Advice on buying a gundog from working lines and avoiding puppy farms

[abb123]

I'm looking to buy a Golden Retriever from working lines. I have another already and will be approaching his breeder to see if she has any but she was quite old when we got him and I have a feeling she will have not breed anymore now.

I've been keeping an eye out on the classified section of the gundog forum to get an idea of what is out there. The thing is that a lot of the breeders seem to have multiple breeds and have a number of litters a year. I don't know if this is normal for working dog breeders.

I always thought, for pet dogs anyway, to avoid puppy farms you looked for breeders that had only one or two breeds and only had a maybe one or two litters a year. I don't want to perpetuate the puppy farm problem and would rather avoid these types of places.

Any advice?

 

[CorvusCorax]

For a GR I would recommend a pup from several generations of low hip-scoring parents, the lowest score being 0:0 and the highest before it goes off the scale, a total of 108.
Elbow scores for the past couple of generations also would be good, lowest 0, highest 3.

See if there is a working Golden Retriever society or association in your area or a breed club with a working branch, for recommendations, or visit a shoot or field trial, see what you like the look of right in front of you, and take it from there.
(That's what we tell people, rather than recommend a breeder, we ask people to come and see various dogs at work, meet them, and find out what might suit them best).

 

[abb123]

Thanks. I'll have a look for any shoots or field trials within the area.

I'm pretty clear on the type of dog I want; darker coloured, lighter build, and not too big and tall. My current GR is very light coloured and is massive so definitely from showing lines! He's beautiful and I wouldn't swap him for the world!

 

[Ravenwood]

Get in contact with your nearest gundog club and ring the secretary. He/she will know of any working GR breeders in your area.

The shooting world is a very small world and you will soon get to hear who is responsible and who is not

Have to say though that they are very few and far between around here on the shoots.

 

[abb123]

Thanks Ravenwood, I will do that.

I know they are not particularly popular gundogs and working bred puppies are like hensteeth! Having one already, I can understand why... his love of playing chase me, hide the toy, throw the toy, lengthy swims (once took an hour to get him out of a pond..), hump every dog in sight (he is neutered!)-especially black labs...does not the ideal retriever!

 

[Ravenwood]

LOL - and you want another!

And all that hair - how do you cope!!

Ever thought about getting a springer instead

 

[paulineh]

Buy the shooting times there are ads in there. All from working backgrounds

 

[Kaylum]

Good breeders dont have to advertise as the ones they breed get snapped up or are on a waiting list. Word of mouth is the best bet. If your intending to use your dog as a working dog then have a word with those in the know.

 

[Bethie]

We used to have 2 Rossbournes that were from dual working/show lines and temperament wise were very busy active ones, 1 in particular would have enjoyed working. Mum has now got a Stormford puppy (10 months) by a Moloko dog who works and is gorgeous - http://www.moloko.me.uk/index.asp?id=25, our dog's litter mates are the 2 puppies pictured just above TT's pedigree on that page.

 

[abb123]

Thanks all!

Bethie, thanks so much for the link to the Moloko dogs! They are all gorgeous and look so happy! TT looks just like my current one - except he doesn't have a tail as it was amputated due to a cancerous lump. I've bookmarked the page and might see if I can get one of the next litter due in spring 2012!