Follow Boomster on Twitter!

DreamSeracher

Boomster > Dreamsearcher > How to Raise Golden Retrievers

How to Raise Golden Retrievers

I live in the suburbs, but I am planning on buying a house in the country. I'd like to breed dogs, specifically golden retrievers. Could you tell me what I'd need to know to do that?

Be a hobby breeder? Backyard breeder? Raise dog show winners? Want to breed for different working roles? Hunting dog? Guard dog? DEA agent? Seeing eye dog? Want to raise family pets?

"The Golden Retriever" Roundel.
by M.J. Bryan, England
Signed and numbered limited edition of 850.
12"x12". $50 + $10 s&h ($20 outside US).
Order from Hoflin Publishing.
What does it really involve?
http://www.breedingdogsguidebook.com/
Says he tells you everything you need to know
for just $29.95
Golden retrievers: everything about purchase, care, nutrition, and behavior
Jaime J. Sucher; illustrations by Michele Earle-Bridges.
2000

You need to know as much as possible before you are surrounded by a pile of adorable puppies. You'll need to know the characteristics; strengths and weaknesses of the breed and individual dogs.

http://www.goldenretrieveradvice.org/Breeding-Golden-Retrievers.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Breeding-Golden-Retrievers-Is-Serious-Business&id=598240

Standards and temperament

photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rekkid/2839519579/

"...Often breeders that care are closely involved in their breed rescue. This isn't a failing point however, merely a plus mark if they do..."

A free training course is available for those who are really interested.

Health issues

Hips, elbows eyes and hearts... http://www.grca.org/health/bigfour.html

discusses this in detail...

"...For big dogs : Have their hips been guaranteed? Are there OFA records available?

Have the dog's eyes been CERFed?"

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals are specialists in hip dysplasia, with over years of dedication to the advancement of canine health.

"... The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is an organization that was founded by a group of concerned, purebred owner/breeders who recognized that the quality of their dog's lives were being affected by heritable eye disease. CERF was then established in conjunction with cooperating, board certified, veterinary ophthalmologists, as a means to accomplish the goal of elimination of heritable eye disease in all purebred dogs by forming a centralized, national registry..."

Breeding

photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wza/168749420/

What you need to know about the actual mating/breeding process

When to breed...

Expert help available - free from a commercial source

Finding other breeders

Breeders vs rescue

Places to make contacts

Professional organizations

Dog Shows - at the local, regional and national levels

Before you sign on

Legal issues and advocacy perspectives:

It depends where you live...

And...

What dog breeders are covered by the Animal Welfare Act?

Dog breeders with three or fewer breeding females are not covered under the AWA. See AWA, (scroll down to) "Subpart A--Licensing Sec. 2.1 Requirements and application. (a)(3) Those exempt from licensing: "Any person who maintains a total of three (3) or fewer breeding female dogs and/or cats and who sells only the offspring of these dogs or cats, which were born and raised on his or her premises, for pets or exhibition, and is not otherwise required to obtain a license.

Miscellany of information about the breed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_retriever

Visit Cindy Moore's comprehensive FAQ on the breed and breeding.

Some of the information is out of date or no longer operational, but there's a lot of good guidance for learning about Golden Retrievers.

Good luck.