Alright, so you have made sure that the breeder is dedicated and responsible, that they take care of their puppies properly and that the dogs have all the necessary living conditions. You are now ready to buy your golden retriever puppy.
Here’s a list of quick tips that will help you choose a puppy that will become your best doggo and friend.
1. Pick a cheerful pup. A puppy that is too quiet or does not have the happy disposition might be ill or not able to socialize properly. Such puppies might grow up into unreliable adult dogs that are hard to train, maintain or incorporate into your living space.
2. Check the puppy’s head. This is an easy method to establish the overall health of the puppy. The nose must be cold, wet, and without any secretion. Eyes too. Check the ears for any tears or dirt. The gums must be clean and their color pinkish.
3. Inspect the puppy’s breathing. If you hear any screeching or hoarse sound, the puppy might be sick.
4. Compare the puppy against the others in the litter. Physically smaller pups are not able to fight equally for their food intake and might be slightly lagging behind the more dominant pups. Consider not taking puppies that have a visibly protruding ribs or a puppy from a litter that has malnourished dogs.
5. Think twice about taking a puppy that runs away from you or is frightened. Sometimes it is difficult to get such puppies accustomed to the touch of a human hand.
6. Once you have made up your mind, give some more time to the puppy and check if they are moving around without difficulties, try to check for any hip issues, inspect the coat to see if it is healthy and shiny or if the puppy has some features that are not in line with the breed (e.g. multi-colored coat, eyes of different colors, etc.)
There, we have made your job easier.
