I am looking for a golden puppy. My main concerns are temperament and
health. I own a 4 1/2 year old golden, named "Cheska", who has hip
dysplasia. This did not become evident until she was 9 months old and
started limping. So I am trying to minimize this happening in my second
dog, and hoping to find a breeder who will at least help me with the cost of
surgery, if the pup develops hip dysplasia. Cheska's surgery cost a lot,
and it was quite an emotional nightmare. I was hoping to have her purchase
price refunded, to help with the surgery, but her breeder said no way.
Obviously all reputable breeders try their best to minimize this, but they
are responsible for bringing these dogs into the world. Do you think this
is an unfair expectation? If they breed responsibly, the dysplastic pups
should be very infrequent.
A lot of the breeders I have contacted so far, indicate that they have never
had a dysplactic puppy. But, then I asked my Vet how common it is in
Golden's and he indicated he sees it pretty frequently. So, I am wondering
if these breeders are being truthful, or don't follow up and really have no
idea if it's happened or not.
How often do you see a dyplastic pup in your breeding program?
Do you temperament test your puppies?
Kathleen Anderson
A breeder should breed dogs with OFA or Penn Hip certifications. HOWEVER, even
breeding two dogs with "OFA excellent" does not guarantee you that your puppy will not develop
canine hip dysplasia!!!
Responsible breeding does not mean that you won't have a dysplastic puppy or puppies in your litter.
Your vet is right - listen to him. If a breeder tells you that they have never had a puppy that is
dysplastic in any of their litters, they are not telling you the truth! "Never say never".
If you want a guarantee that you will have a Golden Retriever that would never have the possibility of
having hip dysplasia (I'm sorry, but it's a fact of life) - buy a stuffed toy!!
