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Frustration with finding a breeder/puppy. Am I just not being patient enough?

9K views 49 replies 23 participants last post by  Prism Goldens 
#1 ·
So, I completely realize that I am new to this and that I am the most impatient person on the planet, so forgive me in advance. We have been looking for a golden puppy since about May. Granted, it took me several weeks to really figure out what to look for in a GOOD breeder rather than a puppy mill/backyard breeder (thanks to this forum). But in the past month to month and a half, I've contacted no less than 10 breeders in and around our state that I felt like were truly good hobby breeders. Out of those 10, I think I've only gotten responses from 3. Out of those 3, the absolute best even remote possibility was for a puppy after the first of the year, but that's obviously not a guarantee. We did have one SUPER sweet breeder who was going to have puppies, but the timing was the worst possible combination for our family (we have about 3-4 weeks where we just can't do the brand new puppy time frame, and her puppies would be ready right at the beginning of that time). Her puppies were also a bit out of our price range ($2200 - we would like to max out at about $1500-$1800). Additionally, IF we can find a good breeder who will have puppies at a pretty good time (at this point, we realize it will be first of next year probably), a lot of breeders give priority to show dogs and therapy dogs, so for someone like us who really just want a new family member, we're on the bottom of the list.

So, here is my question.....is this a normal process for trying to find a pet puppy? I'm so frustrated that I've taken the time to fill out puppy questionnaires (one took me nearly an hour to complete because I'm super thorough), and then the breeders don't even take the time to email me back. I have tried asking around to some friends who have goldens, but so far, everyone that has made "breeder" referrals have either gotten their puppies from what I consider a puppy mill or from breeders who don't do clearances. I know that I'm maybe being a tad impatient, but I would honestly just like to have someone return an email! For those of you who have been through this process (starting blind like I've done), have you had similar experiences? Can anyone offer any advice? We would have ideally liked to have added a new puppy now or in the next month or so, so that we could be fairly well house-trained by Thanksgiving (the start of our family's super busy season - my hubby and I both have very seasonal businesses), but that obviously isn't realistic. My daughter is so excited about the new puppy, and bless her heart, she has been so patient, but I would love to at least be able to say, we've found our breeder.
 
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#2 ·
Have you tried contacting your area's golden retriever club? Sometimes there's a contact person who has a sense of which breeder is going to have puppies when, and they also could have phone numbers for breeders who don't have an online presence, or simply don't respond to online inquiries. I'd also recommend calling breeders repeatedly instead of emailing them, in general they are all very busy and sometimes don't find the time to get back to you. If you call several times over a few days you might catch them at a time when they're around to answer the phone. :) This was very much the case for me in my search for a puppy. Good luck!
 
#3 ·
Thank you for the advice! I have checked our local GRC (Tarheel GRC), and they don't seem to have a designated contact person that I've been able to find, but they have a breeder referral list that I used with starting my search. I think that I have contacted each breeder on that list (except any breeders that only do English goldens as we prefer an American Golden). I've also checked with some of the breeders on the Sandlapper GRC list, though I haven't fully exhausted that list yet, I don't think. There are 2 breeders in particular that I'm most interested in judging by their websites and reputations, but I haven't gotten a response back from either, so I'll try calling this week as well.
 
#4 ·
Have you considered broadening your search area? It sounds like you're trying to do everything right to find a reputable breeder, but by traveling further will also get you more opportunities and help you bring home a puppy faster. Not all good breeders are as great with people as they are with dogs and you want to find somebody you'd be comfortable with coming to for the life of the dog.
 
#5 ·
I've actually just started thinking of that. It seems so daunting to start looking in other states, but I think I'm going to start doing that very thing. That being said.....if anyone has recommendations for breeders anywhere close to NC (would be willing to drive about 8-10 hours), feel free to throw them out there.
 
#7 ·
grins - I feel your frustration.

I do NOT understand these breeders, many (most) of whom definitely have a sterling reputation by the time we have decided to contact them, but who cannot be bothered to respond after all the work you put in (questionnaires, reaching out several times, several ways....) or even more frustrating, who respond very positively, give you hope you have finally found "the one," THEN stop replying to e-mails or responding to phone calls.

I understand it is a very busy business, and they likely have many inquiries, but it ends up souring us on the whole process to be let down time and again.

My local golden retriever club was equally non-responsive.

I feel like the kid sitting at lunch alone, out of the "in crowd!"

I figure my puppy is out there waiting for me in the future and it will happen when it's meant to be (in other words, I have sort of given up for now).
 
#8 ·
I think couple things to keep in mind...

People who breed and produce precious puppies are looking for the best homes. They may be getting a lot of requests and may have very long lists of people waiting for puppies.

Somebody I know is waiting for her girlie to come in heat and she has a stud lined up and everything planned out... but she will keep a puppy and probably the stud owner will keep a puppy. All the other puppies already have homes waiting for them. And that's assuming there's more than a couple puppies...

Another person I know - she had a similarly long list, and her dog only had two puppies - of which, she kept one.

With these people - it's not a business so much as them primarily breeding for themselves. It's different from those other breeders out there who only reduce the number of litters when there is less demand for their puppies. And increase the number of litters when demand is high.

If you go with the person who has a litter planned early next year - you would at least be on a list.

I'll send you a PM in a second... :)
 
#9 ·
My dog Mystic sired a litter in south carolina with a girl who was select at Westminster and hips excellent. They may be all spoken for , but there might be one girl left of the 11. They are almost 4 weeks old now. I am so excited to be taking one home. You can PM me for info, bc I don't want to put the email address on the forum.
 
#10 ·
This will probably take some heat but here you go. Absolutly stay away from puppy mills. If you can find a breeder who takes care of the dogs in a loving home. Gets them vet checked dewormed ect and has proof of this maybe this is the route you go. Yes they don't do clearances but if you are really strict and smart you can find a healthy puppy. We have had two backyard Goldens. Neither of them have had health problems. I read so many people on here who get their pups from these good breeders and they come home with parasites ect. I know that is common but we have never had that issue. Chloe had tons of socialization because they had four kids. We had proof of deworming and shots. She has the typical golden temperment. Jake went to the vet like twice for a couple random things in his 9.5 years. I say be careful but you absolutely can find a good situation outside of a so called reputable breeder. But also you don't want to lay the price a reputable breeder charges. Chloe was 850.
 
#11 ·
When you gave your daughter a 'bless my heart' I knew we had to be neighbors and I was right :) I am south metro Charlotte NC. We do not have a huge amount of what I would call great breeders around us. You are going to have to travel. Unless something nice happens like a puppy falling into your lap as maybe could be with the puppy LJilly mentioned above. I would message her asap if you haven't already. Crossing my fingers for you on that one.

My suggestion would be to go to Atlanta GRC and up the east coast to find breeders in Virginia and Ohio - here's a link: https://www.grca.org/about-grca/grca-clubs-map/

Also, check facebook for the club pages or any breeder pages. Many people who are reputable breeders are a little older and may find a facebook page easier to manage than a website. Search them out on facebook as well. You may find that going a different route helps you stand out from others.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/112634438754096/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/529036453775122/

Mention why you would be a good home for a Golden, let them know you've done some research and that you understand how important obedience training will be and you've already found a good place to sign up for puppy kindergarten. (If you haven't, I recommend it :) )
 
#12 ·
You have had some good advise here. Expanding your search might be your best bet. Midwest breeders tend to be several hundred dollars less for a puppy than those on either coasts and this could offset some of your travel costs.







One Facebook group that I like is https://www.facebook.com/groups/978568838901345/
This group is Golden Retriever Puppies Bred by Responsible Breeders and the breeder has to have documented all 4 clearances. It helps to know that someone else is double checking the clearances. I would suggest that you look here and contact any breeder with puppies. Even if the puppies are sold they might know of another breeder with a litter or they might have another litter planned for this Fall.
Placing a post asking for a puppy has limited value as the breeders don't look for buyers usually.


Good Luck in your search.
 
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#13 ·
First, thank you all for your amazing advice and help! I'm heading over to the Facebook groups mentioned next, and I've gotten a few new leads from this, and it definitely gives me some new found hope.

CPC1972 - I have actually thought about this as well. I've contacted one breeder that came as a referral from a friend who just got a puppy from her last year. I didn't find health clearances on her website, so I asked. They do provide a full pedigree for their dogs, and she is in the process of getting clearances on the sire and supposedly has them on the dam (she says she will send them to me). We'll see how that all works out, but otherwise, she seems like a good breeder who seems to care about her puppies, etc. My sister's golden came from her friend who bred his golden female to a male that he knew well (so knew temperaments, etc.), but he isn't what I would call a "reputable breeder" nor do I even know if he'll ever breed again. She is a fantastic dog who we love to pieces. It's just one of those things that is a huge gamble.

Nolefan - It's great to know that I have a neighbor! And I do a lot of "heart blessing". ;) Thank you so much for the links!
 
#15 · (Edited)
I am not sure how big of a gamble there is. Not long ago someone on here lost a 9 week old puppy to heart failure. This was a reputable breeder and no one caught it. There have been people on here with all kinds of health issues who pile come from great breeder. The situation you describe above sounds good if you can't find one through a reputable breeder. Chances are you will get a healthy puppy either way. I really only worry about the pups who are in bad conditions. I know most on this board won't agree but we have had two and neither one has had any health issues. You just have to know what to look for and what to avoid in a breeder. Chloe was so outgoing when we brought her home. Not scared or nervous. Took no time to adjust and slept through the night the very first night.
 
#14 ·
Expand your search, up your price range, and be more flexible with the time table on when you want a puppy to arrive.
That said, well bred golden puppies are in HIGH DEMAND. I RARELY see people with puppies available when they hit the ground.
I think most breeders don't respond to emails because they get inundated with requests, daily requests from people just like you, when they may only breed 1-2 litters a year, it's just overload. If you don't hear back from them it's because the answer is "I don't have anything for you."
It's a shame, a good breeder should take the time to educate and network, but if everyone has a full waiting list, it's hard to network!
Keep trying.
 
#18 ·
I started my search in March of this year & hope to have my pup home provided all goes well mid-November. For me, find a breeder who you click with & dogs that you like & then get on a list & wait. If you're looking for "just a puppy" there are a couple of Facebook pages that have litter listings w/ a pup or 2 that become available. I absolutely won't support a breeder who isn't doing the absolute bare minimum with health clearances as recommended by the GRCA--the bar is so low for getting clearances I simply can't understand breeding w/o them. Unfortunately, there are far too many breeders out there that are quite adept at appearing to talk the talk but don't walk the walk when it comes to reputable breeding and/or will say they've never had a problem so clearances aren't needed. I came into goldens through the rescue route seeing the outcome of such breeders and believe the dogs being bred and the pups being produced deserve better than to be someone's path to easy cash. Even my girl who was used as a breeder in a high volume rural breeding operation came from a man who claimed to just absolutely love his dogs--her temperament and health issues speak otherwise.
 
#26 ·
All very good points! I ran into one breeder like you mentioned who knew how to "talk the talk", and I luckily had just found this forum and knew what questions to ask. I very much feel like that saved me from making a huge mistake. Health issues are huge for us, but temperament ranks even higher on our priority list. Those are exactly the reasons I've worked so hard to find just the right breeder. I'm learning that patience is truly a virtue (just not one that I'm overflowing with).

However, breeders who do clearances spend a great amount of time, effort, and money on their dogs. This to me tells me they care A LOT about not only the future puppies, but the breed. This is the route we'd take in the future. I want to ensure that we're giving our dog the best shot. I kind of look at it like this- lots will say how when they grew up car seats weren't required and they didn't die. However, it is proven to be safer and better. They didn't die, because they were fortunate enough not to be in an accident. Same with non-clearance dogs. You can't say, "my dog was healthy" because statistically this breed has so many different prevalent health issues that it is a REAL risk to go in blind. I'd rather take the precautions in the future to ensure if God forbid another one of our future puppies became ill, it was fate- not because I didn't do my homework.
This is a great analogy. Thank you! My husband and I were just talking tonight about what kind of distinguishes breeders into groups, and one of the things we discussed was the amount of investment in money and time with obtaining clearances, showing, conformation, etc. Another thing that I have found through talking with breeders is that good breeders will not just match up a male and female because they are the 2 that are convenient. The one breeder I spoke with chose a sire from a distinct line from Europe for her bitch because she liked the qualities of the sire. That definitely wasn't the easy way out, and it just spoke to me that she is really looking for producing the best quality dogs (unfortunately, they just weren't a good fit for our family).

I also advocate breeders with full certifications. Are they a gaurentee, no. Unfortunately no one can make gaurentees on a living being. That said they do substantially reduce the chances and also the severity of problems. With DNA testing they can eliminate some issues completely. Yes, sometimes a great breeder will produce a puppy with problems, just as sometimes a breeder with no thought about health certifications can produce a dog with great health. The difference is in the risk and which odds you are willing to play.

I do understand the desire to take the easy, fast, or cheap way to a puppy depending on the needs of the family. I just care that anyone gets to make their best decision and that means know what they are and are not getting. On top of that I care that they get fair value. A dog from a background of no health certifications and no achievements, where pairings are selected on cheap or conveniently located studs, should not cost the same as one from a breeder who adds the value that a reputable breeders does. In Arizona, which is an expensive state, $800 would be tops for this type of puppy. In a lower priced market is should be equally lower.

It is really up to you to make a priority list based on your families needs. If health lands on the top, keep working at connecting with reputable breeders.

Edit: Oh and if it helps, I am a breeder myself and I have been waiting for my new puppy since last August.:surprise:. A failed breeding, a dam who can no longer conceive, a litter born with only one girl who ended up not being what I needed... Finally, I have a puppy coming the end of September. Hang in there. :wink2:
Thank you! This was excellent advice and very well stated. Wow....you've been through the full gamut. Can't wait to see your new puppy in a few weeks!

There's never a guarantee with any living being but I prefer to stack my odds in my favor, and to me, that means waiting a little longer to find an excellent breeder who checks off all of my boxes. With reputable breeders, if your puppy ends up being unhealthy or passing away at a young age due to a congenital defect, you'll probably get a refund or a puppy from the next litter, or both parties will come to a conclusion together. You never know what will happen with a breeder that isn't reputable.
Well said. Sometimes I need these reminders when my impatience kicks in. :wink2:
 
#19 ·
My thoughts are statistics are tricky. If you opt for a breeder with health clearances it doesn't guarantee a healthy puppy; if you opt to go with one without it doesn't guarantee a sick puppy.


However, breeders who do clearances spend a great amount of time, effort, and money on their dogs. This to me tells me they care A LOT about not only the future puppies, but the breed. This is the route we'd take in the future. I want to ensure that we're giving our dog the best shot. I kind of look at it like this- lots will say how when they grew up car seats weren't required and they didn't die. However, it is proven to be safer and better. They didn't die, because they were fortunate enough not to be in an accident. Same with non-clearance dogs. You can't say, "my dog was healthy" because statistically this breed has so many different prevalent health issues that it is a REAL risk to go in blind. I'd rather take the precautions in the future to ensure if God forbid another one of our future puppies became ill, it was fate- not because I didn't do my homework.


Look, we were also VERY lucky with Bay. Zero issues with hips, or elbows, or eyes. However, Dory came from a so-called good breeder. She seemed to care about her dogs, answered questions correctly, and yet she came home with parvo. Yes, that can happen to even the best of breeders with full clearances- but then she bred a different dog again KNOWING that she had a parvo puppy. I won't even consider another puppy for 2 years or so because Dory likely infected our yard- and yet she is bringing tiny puppies into the world and hoping for the best. Does she care? I think so. But, she is naïve- and naïve is the last thing I am looking for in any subsequent puppies!


To me- waiting is worth the wait. Now that I know better and I have this forum to thank for that. Because, prior to it, I was just as naive as our breeder.
 
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#20 · (Edited)
I also advocate breeders with full certifications. Are they a gaurentee, no. Unfortunately no one can make gaurentees on a living being. That said they do substantially reduce the chances and also the severity of problems. With DNA testing they can eliminate some issues completely. Yes, sometimes a great breeder will produce a puppy with problems, just as sometimes a breeder with no thought about health certifications can produce a dog with great health. The difference is in the risk and which odds you are willing to play.

I do understand the desire to take the easy, fast, or cheap way to a puppy depending on the needs of the family. I just care that anyone gets to make their best decision and that means know what they are and are not getting. On top of that I care that they get fair value. A dog from a background of no health certifications and no achievements, where pairings are selected on cheap or conveniently located studs, should not cost the same as one from a breeder who adds the value that a reputable breeders does. In Arizona, which is an expensive state, $800 would be tops for this type of puppy. In a lower priced market is should be equally lower.

It is really up to you to make a priority list based on your families needs. If health lands on the top, keep working at connecting with reputable breeders.

Edit: Oh and if it helps, I am a breeder myself and I have been waiting for my new puppy since last August.:surprise:. A failed breeding, a dam who can no longer conceive, a litter born with only one girl who ended up not being what I needed... Finally, I have a puppy coming the end of September. Hang in there. :wink2:
 
#22 ·
I also advocate breeders with full certifications. Are they a gaurentee, no. Unfortunately no one can make gaurentees on a living being. That said they do substantially reduce the chances and also the severity f problems.mwith DNA testing they can eliminate some issues completely. Yes, sometimes a great breeder will produce a puppy with problems, just as sometimes a breeder with no thought about health certifications can produce a dog with great health. The difference is in the risk and which odds you are willing to play.

I do understand the desire to take the easy, fast, or cheap way to a puppy depending on the needs of the family. I just care that anyone gets to make their best decision and that means know what they are and are not getting. On top of that I care that they get fair value. A dog from a background of no health certifications and no achievements, where pairings are selected on cheap or conveniently located studs, should not cost the same as one from a breeder who adds the value that a reputable breeders does. In Arizona, which is an expensive state, $800 would be tops for this type of puppy. In a lower priced market is should be equally lower.

It is really up to you to make a priority list based on your families needs. If health lands on the top, keep working at connecting with reputable breeders.

Edit: Oh and if it helps, I am a breeder myself and I have been waiting for my new puppy since last August.:surprise:. A failed breeding, a dam who can no longer conceive, a litter born with only one girl who ended up not being what I needed... Finally, I have a puppy coming the end of September. Hang in there. :wink2:
I think this is a very fair analysis. Even though I don't think getting a dog like we did is bad I think your post hear is fair and accurate.
 
#21 ·
There's never a guarantee with any living being but I prefer to stack my odds in my favor, and to me, that means waiting a little longer to find an excellent breeder who checks off all of my boxes. With reputable breeders, if your puppy ends up being unhealthy or passing away at a young age due to a congenital defect, you'll probably get a refund or a puppy from the next litter, or both parties will come to a conclusion together. You never know what will happen with a breeder that isn't reputable.
 
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#23 ·
We had that gaurantee with Chloe. I guess we didn't have a contract but he was pretty clear what he would do if something was wrong and what options he gave us. When you have one dog and suddenly your home is empty it's very hard. There is a huge void. I can't imagine finding a breeder and waiting 6 months or a year then there isn't a puppy for you. Then you have to search again and wait again. There simply aren't enough Goldens being bred by reputable breeders to meet demand. I think the GRCA needs to work with good breeders that aren't doing clearances and try to get them to do clearances. Get the ones that are close and get them to finish the deal with their breeding dogs.
 
#24 ·
If breeders really wanted to do clearances, I'm sure they would've done them by now. All of the information is readily available on the internet, there are clubs everywhere and shows everywhere. The GRCA did their job - they published the Code of Ethics and made it available to be read by anyone. It is up to an individual to follow it. I just don't see a reason not to do clearances - especially if the breeder is great in every other aspect.

But, I'm glad your Chloe is healthy thus far, and I hope she's healthy for the rest of her life.
 
#25 ·
They could do a lot if they would personally work with those on the fringe. Just ignoring them and hoping they will do clearances I don't think is enough. Sure there are a lot who would just ignore but I bet there are a lot they could persuade to do them. There is no doubt in my mind clearances need to be done. But until there are more breeders in that mix it is very hard to get a golden for a pet from a reputable breeder.
 
#27 ·
Again.....thank you guys so much! This has honestly helped me tremendously. I may or may not be closer to finding our new family member, but I'm definitely feeling a bit better about just being patient. While we are definitely looking for "just a puppy" in that we aren't looking to show or do trials, I certainly want to invest the time in finding the right dog at the right time from the right breeder.

When we do find the right puppy, you guys will have to talk me off the panic ledge of "oh my word, now I'm getting a puppy and I'm freaking out!". ;) And of course, you'll be getting flooded with photos!
 
#28 ·
While we are definitely looking for "just a puppy" in that we aren't looking to show or do trials, I certainly want to invest the time in finding the right dog at the right time from the right breeder.
*thumbs up* :)

If you are buying a golden retriever - might as well go for the moon. There a big difference between a well-bred golden retriever (health and looks) and one who kinda was scrapped together.
 
#31 ·
I hope you manage to get the puppy you've been waiting for soon. I honestly didn't know better about the breed and their health issues when i got my lily. She was from the worst possible place..... a pet store, and she's healthy etc, but i sometimes think she's a ticking time bomb as she has NO clearances at all. Im from singapore and there don't seem to be many reputable breeders in the country. I can only hope that she is healthy in future (she's 8 months now).

I think waiting on a good puppy from a reputable breeder is worth it, not just for the health of the pup, but for peace of mind!!!

good luck!
 
#32 ·
You will never regret waiting a little longer for the best puppy - or travelling a little further - or paying a bit more. My first dog, I wound up waiting a full year, because the spring breeding didn't take. My summer puppy became a winter puppy (also not the plan in snowy, cold Montreal), but she was SO worth it when she finally came home.
 
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#33 · (Edited)
We were just talking about the perils of a winter puppy (even here in the not-so-snowy South) last night. I know that the right puppy is out there (or maybe not yet, but she will be). It's the patience game for sure....and I'm NOT a good player in that game. :wink2:

I would say you have already answered why there are not more breeders doing the certifications, because they don't feel they 'need' to. It is supply and demand. If buyers refused to buy puppies without health tested parents, you would see these back yard breeders shape right up. Having 6 -16 week old puppies is a lot of cost and cleaning. But, why incur more cost that cuts into profit when there is no difficulty selling puppies? There are just so many families who can't stomach the cost for well bred puppies, can't wait, just don't know about health certifications, or don't really care.

Reputable breeders do the certifications and make the hard decisions (not breeding dogs with issues, health or temperament) because it mattered personally to them.

You simply can not make someone share your beliefs or moral code just as you can't legislate ethics. Sure there may be a small percentage of ignorant (not a dig but the true definition) breeders that could be helped through dialog. Saddly though my personal experiance has born out that most of the time these less than reputable breeders are cognizant of the risk they are foisting on buyers by not testing, breeding under age or breeding failing drags. Just look through the forum, you'll see many threads were prople come on hear and ask how to become a good breeder, get all kinds of great help, then go one onto be just another BYB. Even more infuriating is the number of bad breeders who pray on buyers lack of knowledge and misinform, mislead or flat out lie about health certifications trusting that most will just believe them without checking.
I agree with this from what I have experienced with most of the people I've encountered. I think the guy my sister got her golden from is in that small percentage of just not knowing any better. So far, it has worked out fine (Bailey isn't quite a year old and has a great temperament and look, but time will tell with her health). I think that a lot of the general public (and my extended family) thinks I'm crazy for jumping through so many hoops to get a dog that is arguably one of the most prevalent dogs around, especially since my sister has her golden without traveling a far distance, paying thousands, etc. But I think you are totally right, as long as the demand stays high, there isn't a lot to coerce breeders into paying more money for clearances, etc.

I cannot WAIT to see pictures of your new one! I totally understand not wanting to give out info, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, and I'll be on the lookout for when the pics start flooding in!
 
#34 ·
I struggled with this same issue. I could not find a puppy anywhere near me that met my requirements. So I too posted on this form and found just the litter - which was in Mississippi and I live in Chicago! I would never have purposely looked that far away but it was perfect and he is perfect (he is 3.5 now).

As Anney suggested (K9-design) expand your search and reconsider your price. It is only a one time drive/plane ride to pick up your puppy and honestly it isn't all that much more money in the grand scheme of things, it is a one time cost for a lifetime of love.

Flying with a puppy under the seat in front of me became my big adventure and one I will never forget. It is the one time in your life you will be popular with the TSA agents!

Your puppy is out there!
 
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#36 ·
In the Kansas City area, it is virtually impossible to find a golden puppy. Our club gets almost 300 requests a year ( we track them ) for referrals, and there is probably less than four litters a year, and out of those litters, most go to show homes and performance homes. You really need to get on the wait list before the dog is even bred, but then you risk the female not conceiving.

I would expand my search, ask breeders if they know of other litters.
 
#37 ·
I think getting a new puppy is 1000x more exciting when you have to wait for him to come home :) It took me ten years to get my parents to agree to get me a dog, another year of choosing a breed and finding a good breeder, and then 4-5 months of waiting for the pregnancy to be confirmed, then waiting for the pups to be born, and then waiting for 8 weeks to pass. Sometimes it hits me at the most random times that I have a dog. It'll be 2am and I'll suddenly think "this is insane, he's real and he's here and I have a dog!!" And then all that waiting is suddenly worth it because you have a well-socialized dog that is nearly bombproof who's funny and beautiful and has the most amazing personality, who acts and looks like the stereotypical golden. I'm spending the next 10-12+ years with this dog, why wouldn't I want the best I can get?
 
#38 ·
You've just described the joy of something many people fail to understand the value of: delayed gratification. I waited nearly 2 years for my current Golden girl and she was worth every minute of that wait. I still can hardly believe she is mine. A puppy from a great breeder is worth it.
 
#41 ·
Our Chloe was a winter puppy. She was born on Christmas Day. She came home on Valentine's Day. We had a pretty mild winter that year. But guess what Feb was when we got all the cold and snow. We had no issues with potty training. The hardest part is having to throw your coat and gloves on and quickly get a puppy outside. Doesn't sound though like you have as hard of winters as we do in IN. Even at 8 weeks she loved the cold and snow. It really isn't that big of deal.
 
#42 ·
Same here! Our dog was born 12/1 and it was only after we brought our puppy home that the endless blizzard-like conditions started and lasted until spring. In some ways it made it easier to housebreak him because there were few distractions in the winter vs spring. I would be open to a winter puppy again, for sure.
 
#44 ·
Hey all.....I wanted to update this thread and thank you all for your kind words and wisdom. We've had a lot of changes happen in our family in the last couple of weeks. We actually lost our old dog, Meg, a week ago today. That has been terrible, but slowly, day-by-day, we are adjusting to life without her here. The exciting news, though, is that, partially through this thread, we have found a breeder and we will be bringing our new puppy home in 2 weeks. Losing Meg has been so much harder than we anticipated (we knew the day was coming, but underestimated how hard it would be to adjust to life without her), and my husband and I came very close to backing out on the new puppy. At the end of the day, we decided that it is very fresh and raw for us right now, but as the days go by, we are going to want to hear little puppy paws in the house again. As my daughter said, "we've never been a no-dog family....we need to be a dog family again". In all other aspects, the timing for this puppy is absolutely perfect! We should have her house trained and through all of her vet appointments, etc. before my busy Christmas season starts. So, we are very excited to add Kimber soon to our family. I've been working diligently each evening to order supplies, read some training books, read advice on here, calling the vet, etc. It's been 15 years since we had a puppy, and I've realized that a) I've forgotten a lot and b) we were a lot younger and less informed when Meg was a puppy.

Also, I know that there were a couple of people who were in a similar boat to us with looking for a puppy. I do know of another female puppy in Georgia who will be available I think around the middle of October. She looks like she has a good pedigree (though I am definitely not skilled in evaluating pedigrees), and the parents have all of their clearances. The owner is very sweet. PM me if you want her info, and I'll be happy to pass it along.
 
#45 · (Edited)
grins, so sad to hear you lost your Meg, I can't even imagine the pain. But so happy to hear you are getting a new puppy! I wanted to report back that we, too, have had unexpected news that we are getting a new golden puppy in 2 weeks! (as you may recall, I had pretty much given up after disappointing breeder interactions). She is a dream, with impeccable clearances and pedigree; mostly she is adorable. I am overjoyed!

I love that you have already named her :) I also am re-reading everything about having new puppies in the house, as we've forgotten as well! My biggest concern is that we're getting a girl, but are only experienced with our boy. I hope my experiences with my kids aren't repeated, because my son was easy as can be, and my daughter (who is 22) is still giving us heartburn!!

Also a little worried how our very spoiled boy (who is 7-1/2) is going to adjust to this new little one. I hope he doesn't hate me :(

Congrats on your new puppy - we'll have to keep in contact to compare experiences!
 
#46 ·
Thank you so much for the condolences. I am SO excited about your new girl! We were overjoyed to find this breeder and puppy, and the timing was just perfect for our family (despite our current state of grief).

We've only ever had girls in our family. Meg was my only personal long-term pet, but my dad had a female chocolate lab and now has another chocolate girl, and my sister has 2 female dogs. They have all been fantastic, so I don't think you'll be disappointed. The great thing about girl dogs vs. humans is that there is much less drama in the teenage years. ;)

Definitely post photos when your new girl comes home! I can't wait to see her!
 
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