Article Advise

submitted: Jun 19th 2008 | by: CarolMatthews | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 477 | |

One of the most popular and beautiful dog breeds is the Golden Retriever. This breed has been consistently in the top ten popular dog breeds for a number of reasons. First, Golden Retrievers can be trained to perform a variety of tasks including hunting, tracking, retrieving and even acting as guide dogs for the blind. Second, Golden Retrievers are neither hyper nor aggressive and this makes them excellent pets for families and children. Third, Golden Retrievers are aesthetically pleasing. They have thick golden fur, expressive brown eyes and an elegant carriage.

Developed by a Scottish Lord in the 1800s, Golden Retrievers are the result of breeding various water spaniels, bloodhounds and the Irish Setter. The resulting breed has resulting characteristics of all. Any Golden Retriever breeder can tell you that Golden Retrievers love water, are skilled at hunting and tracking and make excellent companions.

The American Kennel Club registered the Golden Retriever in 1925 and the breed has had an illustrious competition history since. A Golden Retriever won the very first obedience championship. Few Golden Retrievers are behavior school dropouts. The breed excels at following directions and learning new skills.

The fur is cream to dark gold. Rust or copper colored fur is prohibited. Ears are pendulous, eyes are medium to dark brown and expressive, the tail is feathered but does not curl, and there may be lighter colored feathering on the legs and chest. These are just a few of the American Kennel Club's stated breed characteristics. A knowledgeable Golden Retriever breeder may also look for dogs from champion bloodlines to mate with other purebred Golden Retrievers. This increases the desirability (and price) of resulting litters.

These breeders use puppy mills to make a profit by churning out a high number of litters in a short period of time. This practice causes both mothers and puppies to become unhealthy.

Unfortunately, the popularity of the Golden attracts unethical breeders who wish to make a profit with no regard for animal health and well-being. These backyard breeders sell unhealthy and uncertified Golden Retriever puppies to pet stores and/or unsuspecting buyers.

Besides staying away from pet stores, buyers should look for qualities in a good Golden Retriever breeder such as maintaining a clean kennel, treating all puppies and parents as members of their own family, screens potential parents for genetic defects, provides warranties and may accept no refund returns and can provide complete documentation of ancestry, pedigree and medical records.

Good breeders want to see puppies go to loving, permanent homes. They want to interview buyers and have buyers interview them. Breeders who sell to pet stores don't know what type of home their puppies will go to and never meet buyers or see their puppies again. The only good places to buy Golden Retrievers are from respected breeders with references and their own kennels or from rescue centers, which are often run by knowledgeable breeders.

About the Author

About the author: Carol Matthews is an avid lover of the Golden Retriever and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Golden Retriever. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Golden Retriever Breeders plus a whole lot more.

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