Top Hat Golden Retrievers & Lagotto Romagnolo

11/03/2026

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Breeder Green Flags: Because “We Love Our Dogs” Isn’t a Qualification.

Let’s talk about something that deserves a little more attention on the internet.

Good breeders.

Yes, they exist. You just don’t know what you’re looking for, and neither does most of the general public.

Because if you’re preparing to spend the next 10–15 years with a dog, you deserve to know a little more about where that dog came from than “the puppies are adorable and Mom is super sweet.”

Spoiler alert: They’re all adorable.

That’s how puppies work.

So, what are the green flags when choosing a breeder?

💚 1. They actually know their breed.

And we don’t mean they can identify it in a lineup.

They understand its history, original purpose, temperament, structure, health concerns, and the characteristics that make it unique.

They can explain why a Golden Retriever is a Golden Retriever beyond the fact that it’s fluffy and likes tennis balls.

A good breeder isn’t just producing dogs that look like a particular breed.

They’re working to preserve what makes that breed special.

💚 2. They health test. And they have receipts.

“We’ve never had a problem!”

Wonderful. We’d love to keep it that way.

But a veterinarian saying a dog looks healthy is not the same as completing the recommended health screenings for breeding dogs.

A responsible breeder knows which tests are appropriate for their breed and can provide verifiable results.

And no, a DNA panel alone doesn’t necessarily cover everything.

Health testing isn’t a crystal ball. It’s one of the tools responsible breeders use to make better decisions.

💚 3. They can explain why they bred those two dogs.

And “because they’re both really pretty” isn’t quite the answer we’re looking for.

A thoughtful breeder considers pedigrees, health, temperament, structure, genetic diversity, and the characteristics they hope to preserve or improve.

They should know the strengths of their dogs.

And perhaps more importantly, they should be able to discuss their weaknesses.

Because there has never been a perfect dog.

Not even that one your neighbor insists is the smartest dog ever born.

💚 4. They ask YOU questions.

Lots of them, sometimes.

Who lives in your home?

What’s your experience with dogs?

What does your daily life look like?

What are you hoping for in a companion?

You might feel like you’re applying for a mortgage.

But there’s a reason.

A responsible breeder wants to know where their puppies are going and whether their breed is a good match for your family.

The goal isn’t simply to sell you a puppy. It’s to place the right puppy in the right home.

💚 5. They’re willing to tell you something you don’t want to hear.

This one might be our favorite.

A good breeder may tell you that the breed you’ve fallen in love with isn’t the best fit for your lifestyle.

They may tell you that the puppy you picked from a photograph isn’t the one they’d recommend for your family.

They may even tell you that you should wait for another litter.

Imagine that.

Someone willing to lose a sale because they care more about the dog and its future.

That’s a green flag. A big one.

💚 6. They’re involved in their breed beyond producing puppies.

Dog shows. Performance events. Working activities. Breed clubs. Mentorship. Continuing education.

There are different ways breeders can evaluate their dogs and contribute to their breeds.

But a thoughtful breeding program should involve more than announcing the next litter on Facebook.

Responsible breeders keep learning.

They seek knowledgeable opinions.

They evaluate what they’re producing.

And sometimes they make the difficult decision not to breed a dog they absolutely adore.

Because loving a dog and deciding that dog should reproduce are two very different things.

💚 7. They’re honest about what can go wrong.

No responsible breeder can promise a puppy will never become sick, develop an inherited condition, or experience a behavioral challenge.

Dogs are living animals, not appliances with lifetime guarantees.

What you should expect is transparency.

A willingness to discuss health concerns.

An understanding of the breed’s challenges.

And evidence that the breeder is making informed decisions to reduce risks wherever possible.

A breeder who admits dogs aren’t perfect is often telling you far more than one who promises theirs are.

💚 8. They don’t disappear after pickup day.

Your puppy goes home.

You send the cute photos.

They celebrate the milestones.

And when your adolescent dog suddenly develops selective hearing and an enthusiasm for redecorating your living room, you have someone knowledgeable to call.

A responsible breeder should offer guidance and have a plan to help if you can no longer keep your dog.

They may not answer every message in five minutes.

They do have lives. Occasionally.

But their responsibility to the dogs they produce shouldn’t end when the payment clears.

💚 9. They care about the future of the breed.

This is where preservation breeding comes in.

A thoughtful breeder isn’t simply asking, “Can I produce puppies?”

They’re asking:

Should I make this breeding?

What am I contributing to the next generation?

Am I protecting the health, temperament, soundness, and defining characteristics of this breed?

Not every puppy will become a show dog.

Not every puppy will be bred.

In fact, most well-bred puppies will spend their lives doing something wonderfully ordinary.

Being somebody’s dog.

And that’s exactly why these decisions matter.

⸻

Here’s What We Really Want Puppy Buyers to Know.

A beautiful website isn’t a green flag by itself.

Neither is a high price.

Neither is AKC registration.

And neither is a breeder telling you how much they love their dogs.

Love is important. But love alone is not a breeding program.

Look for knowledge.

Look for transparency.

Look for thoughtful decisions.

Look for someone who can explain not only what they’re doing, but why they’re doing it.

And please remember that responsible breeders don’t all look alike.

Some have beautiful kennels. Some raise puppies in their homes. Some have waiting lists. Some occasionally have puppies available.

The important distinction isn’t the aesthetic.

It’s the responsibility behind the breeding.

At Bred With Purpose, we’re not here to hand you a list of approved breeders or tell you where to buy your next puppy.

We’re here to help you become an educated puppy buyer.

Because the more you understand, the better questions you can ask.

And the better questions you ask, the easier it becomes to recognize the people doing this thoughtfully.

The biggest green flag?

A breeder who cares just as much about the dog you’ll have ten years from now as the puppy they’re placing in your arms today.

That’s worth looking for.

bredwithpurpose.com

Puppy families: What’s something your breeder did that made you realize you’d found a good one?

And breeders, what green flag would you add to this list?

06/10/2026

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Hunter of Old Coots...

Here is a revised version with improved accuracy while preserving your voice and flow:

Inasmuch as we’ve all known someone who qualified as an “old coot,” we’re guessing that few of us have personally known a real Coot.

A real coot is a tough, territorial waterbird found on ponds, lakes, and marshes; in Europe, they are typically Eurasian Coots. While fully capable of flight, coots need a long running start across the water to get airborne, so they are more often seen paddling than flying. They can be prickly and surprisingly aggressive, even attacking other birds, which may help explain how their name became associated with eccentric or irritable people.

Back in the day, there was another creature a coot was likely to encounter in a marsh or swamp: a dog named the Lagotto Romagnolo.

The Lagotto was originally bred as a water retriever in the wetlands of northern Italy, adept at retrieving waterfowl, including coots. Its name reflects this heritage: “lago,” meaning lake, and “Romagna,” the region of origin. In the local dialect, “Càn Lagòt” has been interpreted to mean a water dog or a curly-coated dog suited to wetland hunting.

Over time, however, the marshlands of Emilia-Romagna were gradually drained—primarily between the 18th and 19th centuries—to create arable farmland and improve living conditions. As wetlands disappeared, so did much of the region’s waterfowl hunting. Fortunately for the breed, Lagotti had already demonstrated an aptitude for searching out truffles, and they transitioned from water retrievers to specialized truffle hunters. The breed became so proficient that it is now widely regarded as the premier truffle dog.

It wasn’t an enormous leap. The same qualities that made the Lagotto an effective retriever—manageable size, keen nose, intelligence, and a dense, protective coat—also made it ideally suited for working through underbrush in search of subterranean fungi.

Today, waterfowl hunting in Italy is far more limited, and only a small number of Lagotti are still used in their original retrieving role. Historical accounts note that a breeding pair, Reno and Rossetta, were imported into the United Kingdom in 1997 by Ann Kemp and Gael Stenton—the first Lagotti in the UK. They came from the Mandriole kennels near Ravenna, where dogs were still reportedly used as duck retrievers from traditional flat-bottomed marsh punts, though it is unclear whether that practice continues today.

Ed note: As we continue to explore ways to deal with Facebook's algorithms, please leave a reaction or comment to ensure that you continue to get NPDD posts in your feed.

Image: Tobia” by Xena “best friend” is licensed and shared here under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

05/25/2026

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For purebred dogs there are common health concerns and also recommended health screenings within each specific breed. These screenings help reduce the risk of inherited health problems and support a better quality of life and greater longevity. Health should be a primary consideration in every breeding decision.

In some European countries, breeders must meet strict testing requirements before they can breed and register a litter.

In many other countries, breed clubs publish recommended tests, but there may be no oversight requiring breeders to complete them before selling puppies.

In the United States and Canada, breeders and breed organizations often rely on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for health testing standards. In addition to promoting animal health, the OFA maintains a public database of orthopedic and genetic test results.

The OFA also created the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) program, which outlines breed-specific testing recommendations. For each breed, the national breed club determines which tests are required for CHIC recognition.

Here is the list of the recommended health tests for Lagotto Romagnolo
https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/?breed=RWD

The OFA database is free to use and is a valuable resource for breeders and puppy seekers, especially in North America. Although health data can be submitted from anywhere in the world, it will appear in the database only if it has been properly submitted.

When evaluating a breeder, it is important to verify the health testing completed for each dog. If testing appears incomplete or cannot be verified, ask the breeder for additional information.

Screening is available for many of the breed’s common health concerns, but research into serious genetic conditions is still ongoing. As new tests become available, they may be added to the list of recommended screenings.

The Lagotto Foundation provides a printable reference of CHIC health testing requirements on its website publications Health Testing.
https://lagottofoundation.org/home/publications/

This reference includes the OFA CHIC requirements as well as additional health testing recommendations from the Lagotto Foundation.

THANK YOU to Tazmaa’s Studio Artist Designer Valerie A. Ryan for compiling this beautiful reference.

05/19/2026

Health testing isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of protecting the future of the breed.

The Golden Retriever Club of America recommends a comprehensive approach to health testing that goes beyond the basics. This includes:
• Hips evaluated by OFA or PennHIP
• Elbows evaluated by OFA
• Cardiac exam by a board-certified cardiologist (advanced/echo preferred)
• Annual eye exams by a board-certified ophthalmologist

These recommendations are in place to help reduce the risk of passing on hereditary conditions and to preserve the health, structure, and longevity of Golden Retrievers.

A CHIC number through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals simply means a dog has completed the required testing—it does not mean the dog “passed” everything, and it does not include genetic testing.

Health testing is about transparency, education, and making informed breeding decisions—not shortcuts.

If we want to protect what we love, we have to be willing to do the work behind the scenes.

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03/30/2026

Cricket and I had a lot of fun showing this weekend at the Warren County Kennel Club show in Wilmington, OH.

This was Cricket's second weekend showing in AKC events and what a great weekend we had!

Saturday we showed to Mustapha El Khorchi who awarded her Winners Bitch, Best of Winners for a 3 point major, AND Best Puppy. Mustapha was also the judge for Best Puppy Sporting Group where he awarded her a Group 2.

Debbie Melgreen was our judge Sunday where Cricket won her class and again was awarded Winners Bitch for another 2 points.

Thank you to these judges who chose my girl! Cricket now has 6 AKC points and her first major at just 6 months old.

Cricket's official name is Racecity Penzance Highlight To Top Hat TKN STR

These are photos from the Warren County show and the Indy Cluster where she also won Best Puppy in Sporting Group at 5 months old.

07/12/2025

Cool-Down Science: How a Simple Head Dunk Could Save Your Dog from Heat Stroke
From AKC Canine Health Foundation

Summer brings long days of sunshine and outdoor adventure and for many dogs, that means backyard play, long hikes, training sessions, or athletic competitions. But with rising temperatures comes a real danger: heat injury.

Just as you might crave air conditioning and ice water after time outside, your dog can feel similarly. Even with shaded rest areas, cooling towels, and constant hydration, it can be difficult to keep active dogs cool—especially those involved in working or sporting events. Dogs primarily cool themselves through panting and some sweating through their paw pads, which makes them more vulnerable to overheating.

Read the entire article here: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=333225

06/20/2025

DON'T FORGET! With the heat wave on the way, you CANNOT leave your pets unattended in the car. Cracking the windows does not help the situation. Within a short amount of time, the inside of your vehicle will heat to a level that becomes dangerous and even deadly.