Okay, so I’ve been on this whole journey of trying to find a golden retriever puppy in Illinois, and let me tell you, it’s been a thing. I’ve always wanted one of these dogs, you know? They’re just so fluffy and friendly.
Started with some Googling, obviously
First, I jumped on Google, just like any normal person would do. I typed in something like “golden retrievers for sale in Illinois” and boom, a whole bunch of stuff popped up. A lot of different breeders, that’s for sure. One name that caught my eye was Gingerrich Goldens. I noticed they have both English Cream and other kinds. Sounds fancy, right?
Then I did some more digging, looked around, and found a few different places. Some websites listed breeders, others were actual breeder sites, and then there were places like Pawrade and Lancaster Puppies.
Narrowing Down the Options
I started looking into the breeders that seemed legit. I mean, you gotta be careful, there are so many puppy scams these days. It’s crazy. I read reviews, looked at pictures, the whole nine yards. I’m pretty sure I spent like, hours, just going through websites, it was a whole thing.
- Checked out Gingerrich Goldens: Looked at their site, saw some cute pics of puppies. Seems like they know what they’re doing.
- Found some other breeders: I made a list of a few that seemed okay, based on reviews and stuff.
- Looked at Pawrade and Lancaster Puppies: These sites had a bunch of listings, so it was a bit overwhelming, but I found some good leads.
Realized Prices Are All Over the Place
So, the prices for these puppies, oh boy. It’s like a rollercoaster. I saw some for as low as $350, which honestly seemed a bit sketchy. Then there were others that were way up there, like over a thousand bucks. Apparently, it depends on things like if the puppy is a boy or girl, what color it is, and all that pedigree stuff. Who knew, right?
Reached Out to a Few Breeders
After all that research, I finally decided to contact a few breeders. Sent some emails, made a couple of phone calls. Just trying to get a feel for who’s real and who’s not, you know? It’s a big decision, getting a puppy. It’s like adding a new member to the family.
Still Deciding, But Making Progress
So, that’s where I’m at now. Still haven’t made a final decision, but I feel like I’m getting closer. I’ve learned a lot about golden retrievers and the whole process of buying a puppy. It’s definitely more complicated than I thought it would be. But I’m hopeful that I’ll find the perfect little golden furball soon enough. It’s a process, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it in the end.
