Breeding a Golden Retriever is not an easy or profitable task, as some people may imagine. Properly and successfully breeding a Golden Retriever requires a great deal of knowledge of the breed standard and health issues, experience with the breed, and a great passion for producing dogs that exemplify the breed standard. Those who breed Golden Retrievers for the money, for the “cute pups” or simply because they want to are actually hurting the breed more than they realize and need to know why they need to stop. If more and more people reproduce in any way, the health, dignity and standard of the breed will be diluted until finally; there are literally hundreds or even thousands of poor quality and unhealthy Golden Retrievers.
If you think you can contribute to the improvement of the breed, then the first step you should take is to learn the breed standard according to the American Kennel Club or the AKC. The AKC is the governing body for breed standards, and you can find the Golden Retriever breed standard on the AKC website or in books.
Once you’ve memorized the breed standard by heart, it’s time to search for your breeding stock. You must decide if you want a bitch, a stud or both. A bitch is the bitch, and getting one will require you to also take care of the puppies when you breed. A stud is the male dog that is used to impregnate a female dog, and if you don’t want to take care of puppies or don’t have the time, then it is better to get a stud. Once you find a breeder (make sure the breeder is trustworthy, reputable, has years of experience breeding Golden Retrievers, and is willing to help you learn to become a breeder), then you should look into the breeders. pups and the parents of the pups. Usually, the parents will give you an idea of what the pups will look like when they mature. Also, if you want to breed, you need to make sure that the dogs and their puppies have legal documents, so that your own puppies can be registered in the future. If they have, don’t use your dog as your breeding stock. Go find another breeder.
Ask the breeder if the parents have any birth defects because your dog will pass them on to their puppies.
Suppose you have chosen to have a bitch, the bitch must be at least 2 years old before you start breeding her. The same goes for a stallion; she must be at least 2 years old before fathering puppies. This will give the pups a better chance of being born healthy and increase their chances of survival. Wait for a sign that the bitch is “in heat,” such as a swollen vulva. Find a suitable stud for the bitch and make sure they are not related.
Only experienced and professional breeders do ‘cross-breeding’ (ie where the bitch and stud are related), and even then it is very risky. Once you have mated your bitch and there are signs of pregnancy such as swollen nipples and a swollen tummy, wait around 59 to 63 days. That is the normal gestation period for Golden Retrievers. Keep a close eye on the dog for signs of problems or complications before, during and after the pregnancy.
Remember, money and “cute pups” are not good reasons to breed Golden Retrievers! Make sure you have the experience, knowledge and passion before trying it!