Ok to get puppy from newspaper ads? [Archive] - Top Golden Retriever Sites Discussion Forums

theGoldenPup

01-30-2005, 05:05 PM

Umm...probably should read the book a few times before you get your pup.

How do you know you're getting him next week if you don't have a breeder yet? Often the breeder won't breed until they have most of the homes for thier pups. Many breeders will have you check you and you'll have to check them to make sure it should work out.

There are many posts on finding a good breeder if you do a search on this site and read many books.

A reputable breeder almost never advertises in the newspaper. Those people breed for money generally, not healthy dogs.

GoldenPup

CanadianGolden

01-30-2005, 05:23 PM

Please do not get a pup from the paper. Find a breeder who shows her dogs and has titles on them (parents of the litter should be Champions--have Ch. in front of their name, and/or should have titles after their names as well). Make sure the breeder shows you health clearances on the parents--hips, elbows, eyes, and heart should be cleared. You will be glad you got a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder, trust me.

cutelilgoldens

01-30-2005, 05:33 PM

do you know where i can get a reputable breeder in sydney,Australia?

theGoldenPup

01-30-2005, 05:36 PM

Go to dog shows, events, and contact the golden retriever club (..if there is one?...). Ask vets, trainers, groomers. And if you are interested in adopting, go to the shelters.

Don't go with the first breeder you meet! They are not all equal.

It may be a long wait, but, the more careful you are now, the more likely it is that you will have many happy years with your golden!

Good luck!

GoldenPup

angenbear

01-30-2005, 06:34 PM

I"m s ure after reading some info on golden, and going through here is getting you excited to get one asap, but please take the time and still learn more. This would be the time to research breeders around your area while you are reading books on them. Once you have a golden pup, they take A LOT of time and responsibility, so you should be prepared for it.

coopersmom04

01-31-2005, 12:50 AM

if you are getting from a reputable breeder there's no way you would know that you are "getting a pup next week". You might be looking at pups next week, but unless you spoke to the breeder and he/she told you that she has pups not spoken for yet that are ready to go next week, how could you be so sure? Sounds like you haven't even spoken with a breeder yet.

GoldCountryGirl

01-31-2005, 09:03 AM

You're the one who has a wife, right? I still haven't heard how SHE feels about all of this. Is she up for having a Golden pup? Has she shared in any of the "research" you're doing? I agree with everyone else here and that you NEED to contact some reputable breeders and NOT simply get a pup from the newspaper or any other backyard-type breeder. PLEASE be patient before taking this giant step! After all, this is a major decision and life long committment. Do you realize the expense of veterinary care for a dog who comes from poor breeding without health clearances who just happens to have severe hip dsyplasia or eye problems? Not to mention the numerous other maladies that can affect Goldens. Temperament is also VERY important. It's not always easy even with a dog who comes from excellent lines with a history of good health. Things happen. Be prepared for the unexpected.

All I'm saying is why not lower your odds for future problems and start right with a reputable breeder who breeds for temperament, health and quality.

Good luck and I hope your wife is as excited as you are.

I think i am getting my golden pup NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!! banana :) IM SOOOOOO EXCITED!!! I even ordered the "golden retrievers for dummies"i cant even wait or sleep im so excited.First i need to find a breeder in Sydney,Australia.
Is it ok if i get one from the papers?

goodtim'n

02-02-2005, 11:22 PM

lovie1

02-03-2005, 05:13 AM

yes i would and did. I bought Doc from a byb had proper clearances and mom was professional bred ..father DNA tested ..fathers pedigree was very good mothers not that good. Doc is my beloved friend and pet that i cherish. When he was neutered at 61/2 months hips were fair . will get another xray when he is 18 months. Anyways he is wonderful and people who meet him are surprised to find out he was only $300. Walked him through a local dog show here and other golden owners thought he was entered. that was a big surprise to me. anyways i must have gotten very lucky.

murph's mom

02-03-2005, 07:22 AM

I would. If the parents have their clearances, are well cared for and come from good lines. I think it would only make a difference if you had plans to breed the dog because other prospective breeders seem to care about the championships.

Gryffyndor

02-03-2005, 08:48 AM

I am going to play devil's advocate :( and say that dogs used by breeders should have titles (whether that be in conformation, agility or hunting). The only reason to breed goldens is for the betterment of the breed; this means that the dogs should be a good representative of the golden retriever standard. Achieving titles is a way for breeders to determine that their stock is of high quality. All of us think our dogs are the greatest, but I know that Gryffyn should not, and never will be, used for breeding because he is under breed height and has a poorly defined head among other things. But I still love him to bits! :woofpup Rescue dogs are also a great option :) Research is your greatest tool to ensure that you will have a healthy, happy dog for the next decade.

CanadianGolden

02-03-2005, 08:51 AM

Thanks Gryffyndor, I agree!

Goldenglittergirl

02-03-2005, 11:29 AM

Amen to what you said Gryffydor!!! :604 But some think dogs shouldn't really have titles, as they are just some fancy shmancy thing behind their name, and they don't really understand the importance of the titles.... :rolleyes:

Westin

02-04-2005, 12:52 PM

I agree with most of the above, but to get back to the original question...every dog needs a home whether it be from an ad in the paper or from a professional breeder. As long as you are aware of the risk from a BYB which to be honest isn't that much of a risk. And it depends on the reason you want the dog.

angenbear

02-04-2005, 01:00 PM

As long as you scope the environment of the puppy, how the breeder is, make sure you go in with lots of questions. Look at the pups, look at the parents. Are there other dogs around, are there pups running loose? Are there marking on them? If so, don't buy from them. You want one that has a good environment, they are secluded from other dogs, the parents are in good-great shape, no markings, and they are kept inside or in a certain area. Every pup deserves a home, they aren't responsible for the owners.

Also factors to consider, you didn't mention if you have kids, if so you may want to think of an older dog, over a year old. Or if you have a baby, then an older dog should be highly considered. You want to give lots of attention to your puppy, not to have your puppy compete with attention if you have young kids.

CanadianGolden

02-04-2005, 02:15 PM

Actually, the risk from a BYB is pretty great. My 8 year old from a BYB has Grade II unilateral elbow dysplasia as well as cataracts. I have been able to manage these things, but they cost money and I'd prefer a healthy dog. She would still be competing in agility if not for her elbow.

A pup

02-11-2005, 03:01 AM

do you know where i can get a reputable breeder in sydney,Australia?

Look up the Golden Retriever Club of NSW. URL is http://www.grcnsw.org.au/. They have a lot of useful information.

You will be better off getting a puppy from a reputed breeder rather than the newspaper. Healthy pups with good temperaments are hard to come by. So take your time in getting one. Good luck!

Rich in goldens

02-12-2005, 06:35 AM

In answering your question on where to purchase your puppy it may be important to note that no matter where you buy the dog it is important to look at both of the parents before looking at the pups. A pup will have many of the characteristics of the parents. I would not say that you have to buy a Ch sired dog I would suggest that you make sure of the Hip certification ,and eyes going back to at least the grandparents.a lot of the problems are inherited from the grandparents.
If you are unsure of how to judge temperment in the parents as well as a new puppy you might want to enlist the help of a trainer that has the ability. It is good to note here that a reputable breeder knows the puppies and can help match a puppy with your needs and situation.
I have known many BYB that are well intentioned and yet others that are litteraly destroying the breed. It is at best hit and miss. Even though I believe that every dog needs a home They also need to be matched with owner ability and the time an owner has to spend and train the dog (not to mention the knowledge to teach or the $ for a trainer) Too often an unknowing first timer picks out the most domanant dog and then ends up with a nightmare.( there is a reason why less experienced people end up with the domanant dogs) So I guess what I am saying is arm yourself with the knowledge and the skill or seek the help of people that are around dogs all the time.
one last thought here is to get references. a reputable person who is true to the breed will give you references from where they have sold puppies. Find out how the health and disposition has been on previous litters. Have fun with your new puppy and you will have a bond with these guys forever.

GoldenBlaze

02-12-2005, 02:22 PM

Ok I must as for you to please define BYB, I understand Puppy mills but what is a BYB. Meaning I know of a person that breds Goldens, she has only I believe 3 goldens. She sells the pups for 800.00
normal around here. Each pup has 3 yrs health contract, CKC papers hips clear. Female is not bred every yr, beautiful looking dogs.

So is that a BYB or do you mean people that bred a dog with no health contract and no real concere with where the pup is when gone...

I ask this question because from what I read online every person that doesn't have a " large kennel "
or kennel name is a BYB.

I hope it is ok to ask this question, just really wanted to know. :confused:

Wanted to say also that every dog needs a home, yes I agree but that is what puppy millers count on. People going there and feeling sorry for the puppies and thinking while at least I can save this pup. I know cause I felt that way too, I found out the hard way and live with worry everyday since I've learned about Blaze's breeder.

I'm not sure about the newspaper, I admit I am :confused: about where to buy from.
:dogbark

Goldenglittergirl

02-12-2005, 02:36 PM

The majority of the people advertising in the newspapers are BYB.

Check out this site; it has tons of info. on how to tell the difference between the two:

http://www.wonderpuppy.net/breeding.htm#findbreeder

cutelilgoldens

02-12-2005, 08:52 PM

coopersmom04

02-12-2005, 09:20 PM

Ok I must as for you to please define BYB, I understand Puppy mills but what is a BYB. Meaning I know of a person that breds Goldens, she has only I believe 3 goldens. She sells the pups for 800.00
normal around here. Each pup has 3 yrs health contract, CKC papers hips clear. Female is not bred every yr, beautiful looking dogs.

My breeder only has 5 dogs right now, 3 females and 2 males. She only has one litter a year. I don't think it has anything to do with the size of the kennel. Backyard breeders usually don't have health clearances for their dogs, they just breed to "make a buck" with no real concern to where their puppies are going. A good breeder makes sure you can care for the dog properly.

I believe there should be at least 2 years between litters if the same female dog is used!

Rich in goldens

02-13-2005, 05:14 AM

Can I point out a few things about this ad. First of all micro chiping is a $35.00 deal and does nothing for the health or pedigree of the dog. the worming is a pretty standard proceedure and can be done by anyone who can read the dosage lable. I doubt that a puppy has been tested for anything and if it were they show nothing about an un-developed dog. And if I can get a hundred extra for a dog becuase of these claims and the gauranty then it is just a numbers game.These kind of promises in the paper make me want to look very hard and probably not at all./ I cannot say anything about these pups but it sure raises questions be careful.

I think some ads are alright because last week i saw an ad for goldens which said it was micro-chipped,wormed,tested(hip and eye and i think more)and geuss what ...here come the good part......HEALTH GARRANTY!!!

Goldenglittergirl

02-13-2005, 07:27 AM

I think some ads are alright because last week i saw an ad for goldens which said it was micro-chipped,wormed,tested(hip and eye and i think more)and geuss what ...here come the good part......HEALTH GARRANTY!!!

The puppy had its certs and clearances? Hmmmmm....don't think so.

I have to kind of agree with RIG, that is pretty standard procedure that every breeder should do, has nothing to do with the pedigree lines.

Acamarrr

02-13-2005, 05:14 PM

I agree that a health guarantee is meaningless. Think about it. You buy the puppy, love the puppy, and perhaps within a few weeks, or months, it develops SOMETHING....whatever...doesn't matter what. You take it to the vet, and after tests and such, you find out the dog has SOMETHING that triggers the health guarantee.

If you look VERY CLOSELY at the puppy contract, you'll find that your health guarantee is like a Puppy Lemon clause -- you usually have to swap the Lemon puppy for another puppy (you don't usually get your money back, or a reimbursement of vet bills, which would be very foolish of the breeder to offer). How many of us are actually going to give up a puppy we've come to love, especially for another puppy from the same litter, which may end up having the same problems?!?!?!

We are here on this board because we love our Goldens, for better or worse, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I'd be surprised if anybody here would give up a puppy they've come to love, no matter how badly they think they were "taken" by the breeder. And forget legal redress -- puppy buying is a contractual thing, and a judge who is not a rogue-judge is going to say "what does the contact say? -- oh, look, it says you swap puppies, so swap puppies". Sadly, the law considers our pets to be property, like a coffee table, or a pillow. They don't take into account the bond of love that develops, and which prevents us from actually giving up a Lemon Puppy, even when we know we got a bad deal.

Dogsncats

02-19-2005, 09:03 AM

I am looking for a breeder and have done quite a bit of research over the last few years (never bought a pup before). I have the same question that goodtimn illuded to, that no one answered... why is it recommended that the parents be Champion show dogs if you are buying a pet?

I found a breeder that has all the health papers for parents and grandparents and breeds specifically for temperment of the dogs... puppies are well socialized (havnt visited yet but will soon). Puppies are very pricey too... some of the most expensive I've found. Parents are entered in obedience competitions but not as show dogs. they are all pedigrees just not shown.

Any advice/comments?

-One cat 2 person household - patiently awaiting our puppy - (well, cat is more likely patiently dreading the arrival).

CanadianGolden

02-19-2005, 09:14 AM

Do the dogs have obedience titles? If the dogs are performance dogs, they may be more field-type and not shown in breed. However, a dog with a solid line of performance records is in my opinion almost as good as one with both show and performance titles. I would not buy from a breeder who only does breed, but that is because I would be in the market for a puppy with potential to be a performance dog. Both the parents of my current competition dog are Canadian Champions, her mother is working on her Am. Ch., and both have extensive performance titles--her father is a UD MX MXJ plus several Canadian titles that I'm unfamiliar with--he did get his Canadian AgMX at 10 years old. Her mother has I believe a Can. CDX as well as American and Canadian agility titles.

Dogsncats

02-19-2005, 09:25 AM

Oops... I cant handle computers and didnt see the other pages with all the other discussions... sorry... good discussions.

The parents have obedience titles, but not hunting... if thats what 'field' means... I do want my breeder to breed for betterment of the breed and understand the implications of the term... I agree anything else would be selfish and not thinking of the breed as well as individual pupies... but in my mind betterment of the breed is far more related to temperment than looks... ... I mean, how pretty can they get anyway? They look good to me. I dont need my freinds or coworkers to look like Mel Gibson or Jrennifer Anniston :p

Gryffyndor

02-19-2005, 05:11 PM

In many lineages (including Gryffyn's) you may see show dogs further back in the lines, and obedience or hunting dogs in the parents and grandparents. In my opinion this is ok, and I agree that temperment is of the utmost importance. But you can find dogs with good temperment that conform to the standard and are good obedience (or hunting or agility) lines. It is quite true that many field lines would not perform well in the conformation ring, while it stands that many show dogs are not great hunters (with exceptions of course). So you can choose based on what you are looking for in a dog: obedience, hunting, conformation or pet. There are many reputable breeders that often charge similar prices to BYBs, so price is not the best way to judge the quality of dogs being sold. Just do your homework and follow your instincts. :)

golden2luvme

02-19-2005, 06:00 PM

I feel that if your just interested in just getting a pup as a pet, then it's ok to get it from the newspaper as long as you can get it in writing that they can gaurantee a certain amount of time for health or personality problems. You should check out the environment, how the other pups are, the mom/dad are. If the environment isn't good, where the dogs are running around and puppies, and there are lots of dogs, then pass on it and do further searching.

diiorio

03-12-2005, 07:06 AM

Even breeders tha advertise uppies available in the paper (soem times they have sexes not requested on waiting list or peopel who back out after realizin he hardship of it).

Many tiem you wil lcall and find out you have to coem in to fill out a application, and be interviewed. Other times you will be placed on a list to wait.

geting a pupp in 2 weeks may bot happen from a reputable breeder, usually never does , usually he wiatime is a few motnhs to a year or more.

A pup

03-18-2005, 10:08 PM

Hey cutelilgoldens! Did you get your pup?

Golden Boobalas

04-18-2005, 05:02 PM

cutelilgoldens,
I used to live in Sydney. If you are keen on obtaining a Golden retriever puppy, then what I suggest is that you contact the Canine Council of NSW. They will have on their books, a list of reputable, registered Golden Retriever breeders.

Yes, a well bred golden will cost more, but when you consider peace of mind you'll get knowing that the parents have been hip scored, eyes checked, heart checked etc for the more common ailments that can affect goldens it's well worth it.

While a backyard breeders golden pups may be cuddly, and gorgeous, you may end up with a Golden who's hips need surgery costing thousands of dollars, a few years down the track.

I live in Queensland, my goldens were purchased from reputable breeders.

If you haven't yet obtained your golden pup, please check out the Canine Council and get some contact names and phone numbers off them.

good luck!

Goldenaddict

09-23-2005, 07:41 AM

ChicagoCanine

09-23-2005, 10:46 AM

Most of you know who I am, and that I am not in the market for a pup!!! Would any of you buy a pup that it's parents have not been shown, yet the pedigree is strong, all clearances have been done, dogs/pups are extremely well taken care, healthy, socialized, the parents trained, well fed, but due to the fact that the owner of these dogs, did not show them, yet spent bit $$$ on them, and then did eveything correct to producing a litter, would you buy from them???? I am not talking about a byb, these are great dogs, just not shown!!!!

I think I would, because in several breeds I like there is a large split in types (kinda like field and show Goldens, but I'm not talking about the Golden) and I really do not like the look of the show-type dogs of these breeds...
One is German Shepherds, I really can't stand the way the American show ring has taken these dogs' looks so I would probably not want a German Shepherd whose parents did well in AKC conformation. However I would look for someone who did a lot of other dog sports with their dogs and look for titles in other things besides showing, and of course all the health clearances and other traits that make a good breeder...

CanadianGolden

09-23-2005, 02:57 PM

Goldenaddict--

That is the definition of a backyard breeder--avoid them!

CaynCher

09-24-2005, 01:03 PM

IdahoLabs

09-24-2005, 06:17 PM

Just wondering what everyone thought of a "breeder" selling their puppies over the internet through classified adds or selling in the newspaper? Alot of these people simply ship the puppies, sight unseen by the new owners, after they receive their money. It seems pretty greedy to me and just a money matter and not in the best interest of the puppies. What do you think?

Depends. Say you live in California and you're interested in a pup in New York. You'd expect pictures of sire and dam, pedigree, proof of clearances, copy of health guarantee, etc...but ultimately you'd be buying the pup sight unseen unless you planned to drive out beforehand.

I bought my youngest 'pack member' (now 2 y/o) sight unseen...and I don't feel his breeder was a BYB or unreputable. His breeder lives six hours away...close as those things go. I was lucky to find the type of pup I was looking for nearby rather than the other side of the country.

Now - a breeder that advertises "we accept paypal" and has a link to PayPal directly on their website and all you have to do to purchase one of their pups is pay the $$$...that is unreputable and irresponsible. But a breeder that asks questions, asks you to fill out a questionnaire, throughly "screens" you as a potential home, etc, even if they live on the other side of the country and will be shipping the pup is NOT unreputable or a BYB, IMO.

CanadianGolden

09-27-2005, 09:29 AM

I see--I was under the impression you meant the breeder shipped the puppy with no buyer references etc.

My puppy was shipped from Canada and I didn't see her before she came--but I saw photos of the parents, their clearances, and photos of the puppy. The breeder chose her for me based on what I said I was looking for.