Breeding with Golden Retrievers

The Breeding of Golden Retrievers (or any other breed of dog or other animal) should not be taken lightly. It is a serious responsibility that can have far-reaching consequences that you need to be aware of because the actions of a single person could result in a devastating impact to a particular breed, the same as it could be an incredible success.

We believe firmly that the only reason to breed with a dog or a bitch is to improve the breed.  You will have to spend a lot of time and effort in learning about the breed, pedigrees, problems etc; and to prove that your dog is a specimen worth breeding from by working and showing them successfully.

Breeding dogs is not for the fainthearted and uninformed. If you are considering breeding with your dog you are most welcome to contact us for advice. There is lot that needs to be taken into consideration when breeding with dogs, some of the most important being:

• Is your dog registered with the Kennel Union of South Africa (KUSA)?

Why is this important? - this ensures the "purity" of the breed where generations has been carefully planned by experienced breeders for over 100 years. This could give you a very good indication regarding the lineage of the dog and what "type" of breeding was used to produce your dog. There are numerous types of breeding practices, of which line-breeding is the most preferred, out-crossing sometimes done when a particular breeding line is too close or inbred and inbreeding - that is only used when absolutely necessary & done with great care & healthy, clear dogs only!

The SA Dog Breeders Association is NOT recognised by KUSA and it is not recommended to obtain puppies NOT registered with KUSA.

• Have you done all the necessary health checks required for your particular breed AND is the results on both Sire & Dam clear?

Why is this important? - this is probably the MOST important aspect of any breeding plan because no breeding should be done with dogs not tested & found to be clear or hereditary diseases. Please refer to the "Health Concerns" page for the required tests & hereditary diseases specific to a Golden Retriever.

• Are you familiar with the pedigree of your dog and have you researched the pedigree of both the sire and dam and sure that their pedigrees are complimentary?

• Do you have the TIME to invest in the care of a litter - for the female 63 days in pregnancy & the puppies at least 9 weeks?

• Do you have a sound reason for breeding? It is not recommended that you breed just because you "want to experience a litter" or "your female should have a litter before she is spayed". I believe that the only sound reason for breeding would be if you are prepared to invest the necessary time and cost for the improvement & continuation of quality specimens for the breed.

• Is your house suitable for a litter? Puppies can not just be left outside underneath a shack or tree to fend for themselves. They need shelter, a proper whelping box, sufficient blankets and a sterile environment to avoid serious diseases & complications with the litter.

• Do you have buyers for your puppies? Giving your puppies away to the first interested persons or selling them through a pet shop is not acceptable.

• Are you prepared to offer a "after sales service" for puppy owners to support them with questions & problems that they might encounter for the entire lifespan of the puppy (which could be 15 years).

• Are you prepared and can you afford all the costs associated with raising a litter? It costs a minimum of R2500 to raise a SINGLE PUPPY.

• Do you have enough knowledge about the breed to educate prospective owners on their traits, temperament, quirks, good points AND bad points to ensure that your puppy owners make an informed decision that a Golden Retriever is the right dog for their family?

• Are you a member of the Kennel Union of South Africa (KUSA) and are you aware of the registration process & costs associated with registering a litter of puppies?

• Do you believe that the dog you want to breed from is a QUALITY SPECIMEN of the breed according to the official Breed Standard?

If you are serious about breeding, I will assist with the greatest of pleasure to guide & advise on all the necessary procedures & requirements. Please feel free to contact me.

Also see the following pages:

Choosing the Right Breeder

Accredited Breeders Scheme

Health Concerns

About Golden Retrievers

Breeding Restrictions

This website was created and maintained by Arnel Sauer.  All rights reserved.  Copyright 2003

No content or photograph's on this website may be used or reproduced in any format, at any time, without the explicit consent of the author / owner.

Last Updated:  04/12/2012 09:52:00 PM