Posts Tagged ‘Ears’

WHITE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS : PURE OR PHONY?

White Golden Retrievers, do they really exist?

A lot are fascinated by the idea of having a White Golden and some breeders take this opportunity to sell their so-called White Goldens at a higher price. Read on and do not be fooled.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) Standard for the Golden Retriever breed’s coat is “rich, lustrous golden of various shades.” This automatically disqualifies the ones that are extremely light or extremely dark. Meaning there is no really such a thing as a White Golden Retriever. The closest that resembles to white are the English Golden Retrievers. The shade of their coat is light cream which almost appears as off white or light cream but not really pure white. If the fur is pure white, chances are your pup is not purebred. The best way to predict your Golden’s coat is to look at the fur behind the ears.

The coat of Golden pups appears lighter when they are still young but darkens as they age. It can also help to meet the sire and dam to see how your pup will look like when he gets old.

In case you are given a White Golden Retriever pup and you are uncertain about the pedigree, ask the breeder for proof that the parents are AKC Registered. It is possible that the puppy appears white while young and turns out to be light cream as he gets older. The sad thing about buying a White Golden is not just the high price but the idea that you have been fooled for a mix bred dog.

You cannot guarantee if the dog is free from genetic disorders and neither can you guarantee that the temperament will be the same just like the loyal, kindhearted and robust Golden Retrievers.

So next time you search for a White Golden Retriever, maybe ask for a light cream English Golden Retriever instead. The price should be the same as the other Golden Retrievers and need not be higher.

There,s no need to patronize breeders who experiment on the breeds and still claim that theirs is purebred. The more you buy from them, the more they will be encouraged to breed poor quality Goldens and substandard breeds. This will result to more and more dogs suffering from genetic disorders and later on surrendered to shelters.

Look for breeders who care about the integrity of the breed and the welfare of the dogs rather than just the money.

The bottom line, pick out a reputable breeder if you want a purebred, healthy and well-socialized Golden Retriever right from the start. Lastly, do not be fooled by phony breeders.