A Golden Retriever is a loyal, trainable and friendly dog. They make wonderful family pets as well as being intelligent dogs suitable for Obedience, Retrieving Trials and other dog sports. Goldies have a long coat that does require some grooming, they love water and they love to be around people. They are great with children, but like any puppy will need training to make sure they develop into the well mannered dogs they have potential to be. They are most suited to families and individuals who are willing and able to spend time with them every day. They are active dogs but also quite capable of lazing around with the family, particularly as they get older.
To be sure that you get a dog true to the Breed Standard, in both looks and temperament, please only purchase a puppy from an ANKC registered breeder. This ensures your puppy’s parents have had suitable health testing, that the puppy is genuinely pure bred, and that the breeding stock has been housed and cared for to the highest of standards. Unfortunately, backyard breeders and puppy farms take advantage of the popularity of the Golden Retriever and pump out puppies for profit with little to no regard for the welfare of the breeding dogs or the sound health and temperament of the puppies, all at prices the same or higher than ANKC registered breeders.
Beware of alternative registries as these do not have the same standard of ethics and welfare, they do not have the same requirements for health testing of the parents and cannot produce guaranteed pure bred, registered puppies. Many of these type of breeders present themselves as legitimate breeders and charge as much if not more than ANKC breeders. For ANKC registered breeders, parent dogs must have x-rays of hips that are then scored by experts, as a minimum. Good breeders will also x-ray and score elbows, as well as heart and eye testing by experts and DNA testing for certain diseases. There is no DNA test for hip or elbow dysplasia. Only look for puppies on Dogzonline or through your state Golden Retriever Club.
It’s worth mentioning also that Golden Retrievers are often used in so-called “designer” cross-breds, typically crossed with a poodle. These claim to offer a hypoallergenic puppy, however the usual outcome is a mixed bag of puppies with an unpredictable look and temperament, and a coat that is neither non-shedding nor hypoallergenic but instead clumps/mats and requires expensive grooming. Breeders of these crosses are not ANKC registered, typically do not test parent stock for hereditary disease and are not held accountable regarding the welfare of the breeding stock, yet charge very high prices for the puppies. If allergies or shedding are a concern for you perhaps a Golden Retriever is not the right choice. There are many wonderful breeds available and I encourage you to look to them rather than an over-priced “designer” puppy. You can read about different breeds on the Dogs NSW website here.
Some claim there is “hybrid vigor” with a cross bred dog, however it is important to note that hybrid vigor is merely a potential and not a given. Without health testing and careful planning, the chosen dam and sire have as much chance of bringing the worst of each breed to the litter as the best; the litter is an unpredictable gamble in terms of sound health and temperament. In contrast, ANKC pure bred Golden Retrievers are consistent in temperament and type, and are bred with commitment to improving the breed. The ANKC forbids matings between closely related parents and actively pursues health schemes.
If you are interested in adopting an older Golden Retriever check out Golden Retriever Rescue. “Adopt, don’t shop” is sometimes used as an argument against pure bred dogs, and while I agree that saving a rescue animal is a wonderful cause, the reality is that adopting is still shopping. They still have “breeders” but they are often the result of unplanned litters, or are rescues because that lack of care and planning in breeding has resulted in undesirable temperament or health issues.
Finally, a note on colour. The breed standard states that Golden Retrievers may be “any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only, permissible.” Descriptions such as “English Cream”, “Red”, special “Field Retrievers”, white patches described as “rare markings” are all just examples of marketing gimmicks and are not true to the Breed Standard. No colour is healthier or better; rather just a matter of preference. Vivaretrieva does not breed for a specific colour.
As you’ve probably gathered if you’ve read this far, I am absolutely passionate about pure bred Golden Retrievers. They are a truly wonderful family dog. I strive to produce healthy, happy Golden Retriever puppies that can bring as much joy to your family as they have to mine.
Vivaretrieva 