A Guide For Breeding Golden Retrievers
Breeding golden retrievers is a lot more complex than it sounds. There is a wide gap between a ‘backyard breeder’ and a legitimate ’serious hobby breeder’. The extra work in becoming a reputable breeder contributes a service to the breed, the customer, and the quality of life of each dog.
Knowing the Breed Standard is the first step in becoming a quality breeder. The Breed Standard describes all aspects of the perfect golden retriever and serves to maintain the breed. Any reputable breeder uses the Breed Standard as a basis for his/her breeding program. It is important to know that the Breed Standards for American and British goldens are different. The first question is to decide whether to breed American or British style goldens. One can find the American guidelines at the American Kennel Club (AKC) web site. The British rules can be found at the KC (The Kennel Club) web site.
Another cornerstone of breeding these noble dogs is their health. Most health issues that afflict golden retrievers are related to genetics, and therefore, directly related to breeding. In order to prevent health issues in puppies, the parents and ancestors of the litter must be cleared of having these illnesses. The most common health problems are hip and elbow dysplasia, heart problems, eye issues such as cataracts, and cancer. Any breeding pair should have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certification for hips, knees, and the heart. They should also have CERF certification for the eyes. In addition, make sure all dogs have been vaccinated and de-wormed. Records should be kept to verify the health of the dogs. It is standard for a quality breeder to provide a guarantee so the customer can return the dog within a reasonable time frame.
A good breeder in America should be a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America, an all-breed club, a local Golden Retriever club, or all three. It is recommended to maintain a record of a 3-to 5-generation pedigree to verify that the dogs are purebred goldens. It is also recommended to have an AKC registration application for each puppy to apply for registration in the name of the breeder. A good breeder can provide registered names and AKC numbers of the parents of each litter and puppy. Keep in mind, charging extra for papers is against AKC rules.
Goldens are naturally talented dogs! Having the dogs involved in the show ring, obedience and agility competitions, and hunting and tracking trials, adds to the credibility of the dogs and the breeding program. Famously active and large in size, it is essential to have a lot of outdoor space for goldens. Since it is so important for the customer, any prospective buyer should be allowed to spend time with the parents of each puppy. Puppies should be socialized at a young age, since a breeder would not want to sell little monsters to the customers! As a rule of thumb, puppies should not be sold under 7 weeks of age. It is considerate for a breeder to provide a written set of instructions on training, care, and feeding.
Breeding golden retrievers is a full time job. A breeder must be prepared and committed for whelping and raising a litter of 8-12 puppies. Having clean, warm, and adequate facilities is essential. Overseeing breeding, veterinary care, cleaning, paperwork, socializing puppies, feeding, and sales require a lot of hours and hard work. Breeding is not a walk in the park, and having a lot of passion for dogs is a prerequisite for this job. It is lucky that goldens are so good at returning this love!
