Puppy search - losing hope

[wintersgold]

I was wondering whether anyone has had a similar experience & could offer any advice.
We've been actively looking for a golden retriever puppy since January this year, with no success yet
I've been checking the Kennel Club website & Champdogs, I've written to our local golden retriever club - nothing. It's absolutely disheartening

All the litters I've seen are either reserved or there are some issues with the health checks/breeder. I've been in touch with some breeders but either they haven't responded, or we haven't been happy with them.

One breeder asked me to pick out a puppy from the litter when it was days old! When I questioned her, she became very defensive and I decided to steer clear of her. It's very important to me that the breeder genuinely cares about her dogs, the puppies' future homes & does everything 'right' (health checks, raising puppies, allocating them to the right homes).

I do understand that I need to be patient, but it's really hard. I'm almost tempted to go for a labrador instead (there seem to be a lot more labrador litters from good breeders) but I really do prefer goldens.

Apologies for the really long post. Would welcome any advice, I'm beginning to think we'll never find a puppy from a breeder that fits our expectations

We got our goldie last year & found the breeder via champ dogs. Have you signed up to priority access so you can view the litters before they go 'live'?
Best of luck 🤞

Also... if you found a breeder you like the look of, could you contact them to see if they have any litters coming up?

Thanks @LBF2020
yes we've written to a few breeders we've liked, but sadly they're not expecting litters at the moment except one (who's hoping to have a litter in May, and said she'll be in touch. No news yet)

We haven't got priority access - I'm not sure how useful that would be, since we only found 1 or 2 litters on champdogs we've liked so far anyway

m.facebook.com/groups/746332629179164/permalink/1285434145269007/?sfnsn=scwspmo&ref=share

@wintersgold I've just had a look on champ dogs and I can't believe how little there is available. Last may/June there were at least 20-30 litters showing with new litters being added every day. I wonder if it is the time of the year. Thanks

Sorry not sure where the 'thanks' at the end came from lol!

I don’t think January to mid March is a long time to have been looking - I think you may need to be a bit patient, I’m afraid.

Have a browse at these on the Lab owners site

www.labrador-owners.co.uk/labradors-for-sale/puppies

😆😆😆😆😆

Sorry, got that wrong, should read the post better 😆😆😆👍

Join the Facebook group "golden retrievers - sourcing reputable breeders" there is some very valuable info on there and you can get advice.

I spoke to a breeder only last week, she doesn't do waiting lists anymore as she's been messed about too much, but she will tell you roughly when she will be having a litter and ask you to get in touch nearer the time.

Any of the breeders they put you in touch with will have up to date health checks.

there are plenty of pups on here.

www.pets4homes.co.uk/sale/dogs/golden-retriever/

At the end of the day, all breeders are in it for the money, OP

@ABitBesotted the breeders on there will be. Not all are.
OP contact national breed club. Could you get to some shows? Good luck.

Thanks everyone. I do appreciate that in the grand scheme of things 3 months isn't that long, but I would have expected to at least find a potential litter by now

Thanks for the recommendation @coloradoqueen I'll go have a look

I was actually warned to avoid pets4homes. Maybe I'm being naive, but I wouldn't want to buy from a breeder who only wants to profit from her dogs

Not sure where to start looking re dog shows, it seems a bit intimidating! This would be my first dog so not at all experienced

It's a tricky time of year I'm on a lot of breeder facebooks (from the search for our puppy) and often there are spring litters that they're not quite ready to update.

Personally I'd wait for the right breeder as I know you're desperate but a dog from a good breeder makes all the difference.

Ps if you look up the crufts results for golden retrievers, they're nearly all on Facebook.

www.fossedata.co.uk/show-results/crufts/

Select gun dogs, retriever (golden) and then find them - the breeder name is listed first so for example terra de Siena won some things today:

terradisienagolden.com/en/

We found our setter this way, and we were incredibly lucky to get him, and his relative just got setter BoB and although all breeders are allowed to make money, they're not all the same.

@daffodilsbluebells

Yes I do think you're right, I'd rather wait for the right breeder than compromise on the health & wellbeing of the puppies

Just didn't expect the wait to be this hard

@daffodilsbluebells

Ps if you look up the crufts results for golden retrievers, they're nearly all on Facebook.

www.fossedata.co.uk/show-results/crufts/

Select gun dogs, retriever (golden) and then find them - the breeder name is listed first so for example terra de Siena won some things today:

terradisienagolden.com/en/

We found our setter this way, and we were incredibly lucky to get him, and his relative just got setter BoB and although all breeders are allowed to make money, they're not all the same.

I didn't think of doing that, that's a great idea - thank you!

It worked for us, twice, two brilliant dogs. Fingers crossed for you!

OP - to be fair, all people who breed dogs are doing it for the money. Its a business.

It may well be the time of year, we were looking for poodles or poodle crosses last year and there seemed to be nothing in March / April, but May/June there were a lot of litters. Ready to go to their new homes July August time, so worth thinking about any holidays you're thinking of booking !

Maybe I'm being naive, but I wouldn't want to buy from a breeder who only wants to profit from her dogs

I know a few breeders of various dogs, they are very passionate about their dogs, the welfare of the animals & making sure they go to the right homes but they are absolutely in it for the profit.

No one chooses to stay up over night checking a bitch doesn’t lie on & squash her new pups, put up with 20 tiny paws all trampling in their own shit then jumping up at their legs every time they go into their pen, fielding call after call from interested prospective owners asking a million and one questions just because they like dogs.
They do it for the money.

Yes. If they weren't in it for the money, they'd sell the pups at cost.

@wintersgold I was a newbie too! Made contact via breed club. Then attended breed club show and was put in touch with breeders with litters planned. Good luck

@ABitBesotted my breed the breeder stays with mum and pups 24/7 to ensure feeding and no injury to pups. Factor that in and a breeder is lucky to break even. Plus tests and vaccines and worming and feeding and microchip etc etc.

I don't think it works out. Litter of 5-9 pups, say £2k each? That's a lot of wonga.

Three pups and a c section?
I’ve had so much support from my breeder.