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Looking for some Advice on getting a puppy

2K views 15 replies 6 participants last post by  CharlieBear80 
#1 ·
Hello!

I just joined this forum to seek some advice on getting a golden puppy...

unlike a lot of people who posts here, I've never had dogs before mainly because I was going to school and never really thought about getting a dog.
That all changed when i volunteered at a Vet clinic for about a year and that's when i really experienced why people love dogs so much.

I have been doing a lot of research on what to look for and so far most of the sites that i find via google didn't look that promising.

I am currently living in NY but I am not limiting my self NY and if you can actually recommend a breeder for me it would be great xD

PS, is it usually ok to ask the price of the puppy? because most sites don't have pricing and asking them directly through phone or email kind of feel like I'm doing a bad thing if that made any sense...
 
#2 ·
Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of good advice on here and I'm sure people will offer you some options in your area. Within a breeders litters, prices will vary based on the bloodlines of that particular breeding. Because of that, listing a blanket price isn't feasible. A golden from a good breeder is not going to be cheap. I'd expect to pay anywhere from $1K on up, depending on what specifics you are looking for. Considering the health problems that can be associated with these dogs, I think it's worth the money to buy a well bred dog from stock with proper clearances. As far as asking the price of the dogs, you obviously need to know how much they are looking to charge you but, if I were a responsible breeder, I'd be concerned about a prospective home who's main criteria was price. Remember, to a good breeder, these are their babies and they have a lot invested in them. I guess what I am saying is, yes it's OK to ask what their pups go for but, it should be part of a list of questions about their dogs. What specifics do they breed for? What (if any) areas do they compete in with their dogs? etc. Expect them to ask you some questions too. A good breeder is going to want to know where their pups are going and what kind of environment they will live in.
 
#3 ·
Welcome :)

Welcome to the Group- You came to the right place :)

Most pet quality Goldens are $1200-$1800.

The breeder should do something with their dogs- Confirmation, Ability, Hunting, etc. The goal for each breeding is to better the breed.

The breeder should be able to tell you why they decided to breed the 2 dogs to produce the litter. Most reputable breeders do not own both parents.

You should be able to see mom and visit with the puppies.

Most pups do not leave the under until 8-12 weeks of age. Many reputable breeders will pick the puppy for you or give you the chose btw. 2-3 pups. They do know the pups the best and their individual personalities.

Make sure the breeder does the 4 basic clearances-
  1. Hip- OFA done- After the age of 2
  2. Elbow- OFA- After the age of 2
  3. Heart- After the age 1 generally- By a cardiologist only!
  4. Eyes- CERF- Yearly

Many also do additional including Ichthyosis and Thyroid.

OFA is Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and CERF is Canine Eye Registration Foundation

Helpful links:

Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA)Health Screenings for the Parents of a Litter

Finding Information About Golden Retriever Health

Golden Retriever Club of America - The GRCA Club

Golden Retriever Puppies: GRCA Puppy Referral: Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) Find your Golden Retriever Pupppy Here


http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com...er-puppy/22440-puppy-buyers-fact-checker.html

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com...1266-heres-another-puppy-buyer-checklist.html


Orthopedic Foundation for Animals


If you find a breeder you like- Post the info. and you will get tons of feedback.

Many breeders post their dogs pedigrees @ K9DATA.COM Home Page

You can look up clearances at Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and CERF - CERF Certification Online Verification by the dog's AKC # or AKC name.
 
#4 ·
I would read as much as I could about the breed and puppy raising especially since you have never done it before.

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com...62978-10-products-help-survive-puppyhood.html

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com...p-1-year/196618-socialization-check-list.html



You should also think about once you get your pup enrolling them in the Morris Animal Foundation - Golden Retriever Lifetime Study

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com...iever-lifetime-study-details-information.html

Golden Retrievers : Golden Retriever Dog Forums - Announcements in Forum : Golden Retriever Puppy (up to 1 year)
 
#8 ·
Welcome! What part of NY are you from? And how far are you willing to travel to find a pup? :)

The price is an important factor, but shouldn’t be your only consideration. Expect to pay more for a puppy that comes from a high-quality reputable breeder.

You should make sure that the breeder’s dogs reside with him and are well taken care of. They should both be above the ages of 2 and have all of the necessary certificates (for heart, hips, elbows and eyes.) Once you have found a few breeders you like on the phone (or via e-mail), take the time and meet with them. You can then ask questions and see how they interact with their dogs, the condition of their living premises, etc. Most good breeders will interview you and ask questions about your life, family, daily/weekly schedule, experience taking care of dogs (especially Goldens.) As Daisy's dad mentioned, responsible breeders want to ensure that the puppies end up in good hands.

Also, make sure that you allocate enough financial resources for initial, monthly and emergency (medical) expenses.

Initial expenses include: crate and/or exercise pen, dog bed, food/water bowls, toys, some treats, leash & collar, dog bags, clean-up materials, grooming tools, vet visits. (Optional: puppy classes, vitamins, toy tote, treat pouch, car seat cover, clicker and training books, potty training door bell, etc.)
 
#9 ·
A good starting point when looking for recommendations on breeders is to let people know what you are looking for in your dog. Are you looking for a hunting dog? An agility or maybe tracking dog? A show dog? There is a huge variation in a lot of the lines being bred today. You may just be looking for a loving pet that will curl up on the bed with you and be a hiking companion on the weekends. If you really want to find the dog that best fills your expectations then, evaluate what you want from your dog and apply that to your search. If you are looking to do (just for an example) some local shows and buy a dog from a breeder who specializes in field lines, chances are you are not going to be happy with the results. On other hand, if you are looking to compete in fields trials and buy a dog that was bred to be the next best in show, you will likely be left wanting too. Since you didn't specify, I would assume you are just looking for a new best friend (and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, goldens excel at that.) Then that is what you should be looking for. There are plenty of breeders who cater to the therapy dog/family pet type of dog or get a pup from a breeder who does breed for show qualities but, not every dog from them is going to offer show potential. They will no doubt have "pet quality" dogs available. That's not to say they are of inferior quality. They simply (for reason's you'll likely never be able to discern for yourself) don't quite measure up to show standards. They still have all the quality breeding and clearances behind them.
 
#10 ·
I have been searching and contacted few breeders and most of them did not have any litters available and even their waiting list full for current year! They all told me i should contact grca puppy referral first so i did go ahead and emailed them xD

I am looking for companion for myself and my family. We do not have any children and all are over 22 (youngest being me)
But i guess at this rate i would be lucky to find a waiting list for early 2015 haha.
 
#13 ·
A good book for you to get and read is 'Golden's for Dummies' has most everything you need to think about and know for you new pup. It was written by Nona Bauer and is a paperback found on line or at bookstores. Not expensive...

A DVD that is good is by Jackie Mertens a breeder and trainer of top Golden's..the DVD is 'Sound Beginnings' and shows all about starting out a new puppy.

Good Luck
 
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