The GRCA provides puppy referral
as a convenience to puppy buyers
to find out about breeders who
are GRCA members and their
litters. GRCA takes no
responsibility whatsoever for
any puppies/dogs that you may
acquire through GRCA puppy
referral. GRCA is not
responsible for any breeder’s
sale practices and sales
contracts, nor will GRCA be
involved in any manner in
contract disputes between puppy
buyers and breeders.
Availability of puppies and
conditions of sale are at the
sole discretion of the
individual breeder. Buyers are
encouraged to read ACQUIRING
A GOLDEN RETRIEVER, as found
on the grca.org web-site, for
general information about
obtaining a puppy, to take as
much time as necessary to locate
a reputable breeder from whom
they feel comfortable purchasing
a puppy, and to investigate
breeders and their puppies
thoroughly before committing to
a purchase. You are not
obligated to purchase a puppy
from the breeders whose names
you obtain from GRCA puppy
referral. |
Dear Potential
Puppy Buyers,
So you are looking
for a Golden Retriever puppy during the pandemic.
You’ve done your homework, tried every avenue you
can find to locate that puppy and are coming up
empty. Here are some things you need to know. First,
while you are looking, so are dozens maybe hundreds
of other people. Inquiries coming in to me alone are
up about 200% since last spring and most responsible
breeders are finding the same thing. Second, there
is no possible way for responsible, preservationist
breeders to keep up with the demand. We can’t “ramp
up production” like has been done with PPE or
ventilators to meet the requests. Breeding doesn’t
work like that. I know that none of this is good
news if you are a hopeful puppy buyer.
So I wanted to
offer an explanation, some information and maybe a
few tips to help you at this time. For decades, as a
responsible, preservationist breeder, I have
committed to meet each request with a polite and
educational response whether I had puppies or not. I
have preached that if there is nothing available,
you should be prepared to wait and start a
relationship with a breeder. “Get to know a few”,
“Get your name on a list” and most of all, “Be
patient” is what we’ve always said.
For most of you
that’s not working and you are ranging further and
further in search of a litter, a waiting list or
even an interview. You’re frustrated and
disappointed. I’m sorry – I know what it’s like to
want a puppy or to be without a beloved dog who has
passed. I don’t have a lot of optimistic news. No
one could have predicted that puppies and toilet
paper would be the things in the shortest supply if
a pandemic hit. So, is there any good news? Well, if
I had to make a prediction, I would guess that 2
things might happen in 2021.
First, in 6-12
months I think the demand might go back down as
people leave isolation and there may be some room to
get on a waiting list. Second, when everyone starts
to go back to work and families are not home full
time, there could be a lot of Goldens surrendered to
rescue. If those “pandemic puppies” aren’t able to
stay alone without constant attention, they may
become destructive and anxious when left. Some
people will work through this, some will have taught
this skill while in quarantine but some families
will opt for surrender. So now might be the time to
put in an application to your local rescue and work
to get approved and on a waiting list for when that
happens. It’s probably won’t be a puppy, or a well
bred golden (they don't end up in rescue) – but it
might be a Golden.
I can’t write this
without bringing up online sales, unscrupulous
breeders (puppy mills) and scams. Sadly, these times
have brought scammers out in force and puppy mills
have no qualms about trying to “ramp up production”
despite what’s in the best interest of the moms and
babies. There is an excellent article on the AKC
website entitled: How to Spot a Puppy Scam Online –
American Kennel Club (akc.org).
It gives a list of red flags (no phone calls, only
electronic communication, copycat or stock photos,
sketchy payment requests and prices that are too
good to be true). I would add to that list: beware
of places that you can’t visit in person to meet the
mom. You may have already educated yourself about
all of this but as the search goes on, the
temptation may grow to visit these websites or “the
farm in the next county with puppies in their barn”
or the pet store in the mall. I would NOT recommend
any of these approaches!
So where does that
leave you if you are sitting at home with a hole in
your heart or a burning desire for a puppy? What are
your options? I don’t have any magic answers but I
can offer a couple of suggestions. If there are no
puppies, please consider a visit to your local
shelter. It may not be the Golden of your dreams but
your's may be the home of a shelter dog’s dream.
Then, when your shelter buddy needs a playmate in a
couple of years it may be easier to find a Golden.
Second, as I mentioned, visit the website of your
local rescue and consider an application. It’s not a
quick option either as most rescues are not overfull
of dogs needing homes, but it might play out. And
lastly, if you are writing to breeders, it might be
helpful to ask them to give you a general timeframe
of when to check back to see if they are starting
the list process. (For me, it’s mid-2021.)
Just a few parting
words about wait lists. I know that getting on a
waiting list might seem like a step closer to a
puppy but I’m not sure it always is. This isn’t
universal practice, but no one goes on a waiting
list for my puppies unless I’ve interviewed them.
With 3-8 inquiries per day obviously personal phones
calls or interviews can’t happen and wait lists
would fill in a week. Also, breedings are not always
easy to predict. When a bitch is going to come into
season is variable and whether or not she gets
pregnant is always in question so there are no sure
things. Also, a waiting list does nothing to protect
a breeder because people go elsewhere without
telling us all the time so what I might think is a
solid wait list could vanish like a puff of smoke.
And taking deposits to solidify a wait list is not
something I am willing to do. First of all, because
I want people to always be able to change their mind
and secondly, because puppies might or might not
happen as noted above so I don’t want to be under an
obligation for something that might not happen. So
hoping to get on a wait list is probably not a solid
strategy. Instead asking when might be a good
timeframe to check back in might give you a better
idea. Or asking if something will be posted to a
webpage or FB page might also work so you can
monitor that.
I wish I had
better ideas or insider tips to offer but I don’t. I
just want potential puppy buyers who are trying to
do everything right, to hear the reality of today’s
situation and know that it’s not that we don’t want
to provide you a puppy if you are a good match for
one of our babies or that we are callously ignoring
you. It is simply that we are overwhelmed. I know
VERY few breeders for whom breeding is a full time
job. We have families, jobs, other responsibilities.
And though we have always been committed to
responding to your heartfelt letters, messages and
emails, we can’t keep up.
Hang in there.
Having a dog, particularly a Golden, and making them
part of your family, will enrich your life. It just
might not happen real soon.
Best,
Gayle
White Birch
Goldens