Puppy Buying Guide
Where to Start
Try answering the questions below and if you have answered “yes” to all of them, you then need to make a decision on what kind of dog to adopt: -
Purebred, Crossbred or SPCA Special
Adopting a purebred dog means that you will know how big the puppy will grow, what kind of coat it will have, the general temperament to expect etc. But there is no guarantee you will have the world’s best specimen. Any dog may fall prey to some disease or have social problems although most of the latter are caused by inadequate training and irresponsible ownership.
With a purebred dog, a responsible breeder will provide you with sight of the registration papers of the mother and perhaps also the father, showing the ancestry. If the puppy has been registered, you will be able to get a Registration Certificate and Certified Three Generation Pedigree as issued to the breeder by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa.
A “crossbred” dog is the result of the mating of two distinct recognized breeds (for example, the mother a Border Collie and the father a Labrador). The crossbred puppy make take the characteristics of either or both parents. You may have a rough idea of how your puppy may grow but there is no guarantee as to size, coat or anything else.
“An SPCA Special” is often taken to mean a mongrel or a “brak” but SPCAs often have purebred dogs available for adoption. Purebred or not, each dog or puppy adopted from an SPCA must be sterilized. If you take your definition of an SPCA “special” to be a mongrel, then the literal definition is a dog born of parents which already have a mixture of breeds. Mongrels can make ideal pets but, no-one can guarantee anything about size, temperament or coat: - it depends which breeds are dominant.
Male or Female?
This decision falls away if the dog or puppy is sterilized, regardless of whether it is male or female. Bitches come into heat, attract males for miles around and can be a nuisance to you as well as the neighbors. We all know that un-neutered males wander – or try to if there is a sniff of a bitch on heat.
And Other Decisions
It isn’t unreasonable to make a decision relating to the size of the dog. Don’t forget that even within breeds, sizes vary so (measuring from the shoulder) Standard Poodles can be over 38cm, Miniature Poodles between 28cm and 38cm and the smallest, Toy Poodles coming in at 28cm and under. Then bear in mind that the tallest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound at around 81cm. The smallest is the Chihuahua at between 13,5 and 18cm. Libraries and breed clubs are wonderful sources of additional information. But don’t forget that if you decide to adopt a cross-bred Great Dane at your local SPCA, you will be looking at a rather a large dog when the puppy grows to full adulthood!
Adoption fees vary from SPCA to SPCA depending on what is included (sterilization is ALWAYS included and is compulsory). Some include a collar and disc, others microchip identification etc.
Prices of purebred dogs vary and may also depend on availability or background. A Bill of Sale and any conditions attached to the sale should be obtained in writing. There have been cases of people who spent hundreds, if not thousands of Rands on purchasing a cuddly puppy with no receipts or anything, and then they wonder what to do if anything goes wrong.
Many “breeds” of dog are advertised on the Internet at lower prices (can’t believe we are talking about “advertising” and “prices” in relation to dogs) than those of reputable breeders. Be cautious, to say the least. Online shopping may be the norm now but it is certainly not recommended for the adoption of pets. Complaints about such purchases continue to proliferate, including the common complaint that the dog was not purebred at all.
Words of warning also go out in relation to gimmicks such as advertising “Labradoodles” as if this was a recognized breed and asking high prices. Many a time, people are fooled and find themselves paying way over the odds for the progeny of an unplanned mating between a Labrador Retriever and a poodle.
And if you DO go the Purebred Route
Some questions to ask the breeder which anyone reputable will answer without hesitation and give accurate, informed answers: -
And finally, if you decide to go this route, two questions to ask yourself:
Why a Golden Retriever is NOT the Perfect Family Dog
Before Buying a Golden Retriever - please give careful consideration to the following:
Try answering the questions below and if you have answered “yes” to all of them, you then need to make a decision on what kind of dog to adopt: -
- Will there be someone at home to give sufficient quality time to your dog?
- Have you sufficient space for a dog?
- Does your lease / complex allow you to keep a dog?
- Are you prepared to exercise your dog sufficiently?
- Is there open space either near your home or that you are prepared to drive to where you are allowed to exercise your dog if your grounds are not big enough?
- Can you afford veterinary fees?
- Are you prepared to give up time to ensure that your dog has the necessary training to socialise and to learn to obey basic commands like “sit” or “stay”?
- Do you know that some types of dog are more noisy or more energetic than others?
- f you decide to adopt a puppy, are you prepared for some damage in your home (“toileting” accidents or chewing items, for example)
- Have you the time to groom a dog properly or can you afford grooming fees/
- Can you afford to feed your dog properly – and we do mean “properly” – not makeshift diets, the cheapest food available of left-overs!
- Do you appreciate that dogs, like people, grow old and may need special care and attention later in their lives?
- If you cannot leave your dog with responsible relatives or friends when you go on holiday, can you afford the cost of boarding kennels?
- Are you prepared to love and care for a dog all its life, which is often more than ten years: - and not just when it is a cuddly puppy?
Purebred, Crossbred or SPCA Special
Adopting a purebred dog means that you will know how big the puppy will grow, what kind of coat it will have, the general temperament to expect etc. But there is no guarantee you will have the world’s best specimen. Any dog may fall prey to some disease or have social problems although most of the latter are caused by inadequate training and irresponsible ownership.
With a purebred dog, a responsible breeder will provide you with sight of the registration papers of the mother and perhaps also the father, showing the ancestry. If the puppy has been registered, you will be able to get a Registration Certificate and Certified Three Generation Pedigree as issued to the breeder by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa.
A “crossbred” dog is the result of the mating of two distinct recognized breeds (for example, the mother a Border Collie and the father a Labrador). The crossbred puppy make take the characteristics of either or both parents. You may have a rough idea of how your puppy may grow but there is no guarantee as to size, coat or anything else.
“An SPCA Special” is often taken to mean a mongrel or a “brak” but SPCAs often have purebred dogs available for adoption. Purebred or not, each dog or puppy adopted from an SPCA must be sterilized. If you take your definition of an SPCA “special” to be a mongrel, then the literal definition is a dog born of parents which already have a mixture of breeds. Mongrels can make ideal pets but, no-one can guarantee anything about size, temperament or coat: - it depends which breeds are dominant.
Male or Female?
This decision falls away if the dog or puppy is sterilized, regardless of whether it is male or female. Bitches come into heat, attract males for miles around and can be a nuisance to you as well as the neighbors. We all know that un-neutered males wander – or try to if there is a sniff of a bitch on heat.
And Other Decisions
It isn’t unreasonable to make a decision relating to the size of the dog. Don’t forget that even within breeds, sizes vary so (measuring from the shoulder) Standard Poodles can be over 38cm, Miniature Poodles between 28cm and 38cm and the smallest, Toy Poodles coming in at 28cm and under. Then bear in mind that the tallest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound at around 81cm. The smallest is the Chihuahua at between 13,5 and 18cm. Libraries and breed clubs are wonderful sources of additional information. But don’t forget that if you decide to adopt a cross-bred Great Dane at your local SPCA, you will be looking at a rather a large dog when the puppy grows to full adulthood!
Adoption fees vary from SPCA to SPCA depending on what is included (sterilization is ALWAYS included and is compulsory). Some include a collar and disc, others microchip identification etc.
Prices of purebred dogs vary and may also depend on availability or background. A Bill of Sale and any conditions attached to the sale should be obtained in writing. There have been cases of people who spent hundreds, if not thousands of Rands on purchasing a cuddly puppy with no receipts or anything, and then they wonder what to do if anything goes wrong.
Many “breeds” of dog are advertised on the Internet at lower prices (can’t believe we are talking about “advertising” and “prices” in relation to dogs) than those of reputable breeders. Be cautious, to say the least. Online shopping may be the norm now but it is certainly not recommended for the adoption of pets. Complaints about such purchases continue to proliferate, including the common complaint that the dog was not purebred at all.
Words of warning also go out in relation to gimmicks such as advertising “Labradoodles” as if this was a recognized breed and asking high prices. Many a time, people are fooled and find themselves paying way over the odds for the progeny of an unplanned mating between a Labrador Retriever and a poodle.
And if you DO go the Purebred Route
Some questions to ask the breeder which anyone reputable will answer without hesitation and give accurate, informed answers: -
- What are the upsides and downsides of this breed? (all breeds have downsides)
- How often are puppies available? (It takes devotion to breed dogs successfully and so be cautious of any breeder who always seems to have puppies available or on the way)
- What are the genetic problems of this breed? (No breed is free from genetic problems)
- Can I see where the puppies were raised?
- May I see the mother and her registration papers?
- Do you provide any written health guarantee on a puppy and over what period of time?
- Do you provide any written offer of compensation against hereditary defects?
- Do you provide a record of vaccinations?
- Do you provide a diet sheet for any puppy I might purchase?
- Could you provide me with the names of any previous puppy buyers from whom I might obtain a written reference?
And finally, if you decide to go this route, two questions to ask yourself:
- Is the breeder caring and friendly?
- Is this a breeder with whom I want to deal and with whom I can have rapport?
Why a Golden Retriever is NOT the Perfect Family Dog
- The Golden could suffer from major separation anxiety. Because Goldens are "people" dogs, they suffer when their people need to leave them behind, even under the best of conditions in their own home with a live-in servant. The Golden gives no hint that they are stressed until they explode with a hot spot the size of a dinner plate. If unable to work up a hot spot, the Golden will resort to a bout of diarrhea or another ailment serious enough to require a trip to the vet as long as it does not require missing a meal.
- The Golden is first and foremost a retriever. This means that they will make every effort to bring you everything not nailed down. However, they never return anything to its original location so a large portion of the day must be spent gathering and redecorating.
- The Border Collie has "the eye", an unblinking stare that is used to get what they want. The Golden has something equally unnerving, "The Eye Shift." During The Eye Shift, the Golden darts their eyes back and forth between you and any tennis ball. This is done without any perceptible movement of their heads. The Eye Shift can be done at any angle to accommodate a ball on the floor or hidden high on a bookshelf. It is impossible to hide a ball from a Golden, and every effort to do so will be defeated. Living with the Eye Shift is like living with a non-stop tennis match. Golden Retriever owners learn to ignore it or run the risk of developing vertigo.
- When things are quiet, the Golden Retriever likes to drape in your lap or, at the very least, rest their fifty-pound head. They are big dogs and it only takes about ten minutes before your legs go numb. After watching a movie, one is reduced to crawling to bed or the kitchen or waiting until feeling returns with a painful burst of pins and needles.
- The Golden makes a terrible watchdog. They like everyone. A Golden will try to work the Eye Shift on a burglar with some patter that sounds like this: Hey, could you stop filling that bag for just a minute and toss the ball on that shelf for me, please, please, please. Yes, that shelf. Just follow my eyes. Right there. Right there. Yes!
- This breed is known for their versatility. They will do their best at any type of work they are offered. Guide Dog? Sure. Agility? Can do. Obedience? How long should I stay? Tracking. Where shall we start? This puts great responsibility on the Golden owner to get involved in something. Goldens make their owners feel guilty or at least they should.
- The breed has fragmented into at least two distinctly different types that look strikingly different. The lighter boned, darker coloured dogs bred to work in the field look very different than their show bred relatives with their Hollywood starlet blond coats and heavier bone. If you decide on a Golden, you will have to make the tough choice of whether you want to join the camp of the beauty queens or the athletes.
- This breed will sell its soul for food. Julie Cairns writes in her book, The Golden Retriever, All That Glitters that, "... gluttony is a common trait among Goldens, and many will eat as long as food is available." Now that is an understatement. A Golden who stumbles on an unattended dog food bag is a candidate for exploding. An increasing number of Goldens have been appearing on street corners sporting signs announcing that they will trade their services for food.
- The death of a Golden presents a serious problem, beyond the mere fact that they have died. When Goldens die, they are automatically transformed in their friends' minds from a perfect dog to sainthood. All deceased Goldens are known as Saint Somebody. This makes it very difficult to get another dog.
- Goldens shed their coats frequently and copiously. Do not buy one if you are house-proud, have pale coloured carpets or a dodgy vacuum cleaner.
- Goldens are large dogs with an uncanny knack of finding all the muddiest puddles. Some are great wallowers - yours is bound to be one of them!
- Faeces are a by-product of all dogs, which we all have to dispose of responsibly. It is one of the more unpleasant facts of dog ownership, and most public places now require you to pick up after your dog.
- A well-bred and properly reared puppy will cost from R4000-00 to R5000-00 and this is only the beginning. Veterinary fees are expensive, so it makes sense to insure your dog, indeed most breeders will insist you do so.
- A male Golden Retriever will mature into a large dog, reaching as much as 56-61 cm at the shoulder and can weigh anything up to 40kg's - a sizeable amount when it is attempting to climb up into your lap for a cuddle.
- Goldens do not make good kennel dogs, most are real couch potatoes, who unerringly find the most comfortable sofas and the choicest position in front of the fire.
- Some Goldens are great landscape architects, if your garden is a show piece, having your own Ground Force team may not go down too well. The garden must also be well fenced with sturdy boundaries, like Anne Robinson, puppies will always find the Weakest Link.
- Although usually tractable and obedient, given an inch, most will take the whole nine yards!
Before Buying a Golden Retriever - please give careful consideration to the following:
- Is there somebody at home most of the time to look after it, especially while it is still a puppy? – a quick visit at lunch time is NOT ENOUGH.
- Do you have sufficient space to have a dog? Remember, a big dog needs adequate space to live and exercise in. (and Goldens are active dogs with working brains)
- Is your property adequately fenced, so that the dog is safe and can not get out into the street?
- Is your garden safe? (i.e. is your pool fenced off? Are there any high places where your puppy could fall off?
- Can you afford vets’ fees if the dog is ill?
- Can you afford to feed the dog properly?
- Is a Golden suitable to your surroundings & life style? (GOLDENS ARE MORE PEOPLE ORIENTATED THAN OTHER BIG BREEDS AND CONSTANTLY NEED CONTACT WITH PEOPLE)
- Do you know that if a Golden does not have people contact constantly it becomes withdrawn, destructive and miserable?
- Will your Golden be allowed indoors during the day and to sleep?
- Are you prepared for some digging & damage in the garden while you Golden is growing up? (puppies go through the delinquent teenager stage before they grow up)
- Do you know that a Golden is a compulsive “retriever” and that punishment or a reprimand for retrieving can be detrimental to the dog’s attitude and to your relationship with the dog?
- Do you have time to groom the dog regularly?
- Are you prepared to take time (and money) to train the dog to ensure it is a pleasure to live with? (All dogs should be obedience trained even if you don’t wish to train competitively)
- Do you realize that dogs, like people, grow old and may need special care and / or medication?
- Are you prepared to love and care for your Golden for all of its life, and not just when it is a cuddly puppy?
- Do you commit yourself never to physically punish your puppy? A stern voice and a finger pointing close to his nose showing your displeasure will do more wonders than all the smacking in the world.
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Only the Kennel Union of South Africa is an accepted registry of Purebred Golden Retrievers. Any other organisation is not affiliated to FCI.
The Kennel Union of South Africa - www.kusa.co.za
These other registries are NOT accepted:
South African Canine Breed Registry - http://www.sacbr.co.za/
South African Dog Breeders Association - http://sadba.co.za/
Canine South Africa - http://www.canine.co.za/
National Dog Breeders Council of South Africa - www.ndbc.co.za/
The Kennel Union of South Africa - www.kusa.co.za
These other registries are NOT accepted:
South African Canine Breed Registry - http://www.sacbr.co.za/
South African Dog Breeders Association - http://sadba.co.za/
Canine South Africa - http://www.canine.co.za/
National Dog Breeders Council of South Africa - www.ndbc.co.za/
How to Decode Puppy Adverts
Unfortunately in every country and with every breed there is inevitably those that dont have the best interest of the breed at heart and theirr only motivation is to line their pockets with the income from breeding litters. Golden Retrievers are one of the world's most popular breeds and it is therefore very easy to make a lot of money from puppy farming.
In the 13 years that I have been involved in Golden Retrievers I have heard and seen horrifying things happen to the Golden Retriever Breed in South Africa and since the breed is one of my greatest passions in life, I dont just stand by and let things happen.
There is not a lot that one single person can do, but we try by educating the public NOT to support these breeding farms and to rather go to reputable, respective and accredited breeders - yes, you might end up paying a bit more for your puppy but there is no price that can be put on a healthy, well bred golden retriever that should live a happy, healthy life up to +-15 years.
Throughout the years I have had a lot of distraught puppy owners contact me with issues with their young puppies - puppies dying at a very young age, having eye problems, etc.
We are dealing with "live stock" here and although we can never gaurantee a perfectly healthy puppy, reputable breeders do the utmost to ensure that we breed with the healthiest dogs possible AND that we provide the owners with all the help, advice and guidance that we can.
Unfortunately in every country and with every breed there is inevitably those that dont have the best interest of the breed at heart and theirr only motivation is to line their pockets with the income from breeding litters. Golden Retrievers are one of the world's most popular breeds and it is therefore very easy to make a lot of money from puppy farming.
In the 13 years that I have been involved in Golden Retrievers I have heard and seen horrifying things happen to the Golden Retriever Breed in South Africa and since the breed is one of my greatest passions in life, I dont just stand by and let things happen.
There is not a lot that one single person can do, but we try by educating the public NOT to support these breeding farms and to rather go to reputable, respective and accredited breeders - yes, you might end up paying a bit more for your puppy but there is no price that can be put on a healthy, well bred golden retriever that should live a happy, healthy life up to +-15 years.
Throughout the years I have had a lot of distraught puppy owners contact me with issues with their young puppies - puppies dying at a very young age, having eye problems, etc.
We are dealing with "live stock" here and although we can never gaurantee a perfectly healthy puppy, reputable breeders do the utmost to ensure that we breed with the healthiest dogs possible AND that we provide the owners with all the help, advice and guidance that we can.
Breeder Comparison Matrix
What Does Health Checks mean?
As all purebred dogs suffer from certain genetic and hereditary conditions, it is always required to do the necessary health checks required for the breed. In Golden Retrievers the following Health Checks must be done:
- HIP and ELBOW Displaysia Grading
- Eye Certificate
- DNA Testing
There is simply NO EXCUSE for breeding with dogs with known problems or not doing health checks. As a prospective puppy owner the following should be NON NEGOTIABLE when you are considering buying a puppy:
- ALL HEALTH CHECKS FOR BOTH PARENTS TO BE DONE - INCLUDING HIP AND ELBOW GRADINGS, EYE TESTS AND DNA TESTS. BREEDING OF ANY SCORE BELOW A - "C2/D1:2" IS UNACCEPTABLE.
- WHERE POSSIBLE ASK ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT THE PARENTS OR THEIR PARENTS MIGHT HAVE HAD OR PRODUCED - A GOOD BREEDER WILL BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT THIS.
- VISIT THE PUPPIES AND SEE WHERE THEY ARE RAISED - THEY SHOULD NOT BE RAISED IN KENNELS.
- WHEN VISITING PUPPIES THEY SHOULD BE HEALTHY, CONFIDENT AND HAPPY TO INTERACT
- ALWAYS ASK TO SEE THE PARENTS OF THE PUPPIES (WHERE POSSIBLE)
- ASK ABOUT HEALTH CHECKS AND BREEDING PRACTICES AND AFTER SALES SUPPORT
- ASK IF THE BREEDER IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ANY DOG SPORTS - SHOWING, OBEDIENCE, TRIALS, ETC.
- ASK ABOUT PEDIGREES AND CoI (COEFFICIENT OF INBREEDING)
- PARENTS AND PUPPIES MUST BE REGISTERED WITH KUSA (The Kennel Union of South Africa) - NO other registering body is accepted.
- Don't fall into the trap where the breeders advise you to refer to the parents of the Dam and Sire for health checks - this does NOT mean the parents of your puppies will NOT have health problems.
- Beware of Breeders that always have puppies READILY available - reputable breeders dont breed often and usually have waiting lists. Its best to WAIT for a well bred puppy!
- Research different breeders and their dogs and select adults that YOU like as the offspring will end up looking like the parents.
- Interact with the parents (where possible) as the temperament of your puppy will most likely be similar to the parents.
- Ask for Temperament Assessments to be done by Accredited Animal Trainer / Behaviorist to match the correct puppy to your home, family and lifestyle. If you are an active family you would not want the most placid and calm puppy necessarily and vice versa.
Some Interesting Documents and Articles
Below is the grading scheme used in South Africa for Hip Displaysia as well as an example of a Health Certificate that you should request for both parents of the litter:
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