We went to Gap View in Broadway, VA (Shenandoah Valley). I liked that he gave me the name & # of his vet so we could call her as a reference. Plus, it's a working farm, which is fun to visit, esp. if you have kids.

Regarding the breed-specific rescue, I found GRREAT to be difficult. They are clearly saving lots of dogs and doing wonderful work. They are also very picky, and the adoption coordinator turned her nose up at us. ("We generally don't place dogs in homes where both adults work"... I think that was the response.) Every time we applied for a dog we lost to a household where at least one adult was home full time. They always had far more applicants than dogs. So we wound up going to the breeder. We would have loved to rescue a dog, but we had our heart set on a GR.

OP you can contact the AKC for Golden Retrievers in your area (MD or VA), just google for the one in your area. We did this and they sent us a list of recommended breeders in the area and helpful information. They had screened breeders who maintain all clearances, follow AKC practices etc. You can then contact all the breeders to get an idea on timing, price, and fit for your family. The breeders will talk to you about the temperaments of their parents, clearances, etc.

Find the local Golden rescue nearest you (GRREAT for Northern Virginia, they also have recommendations of other rescues on their site) and get approved and on the waitlist for a puppy. You might wait a few months, but you'll be giving a puppy in need a home, saving tons of money (adoption fees are usually $250-300 whereas you can spend upwards of a few thousand on a bred puppy), and not promoting the unnecessary breeding of dogs. I don't understand why more people don't do this. There are SO many breed-specific rescues.

Belquest has 7 litters of Labs due in Jan. There is no way to provide that many puppies with an appropriate home environment and socialization. Tey are a puppy mill..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Belquest Kennels in Mount Airy.

^ Looks like these are labs, not golden retrievers. Not sure I'd get a puppy from a place that is pumping out puppies like crazy. Seems more like a puppy mill than a good breeder.

Belquest is not a puppy mill. It is a large dog operation. Click on puppies and see the damns and sires's records in shows plus pedigrees. About as far from puppy mill as you can get. For anyone looking for breeders I recommend searching dog show and confirmation plus obedience trials to get participants. Then contact the prticipants for puppies.

http://osrgoldenretrievers.com

This is an excellent breeder, west of Richmond.

I am sure she has a waitlist. Beautiful dogs.

We got our golden from a breeder in Altoona PA. We adore her. She is very mild mannered, kind, gentle, a best friend to our eight year old and great with our new baby. Let me know if you want the contact info.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Belquest Kennels in Mount Airy.

^ Looks like these are labs, not golden retrievers. Not sure I'd get a puppy from a place that is pumping out puppies like crazy. Seems more like a puppy mill than a good breeder.

Oh, looks like they have some goldens too. Still seems like a puppy mill to me though. Most really good breeders stick to one breed.

Anonymous wrote:Belquest Kennels in Mount Airy.

^ Looks like these are labs, not golden retrievers. Not sure I'd get a puppy from a place that is pumping out puppies like crazy. Seems more like a puppy mill than a good breeder.

Belquest Kennels in Mount Airy.

Contact the Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club for breeder referrals, http://www.pvgrc.org/poop/poop.htm. They are very helpful!

5,4,3,2,1 and here come the why do you want a puppy people get a rescue ...............people blast offf

You want to find a breeder who titles their dog in something. It proves the dogs are being bred for what they were meant to do. For Goldens, find someone who is titled in dock diving, agility, flyball, or therapy work (TDI or Delta).

The breeder should do health checks (agree with hips, eyes, elbows), and they should be super eager to show the paperwork to you so you can verify. A "1 year health guarantee" is a joke--90% of issues won't show up that early. You want to know the risk of your dog's elbows going out at 5 years old is minimized.

The contract should specify that they will take back the dog at any point in time, should you become unable (or unwilling) to care for it. They should require it, actually. This is the only way you can be sure that the breeder is not filling shelters with dogs.

They should be available to you after purchase as an answer bank for any questions you have. They should WANT to know how their puppies are faring.

A female dog should not be bred more than once per year, never before she's 2, and rarely (unless there is a good reason) back to back litters. A good breeder should not have multiple litters on the ground at the same time.

A "puppy mill" is a term for facilities that breed hundreds of dogs (often in small cages), usually to sell to pet stores. A "backyard breeder" is your casual neighbor who either accidentally has puppies, or who thinks they're hot stuff because they have a purebred dog, and breeds to get rich or because they want their kids to see the miracle of life. Avoid both. The ONLY reason a breeder should be breeding is because they want to better the breed. It should be a calculated, intensely studied decision where mom + dad are balancing each other out in structure and demeanor to create healthy, mentally balanced dogs that are good representations of the breed.

Health clearances: hips, eyes, elbows. Meet the parents tho it's quite possible the dam may be the only one you can meet..does anyone do dog sports? Because they are generally lighter and structurally sounder dogs. Keep your pup lean: research shows that leaner pups have fewer hip problems. If you get a male, don't neuter. If you get a female, hold off until she's 2, and consider a simple hysterectomy or tubal ligation. Sex hormones are protective and decrease chances of cancer.

The vets, btw, disagree with this, but the research is available.

We would like to buy a golden retriever puppy. (I know that many people think everyone should get a shelter dog, but that's not our plan.) I don't know how to find a reputable breeder and not a "puppy mill." Not even sure I understand the difference. So, any recommendations about specific breeders would be most appreciated.