How To Choose Your Golden Retriever Puppy
“I’ve finally decided to have a puppy and found the right breeder, but how should I choose the best puppy for me?”
Choosing the right Golden Retriever puppy might take you some time because whelping takes weeks, even months. But it sure is worth the wait. It’s better if the breeder has several puppies available so you’d be able to compare when you look for your golden retriever puppy.
If you want a puppy that is only days old, some breeders may require you to pay a deposit. Usually, the good litters are already sold out even before they turn 7 weeks old. Hence, if you want to get a good puppy, you'd better get to your Golden Retriever breeder early.
Sometimes, it’s better if the breeder is the one who selects the puppy for you. Since most good breeders have already spent quite some time with the puppies, they know more about the temperament of each of the puppies. Quality breeders can even run tests to determine the individual temperament of the puppies of each litter.
Temperament tests can help you decide whether the puppy is appropriate for you and your home. Hence, if you are dealing with trusted breeders, let them do their work and choose the Golden Retriever puppy that they think best matches you. Since the breeders have been with the litter for several weeks and you’ve been around the litter for just a few minutes, it’s best to leave the selection to the breeder.
All golden retriever puppies are cute; this is why you should not choose a puppy based on looks alone. You should check if the puppy has straight legs and a strong build. The puppy should be muscular, strong, squirmy, and active. You should also check if the puppy has a healthy set of teeth and gums, and examine the rest of its body to check if it is healthy.
If you want to select a puppy by yourself, take the puppy you are eyeing on away from the rest of the litter; observe it carefully and how it reacts to you. You can do this with the other puppies and then compare. Golden Retriever puppies that are around 7 weeks old are normally quick at exploring their surroundings. They may be cautious at first, but should be very eager to sniff and look around their surroundings.
Once you have picked the puppies that you’re interested in, speak to them and observe how they react to your voice. You can also move around and play with them to observe how they respond to you. Then, choose the one that responds the best to you and leave those that don’t show any interest in you or in their surroundings.
Golden retrievers are great to have as long as they’re healthy. Hence, you should take time to examine each puppy so you’d come up with the best puppy for you and your family. There’s nothing more rewarding than having a golden retriever that grows and stays strong and healthy.