Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get a golden retriever puppy for, like, forever. And I finally decided to take the plunge! I’m in New Jersey, so I started looking around for breeders nearby.
I gotta say, it was kinda overwhelming at first. There are so many breeders out there, and I wanted to make sure I found a good one, you know? Someone who really cares about the dogs and doesn’t treat them like, you know, a puppy-making machine. I spent hours on the internet reading reviews, and checking out breeder websites.
I came across a few that seemed pretty legit. One place, called Icewind Golden Retrievers, they’ve been breeding these pups since the ’70s. That’s a long time! It made me feel like they probably know what they’re doing.
Finding a Reputable Breeder
- Research: I looked up a bunch of different breeders online.
- Reviews: I read tons of reviews from other people who got puppies from them.
- Website: I checked out the breeders’ websites to see if they seemed professional and caring.
- AKC: Made sure they are registered parents.
- Contact: I called and emailed a few of the breeders that looked promising.
Also learned about this Breeders Club of America in Middletown. Then found a list of the 33 of the top golden breeders in New Jersey, that was a lot to take in. But I checked them all out one by one.
After all that, I narrowed it down to a couple of breeders that I felt good about. I called them up, asked a bunch of questions, you know, about the parents’ health, how they raise the puppies, all that stuff. It was important to me that the puppies were well-socialized and came from healthy parents.
I ended up finding a breeder that I really clicked with. They answered all my questions, and I could tell they really loved their dogs. They even invited me to come visit and meet the puppies! Obviously, I said yes. The puppies were so adorable, and the breeder was super nice. They showed me where the puppies lived, how they played, and introduced me to the momma dog. It was a great experience.
Anyway, I put down a deposit for a puppy, and in a few weeks, I’ll be bringing home my little golden ball of fluff! I’m so excited, I can barely stand it. I’ve already started getting all the puppy stuff ready – you know crate, bed, toys, food. It’s a lot, but it’s worth it.
So yeah, that’s my story about finding a golden retriever puppy in New Jersey. It was definitely a journey, but I’m so glad I took the time to find a good breeder and the perfect puppy for me. Now all I can do is wait, just a little bit longer.
