puppies you wouldn't see them working full time jobs in other fields to support themselves.

In business a company must post a profit to be competitive. My guess is that to really make a profit from selling dogs reputable breeders would have to increase the price of their dogs substantially. It seems pet quality dogs are provided more or less at cost so breeders can have the satisfaction of knowing their dogs go to appropriate and loving homes.

Although probably an unpopular viewpoint a well bred purebred dog is a luxury but because of supply and demand there will always be a market for lower cost knock offs ( i.e. backyard breeders)

Rather than fund a "rescue" for loving dog owners to give up their canine family members to almost against their will due to a large medical bill they can't pay, it would seem to me that a more humane solution for dog and owner would be a charitable fund that would be willing to assist low-income pet owners who could demonstrate a) a financial need and b) a dog certified to need expensive care. That way, the dog could stay with it's family, and the family could keep it's dog. It'd also ultimately be cheaper than a rescue paying first to fix the medical problem(s), second to feed and house the dog, and third to find a new owner.

To me, this solution seems obvious. Maybe legitimately no one has thought of it. I can't help but wonder if some classism might be in play, though- i.e. "Oh, they can't afford that expensive surgery? Take their dog and give it someone who can, even though it's actually the rescue and not the new owner who would be paying for the surgery". I just think the most compassionate thing for the owner and the dog would be to help pay for the surgery and keep the dog with his human family versus rehousing the dog- if compassion is more important and the good of the people and the animals are more important to people than moving dogs from low-income to high-income homes for prejudicial reasons (And I hope that compassion is the overriding concern rather than a narrow definition of what a dog owner should be that some have).

I think that a majority of hobby breeders are very concerned with temperament. Every show dog I personally know is first and foremost a pet in the home. Yes, show dogs do have a more successful career if they have a showy personality. This however does not mean flighty, fidgety, or unsuitable to be a house dog. It means a good on/off switch.
To see this stand ring side at a large show you will see lots of dogs stand patiently for quite a long time, in close proximity. Then when they go in they flip the switch and it is show time. Athletic, high energy, or showy attitude means nothing if a dog can not gait properly, stack and stand for thorough examination or free stack. This all seems easy until you try it.

I know not every breeder crosses over to do conformation and something else like obedience but my girl is a great example. She was shown at 7.5 months old to an AKC group 1 puppy and then we literally ran over to the evaluator and passed our CGC the same day. As I type this now she is 12 months and is chilling out while laying on my feet.

There are always different activity levels in a litter and some lines do run "hotter" than others. I know of breeders who specialize in high energy working goldens in obiedience, field, or agility. These breeders are very careful of who they place their dogs with, so the energy level of the dog is appropriately matched to an owner that wants and can handle these highly driven dogs.

I really do think I boils down to telling a breeder what you are looking for in a pet and find a breeder that you trust.

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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

I don't think it is that hard to find a well-bred Golden puppy. It takes an effort, yes, but that is a good thing. It makes it less of an impulse thing and more a commitment. If people are unwilling to make the effort to do some research to find a well bred puppy, having more reputable breeders is not going to make their getting a puppy easier.

Education of the public is the rule, and not simply telling them how to find a good breeder, but hammering it in their head that puppies are A LOT of work and that dogs are a commitment for 15 years if you are lucky. I think one of the reasons that there is less of an unwanted dog problem in Europe is that people in Europe do not get dogs until they have the time and means to get a dog. The see having a dog as more of a privilege than a right.

If the predominant message given to the general public about dogs makes people think and maybe not get a dog, if it helps end the culture of disposable dogs, if getting a dog seems really hard, then we are going in the right direction regardless of how many reputable breeders there are.

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Carolyn (A.K.A. Aunt Care) and

Creekwood Tanglefoot Selchie CD, RN, AX, AXJ, CGC, CCA, (A.K.A. Selli-Belle) Golden

Valentine Byrd McDuff (A.K.A. Duffy) Golden/Sheltie

Tanglefoot Autumn Dexter CGC (My Heart Dog at the Bridge) Golden

I am familiar with non-profits like the Pet Food Pantry in Oklahoma City that works with low income seniors, veterans & the homeless to help augment the care of these folks' pets & then there is Dirks Fund in MO that paid for eye surgery for a golden that was found & returned the dog to the family at no cost, even took care of the vetting for that golden for the rest of his life, so your concept isn't a new one but it is one that's dependent on generous donors.

But what about the dogs where the owners are moving and don't want to take the dog, or can't stand to see their dog growing old, or can't believe the little ball of fluff grew up into a 70lb dog that jumps on them & digs the yard up cause it was never trained, or had a litter of pups that turned out to be blind with epilepsy & they couldn't sell them...the list goes on, but the reasons people surrender are more than just for medical costs & since the breeders are nowhere to be found, rescues exist.

The Forum has a sticky about just such organizations: http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...sues-vets.html (Grants and Financial Aid... For Medical Issues & Vets). This is off topic, but important information.

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Lucy, owned by Joker and Sunny, who remember Charlie with me
http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...years-old.html

I think you need to spend some time volunteering for a rescue group in order to see just how they operate. Not everything is done with classism/elitism behind it and I can pretty well assure you that rescue volunteers are not thinking about rehoming these animals to higher income homes when they take in a dog. In fact the income of the owners releasing a dog isn't that big a factor. My Bridge Boy came from a home where the owner was a multi-millionaire physician who just didn't want to deal with his allergies and skin infections. The rescue took him and I can assure you his adoptive home (mine) is not a higher-income home.

I also believe we are off topic from the OP's questions.

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Meet Yogi! http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...tion-yogi.html

Definitely. Please keep to the topic of the thread, friends.

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Lucy, owned by Joker and Sunny, who remember Charlie with me
http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...years-old.html