VanGoghlden Retrievers

07/04/2024

One of the many reasons we don't recommend dog parks.

04/10/2024

Someone had a bath and decided my bed was the best place to finish the drying process. He may have pulled the old man card and I may have allowed him to get out of some of the blower time..... I'm a sucker. www.vangoghldens.com

03/16/2024

A beefcake puppy (Bernie x Charlotte)

03/14/2024

I can hop on two feet and lick my nose at the same time. This clearly counts towards the Trick Dog title 😉

03/12/2024

Chip off the ole block (Bernie x Charlotte puppy)

03/05/2024

03/04/2024

A sweet Ben and Drama boy

03/01/2024

One guess who my Daddy is.....

02/29/2024

One of the sweet Ben and Drama boys www.vangoghldens.com

02/28/2024

Ben x Drama puppy 😍 www.vangoghldens.com

02/08/2024

Check out our Ben x Drama puppies! We still have some reservations available due to so many boys! www.vangoghldens.com

09/16/2023

POTENTIAL OWNER: How much is the puppy?

BREEDER: $3500 dollars.

POTENTIAL OWNER: What?? It's way too expensive!!

BREEDER: What do you think would be a good price?

POTENTIAL OWNER: No more than $1200. You reputable breeders are so over priced.

BREEDER: I am sorry you see it this way, why don't you try it yourself?

POTENTIAL OWNER: But I've never done it!

BREEDER: For FREE I can teach you how to do it, and in addition you will have the knowledge to do it again.

POTENTIAL OWNER: Perfect, thank you!

BREEDER: To start you will need a Female (average cost $4000 and up) and a Male (average cost $4000 and up) or Semen (average $4000 and up). You will need to do Genetic & Health Testing on them, averages about $1500+ per Dog. Lets not forget Progesterone Testings at $88 each, 4-5 needed, C-Section, starting at $1300 if planned, and $3300 at the emergency room, Inseminations at $375, Ultrasounds at $123, X-rays $130, Semen Collections $275, Storage of semen $120/year, Semen Analysis $75, potentially Semen overnight shipping and so on ($4500+). 10+ Hours of traveling to/from a reputable Repro vet $400 per visit, dog sitter while you’re gone $50-75 a day, and provide Daily Care, Feeding of high quality food & suppliments, & Grooming for 2 years of the potential Stud/Dam, (minimal $350 per month) Oh, don’t forget Monthly Prevention, Annual Vet Visits and any other additional Vet Visits.
On top of this if you Show - Entries, Equipment, Travel, hotels, food, certificates, etc. Easily $3-4000/year.
And let’s not forget training…if you’re not good at it, hired help is available, starting at $200 per CGC group class, or $50 for private lessons. And you WILL need many lessons. IF you can do it yourself, $100/month in gas money to take your dog places to socialize & desensitize + $40 in training treats.

POTENTIAL OWNER: But I don't have that much money...

BREEDER: For $10,000 you can raise a litter and then keep one of the puppies. Obviously, you will pay the cost of whelping & care.

POTENTIAL OWNER: I can do that.

BREEDER: OK so I have a female due to whelp in 2 weeks. You will need to be available 24/7 around the clock for at least 3 weeks to help with delivery, care ( a million loads of laundry) plus weeks afterwards to monitor mum and puppies. You will need to hire a helper so you can catch 4 hours of sleep a night & a puppy walker to exercise your adult dogs.

POTENTIAL OWNER: Five+ weeks?? it's way too much time for me! I have to work.

BREEDER: Plus You will need to be available for puppy families to call you 24/7 with a worry or concern no matter the age. You MUST also be ready to take back the puppy/dog at any age if the family has a unforseen emergency.

BREEDER: You will also need the reproductive vet to do progesterone testing($88/test ) & C-section($1300-$3300) and initial vet care on pups until old enough to be placed ($800+).
Have on hand a scale, thermometer, latex gloves, puppy pads, incubator, heating lamp, whelping box, puppy pen, blankets, toys, bowls, cleaning supplies, appropriate food with supplements for mothers, formula, medications & hand/tube feeding supplies in case of emergency....

POTENTIAL OWNER: But I don't have all these things!

BREEDER: For $5000+ you can buy them.

POTENTIAL OWNER: Ummm .... You know, I think it might be better if I just buy a Puppy.

BREEDER: Wise decision.
For us, there are No Vacations or Holidays, while you go to visit with family & friends we are home at our dogs side caring for them. It is a no breaks commitment.

THIS IS THE REALITY
When you choose a Reputable Person/Breeder, you aren’t only purchasing the Puppy but also: Knowledge, Support , Experience, Love, Time, Sacrifices, etc...

**Plus the cost of Life Time Support to the Puppy Owners…

These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg (best case scenario!!!) as a Reputable Breeder who takes on this journey full time!

Very well said…
*Copied from another Breeder*
www.vangoghldens.com

06/15/2023

The one and only Bernie as a puppy.

02/22/2023

10/18/2021

09/18/2021

Crate train your dog. It’s not cruel, it’s not a punishment, it’s not irresponsible or lazy, you don’t have to regularly crate them just make sure they are comfortable in a crate.

You know what is cruel, irresponsible and lazy? Making emergency responders, animal control and any other search and rescue person decide which dogs they can and cannot take during a disaster. I can promise you the choice will always have to be the dogs that crate. Absolutely no shelter, hotel, evacuation station etc has to take your dogs, it’s a privilege and in many cases cannot be extended to you and your uncratable dog. It’s also cruel to your dog. Should your dog need to be crated, it’s 100% your fault if your dog is miserable and scared being in the crate.

And please spare me the time of telling me you will never have a need for your dog to be crated, not one single person who has ever dealt with an emergency thought they would either.

08/18/2021

The mid-sized dog was determined to guard his home against the massive Alaskan bruin. The tense encounter was caught on film.

08/02/2021

Patreon.com/ScottMetzgerCartoons

07/06/2021

Oscar, the Golden Retriever, and his mom, Pam, recently performed on the popular TV show ‘America’s Got Talent.’ Simon Cowell is a notoriously hard judge to impress, and though Pam may have been…