Breeders who have properly educated themselves about the breed can be an excellent resource to you as a consumer, but you must do your part and educate yourself as well. Time is short for breeders who are raising puppies while searching for appropriate homes for them. Before you begin your inquiries, at least get some basic education about Goldens, specifically what is required for housebreaking, crate training, and setting limits. The more you read and learn, the better prepared you will be to ask intelligent questions and find out as much as you can about the particular litter you are interested in.

Living Conditions

The breeder is responsible for setting up an environment that is clean and stimulating for the puppies. The breeder is also responsible for providing the first socialization to people, and he or she will use carefully planned visits to help puppies get to know people. Most breeders have rules about visiting, regarding age limits and how many visitors are allowed in at one time.

Golden puppies are usually exclusively with their mother for the first three or four weeks, after which many breeders begin to introduce toys and provide opportunities to explore and experience life. They should also have access to a separate area for pottying and sleeping. The area where the puppies are kept should be well lit and as close to the action of the household as possible. The closer to the action the puppies are, the better they will fit into the average household. Having heard and seen and smelled the wonders of everyday living, they will be better prepared when they are ready to explore the house.

A breeder should never sell a puppy strictly for breeding purposes and should be the puppies' advocate, first and foremost. If she feels a home would be inappropriate for a puppy, she has the right and obligation to refuse to sell the puppy to that home. Don't be disappointed if you have to wait for the right puppy: Raising the right dog to live with you for the next twelve years is well worth the wait.

Health Screening

Golden Retrievers are prone to several health problems for which reputable breeders screen. Genetic health problems can't always be avoided through genetic screening, but breeders can make more informed decisions about which dogs to breed and which to eliminate from the gene pool, based on the level of risk for a certain disease in each dog.

Some of the health screening for Goldens include clearances for hip and elbow dysplasia, thyroid problems, and heart problems. Other considerations may include the longevity of the dogs within a family, the temperament of the dogs, and whether or not there is a history of epilepsy. Buying your puppy from a knowledgeable breeder who truly cares about the health and well-being of his or her dogs does not guarantee you a healthy dog; it is, however, a better risk than buying one from a pet store or newspaper ad.

Paying attention to the health of a dog and its overall physical makeup and temperament allows the breeder to choose which dogs she feels have the best chances of producing healthy puppies. Nature is never completely predictable, and genes can express themselves every once in a while, regardless of how well informed the breeder is or how healthy the dogs appear to be. Steer clear of anyone who guarantees that their dogs are free of genetic defects — this guarantee is not possible to make for a young puppy. Stay in touch with your puppy's breeder: A good breeder will want to know how his or her pups turn out so that she can make changes to her breeding program if necessary to avoid health problems in future breedings.