[v.c. 236]

Hello everyone,
I am looking for a reputable breeder in hopes of getting on a list for a puppy. We currently have a puppy from the local club referral program with unfortunately, and significant history of health issues. He is a good dog but is much older then his 8 years. I have found a local kennel Celtic Pride Goldens in Michigan. My wife met a puppy on a recent walk who seems like a great dog. I am not familiar on how to investigate clearances and such. Can someone here help me with that? She does publish the pedigrees of her dogs. Thank you

 

[nolefan]

So the first male dog on the list is who I checked. Axle. The breeder has a page with all his clearances laid out. Except for elbows, she only has "Preliminary" (before age 2 -they aren't final clearances until after age 2) but when you go to the OFA database (here's the link : https://www.ofa.org/advanced-search?f=sr&appnum=2028797 ) You can see that Axle actually does have a final clearance done for his elbows and the reason she hasn't attached it on her website is because he has elbow disease in his left elbow. Sometimes breeders are willing to take chances with this but I would NEVER buy a puppy from this dog's breeding, he has a half sibling also listed on OFA as having elbow disease as well. The surgery for a dog who needs elbow repair is in the neighborhood of $3k and it is a brutal recovery time (dog can't have any exercise, needs to be crated). I give zero grace to a breeder who takes chances with elbows especially.

So now you have a problem, this breeder looks like she could actually be a decent possibility because she is doing all the testing she should. ( You'd still need to ask a lot of questions about how she raises and socializes puppies, how she makes breeding decisions etc.) Except by looking at the very first dog, you can see that she does the testing but then she has made the decision to ignore the results she doesn't like and hide the final clearances (lying by omission is the same as lying ) and she breeds this dog anyway. How do you trust a person like this? You understand that this means that she knows she has a greater risk of producing more puppies with elbow dysplasia but has decided she doesn't care. Most of the puppies produced will be fine but she has much greater odds of producing more puppies with elbow problem than if she bred a clear dog. She's ok with knowing that she might have avoided producing dogs who have pain and owners who have to spend a small fortune to try to relieve the pain? That's repulsive to me.

If you're set on have a cream dog from her, you would need to be very sure that you checked the clearances on the parents of the litter you're actually getting a puppy from. But frankly, the fact that she has hides the final clearance on Axle makes me wonder how you trust her on other things like temperament. You couldn't give me a puppy from this breeder for free.

 

[Prism Goldens]

so disappointing. It's hard to find one of these type breeders who does clearances. Leaving the prelim on elbows up, and not mentioning the elbow dysplasia is deceptive.
ED is so heritable.

I was gonna do the next dog but now I am bothered so will go to the girls;
Katie- missing elbow clearance. Either didn't test (not smart) or failed.
Eyes out of date.
Skye- has no eye clearance on OFA
Hope- Nothing on OFA at all
Cece- nothing on OFA under the name on the site and owner misspelled reg name on k9data- I asked it to be deleted since the correct spelling/reg# etc is here Pedigree: Centerfold of the Shenandoah She's got no eye clearance and Kate- eyes haven't been done since she was 11 mo old, no elbow clearance. Her dam has no OFA page at all. Look @ half sibs particularly on the maternal side-https://www.ofa.org/advanced-search?f=sr&appnum=2071054 not a good risk.

 

[LJack]

Here is a video tutorial of how to check the appropriate health certifications. I actually stopped using the term clearances because it is open to interpretation. So people mean meeting the US standards in the GRCA COE, some mean only DNA tests, some use it to disguise deficient tests due to age or not using the appropriate veterinary specialist, some mean their vet said their dog had a well pet check. The term Heath Certification is very specific, either they have the health certifications on OFA or they don’t.

 

[LJack]

I would not be comfortable with this breeder as full and verifiable health certifications are not in place for any of the dogs listed on their website.

 

[v.c. 236]

I would like to thank everyone who responded to my post. You have helped a great deal. Obviously, I have to expand my search beyond Michigan. If anyone has a recommendation for a breeder please contact me here. My wife and I are willing to wait and travel for a healthy dog.

 

[pawsnpaca]

You can use the search feature for the forum to see who in Michigan has been recommended (or warned against) before. I did a quick search and found this one that may be helpful: Michigan Breeder Help Don't let the date of the posting worry you... most reputable breeders breed for many years and any who are mentioned are worth investigating. That said - just because a breeder was recommended in 2010 does not mean you should blindly trust that they are still doing everything they should. If you find someone promising, it still pays to double check the clearances (or come back here with Kennel names and/or AKC names/numbers of the dam/sire and we can check them out for you).

Do do a search of your own too... there may be other helpful threads that I didn't have time to look for...

 

[GoldenDude]

I would like to thank everyone who responded to my post. You have helped a great deal. Obviously, I have to expand my search beyond Michigan. If anyone has a recommendation for a breeder please contact me here. My wife and I are willing to wait and travel for a healthy dog.

I have a Golden from a Michigan breeder. I sent you a PM with the name.

 

[howswedeofme]

I have a Golden from a Michigan breeder. I sent you a PM with the name.

Could you please send to me too? We are struggling with finding one right now, also.

 

[GoldenDude]

Could you please send to me too? We are struggling with finding one right now, also.

PM sent.