ADVICE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PUPPY

The ideal age to purchase a puppy is between 8 and 9 weeks. He has been tattooed or chipped and has received his vaccination against:

- Maladie de Carré , Parvovirus , Hepatitis

  At 2 months, a male should weigh 6/7 kilos and a female 5/6 kilos.

When you have selected and purchased your puppy, we advise that you ask your vet

for an examination.

The Golden Retriever is primarily a gun dog, specialising in retrieving game. He is also, however, a most agreeable and faithful family dog, who craves affection and detests solitude.

 THE PROFILE OF A SERIOUS BREEDER

Their dogs come from well-reputed lines and adhere as closely as possible to the standard of the breed. If the parents have been confirmed and have been presented at several shows to a selection of judges who have given similar opinions, it will be reassuring.

 Before a bitch's first pregnancy, she will have been x-rayed for signs of hip dysplasia. The Commission de Dysplasie du Retriever Club De France, who deliver an official certificate of result will have examined these x-rays.

An eye examination should take place every year at an agreed veterinary clinic and an official certificate obtained. The stud dog must satisfy the same conditions.

The breeder must give you copies of these certificates. If he fails to do so it would not be prudent to continue with the purchase as you cannot be sure of acquiring a healthy puppy.

When you visit the litter, the puppies should lively, happy and playful, with large straight set paws and their tails should be equally straight. The nose, inner lips, and outer circle of the eyes should be very black.

Look out for runny eyes and check the puppy's enclosure for any unusual bowel movements.

The Golden Retriever puppy often has grey/black skin on his stomach, in the crease at the top of the front legs and on the inside of the thighs:

It's normal

Ask your breeder to guide you with the choice of puppy : if he is to be trained to the gun it is preferable that he has the capacity. If you have children, don't choose the most dominant. Avoid the timid one hiding in the corner when you arrive.

Once the course of vaccinations has been completed, at around 12 weeks, take your puppy everywhere, the market, school, town, the station etc. It is between the 6^th and 12^th weeks that the puppy learns about life and if he is not socialised during this period he will always be nervous of new situations.   

AT THE MOMENT OF PURCHASE THE BREEDER MUST PROVIDE YOU WITH THESE DOCUMENTS

Attestation de vente obligatoire, the vendor will retain the duplicate. For you it is both a bill and a guarantee, therefore you can ask for certain points to be added, for example : that the teeth are correct or that in a male the testicles are well in place.

Carnet de vaccination stamped with the first injections and the date of the first worming.

Certificate de naissance : This document will actually be sent to you 2 or 3 weeks later, by the breeder, when he receives them from the SCC. In the meanwhile, you can ask for the dossier n° (found in the upper right-hand corner of the documents which he has already received from the SCC) to be marked on your attestation de vente.

Carte de tatouage : If the puppy is tattooed, make sure that the number marked on the puppy corresponds to the number on the card.

Certificate de dépistages ( eye control and hip dysplasia examinations) for both parents.

Plan of nutrition for the coming months. You should also note the dates for the next worming and for the vaccinations. Don't forget the anti-rabies vaccination at 4 months and the annual booster vaccinations.