Texas TLC Goldens recognizes and provides registration from The American Kennel Club (AKC). We often get questions about providing full registration but as of this writing, have never done so. Read on for details.
Registration Types
Limited Registration: All puppies from Texas TLC Goldens come with AKC Limited Registration which is proper AKC Registration but does not allow your puppy to pass on AKC registration to it’s puppies. This should not be a problem, ever for someone that is looking for a pet. It is possible to upgrade limited to full registration at any time but must meet Texas TLC Goldens guidelines for that upgrade.
Full Registration: Full registration is an optional registration type that allows participating in AKC conformation competition and passing registration to future puppies. Almost none of our customers need this but it is possible to attain. In the interest of protecting our puppies and the breed, it is not a simple thing to qualify for full registration from our program.
All of our puppies are sold with limited registration but might be able to upgrade later after all of the following are met. Note that the list is high level and subject to change:
-
- Show proof of passing certifications for hips
- Show proof of passing OFA heart and eye certifications.
- DNA testing showing clear or carrier for ichthyosis. All of our puppies will be fully cleared by parentage for the entire “Golden Retriever Panel” except as follows. It is possible some few of our puppies could be ichthyosis “carriers” which means absolutely nothing for pets but should be paid attention to by a breeder. Please read our article on ichthyosis if you have questions.
- Breeders will need to have been in business for at least 18 months, whelped and sold at least one litter and provide information to our satisfaction of conditions, policies and practices that we approve of; a proper website is highly preferred.
- Additional registration fee at the time of upgrade equal to the original purchase price of the puppy.
Reasons We Tend to Discourage Full Registration
- Breeding is a very labor and cost intensive thing that can be heart breaking and frustrating at times. It looks easy but is absolutely not. We will only provide full registration if we feel fully comfortable with the potential breeder and their commitment to the dogs and the breed.
- Dogs sold as a pet will not be bred so full registration has no value.
- A pet should not be bred once just to get another puppy, ever.
- It is a complete myth that female dogs should have a litter of puppies before spay.
- Leaving a Golden Retriever intact (Male or Female) as an adult is a LOT more work and responsibility over time; it is not for the faint of heart.
- Male dogs that are not neutered are actually more risky than an un-spayed female as they can and will breed with ANY un-spayed female within 2 miles of you and create more mutts and/or unwanted puppies. Even if you can control them and keep them contained, they go stark raving mad when they smell a bitch in heat on the wind. Unaltered males often “mark” territory a lot more (pee on everything) and can be aggressive with other male dogs in certain situations.
- Female dogs that are not spayed are VERY messy when in heat and moody for weeks or even months around heat. During heat, there is a period of a week or so when they will do their best to escape and find an unaltered male to breed with; it’s even possible to breed through a chain link fence (I don’t see how but it’s been reported). Unaltered female dogs also commonly display aggressive dominant behavior over other females during and just after heat. If a male dog gets too frisky/insistent when she is (or recently was) in heat before/ after she is ready, she may injure him out of frustration.
- Puppy mills, back yard breeders and hobbyists will never get full registration from us if we can prevent it.
Yes, our requirements for full registration are extensive; we make no apology for that fact. There are some few breeders that sell full registration just to make money. In our opinion that practice is irresponsible and we don’t need to hear examples of those that do. Our rules are in place for the good our our puppies and the breed. If you have any questions on this subject not covered above that don’t involve making exceptions, please contact us.
Bryan and Terri