GoldenAC
Posted : 1/13/2009 3:08:55 PM
BJW40
I think we're set on getting a male. Now - dealing with the right breeder. The breeders I have talked to declare that their Goldens are the best. As I said, we just want a good sweet family dog but breeders get into the characteristics of theirs and why we should get our puppy from them, etc. I never knew until a breeder mentioned that there's a difference between a field Golden and a show Golden. Honestly, I'm not trying to sound stupid (I'm a 40 year old woman), I thought all Goldens were the same except of course a light or brown one and male or female. I'm educating myself before making the leap. Any thoughts?
Excellent choice. Although I have a female Golden now, I think I will go back to male Goldens from now on since I do like their personalities a bit better. The first step to finding a good breeder is to go to your local Golden Club's puppy referral person. They have lists of members who have or will be having litters. To find your local puppy referral person, go to GRCA.org and hit the puppy link. The GRCA (Golden Retriever Club of America) is also a good place to get information about what to look for in a breeder and a puppy.
I would be leary of breeders who are trying really hard to sell you a puppy. A good breeder will be interviewing you as much as you are interviewing them! So, if the breeder does not ask you a lot of questions about your experience, expectations and plans for the puppy, look for another breeder.
There is a difference between field Goldens and show Goldens and also another type called English Goldens. I will try and make a quick synopsis of the three.
Field Goldens are typically smaller and slighter in build than show Goldens and darker color. They were bred to specialize in working as retrieving dogs for hunters and take part in hunting competitions. They are typically higher in energy and often less sensitive to corrections. Some of them may be very "hard" (not paying attention to corrections) because the drivey and flashy behavior is rewarded in hunting competitions and many if not most hunting trainers will use harsh techniques to get the dog to work properly. By that I mean that the use ear pinches and e-collars for training, which means they favor a dog who can handle that type of training and not lose their spirit. You won't find a field Golden at a dog show, unless they are having an obedience or agility competition too. Some field type Goldens show and do very well in obedience and agility, but they are not show in the breed ring.
Show Goldens are typically larger and blockier than field Goldens and are a lighter color. They have more coat and more feathering on their bodies. This type of Golden has developed to win in the breed competition. In general, they have less energy and intensity than a field Golden, but even a show line Golden has far more energy than any person I know. They are "softer" in personality, that is that they do not hold up as well to harsh corrections, and may be less intelligent than field lines. Many people who breed show line Goldens are concerned with their dogs' working abilities and show them in other venues like agility and obedience. Some do field work with their dogs to keep the original purpose of the breed intact.
The English Golden, also advertised as English Cream Golden, Colonial Cream Goldens, etc., come from lines imported into the US. In all other contries, except for Canada, the breed standard allows for very light gold, or cream colored dogs, however, in the US, these cream color is not allowed in the breed standard. It has become a fad (read breeders out to make a buck) to import foreign dogs to the US, breed them and charge more money because the color is "rare," or because they say English Goldens are "better." In looks, apart from their lighter color, English Goldens tend to be shorter than other Goldens and stockier in build. Their coats are not as full as show lines and tend to be wavy. Fans of the English Golden say they are calmer and more laid back than American Goldens, and they are more laid back than most field line Goldens and poorly breed Goldens. However, they are no more calm than a nice pet quality show line Golden who is from laid back parents. In fact many American breeders will use English imports in their lines to improve an aspect of their dogs, but they are still American show line Goldens.
There is actually a fourth type of Golden appearing, which is the performance Golden; dogs that specialize in obedience and agility. Depending on the breeder, these dogs come from either show line or hunting lines and sometimes are a mix of the two. These dogs have a lot of energy, are very trainable, and are able focus on their handler. My Selli is a performance Goldenwith a lot of show line blood in her, and I intend to stick with good looking performance Goldens.
Good Luck!