22/08/2026
The ad says āRegistered breederā⦠but registered with who?
One of the things I think is really important for anyone looking for a puppy to understand is that the term āregistered breederā can mean different things.
A breeder may be registered with their local council or on a government breeder register. This is an important legal requirement, but it is not the same as being a breeder registered with an organisation such as Dogs Australia (ANKC) through their state canine body.
When looking for a Golden Retriever puppy, I encourage you to look a little further than the words āregistered breederā.
š¾ Ask the breeder who they are registered with.
š¾ Meet the breeder face to face and, if possible, visit where the puppies are raised.
š¾ Ask to see Mum and find out about Dad.
š¾ Ask what health testing has been undertaken on both parents, and ask to see the certificates.
š¾ Find out how the puppies are raised, socialised and prepared for life in their new homes.
And please donāt be too influenced by beautiful Instagram and pages. A professional-looking social media presence can tell you very little about the actual breeding program behind it.
The same applies to online puppy websites. Being listed on a marketing site such as RightPaw, or having a verification badge, doesnāt mean the breeder is an ANKC registered breeder. Many different types of breeders are listed, and they are not required to do health testing.
DogZonline is the only selling platform exclusively for ANKC registered breeders.
For us, when choosing a breeder, we recommend starting with Dogs Australia (ANKC) registered breeders. They operate within the rules and Code of Ethics of their state canine organisation and have requirements around breeding, health testing and breeder education.
Of course, being an ANKC breeder doesnāt automatically make someone a perfect breeder - you still need to do your homework.
But itās a good place to start.
Buying a puppy is a big decision, and itās worth taking the time to get to know the breeder rather than making a decision based on photographs, advertising or how quickly a puppy is available.
ā¤ļø Donāt just ask āAre you a registered breeder?ā
š¾ Ask āRegistered with who?ā
That simple question can tell you a lot.
breeder