How To Tell If Your Golden Retriever Is Purebred

It is highly important for a potential adopter to first do their research before selecting a breeder and Golden Retriever. Their research should include using online resources, word of mouth, and other resources like the American Kennel Club. But if you find yourself unsure of whether or not your Golden Retriever is purebred, there are other ways to tell.

How can you tell if your Golden Retriever is purebred?

The best way to tell if your Golden Retriever is purebred is through their paperwork from the breeder or rescue. If that’s not available, you can usually tell if a Golden Retriever is purebred by a few specific physical characteristics. However, without papers from both parents, even a purebred Golden cannot be AKC registered.

Reputable breeders will provide documentation to the individuals that adopt a Golden Retriever from them.

These breeders follow a set standard, have adequate documentation, and provide it every time someone comes to their facility to adopt a Golden Retriever. This documentation should be proof enough.

Now, this is provided the adopter has done their homework and selected a reputable breeder. Some breeders out there can provide phony documentation and false references and claim to be something they are not.

How to Tell If Your Golden Retriever is Purebred

Potential adopters will use these resources to research reputable breeders so they can choose the right breeder in their area to adopt a Golden Retriever.

After doing this research which should include gaining information about how many years they are in business and reviews online, adopters should have a small list of potential breeders.

Research should be thorough, and adopters will want to list all the questions they want to be answered at some point before adopting a Golden Retriever. Such questions can include how many breeding dogs they have. How old are the breeding dogs? Anything the adopters find important should be researched.

When the potential parents have a list of a few Golden Retrievers in their area, they should contact them, ask for references and meet each breeder personally if possible. Reputable breeders won’t have a problem meeting with potential clients.

They care for the dogs they breed and the families they adopt too. Therefore a hands-on approach where potential adopters are offered a meet and greet is part of the program.  Reputable adopters want to get to know to whom they are adopting; they want caring families who will love their Golden Retrievers for the rest of their lives.

During this meet and greet, more questions will be asked, and any information the potential adopter finds important should be addressed at this time. It is also important for adopters to seek credentials and documentation at this time.

At any time, if a breeder doesn’t provide documentation or check off all the boxes for an adopter to make them feel comfortable, there are other reputable breeders. Things to note during a tour or meet and greet would be the standards and cleanliness of the facility.

Potential adopters should note how the facility or home looks, smells, and how the puppies are treated. While an adopter won’t know all the details of breeding dogs or handling litters of puppies, asking questions is perfectly acceptable.

When a potential adopter has a few breeders that prove that they run a reputable facility, they can begin thinking about choosing a puppy. Based on income, available litter, and other things like color choices for Golden Retrievers, they can choose one breeder and a puppy.

If a breeder cannot provide proper certification and documentation or offer a tour or meet and greet, adopters should be cautious.

Once this is done, potential adopters can rest assured that they’ve found a reputable breeder and purebred puppies.

Purebred dogs of any breed come with American Kennel Club Pedigree Certification papers; if that is not provided, they are not purebred.   The paperwork will contain their name, number, ancestral titles for their parents and other dog relatives, and notable physical characteristics.

Another way to note that you have a purebred Golden Retriever is by their appearance. This dog breed has a specific size and attributes that mark them as unique from other dog breeds. They are muscular, strong, and weigh fifty-five to seventy-five pounds for males or females.

Their height is generally twenty-one to twenty-four inches to the withers. Regarding their personality, Golden Retrievers have a sweet, gentle, and friendly demeanor that is unmistakable.

Another physical characteristic is that Goldens only come in three colors, light golden, golden and dark golden. Physical attributes like feathering on the chest, belly, and tail prove purebred status.

These characteristics help prove a Golden Retriever is a purebred dog, but they are not the first way to know. The pedigree should always come first, as some dogs can have Golden Retriever in their breeding, but they are not purebred.

What if I adopt a Golden Retriever and they are not purebred?

Adopting a Golden Retriever, and they appear not purebred, doesn’t mean they are any less loveable. This type of situation happens a lot more than people think it does, and it can be helpful for parents to remember that the dog is not at fault.

If you have grown attached to your Golden Retriever, there is no reason to make any changes because they are just as loveable, beautiful, and good as any other dog, purebred or not.

That being said, it can be beneficial for you to quietly address the issue with the breeder you chose so this matter doesn’t happen again. Consulting the breeder can help an adopter understand there can be some misunderstanding.

It also gives a breeder a chance to prove their responsibility and reputability. If they can’t prove pedigree, adopters can work locally to ensure it doesn’t happen to someone else in the future. Disreputable breeders are everywhere and adopt various dog breeds.

Doing the work to prevent disreputable breeders from being successful leaves room for the reputable Golden Retrievers to shine and adopters to have purebred, healthy, breed-standard dogs.

In Conclusion

Their pedigree paperwork is the best way to tell if a Golden Retriever is purebred. Reputable breeders can provide this, and adopters should only use these quality breeders.

Even if an adopter finds their Golden Retriever isn’t a true purebred, they are no less loveable or sweet. Embrace all dogs for who they are, as all dogs, regardless of breeding, have beautiful gifts to share with us, humans!