Just been through traumatic experience of our golden retriever dying. She was a brilliant family dog who we bought from a registered Kennel club breeder. She had a suspected heart murmur when 1 year old but after further tests it was found she had 4 heart defects.I contacted breeders to inform them ,mainly in case they were going to breed again from the same dogs. Havent had any reply after phone call and letter and wonder if they care at all about the puppies. Want to begin searching for another puppy (flat coated retriever ) but feel i cant even trust kc breeder. Where do i find a reputable breeder? please help.

I would contact your breed club and ask them for names of  reputable breeders :)

I'm sorry you had such problems with your Golden.  It's heartbreaking to loose a dog at any time, but even more so when they are so young.
If you thinking of a Flatcoat instead, please PM me and I may be able to help.

i know the feeling, i purchased my first bullmastiff and she had a huge list of problems when she went to the vet she died under the anthesetic she was only eighteen months, the breeders just ignored my calls, i feel for you it should'nt be allowed to happen.

In your quest for a new puppy, do loads of research, visit shows and ask really intruding questions about why they breed litters,  also they should ask you questions to, you will then be able to sort the wheat from the chaff.  good luck in your search for your new companion.

Regards Frank

There aren't any actual KC registered breeders as such, there is the new KC Accredited Breeder Scheme & breeder who have been granted a KC affix but it only the accredited breeders who the KC require to fulfill their criteria for good breeding practices(if you go here then to the dog register(on the links along the top of the page & then there is a link to the new scheme on the left))

Sadly because the KC register the puppies does not guarantee their health etc but you can check to see if all the health checks have been done

So sorry that your golden had heart problems a Golden Breeder in the next village bred her bitch with heart problems 6 times & in every litter she produced affected puppies The bitch died aged 6 & she is now breeding from one of her daughters <sigh>because they are the popular very pale Goldens she has no problem selling them ! No eye, heart or hip tests done & the sire is a Golden who lives in the same village each time & for the daughter she has gone to another pet dog in the next town

I  would advise you to go via a breed club that has a code of ethics for their members who breed(which most clubs do)at least that way you will know that the checks etc have been done, which is all any breeder can do as well as researching the pedigrees

Most of the Flatcoat breeders are responsible & they are not as over bred as Labradors or Goldens, saw a nice one at the show on Sunday

Dont know how breeders can just not care once the pups have left them. Im still in regular contact with all mine. If anything happened to them Id be gutted theres always a bit of me that feels like their mine still. I always get teary when I see them but they are tears of happiness. I see what great homes they have and how much they are loved. Its all I ever hoped for.

Just to add to  the KC accredited breeders scheme unfortunatly it requires health tests are done but there are no stipulations on the results being acceptable! there are now several commercial kennels advertising as KC accredited breeders.
I would sugest you contact the breed club for a reccomendation. :)
A friend of mine purchased a golden puppy ,luckily th ey had arranged a vet check for the same day as a heart problem was diagnosed and he was returned to the breeder, luckily for them the breeder had aanother puppy who was fine. :)

It is sometimes hard to define what is "acceptable".  For instance in a small gene pool it may be necessary to look at the bigger picture and use dogs with results that would not be acceptable to a larger in number breed but the results of KC schemes are displayed on the registration documents they cannot be hidden.  If people don't understand the figures they could seek guidance from the breed clubs.
Again the definition of a commercial kennel is a subjective one, if a kennel does not comply with the requirements which are fairly comprehensive including socialisation of puppies, written advise and post-sales advise as well as health testing then sooner or later they will have complaints and would presumably lose their place on the scheme.
Actually I have just reread my leaflet the KC do spot checks on compliance by contacting the new owners and include a feed back form in the Puppy Sales Wallet.

Hannah

If you are looking for a Flatcoated Retriever you should contact Mrs Johnson.  She is the official litter secretary/puppy recorder for the Flatcoated Retriever Society.  All puppies/litters on her books conform to the Society code of ethics and have had the relevant hip/eye checks.

Her number is 01638 718231