[pawsnpaca]

You won’t like my answer, which is… neither. Most ethical breeders will choose the puppy they feel is best suited to you and your needs, and they usually wait till at least 7 weeks to make that decision, and it has nothing to do with “first pick” - it has to do with matching the right puppy with the right family. Even the breeder can’t tell much about a puppy’s personality or temperament at 4 or 5 weeks old, and the average puppy buyer definitely can’t make that judgement based on 1/2 hour with the litter. The fact that the breeder(s) are asking YOU to pick at so young an age makes my think they may not be as reputable as you may think they are.

Do the puppies’ parents have the appropriate health clearances on hips, elbows, heart and eyes? And have you verified them yourself on the OFA website? Have they been genetically tested for ichthyosis and PRA and NCL? Have the parents been proven in the show ring, or at least have a certificate of conformation assessment? Does the breeder do anything with her dogs besides use them to make puppies?

If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” then you have bigger concerns than which puppy to pick. We’re happy to help you vet your breeder(s) (we just need the registered names of the parent dogs, or if you don’t have that then the kennel name), but in the meantime, I encourage you to read these two links.

How To Recognize Ethical Breeders - Reputable Breeders, Part 1

In this post, I discuss the four types of breeders: Puppy mills, BYBs, Commercial, and Ethical and how to tell the difference.

thecaninechasm.com

Why Buy Your Next Puppy From A Show Breeder?

I hear this more often than I'd like to admit: "I just want a pet, not a show dog." And it breaks my heart because it's just so wrong. As ...

dogopinionshere.blogspot.com

 

[pawsnpaca]

This thread can give you a great start on finding better breeders than these…

USA Ethical Breeder List

USA Ethical Breeder List I have compiled a state-by-state list of ethical Golden Retriever breeders in the USA. This list consists of breeders who routinely follow the GRCA Code of Ethics and who have a history of participation in activities such as AKC events, preferably with titles. At this...

www.goldenretrieverforum.com