Looking for a Golden Retreiver Puppy
Perry Pellegrini
Hello all....we are looking for a Golden Reteiver pup to give love and
affection to...however I can't find a place where I can get one out here
in the west Riverside Ca. area....(just moved here about 6 mo. ago) I'm
not looking for a "show" dog or anything like that, just one that we can
have as a part of the family. so if there is anyone that can help us we
would appriciate it. :)
thanks.
Perry
Cris Waller
Have you tried the Golden RetrieverClub of Riverside? They might be
able to help you. If you are not sure about how to find them, let me
know and I will dig up their address-I don't have it right off the
bat. If you really want a Golden pup, you might want to think about
attending the club and meeting the Golden people in your area. this
will show that you are someone who is serious about Goldens and will
provide a puppy a good home.
Even though you are not looking for a "show dog", please find a
reputable breeder. Reputable Golden breeders will test the parents of
their puppies for hip dysplasia (OFA). Hip dysplasia is *very* common
in Goldens, and causes pain and crippling. my backyard-bred Golden has
had to have $3000.00 surgery because of it. Reputable breeders also
test the eyes of the parents-CERF testing-to make sure that they do
not have any heritable defects. They also have a heart exam done on
the parents to detect a condition called subaortic stenosis-a heart
defect that can suddenly kill a Golden. A friend of mine had a
badly-bred Golden that dropped dead from it while playing Frisbee.
They also check the dog's thyroid levels-hypothroidism is very common
in Goldens. So, in short, to save yourself heartbreak and huge medical
bills, please make siure your new puppy is from parents (and
preferably grandparents) who are OFA and CERF certified, cleared by a
veterinary cardiologist as SAS-free, and tested thyroid-normal. The
breeder will also be able to tell you about incidence of epilep[sy and
skin problems in the linbes-other common Golden problems. I can't
emphasize too much-all Golden puppies are adorable-even poorly-bred
ones, and I know you want a puppy badly-but if the parents are not
tested, then please WALK AWAY! Hard as it is, it will save you much
heartbreak in the future. Those newspaper puppies may seem cheaper,
and they are easier to get, but it's just an illusion. And illusion
that can end all too quicckly in a dead, crippled or blind dog.
Even though you are not looking for a "show dog", you are most likely
to get a happy, healthy, well-raised puppy from someone who shows
Goldens-in the conformation ring, obedience, field, or other
activities. Not every puppy from one of these litters can be a show
dog-maybe they have a patch of white on the chest or a dark coat that
isn't considered fashionable in the show ring, for example-and these
puppies, who have all the great care and socialization of their
littermates, will be sold as pets.
You might also want to consider a rescue dog, if you don't have your
heart set on a puppy. To be very honest, well-bred Golden puppies are
not common in Southern California. You are probably in for a bit of a
wait. But, at least here in San Diego, there are always older Goldens,
past that troublesome puppy statge, in need of a good home.
Good luck!
Cris Waller
Cr...@ix.netcom.com