The Path to Responsible  Breeding

We all love our Golden Retriever. Their easygoing temperament and funny personality added to a dog that besides being energetic, can be easy to train, making them the perfect family dog. 

For that same reason, our beloved breed with too many others, had been used for breeding only for profit, letting behind any care for temperament, health, and structure that make a Golden Retriever what it is today. For this same reason, we need to understand some terms about breeding. This will help you to choose correctly when buying a puppy.

Some prefer to adopt, but unfortunately, not everyone is suitable for adoption. Adopting a dog demands higher responsibility, as some of these dogs came with their trauma, and not everyone can ensure a better life for a rescue dog.  For this same reason, there will always be breeders and that is okay, but we should learn to buy or adopt responsibly.

The first step to identifying a good breeder is to know what kind of breeder you can find out there. Let’s look into it and dig deeper

Different kinds of breeders 

Some of you probably know these terms that are used to qualify breeders.

1. Responsible breeders demonstrate extensive knowledge and have years of experience with the breed of dog they represent. A responsible breeder pays attention to the breed’s conformation, temperament, and history and ensures that their animals display the desired physical and behavioral traits. They provide appropriate socialization to make sure puppies are set up for success in the show pen, in service, or as family pets.

2. Unethical breeders give little to no concern about the welfare of animals. They breed dogs without considering the temperament or genetic traits they pass on to their offspring. They do not provide proper medical care or adequate, clean, and safe housing. And most of the time the breeding parent can be found in very bad conditions due to the excess of breeding. Among these, we can find two types

• Backyard breeder: an amateur animal breeder whose breeding is considered substandard, with little or misguided effort towards ethical, selective breeding. They breed on a small scale, usually at home with their own pets, and may be motivated by things such as monetary profit, curiosity, to gain new pets and/or working animals, or  because they want to give their pets the experience of being parents 
• Puppy Mills: also known as puppy farms, is a commercial dog breeding facility characterized by quick breeding and poor conditions.  The definition was established in Avenson v. Zegart in 1984 as “a dog breeding operation in which the health of the mill’s dogs are disregarded to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits”. They are cited as being a result of increased demand for household pets. The Veterinary Medical Association of the Humane Society of the United States defines the main characteristics of a puppy mill as “emphasis on quantity over quality, indiscriminate breeding, continuous confinement, lack of human contact and environmental enrichment, poor husbandry, and minimal to no veterinary care.” And where you can find those puppy? They are sold in ALL PET STORES

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How you can identify an Ethical Breeder 

The first step is RESEARCH. Maybe you find a breeder on Social media or Google or were referred by a friend,  try always to know about this breeder before deciding to buy from them. Ask as many questions as you need and dig as deeper as you can. An Ethical breeder will love that you ask because they will do it too. Do your research about the breed standard and temperament, and decide if this is the correct breed and time for you. Below are some characteristics that you can find in a responsible breeder.

A breeder is responsible if 

• Provides complete, accurate health records for the puppies (Provide accurate and reliable health, vaccination, and pedigree information.)
• Follows the parent club’s Code of Ethics 
• Provides results from genetic medical and clearance testing of the parents
• Offers a written guarantee against genetic health problems
• Prioritize health and function over appearance.
• Retains puppies until they are a minimum of nine weeks of age
• Encourages potential buyers to visit their homes before the pickup day
• Ensures their puppies are exposed to other animals, new people, children, and noises
• Encourages buyers to participate in puppy socialization and/or basic obedience classes
• Raising dogs intended to be pets in a home environment.
• Will take the puppy back from the buyer at any time for any reason. They will place dogs or keep dogs as pets that are unable to breed, dogs who are unsuitable for breeding, or dogs who have been returned.
• Responsible breeders commit to ensuring all dogs they breed are provided a good home by: Using waiting lists or other strategies to assess that there are quality homes available for their dogs before breeding. Committing to making a good match between the owner and the dog by sharing the characteristics and needs of the specific dog, and understanding a prospective owner’s expectations. For this reason, they only sell animals directly to prospective owners and not via a third party or broker. Serving as an ongoing resource for new owners.
• They will check references and provide references too.

Things to notice about the environment

• The breeder should want to show you where the dogs are kept, where they sleep, and where the puppies were born
• You should be able to see the whelping pen, comfortable bedding, food, and clean water
• The breeder should have a safe and clean home for all their dogs – both puppies and parents 

 RED FLAGS OF AN UNETHICAL BREEDER

• You are unable to meet the mother and/or the father
•  The parents growl, snap or show extreme signs of being afraid of you
• You’re unable to view the pen or kennel where the puppies were raised.
• The breeder has little to no questions for you regarding your home environment or the life you can offer your new puppy.
• The majority of the litter does not appear social and confident
• The breeder is unable to provide any information on genetic testing.

If you’re unsure about a breeder, don’t buy

If you have any reservations about a breeder then it is best to trust your instincts and walk away.

f you think that a breeder may be a puppy farmer, or is breeding irresponsibly, then never purchase a puppy from them, even if you think you are rescuing the puppy. The puppy may be better off going home with you, but by giving the “breeder” money you are ensuring that other puppies will suffer in horrible and unethical conditions.

Always trust your instincts

• Do not buy a puppy if you feel pressured to buy
• Do not buy if you have any doubts about the breeder
• Don’t rush any decisions

Once you have visited the breeder, it’s important that you don’t make a fast decision. Ensure that the breeder is happy for you to have plenty of time to make up your mind about buying the puppy.  Any breeder that pressurizes you into buying a puppy may be looking to make a quick profit and should be avoided at all costs.

Any breeder that pressurises you into buying a puppy may be looking to make a quick profit and should be avoided at all costs.

 Paperwork should be in your puppy pack

1. Signed copy of your sale contract. The contract should contain information about the puppy, as well as both your and the breeder’s details. It should also contain details of warranty or health claims made by the breeder and any responsibilities or agreements that you make to the breeder.
2. Paper from The Kennel Club If the dog is advertised as registered with The Kennel Club, you should ensure that you take receipt of the registration certificate from The Kennel Club. This will contain information and options on how you can transfer the ownership into your name. If the registration certificate is not available at the time of purchase, ensure that you receive confirmation in writing from the breeder that this will be sent to you when it’s available.
3. Details about your puppy’s microchip. Number of the microchip and name of the company 
4. Information about your puppy’s vaccination and worming treatments. This is provided by a veterinarian 
5. Copies of health certificates regarding the puppy’s mother and father
6. Insurance detail. Some responsible breeders can recommend insurance for your puppy
7. Some responsible breeders will provide written advice on socialization, exercise, and training information. Information about the breed, including advice on grooming. Feeding advice  Worming regime (when the puppy was last wormed, the product used, and when next worming is due) Immunization regime (what vaccinations, if any, have been done or which vaccines are recommended)

In conclusion 

Ethical breeding is a practice that puts the welfare of animals first, ensuring their health, happiness, and quality of life. It involves selecting the best possible breeding stock based on their genetic, physical, and behavioral characteristics, with the goal of minimizing the risk of inherited diseases and defects. 

Ethical breeders also provide proper care and socialization to the animals, nurturing them in a clean and safe environment, and allowing for adequate exercise and mental stimulation. They also prioritize responsible breeding practices, such as avoiding overbreeding and minimizing inbreeding, to prevent the development of genetic problems or the weakening of the breed.

Furthermore, ethical breeders prioritize the well-being of their animals, ensuring they are well-cared for throughout their lives, and making arrangements for their pet’s future in case the adopter cannot provide for them anymore. Finally, ethical breeders have transparency in their breed’s potential health risks and breeding goals, engaging in open communication with future owners about their breeding practices and their animals’ health.