LOOKING FOR A PUPPY - BUYER BEWARE

If you have decided that a Golden Retriever is the breed for you, please follow this important advice.   Don't purchase impulsively - all puppies are

cute and adorable.  Take the time to read our articles about the Golden Retriever and Choosing a Breeder and Breeder's Terms.

Your Golden Retriever will be living with you for the next 10 to 15 years, so take some time to find a registered breeder who cares about selling you a healthy and happy puppy. Look for a responsible breeder, who has the interest of the breed uppermost in their mind. Such a breeder will be as interested in you as a potential owner of one of their puppies, as you are in them. The breeder should display a good knowledge of Golden Retrievers and be willing to discuss freely all aspects of the breed. Such a breeder’s aim is to produce and raise puppies only to uphold and improve the breed's quality and temperament.

The Golden Retriever is a popular breed and some people, hoping to make a profit may breed with their Golden Retriever without thought to maintaining the breed’s excellent temperament and attributes.  There are unethical breeders in the market. Learn about the Golden Retriever. You need to be sure that a Golden Retriever will be the right breed for your family. See Why Choose a Golden Retriever.

1.  Learn about the hereditary problems in the breed. You need to be well informed about hereditary diseases, the certificates required and what the scores (hip/elbow) mean so that you have the best chance of owning a healthy puppy. See Hereditary Problems.
2. Choose a breeder who is a member of DOGS Victoria. The puppies will be registered with DOGS Victoria. The sire and dam’s hip and elbow certificates must be lodged with DOGS Victoria before puppies can be registered. Members must abide by the DOGS Victoria code of ethics. See DOGS Victoria's Regulations, Codes, Policies & Procedures.
3. Choose a breeder who is a member of the Golden Retriever Club of Victoria (GRCV) or their state’s breed club. A GRCV member should be well informed about the breed and existing hereditary conditions. The GRCV member may have carried out more hereditary tests than the minimum the club requires. Members must abide by the club’s Code of Ethics. See Choosing a Breeder and Breeder's Terms.
4. Meet the breeder in person. Visit the breeder to meet the mother (dam) and to see the living conditions of the puppies. The mother should be friendly, sociable and a good example of the breed. The puppies should be clean, healthy and sociable. See Choosing a Puppy.
5. Visit the father (sire) if he is available. The sire should be friendly and sociable and be a good example of the breed.
6. View all the hereditary certificates and have the breeder explain the results to you. The minimum requirements for listing on the GRCV’s Litters Available page are for both parents to have a hip and elbow grading certificate, a heart certificate and a current (annual) Australian Canine Eye Scheme (ACES) certificate. See Hereditary Problems.
7. Don’t pay a deposit until after the puppies have been born or there is a puppy available or you have visited the litter.  Deposits are refundable under Australian Consumer Law unless you change your mind. Refer to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Refunds and Returns. The dam may not conceive or there might not be enough puppies born. Alternatively, your circumstances might unexpectedly change because of ill health, a work transfer or other unexpected event. 
8.  If you buy a puppy with purchase conditions about future breeding or showing called “breeder’s terms”, make sure these are spelled out in a written contract, which both breeder and buyer sign and retain respective copies of.  Be clear about the conditions and contact the Golden Retriever Club of Victoria (GRCV) if you are concerned or do not quite understand the terminology.  This will avoid disagreements later. The section on Choosing a Breeder and Breeder’s Terms provides more helpful advice.
9. See Certificate of Registration and Pedigree under Choosing a Breeder and Breeder’s Terms.

KNOW YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS!  Buying a puppy (or stud service) is no different to buying any other type of goods – your purchase is covered by Australian Consumer Law. If you have a problem, seek advice from Consumer Affairs Victoria  Tel 1300 55 81 81. You can also lodge a complaint with DOGS Victoria if the vendor is a member. Tel 03 9788 2500.