Selecting a Golden Retriever Puppy
So you’ve decided upon which breeder you would like to get your puppy from, so now you need to think about which type of puppy you would like. This can take longer than expected. In fact it can take months before the right puppy litter is born, but fear not it is most certainly worth the wait.
You may find that your golden retriever puppy breeder has several litters available when looking for your puppy, in which case you will be able to compare them to find your perfect pup. Be warned though, choosing a puppy is a heart-wrenching experience as they are all so hard to reject.
In many cases you will need to put down a deposit on any golden retriever puppy that you choose, and is this even more likely if the puppy is not yet over a certain number of weeks old.
Once you’ve decided that you want a golden retriever puppy, you need to be prepared to start looking early. You will more than likely find many breeders with golden retriever puppies for sale. However, Golden retrievers are a popular breed of dog and many of the good litters will be sold early. Make sure you search for an ideal breeder early and remain up to date with when the next litter of puppies are arriving. You may also consider searching through the golden retriever adoption centers to find your ideal dog.
Don’t be upset or startled if you visit the breeder to find that they have selected a puppy for you. Many of the top quality breeders will have spent a considerable amount of time with the puppies and will know the temperament of each of them. Breeders may also perform temperament tests with each of the puppies. This will assist the breeder in deciding on which puppy would most suit each type of home. You may not be happy with this but if you have selected one of the better breeders you should let them decide or discuss which puppy is most suitable. Remember that the breeder has been around the puppies for several weeks and so will have a better idea of your perfect puppy than you might.
As with all breeds of puppies, at only a few weeks old golden retrievers look appealing to the eyes. Make sure that you do not base your decision based purely on looks. Here are a few tips to look out for when viewing a golden retriever puppy:
- Make sure the puppy has a strong build, with straight legs.
- Make sure the puppy has healthy teeth and gums.
- The puppy should be muscular and strong, yet be wriggly and very active when you try to pick him or her up.
- Check over the rest of body to make sure he or she looks healthy.
If the breeder will allow you to choose which golden retriever puppy you would like from the litter, take away the puppies that you are not interested in so that you can observe the ones that you are more closely. The puppies will probably be a little anxious, yet will want to explore their surroundings.
Speak to the puppies that you are interested in and see how they react to your voice. Also, move around and play with them. Take your time and evaluate each puppy to best suit your home and family. Golden retriever puppies are lovely dogs so look for one that is healthy and that will grow into a healthy and strong adult.
Consider this carefully. Buying a puppy is a life-long commitment.