Knowing clearly what you want in a golden retriever puppy and
selecting a breeder are the first two steps. Once you’ve met the breeder and have
agreed on a price, choosing the puppy that will best suit you can be the next
tricky step. The popular belief is to choose the first puppy that comes to you,
because this means they are really friendly and outgoing; or it means they are
pushy and hard to handle. Ask the breeder, as they will know the golden retriever
puppies much better than you could in 15 minutes to an hour of playing with the
litter.
Evaluate The Puppies On An Individual Basis
Pick the golden
retriever puppies up and, as you pat them, notice if they are strong and muscular
or soft and potbellied; a chubby puppy is an overfed, under-exercised puppy. Its
eyes should be dark brown with dark rims; watery eyes are a sign of sickness;
most often from diarrhea, which could be associated with worms. Look at the paws
and nose; they should be either completely or nearly completely black. The ears
should be clean with no black inside; ear mites leave a black powder in their
wake. The coat should feel dense, clean, and have sheen. Look in to the golden
retriever puppy’s mouth; the teeth should create a near perfect scissor effect,
and the gums should be pink and moist, not pale.
It can also be a good
idea to get the golden retriever puppies you like the most away from their litter
mates one at a time to test their skill level. They should relax when you hold
them after a moment and should allow you to pet them; a nervous anxious puppy
is likely to be a nervous anxious dog. A golden retriever puppy should have a
natural talent of, at the very least, being interested in a toy; preferably, they
will also follow the toy in your hand with its eyes or head and attempt to chase,
if not retrieve, the toy if you throw it. It is also characteristic for a golden
retriever puppy to want to chew the toy in your hand; if the puppy seems apprehensive
about playing with you, this may be a sign of a problem animal.
The Breeder
When
you pick a breeder, you have as good as picked the puppy; and vise versa. If you
have researched up to this point and chose a quality breeder, they will know much
more about the golden retriever puppies than you. Take advantage of this knowledge
available to you; ask lots of questions, show them that you are as committed to
seeing that puppy have a full happy life as they are. Ask about the parents; does
the breeder own both the mother and father? This is a good time to inquire about
genetic disorders that you may have to worry about; before mating the dogs, the
breeder should have had genetic testing preformed on both dogs to ensure the best
quality pups.
The Decision
Deciding to sign the paperwork and commit
to a golden retriever puppy is what all of the research has been for. The remaining
obstacles are choosing a name, to choose a male or a female, and to begin caring
for your golden retriever puppy. Some breeders will insist on making the choice
of puppy for you; whether you get to choose or the decision is made for you, knowing
the difference between caring for and living with a male
or female golden retriever puppy will help you to prepare for its arrival.
Attention: To discover how
YOU can have the Happiest, Healthiest and Best Behaved Golden Retriever,
get a copy of this Golden Retriever Guide
NOW!
