Educated the Breed Standard is the alpha step in becoming a quality breeder. The Breed Standard describes all aspects of the impeccable golden retriever and serves to maintain the breed. Any reputable breeder uses the Breed Standard as a basis for his/her breeding program. The alpha interrogation 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 celebrated 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 difficulties are hip and elbow dysplasia, heart predicaments, eye issues such as floods, and cancer. Any breeding pair should have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certification for hips, knees, and the heart. 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 constituent 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 three to five generation pedigree to verify that the dogs are purebred goldens. It is also recommended to have an AKC registration utilization 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, acceptance 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. 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 seven weeks of age. Breeding golden retrievers is a accomplished time activity. A breeder must be developed 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, attending puppies, feeding, and sales require a lot of hours and complicated work.
