Hello I am new here. I recently lost my chocolote labrador of 11 years and am now in search of my next new family member. I have owned labs for the last 15 years but always remembered my first dog from my childhood a golden retriever, Rusty. I stayed away from the breed due to rampant health problems but that was long before I learned about breeding practices and health clearances. So now I am hoping to find a great breeder.

I found my lab's breeder through a lab forum similar to this one so I thought this would be a great place to start my search. There are so many websites out there and it is hard to determine which are really good breeders. I know that many breeders do not update or even have websites. So I am asking for your help!

Specifically I am looking for a golden bred for temperment, health, soundness while retaining the working background. I guess you would call it a multi-purpose golden? I did a lot of field training with Hunter, my last lab and really enjoyed it. I was not able to title him just due to lack of time to dedicate to it, but I certainly enjoyed the training process! I would love to do something similar with my next dog and my life is much less busy now so I have more time to dedicate. I am not decided on whether to train for hunt tests, agility or even perhaps volunteer as a therapy dog but bottom line is me and my next pal will spend a lot of time together! The natural working and retrieving instincts are important to me.

Beyond that he will be a friend to my 4 nephews who live next door(ages 9 - newborn) as well as a companion to my aging father. Health is of utmost importance along with a calm gentle temperment the goldens are known for!

I appreciate any leads you can give me to breeder names or websites. I am really missing not having a dog right now so I am hoping to find a breeder soon. I live in southern CA so local breeders would be nice but I am willing to travel a bit. My lab I actually got from MN but I was hoping to find a breeder in state or relatively close to me so I could perhaps see one or more of the parents instead of just the pedigrees! I am also going to email a few of the golden retriever clubs for references as well but would definitely appreciate any references here from active owners/breeders!

You can email me at debbieh5250@gmail.com or post a reply here.

Thanks in advance!

Off the top of my head for working kennels in Cali: Firemark, Emberain, Wooddecoy. If you keep heading north, Zaniri, TNT and HEads Up are in BC. There are other good working Golden people on the left coast, but they are generally owners rather than breeders.

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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