Choosing the right breeder is the most important decision you’ll make when adding a Golden Retriever to your family — more important than color, price, or how quickly you can bring a puppy home. In Oregon’s busy Golden market, here are eight questions that separate responsible breeders from the rest.

8 questions to ask any Golden Retriever breeder

“Are both parents health-tested, and can I see the results?” The answer should be an immediate yes, covering hips, elbows, heart, and eyes — with registered names you can look up at ofa.org. Learn what to look for.
“Can I meet the parents (or at least the mother)?” A good breeder welcomes it. You should see where the puppies are raised.
“How are the puppies raised and socialized?” Look for home-raised puppies with structured early socialization, not kennel-raised in isolation.
“Do you provide a written health guarantee and contract?” Reputable breeders always do.
“What vet care do puppies have before going home?” Expect a vet exam, first vaccinations, deworming, and microchip by around eight weeks.
“Can you provide references from past puppy families?” Happy families are a breeder’s best proof.
“What support do you offer after I take my puppy home?” Great breeders stay available for the dog’s whole life.
“Will you take the dog back if I ever can’t keep it?” Responsible breeders never want one of their dogs to end up in a shelter.

Red flags to walk away from

No health testing, or reluctance to share parent names/results
Always has puppies available, multiple litters at once, no waitlist
Won’t let you visit or meet the mother
No contract, guarantee, or vet records
Pressure to buy quickly or pay by unusual methods

A great breeder will happily answer every one of these questions — and will ask you plenty in return, because they care where their puppies go. At Nextgen Goldens in Boring, Oregon, we health-test every parent, raise our puppies in our home, and place them thoughtfully by waitlist. Ask us anything — we’d love to talk.