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YOU ARE READY TO BUY A PUPPY!
Below, you will find important information
that will assist you in the search for your puppy, and help you to ask the right questions. Getting a Puppy requires thorough thought and education. Know exactly what you are doing to make this a positive experience for the puppy & yourself. Enjoy reading, and good luck with your search for a quality puppy! Are you ready to add a puppy, for over the next decade to your life ? Puppies are adorable and dogs are great, but both require time, attention, training and love. The Golden Retriever, the breed we are knowledgeable about, is a gentle breed and needs to have interaction with its owners as much as possible, they are not backyard dogs. Golden Retrievers are the greatest family dogs and, like members of your family, require much love and attention. Other breeds are suitable for backyard living and limited attention, Goldens are not. FINDING A PUPPY 1. Where did you find out about this breeder? Indications of a responsible breeder; a.only breed when they have a waiting list. b.referral from their veterinarian who knows the dogs and their condition. c.recomendation by a person/family who has a puppy from this breeder. If this referal did their homework and are happy with this puppy you will be able to tell by asking questions; How important was the health guarantee to purchasing this puppy ? Was the purchase determined by price ? PUPPY CHECKLIST; QUESTIONS TO ASK BREEDER, VETERINARIAN, or REFERRING PERSON/GROUP HEALTH AND QUALITY : What veterinary care , and how/who performed this care, is included with puppy ? ____________________________________________ When a veterinarian performs vaccinations and health checkups you are assured that the puppy is in good health and needed veterinary care has been performed properly. ____DO both parents (sire and dam) have hip clearances from the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) or PennHip? Ask to see certificates and receive a copy with the purchase of your puppy. "My vet okayed the x-ray" is not a valid certificate. You may varify this info on the OFA's online database at click here to visit OFA Database ____DO both parents have current eye clearances ? An ACVO/CERF examination must be performed EVERY YEAR on all dogs in quality breeding programs and sent in to CERF. CERF and Home Again are working together to ensure that all dogs are permanently identified for safety and accuracy. You may check this information on CERF's online database at click here for CERF Database CERF clearances are also now available on the OFA database. ____Do both parents have a veterinarian's clearance, by a BOARD CERTIFIED Canine Cardiologist, on the hearts of both parents ? Ask to see certificates. This clearance is also on OFA database. ____Do all four grandparents, siblings of the parents or any other puppies that they may have produced have these clearances ? A responsible breeder will keep track of these statistics and honestly discuss any problems that have occured in the lines and what has been done to prevent them from recurring. ____Is the breeder knowledgeable about hip dysplasia ? Is the breeder explaining and including in purchase agreement the steps to take to ensure the best health for puppy ? ____How often is the dam bred ? Breeding every heat cycle IS TO OFTEN and may indicate that profit is the primary motive for the breeding. ___Will the breeder be available for the life of the dog to answer questions you might have ? Is this someone you would feel comfortable asking any type of question ? Is the breeder knowledgeable about the breed ? Is the breeder involved in obedience,service,or competition with their dogs (service,agility,obedience,field,or conformation competition)? ____Are there a majority of SERVICE or TITLED dogs in the first few generations ? Has the breeder explained the term "champion lines ? ____Are the dam and sire of puppy available ? What basis was the sire chosen ? Temperament and Health (with clearances) should be the criteria in choosing both sire and dam. ____Is there health records available on sire and dam ? ____Are both parents :______ free of allergies ____epilepsy _______Thyroid,this clearance is also available on the OFA database. ____Do the puppies seem healthy, with no discharge from the eyes or nose, no loose stools, no foul smelling ears ? Are their coats soft, full, and clean ? Do they have energy when awake yet calm down easily when gently stroked ? ____Is the breeder knowledgeable about raising puppies, critical neonatal periods, proper socialization techniques ? Puppies that are raised without high exposure to gentle handling, human contact and a wide variety of noises and experiences OR are removed from there dam and siblings before seven weeks of age may exibit a wide range of behavioral problems! AND REMEMBER temperament, a genetic trait is carried over from the parents (how is their temperament, how were they raised and who were they aquired from) this trait still needs development from the early beginnings of a puppy's life and continued by purchaser of puppy. The breeder should provide extensive socialization and human interaction to the puppies of the litter and evaluate their temperaments so they can guide you to the puppy that will best suit your lifestyle. A very shy puppy will not do well in a noisy household with small children, just as a very dominant puppy won't flourish in a sedate, senior citizen household. A caring and responsible breeder will know the puppies and be able to match a puppy to your needs. ____Who does the breeder sell puppies to, what type of homes are the breeder looking for ? GoldRocks will NOT place/sell our puppies to brokers or pet stores. We only place puppies with families and service partners who will provide the love and care necessary for our puppies. WE WILL ONLY SELL PUPPIES FOR SHOWING ON A LIMITED AVAILABILITY AND ONLY WHERE THEY WILL BE PART OF THE FAMILY AND WILL NOT BE EXCESSIVELY SHOWN OR PLACED WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE OWNER TO BE SHOWN. ____Will the puppy purchase agreement include limited registration with a mandatory spay/neuter contract ? A breeder who cares enough about the breed and breeding dogs responsibly will. ____Is the breeder willing to provide references including veterinarian who provides veterinary care for puppies,and people who have purchased puppies from them ? ____Does the breeder specialize with one breed ? If there is several breeds of dogs, chances are the breeder cannot devote the time it takes to become really knowleable about the breed, and give the puppies the attention they require and may again indicate that the primary purpose for breeding is profit, rather than a desire to sustain and improve the breed. ____Does this breeder have a "code of ethics" ? ____Does the breeder include in purchase agreement the requirements under which must be met for health guarantees ? Does the breeder state exactly what the guarantee is ? When a breeder gives a health guarantee, lets start with "the breeder guarantees the puppy to be healthy at time of purchase" if the puppy is found not to be healthy, does this breeder agree to pay veterinarian costs ? A responsible and ethical breeder will. And we are out there! On to hereditary health guarantee, back to hips,elbows,eye,heart and thyroid. How long does the breeder guarantee the hereditary health ? Eyes can be certified at any age, GoldRocks puppies now come with their eyes certified. Dogs must be atleast one year of age to certify their heart. GoldRocks has their puppies examined by certified canine cardiologist before going to their new homes. Dogs must also be one year of age for thyroid clearance. *HIPS AND ELBOWS* Dogs must be TWO YEARS of age when radiographs are taken and then submitted to OFA for certification. ANY HEREDITARY HEALTH GUARANTEE which does NOT give you ample time to receive all of these clearances is not worth the paper it is printed on. GoldRocks provides a complete THREE YEAR HEREDITARY HEALTH GUARANTEE. ____WILL THE BREEDER TAKE THE DOG BACK AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, IF YOU CANNOT KEEP IT ? Does the breeder require you to bring the dog back in this situation ? This is the hallmark of responsible breeding (and the quickest, best way to make needed rescue operations obsolete). ____Do you feel comfortable with this person ? Keep in mind that you are entering into a decade long relationship. If you feel intimidated or pressured, KEEP LOOKING! It's worth the effort! For information on Golden Retrievers click on allaboutgoldens, ABOUT US, nursery, healthandregistration, or contact us,we have many pictures to share and welcome questions. GOOD LUCK AND WOOF FROM GOLD ROCKS
click here to visit OFA Database
____DO both parents have current eye clearances ?
click here for CERF Database
CERF clearances are also now available on the
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