Off Topic Golden breeders

[Gymnast2009]

Anyone know of good and affordable golden retriever breeders, aka less than 2k. Preferable more around 1k but my parents said the budget is 2k. We are looking for reputable ones with Akc registered dog Parents. anywhere in the us but we are helping to find one within a 5 hour drive from Virginia, so PA, VA, MD, etc.

 

[gym_dad32608]

I have an amazing one in Florida. I want to say she was at the 2k level.

 

[Gymnast2009]

Would you feel comfortable giving me the name please?

 

[gym_dad32608]

Sure! http://www.karagold.com/ we got our girl about 2 years ago. She is amazing, great temperament, amazing solid structure, has not developed any skin issues or anything like that. I can't begin to quantify how much we love her.

 

[GymnastMomX2]

Please look for a golden rescue instead, shelters are overflowing with dogs. Don’t support breeders!!!!

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

First things first: I've seen discussions about buying vs adopting dogs get surprisingly heated, so let me say in advance that things need to stay polite in here.

Anyway

I wholeheartedly applaud you and your parents for being willing to put for the money and travel time required to find a reputable and ethical breeder. There are a LOT of much cheaper and much less ethical breeders out there, and you are doing both your future dog and all dogs a favor by putting forth the effort to find a reputable, ethical breeder.

That said, I'll echo the suggestion to look for a rescue goldie (or even better, a goldie-ish mutt) first. I feel very strongly that adopting a rescue dog is almost always the superior choice, both ethically and practically. Here are some of the reasons why:

1) It's a heck of a lot cheaper. To put it in perspective: for the amount of money you'd spend on a purebred goldie from a reputable breeder, you could instead get a goldie-ish mutt, cover all her health-related expenses for a year, and still have enough left over to buy yourself a PS5 and a decent collection of games.

2) With a rescue dog, you can be absolutely 100% certain that you are saving that dog's life. And this to me is the biggest one. You can be confident those purebred goldies will be fine with or without you, but that mutt at the shelter probably won't. With a rescue, you are giving a home to a homeless dog.
(I'm tempted to pull out that Sarah McLachlan video, but that would feel like cheating)

3) Rescue dogs are often wonderful dogs. Every dog I've ever lived with has been a rescue of some sort. Some from shelters, some from friends or family members who couldn't take care of them. And every single one has been delightful and sweet and loving and playful and everything else you could possibly want from a dog.
Yes, they sometimes have their quirks from past trauma.... but (and I'm sorry this is going to sound very cynical but is nonetheless true) often those quirks can be surprisingly convenient. For example: my current dog was a rescue found wandering around the least-interesting corner of nowhere in rural North Carolina, and I'm pretty sure his previous owners abandoned him. When I took him in, he was very clingy as if afraid I would abandon him.... which while very tragic made it super easy to train him to come when called, because he always wanted to be near me. It meant I could confidently take him walking off-leash in sufficiently remote areas, because I knew that if we were in an unfamiliar place he wouldn't let me out of his sight.
And that's just one example. A rescued dog, even one with past trauma, is a dog that is grateful to have been rescued and eager to please and affectionate and happy to be in a good home.

4) Mutts tend to be healthier and live longer. Most purebreds are not bred to be particularly healthy or long-lived; they're bred to look a certain way. A mutt will live, on average, one to two years longer than a purebred goldie. They also tend to have better health in general, and require fewer expensive vet visits.
I don't know if you've learned about genetics (or the history of European royalty) in school yet, but the short version is that genetic diversity within a population almost always brings health and longevity benefits.

So I hope you'll consider rescuing a mutt from a local shelter. But if you choose not to do that, I nonetheless applaud you and your family for putting in the effort and money to find a reputable breeder.

 

[Gymnast2009]

Thank you everyone for your input. Does anyone know golden breeders that have puppies 4 months old or younger. My family also loves King Charles Cavalier spaniels so if you know any breeders or rescues for those I would gladly look at it.

 

[Gymnast2009]

Does anyone know how to handle the shedding that comes with this breed? That is the ONLY thing keeping my parents from this breed. They love dogs, but are nervous about how much shedding goldens do. I'm Looking for ways to prevent it not clean it, we already vacuum often and have a robot vacuum too.

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Does anyone know how to handle the shedding that comes with this breed? That is the ONLY thing keeping my parents from this breed. They love dogs, but are nervous about how much shedding goldens do. I'm Looking for ways to prevent it not clean it, we already vacuum often and have a robot vacuum too.

There's no way to prevent it. Brushing the dog daily with a shedding brush will slightly decrease the amount that ends up on your floor, but dogs in general shed, and goldies shed a LOT.

Now, there are dog breeds that don't shed. Poodles, for example, don't shed at all. Poodle/Goldie mixes might not shed, but I'm not positive about that -- I'd recommend looking that up to confirm rather than taking my word on it.

However, dogs that don't shed will need to have their hair trimmed regularly, so it's a tradeoff.

Also please be aware: when it comes to taking care of a dog, dealing with the shedding is the least of your worries. Dogs -- especially young ones -- need a LOT of care and attention, and they will tear apart everything they can reach if they're not getting what they need.

They'll mellow out as they get older, but for the first few years, daily walks (preferably reasonably long ones, like a mile or more) and playtime are mandatory, not optional. Disciplined training is mandatory, not optional. Without this sort of attention, they will entertain themselves by tearing apart anything they can fit in their mouth.

And even if you do everything right, they'll still occasionally make a mess in the house, and will still occasionally decide some random object looks like a chew toy. Shoes, game controllers, random things pulled out of the trash can, the trash can itself, furniture, clothing, school books.... these are just a few things that I've had chewed up by dogs in the past -- and these were all dogs who were getting plenty of exercise and training! You can also assume that a few times a year they'll throw up on the floor, or otherwise make an indoor mess that needs to be cleaned up. You'll also need to do daily outdoor cleanup, because you'd be amazed at how fast the poop piles up if you're not cleaning it up regularly.

Please be sure that you and your family know what you're getting into and are prepared to put in the work; I'd hate for your dog to end up back in a shelter six months down the road because she was more of a handful than you were ready for.

EDIT TO ADD: I don't want to seem like I am discouraging you from getting a dog. Life with a dog is better than life without one, and if you could ask dogs I'm sure they'd all agree that life with a human is better than life without one. But it's easy to underestimate how much work it is to take care of them, and that's why most shelters are always full -- families adopt a dog thinking it will be easy, then find they weren't really ready for the challenge of raising it.
I think everybody should have a dog, but only if they are truly prepared to commit to taking care of that dog for the next 10-14 years. And if you think cleaning up shedded hair will be the biggest challenge, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

 

[Gymnast2009]

Anyone know of good breeders for cavaliers or mini dachshunds?

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

I say this as someone who has two rescue dogs, has worked in puppy classes/assisted with behavioral classes and with rescues. For first time dog owners - don't get a rescue.

4) Mutts tend to live longer. Most purebreds are not bred to be particularly healthy or long-lived; they're bred to look a certain way. A mutt will live, on average, one to two years longer than a purebred goldie. They also tend to have better health in general, and require fewer expensive vet visits.
I don't know if you've learned about genetics (or the history of European royalty) in school yet, but the short version is that genetic diversity within a population almost always brings health and longevity benefits.

They are not only bred for looks, many breeds are predominantly 'working lines' or might have working and 'show lines' Kelpie's are pretty much breed for work, one sold for $49,000 last year as a results of it's impeccable breeding, because it was capable of doing the work of 8 humans. They are an exceptionally healthy breed. GSD's are an example of the stark difference between show and working line.

How long a dog lives is size dependent, The bigger they are the shorter the lifespan. Given that many rescues are some kind of staffy mix - a small to medium size dog, of course they are going to seem to live longer.

Facts - While pure bred dogs are more likely for about 10 genetic disorders (dependent on breed) many of which can/are tested for and can be prevented by owner (bloat) - overall mixed breeds are not significantly healthier. The point at the end about pure breed dog owners being more likely to get veterinary care rings true in my experience. Many rescues have extremely poor physical structure (poor breeding/incompatible mix) which meals the activities and exercise you do should be carefully selected.

I know the breeders here will refund or take the dog back if it ends up with a significant health issue . If you cannot care for the dog anymore for whatever reason the dog goes back to the breeder - it's not contributing to the excess of dogs - that is the fault puppy farms, backyard breeders and those who chose dogs based on looks.

Mixed breed dog coats can end up being very expensive to groom and properly maintain, because you get a wild mix of coat types that need different styles of grooming. Professional groomers that treat dogs well often won't work with mixed coats.

Last year I could have purchased about 8-10 pure breed dogs for what I paid in veterinary bills in one month on my 'cheap healthy rescue'

From working puppy school, it is the pure breed puppies that had the best temperaments, and research also supports this. Many of the mixed breeds showed early signs on potential anxiety issues.

So for new owners having a dog with a breeder who will be a fantastic support and fall back vs the lucky dip of rescues. Learn how to be a great owner with a dog with a rock solid temperament - don't do the lucky dip - project dogs are incredibly rewarding - but they are better placed with those who can give them everything they need, not an owner thrown in the deep end.

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

I say this as someone who has two rescue dogs, has worked in puppy classes/assisted with behavioral classes and with rescues. For first time dog owners - don't get a rescue.


They are not only bred for looks, many breeds are predominantly 'working lines' or might have working and 'show lines' Kelpie's are pretty much breed for work, one sold for $49,000 last year as a results of it's impeccable breeding, because it was capable of doing the work of 8 humans. They are an exceptionally healthy breed. GSD's are an example of the stark difference between show and working line.

How long a dog lives is size dependent, The bigger they are the shorter the lifespan. Given that many rescues are some kind of staffy mix - a small to medium size dog, of course they are going to seem to live longer.

Facts - While pure bred dogs are more likely for about 10 genetic disorders (dependent on breed) many of which can/are tested for and can be prevented by owner (bloat) - overall mixed breeds are not significantly healthier. The point at the end about pure breed dog owners being more likely to get veterinary care rings true in my experience. Many rescues have extremely poor physical structure (poor breeding/incompatible mix) which meals the activities and exercise you do should be carefully selected.

I know the breeders here will refund or take the dog back if it ends up with a significant health issue . If you cannot care for the dog anymore for whatever reason the dog goes back to the breeder - it's not contributing to the excess of dogs - that is the fault puppy farms, backyard breeders and those who chose dogs based on looks.

Mixed breed dog coats can end up being very expensive to groom and properly maintain, because you get a wild mix of coat types that need different styles of grooming. Professional groomers that treat dogs well often won't work with mixed coats.

Last year I could have purchased about 8-10 pure breed dogs for what I paid in veterinary bills in one month on my 'cheap healthy rescue'

From working puppy school, it is the pure breed puppies that had the best temperaments, and research also supports this. Many of the mixed breeds showed early signs on potential anxiety issues.

So for new owners having a dog with a breeder who will be a fantastic support and fall back vs the lucky dip of rescues. Learn how to be a great owner with a dog with a rock solid temperament - don't do the lucky dip - project dogs are incredibly rewarding - but they are better placed with those who can give them everything they need, not an owner thrown in the deep end.

All fair points.

But again, to me the biggest point in favor of rescues is that a rescued dog is a life saved.

 

[GymnastMomX2]

I would recommend fostering, then if the dog isn’t a good fit you can find it a new home and still help save a life. If it’s a fit for your family, then great, you can adopt.

For breeds that shed a lot, there’s really no way around the hair. There’s going to be hair, everywhere. lol The best way to combat it is to brush them daily, and we also used to take our dogs to the groomer for deshedding baths, which would help for a couple weeks at least. Gets $$$ though.

 

[Gymnast2009]

How do the deshedding baths work? my parents think its baloney for a shampoo or conditioner to be able to reduce shedding and im starting to think that too!

 

[GymnastMomX2]

They not only shampoo but also spend extra time brushing, we had a husky that we rescued and she was like a different dog after her deshedding treatments at the groomer. It was SO nice to not deal with hair everywhere for a few weeks after. They don’t prevent shedding, they just get rid of all the extra hair before it can shed.

 

[gym_dad32608]

as an owner of 2 goldens, there is absolutely no way around hair. Baths, etc can help contain it, but you will still have those hair bunnies all around the house. The best solution that I have is to have all wood/vinyl flooring, and have my irobot running every day. But goldens come with hair accept it or dont have them.

In regards to rescue versus pure. Ultimately the best dog you can have is the dog that you are going to love and be responsible for. If go the pure breed route, do your research on a responsible breeder, ask questions about genetic issues in that breed and how they are breeding them out. As a dvm specialist, mixed or pure all have their issues.