Choosing a breeder is an important decision. Once you have decided that you want to find your puppy through a breeder, it is important to make sure that you find:
1. a reputable breeder.
2. a breeder whose contract you can agree with.
3. a breeder that will be there for you if/when you need it.
Not all breeders are created equal…
Unfortunately there are many lousy breeders out there. They are not all bad, however, it is safe to say (sadly) that there are more bad breeders than good ones. When searching for a puppy, you may find that many will come from backyard breeders who thought having puppies would be fun or be a good way to make money. Others may come from accidental litters or puppy mills. You may also find get advertisements for mail delivered or puppy intermediaries that basically sell other people’s dogs at a raised price. Avoid them at all costs. Sadly, you will also find puppy scams out there. (See the article we put together to try and help you avoid them.)
On the other hand, there are some WONDERFUL breeders…
Placing a value on good breeders is how you can support responsible breeding and avoid funding the cruel puppy mill industry. Good breeders are not the reason that unwanted dogs are euthanized in shelters across the country – so do not feel bad about wanting a puppy from a breeder.
A good, reputable breeder will not just provide you with a puppy. They will provide other benefits as well. A reputable breeder will:
– be a source of knowledge and education.
– help you with the correct food and supplies.
– provide information about what to expect as your pup grows.
– help troubleshoot training troubles.
– take the time to match you with the puppy that’s best suited to your household.
What to Look For…
1. Experience
When finding a reputable breeder, you should look someone who has been breeding for awhile. The only caveat for this is when a new breeder has a mentor that has been breeding for years. Responsible breeding, believe it or not, requires a great deal of information and knowledge. If a person has not been breeding long enough to figure it all out on their own, they MUST have a mentor that can help them should they run into questions or emergencies. Do not feel bad about asking the breeder how long they have been breeding and whether or not they have a mentor.
2. Puppy Parents On-Site
You need to make sure at least the dam (mom) of the litter is on-site and you are able to meet her if you choose. Goldens are a great breed, and due to their personalities, there is no reason why you should not be able to meet the momma dogs. If the sire (dad) is also on site, if he is true to breed standard, he will also be fine around the puppies. If you are told that the dam or sire are too protective over the pups (which should not be the case) then you ask to see them away from the puppies.
3. Puppies are Raised Indoors
Puppies that are raised outdoors are not exposed to a normal home. In addition, they are not given proper protection against the weather. Puppies should not have to handle extreme heat, cold, or wet. It is not good for them. If the breeder allows puppies access to outside after the age of four weeks, this is beneficial for potty training. Nonetheless, puppies need to ALWAYS be able to go into a temperature controlled area, should not be left outside for more than 20 – 30 min at a time during the coldest/warmest part of the day, and they should not spend the majority of their time outdoors.
4. Early Socialization
Find a breeder who consistently handles and socializes their puppies. Doing this in the first few weeks of life makes a HUGE difference in the puppy’s overall personality. This does not consist of the breeder moving the puppies to clean out the whelping box. This means that each puppy gets handled individually for 2-5 minutes at a time. You can find more about neurostimulation here.
5. Breeders Pick the Families
Over the years, for reputable breeders, the days of new families coming to meet all the puppies and picking out their pup has fallen to the wayside. Your breeder should know each puppy best. In addition, there are personality tests that can be given to each puppy to find out their overall drive. Also, a good breeder takes the time to find out what personality type would fit best into your family. Although most people are not aware, when going to meet an entire litter, the puppy who first “picks you” is usually the most dominant pup in the group. For many families, this is not really what they need (or want). However, they believe that since that puppy came up to them, it is the best puppy for them.
6. When Pups Go Home
A reputable breeder WILL NOT send a puppy to its new home until the puppy is 8 weeks of age or more. Puppies who are removed from their dam and littermates too early are prone to behavior problems. Puppies need this part of their development to become well-rounded dogs. In addition, the first set of vaccinations cannot be given until 8 weeks of age. Studies have shown that vaccines given before this age are, basically, a waste of time. (Read more about vaccines)
7. Health Testing
A reputable breeder will have health tests done on their dogs. The goal of a reputable breeder is to have healthy puppies that can allow the longevity and continuance of the breed. If a breeder does not health test their dogs, there is no way to make sure they are fulfilling both of these goals.
8. Waiting List / Deposits / Pricing
One way to tell a good breeder, although it sounds weird, is that they often do not have puppies available right away. If a breeder is doing their job, they have more customers than puppies. The only reason this would be different is if they have gone through those on the waiting list and still have a few puppies available. Concerning pricing, producing a healthy litter (in addition to all the care and testing for the parents) is expensive. It takes a great deal of time and money to correctly breed dogs. If you find a puppy and the price is extremely lower than what you can find through a reputable breeder, expect that you are not dealing with a reputable breeder. Once you find a breeder you like, expect to get on a waiting list, it will be worth the wait.
9. Questions
A reputable breeder is not afraid of questions. In reality, it will probably be hard to get them to shut up unless they are currently working with a litter of puppies. Reputable breeders WANT you to do your research. They WANT you to find the best breeder for you. They will also be honest and tell you if they do not think that one of their pups is what you are looking for. A reputable breeder is not in it for the “sale,” they are in it to make sure their puppies are placed in loving, forever homes.
10. Number of Breeds
Reputable breeders deal in one or two breeds. If your breeder has multiple breeds and continuously tries to create new “designer” breeds, then they may not be for you.
11. Willing to take the puppy back
A reputable breeder will not only be willing to take one of their puppies back if you cannot keep it, they will require it. Sometimes, life happens. A military family gets deployed somewhere they were not expecting, a family member gets ill, the family falls on extremely hard financial times, etc. These are all sad, but real reasons why a family might have to part with their pet. Along with the stress of needing to part with your animal, you do not want to have to worry about making sure that the puppy/dog ends up with their very best replacement family. This takes time! A reputable breeder will take the puppy/dog back and do this for you. Remember that the reputable breeder’s goal is the health and happiness of the puppy/dog.
12. Provide Guidance
A reputable breeder wants to make sure that both you and the puppy have the best experience possible. For your mental health and for the health of the puppy, a reputable breeder will be available to you even after the puppy has gone home. Reputable breeders DO NOT hand the puppy over and expect to never hear from you again.
Why People have Chosen Us…
Our Puppies
There is so much to say about our puppies that if I wrote it all on this page, you would never get through it. I have broken up the important information into other pages. Most of our puppy information can be found on our Puppy Information Page.
A Short Synopsis
We take great pride in our Golden Retriever puppies. We like to say that our puppies are Texas born and bred. Experience is on our side as we have been breeding dogs for over twenty years. Although it is impossible to know it all, we have learned quite a bit over the years. This knowledge helps us to produce well-bred, healthy, happy, and well-adjusted puppies. Healthy puppies and bringing joy to other families is what makes all of the work worth while. The joy seen in the faces of our new puppy parents is priceless!
There are other breeders in Texas who have adopted our required forms, our ideals, and many of our practices. They now use these in their own breeding program. This is a testament to us in and of itself.
Additionally, all of our adult dogs are AKC registered, health tested, and hip tested before breeding. All of our Golden Retriever Puppies come with limited AKC registration, already microchipped, and a three year health guarantee. Last, but not least, all of our babies are part of the family. In turn, if you decide to bring one of our babies into your family, then you will become part of our extended family.
About Us
Our beautiful goldens and all of their puppies are all a part of our family and live indoors with us. As probably expected, our four-legged fur-babies bring us a great deal of joy. As a result, we have chosen to take the time to responsibly share this breed with other families.
Although I am no longer a vet tech (as my “real” job is teaching), I was a vet tech for 11 years and have 22 years of breeding experience. I have also worked as a specialty rescue; training and rehabilitating abused dogs so they could find their forever homes. Both my husband and I have spent the majority of our lives working with animals.
The whole family takes great pride in our puppies and while they are with us, we love them like they are our own dogs. Any litters we have are born and raised indoors. We do not kennel or house our puppies outside. They have the cool of an A/C or the warmth of a heater from day one. In addition, we handle, hug, love, and play with our babies multiple times a day. Our kids also play with the puppies. In turn, the pups are exposed to the mothering, “lets play dress-up,” personality of our daughter and the “rough and tumble” personality of our son.
What to Avoid (Red Flags)
Pushy Breeders
Commonly, pushy breeders are scammers. Unfortunately, puppy scamming has become quite prevalent. If the breeder you are speaking to make claims like: “If you want one of the pups, you had better hurry up and put a deposit or it will be taken from you.” If they try too hard to “sell” you on their puppies instead of actually helping you. Ex: If a breeder does not have any puppies available, but they refuse to give you any additional information or guidance on the breed or how to find a puppy.
Breeders Who Do Not Communicate Well
If a breeder has a website and does not keep that site updated, has a Facebook page that is not updated, or rarely returns your calls/texts, you are not going to be happy with them once you are ready to get a puppy. If they do not communicate, they will not be there when you need them.
Newspaper / Craigslist / Parking Lot Sales
I am not saying that the puppies from these people cannot be decent puppies. There will always be a diamond in the rough. However, these people are usually selling their puppies in this way because they do not have the experience or reputation to be able to sell anywhere else.
Please follow our Facebook page for continuous updates on what is going on here at Regency Ranch.
#bestdogsever #regencyranchgoldens #goldenretrieverpuppies
About the Author
I have been working with animals for as long as I can remember. Throughout my teens, undergrad, and graduate school, I worked as a veterinary technician. From 2007 – 2011, I owned and ran a registered dog rescue where we worked with the dogs that needed rehabilitation before placement in a forever home. In addition, I have been breeding dogs since 1996. Through all of this, I have consistently researched to keep myself apprised of the latest information concerning canine health and care. As a college professor, I feel knowledge is beneficial and I try to share it when I can. – Crystalyn
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website was not written by a veterinarian or a certified animal nutritionist. I am a breeder who cares for my dogs, has done thousands of hours of research, and has learned from trial and error. I have chosen to share this information with you. Nevertheless, you have to make your own decisions. If you choose to follow noted recommendations, then that is your choice. Regency Ranch and/or its representatives hold no liability if results are not as expected. This information is not given to diagnose or prescribe. If your pet has a medical problem, you should consult your veterinarian. The ideas and information on this site have not been endorsed or approved by the FDA. In no event shall the owners of this website be liable for any damages.