With the many new Forum Members coming in and asking for help in finding breeders, I thought I'd post this information. I hope that it is helpful.
Breeder Websites
There are an uncountable number of breeder websites on the internet. If looking for a puppy and utilizing internet websites, there a few things to keep in mind. Fancy websites with lots of great pictures don’t necessarily mean that the breeder is a good one, and conversely, NOT having a website doesn’t mean that a breeder ISN’T a good one.
1. Clearance information should be made clearly available. Hips/Elbows, Cardiac and Eye clearance information is generally listed with links to those databases. Claims of clearances mean nothing if they cannot be verified. At the very least, full registered names of the dogs should be on the site so that they can be followed to the appropriate clearances. If only call names are listed, it should be considered a “red flag”
2. Be aware of the registry being utilized. In North America, the only registrations worth the paper they are written on are AKC (American Kennel Club), CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) and UKC (United Kennel Club). There are many “alternative” registries, such as APR, API, ContKC, etc, and they are most often used by millers, brokers, and individual breeders who have lost privileges with the “big three”.
3. Marketing and pricing by color ie “Rare British Crème/Creams”, “Alpine Whites”, “English Cremes” etc. should be viewed with caution. Breeders charging exorbitant prices based on color are a red flag.
4. Bigger is not better, nor is smaller. Be aware of the standard. Breeders proudly marketing over or undersized dogs are another red flag. So are breeders offering green or blue eyes, black Goldens, or other obviously not “Golden Retriever” traits.
5. Most reputable breeders’ puppies are sold long before they are old enough to go to new homes, most before a breeding even takes place. Websites advertising lots of litters, or many older puppies available, are a red flag.
6. Sites offering puppies ready to go to new homes before the age of 7 weeks MINIMUM are a red flag.
“A Puppy Buyer’s Fact Checker”, found on this forum at https://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/showthread.php?t=22440
Is a helpful guide to anyone considering purchasing a Golden Retriever puppy, as is the information on the Golden Retriever Club of America’s website, which you can find here: http://www.grca.org/menu_searchingforgr.htm
There are many reputable breeders who do not have websites, and it can be helpful to find breeders in your area by contacting local GR clubs, or the puppy referral persons for the GRCA, which can be found in the above link, as can contacts for rescues.
I have been criticized for not having a website. I have chosen not to for several reasons, not the least being that I do not need one to sell puppies, mine are sold in advance of a breeding being made, and as I have only a litter every year or two, it seemed like an unnecessary thing to have. Essentially, it was nothing more than a photo gallery / show brag site, and I wasn’t good at keeping it updated or maintained. I also was tired of the often strange contacts that it elicited, so I took it down. It does not mean that I have anything to hide, or am not allowing scrutiny of my dogs. I’m happy to provide any clearance information that I have, and proudly do so. Currently, a friend who I show Labs for, who is a website designer, is attempting to build a new site for me. She will tell you that I am only reluctantly helping her do so, and in no rush for it to be completed. I still see no real reason to have one. But she wants to do it as a thank you, so there may be one up before too long.
Any criticism or comments that I might make about breeders who Forum members inquire about on this site are based entirely on lack of clearance information, or outright fraudulent information that might be on the sites of those breeders. Any one commenting on them or replying to such inquiries, breeders or otherwise, is simply trying to help those asking for help be able to make informed decisions and to prevent them from getting something less than what they were promised, or paid for. Not having a site of their own in no way means that they themselves are less than reputable. If you were to consider purchasing a puppy from me, or any other breeder who is a member of this forum, I would imagine that you would make the same inquiries and utilize the same guidelines for us, as well.
Breeder Websites
There are an uncountable number of breeder websites on the internet. If looking for a puppy and utilizing internet websites, there a few things to keep in mind. Fancy websites with lots of great pictures don’t necessarily mean that the breeder is a good one, and conversely, NOT having a website doesn’t mean that a breeder ISN’T a good one.
1. Clearance information should be made clearly available. Hips/Elbows, Cardiac and Eye clearance information is generally listed with links to those databases. Claims of clearances mean nothing if they cannot be verified. At the very least, full registered names of the dogs should be on the site so that they can be followed to the appropriate clearances. If only call names are listed, it should be considered a “red flag”
2. Be aware of the registry being utilized. In North America, the only registrations worth the paper they are written on are AKC (American Kennel Club), CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) and UKC (United Kennel Club). There are many “alternative” registries, such as APR, API, ContKC, etc, and they are most often used by millers, brokers, and individual breeders who have lost privileges with the “big three”.
3. Marketing and pricing by color ie “Rare British Crème/Creams”, “Alpine Whites”, “English Cremes” etc. should be viewed with caution. Breeders charging exorbitant prices based on color are a red flag.
4. Bigger is not better, nor is smaller. Be aware of the standard. Breeders proudly marketing over or undersized dogs are another red flag. So are breeders offering green or blue eyes, black Goldens, or other obviously not “Golden Retriever” traits.
5. Most reputable breeders’ puppies are sold long before they are old enough to go to new homes, most before a breeding even takes place. Websites advertising lots of litters, or many older puppies available, are a red flag.
6. Sites offering puppies ready to go to new homes before the age of 7 weeks MINIMUM are a red flag.
“A Puppy Buyer’s Fact Checker”, found on this forum at https://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/showthread.php?t=22440
Is a helpful guide to anyone considering purchasing a Golden Retriever puppy, as is the information on the Golden Retriever Club of America’s website, which you can find here: http://www.grca.org/menu_searchingforgr.htm
There are many reputable breeders who do not have websites, and it can be helpful to find breeders in your area by contacting local GR clubs, or the puppy referral persons for the GRCA, which can be found in the above link, as can contacts for rescues.
I have been criticized for not having a website. I have chosen not to for several reasons, not the least being that I do not need one to sell puppies, mine are sold in advance of a breeding being made, and as I have only a litter every year or two, it seemed like an unnecessary thing to have. Essentially, it was nothing more than a photo gallery / show brag site, and I wasn’t good at keeping it updated or maintained. I also was tired of the often strange contacts that it elicited, so I took it down. It does not mean that I have anything to hide, or am not allowing scrutiny of my dogs. I’m happy to provide any clearance information that I have, and proudly do so. Currently, a friend who I show Labs for, who is a website designer, is attempting to build a new site for me. She will tell you that I am only reluctantly helping her do so, and in no rush for it to be completed. I still see no real reason to have one. But she wants to do it as a thank you, so there may be one up before too long.
Any criticism or comments that I might make about breeders who Forum members inquire about on this site are based entirely on lack of clearance information, or outright fraudulent information that might be on the sites of those breeders. Any one commenting on them or replying to such inquiries, breeders or otherwise, is simply trying to help those asking for help be able to make informed decisions and to prevent them from getting something less than what they were promised, or paid for. Not having a site of their own in no way means that they themselves are less than reputable. If you were to consider purchasing a puppy from me, or any other breeder who is a member of this forum, I would imagine that you would make the same inquiries and utilize the same guidelines for us, as well.
