Aren't Golden Retrievers prone to genetic hip, elbow, heart and eye disorders? OFA certification cannot be done till two years of age, and I'm wondering if you have long guarantees? Would you recommend that people who are looking for puppies ask about obedience titles or other measurements of the parents temperament? - Liz
Hi Liz, Yes there are recessive genes that make Goldens prone to hip, elbow, heart and eye disorders. A breeder should screen for these disorders and should obtain the needed clearances. As a breeder, I can only do the best and most responsible job that I can. No one hands us our human babies in the hospital and says, "I guarantee that this child will never be sick, always will be happy and live a long time." If it was as simple as breeding "clear" dogs to "clear" dogs we would have eliminated all the above problems. No good breeder wants to breed a displastic pup or pups with other medical problems. I have never understood how a breeder can "guarantee" a perfect puppy.
I think a breeder should have an ongoing interest in the sport of a dog - show, field work, obedience, therapy dogs - something besides just producing puppies. I wish there was a measurement of the parents' temperament. In Goldens, I have always felt good nature should be at the top of anyone's list and never taken for granted. Very often I feel that hip, heart and eye clearances have always been more important than temperament. That is why we are seeing so many ill-tempered Goldens and that is truly a shame. Just because a dog has "all its clearances" does not mean it should be bred. If the dog or bitch does not have a good nature then the clearances mean nothing.
