Ewen Vile's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Genetic Disorders’

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.

Do not 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 species. 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 right from the start. Lastly, do not be fooled by phony breeders.

Golden Retriever info search is important before deciding to have a Golden companion. It is an important factor that can predict the number of years that you will be together. Just like in marriage, you have to get to know the one that you are going to spend your life with for it to be long term.

Goldens are furry. They have two coats that shed a lot after every season. This means fuzz everywhere, from the sofa to the carpet and sometimes on your dish. This is the reason why they need to be groomed regularly.

Goldens are playful. They are very active dogs that need regular exercise and play. This means they would love someone who has the same lifestyle. If not, he can be sad, obese and suffer a lot of health disorders later on in life.

Goldens are highly sociable. They love to be around people and other animals. They are loyal companions who love to please their masters. They can be destructive when left alone for hours.

Goldens are good retrievers. This is when they were bred for, to be good retrievers. He will not just retrieve the remote control, he can retrieve dead birds or rats in the yard too. Or worst, he can retrieve your boxer shorts or filthy socks in front of your guests.

Goldens are prone to genetic disorders. You may not know if he has epilepsy, hip dysplasia, subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) or cancer. These are the most common diseases attacking the Golden breed.

These are just some of the concerns that one must consider before deciding to have a Golden Retriever. It does no intend to discourage but to inform a future Golden owner about what is at stake after taking the pup home. It would be such a sad story for a Golden to be surrendered to the shelter just because the owner did not know what the breed is really like.

It is not right to decide on impulse and buy just because you were fascinated with the gorgeous looks and the loveable charms of the Golden breed. You must do a thorough research and see if you are really meant for each other. It may take some time and effort but it will always be worth it in the end.

After all, love overcomes all faults. So if you really love Goldens, these issues are too small to worry about.

For a dog lover, there is no better deed than to adopt a Golden Retriever.  Breeders breed just to meet the demands of people wanting to own a Golden. The sad fact is while more people decide to have one, more owners also neglect their dogs which results to overpopulation in the shelters.

This is one reason why potential dog owners have to rethink about their goals in owning a Golden Retriever. When they buy out of impulse and not really knowing much information about the breed, they end up disappointed and later on surrendering the dog to the shelter. You always have to know what you are getting yourself into and if you have what it takes to care for a dog.

You can make a difference. If your reason is to have a loving addition to your family, Golden Retrievers in the shelters have what it takes to be a loving family dog.  You can never gauge the love that they can give since they long for the same love and care from their previous owners.

Aside from the love, adopting an older Golden relieves you from the menace of puppyhood. Goldens in the shelters usually know their basic obedience and have already been housetrained. Volunteers provide them the training and socialization that they need while they wait to be adopted.

The only reality that you have to face is that Goldens in the shelters are not screened for genetic disorders. You cannot guarantee if he will suffer hip dysplasia, heart or eye disease and cancer later on. You can’t be certain how long he will live or if he will die from a dreaded disease.

But it really doesn’t matter how long he will live but how happy his remaining life was with you. Dying from a disease and knowing that he was loved is better than dying of euthanasia because nobody cared to love him. Dogs in shelters are euthanized each year because of overpopulation. When you take him home, you are saving his life.

When you consider buying from a breeder, think what good it can do considering adoption. You do not need to go through screening breeders and you will only pay fraction of the cost. Aside from that, you are helping alleviate the problem of dog overpopulation.

To end the story happy rather than sad, consider adopting a Golden Retriever. You’ll never know how much love they can give unless you try caring for one.