'The vet name provided wasn’t someone who worked [there]': Puppy parents expose “professional” breeding specialist as a shady backyard breeder when they figure out he's falsifying vet records

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Sep 10, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

We get why you want to buy a golden retriever. They really are the best doggos. They don't have a single bad bone in their body, they're great with families, kids, and other dogs, and they're happy literally all the time. But just make sure you're doing it as ethically as you can (we say "as you can" because if you want our real opinion, we would tell you that there are so many dogs that need your loving home more than a golden retriever puppy) by making sure your dog breeder is legit. There are a lot of "backyard breeders" out there, AKA people who make litters of puppies for profit without doing proper lineage checks, and most times, without the knowledge of what they're doing.

Everything started to smell fishy below when their "professional" breeding specialist wouldn't share any vet information with these new puppy pawrents. When they pressed for more information, they found out he gave them fake names of veterinarians in town, and quickly realized that this guy was no professional at all. 

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  • 01

    Dog Breeder won’t share my new puppy’s vet or detailed health information

    Golden retriever puppy including 'You should probably do a DNA test to see if the dog is even a golden retriever.'
    via Tatyana Consaul

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Is this normal? It feels so off. I'm not sure if this is the best sub for this question, so please let me know otherwise.
    via jbecks123
  • 03
    My family just bought a new puppy from a golden retriever breeder who seemed legitimate (we did online research, spoke with references, etc). When we went to pick up the puppy, the health information shared was scarce. It was a printed excel file
    via jbecks123
  • 04
    with names of treatments and vaccinations with dates. There was no accompanying veterinary name/practice, no medicine details beyond the product/date and nothing to communicate the health of the puppy.
    via jbecks123

  • It's easy to get bamboozled by breeders. Just like with service dogs, there is no official document or certification needed to be a dog breeder, so literally anyone can start selling puppies. But with dog breeds like golden retrievers, who are prone to a lot of genetic issues, this can turn out to be disastrous not only for the owners, but for the puppers as well.

  • 05
    When we pushed for more information the breeder rushed things along and gave us the name of a vet and clinic in town.
    via jbecks123
  • 06
    Moderately satisfied with this answer, and likely being smitten with the puppy, we left and called the vet clinic from the car on our way home. They had never seen the puppy, heard of the breeder and the vet name provided wasn't someone who
    via jbecks123
  • 07
    worked at the clinic (nor someone we could find online). When we called the breeder back he got very defensive and accused us of spreading rumors about him selling sick dogs and refused to give us any vet information. Ahh what!?
    via jbecks123
  • 08
    Golden retriever at vet's office
    via Latino Life

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    At this point we didn't believe anything he said and were unsure if the puppy had any previous health attention. So we took her to our local vet hospital where she got a clean bill of health aside for some giardia (which is pretty common and very treatable).
    via jbecks123
  • 10
    In the end, this all turned out ok. It was a very expensive and emotional roller coaster getting a new puppy which already a very taxing and emotionally charged experience.
    via jbecks123

  • If people continue to buy puppies from people like this, things exactly like this will keep happening. Instead, why not take a trip to your local animal shelter and see if there are any puppies there that need a home? Or even better yet, adopt the senior doggo who just wants to cuddle all day!

  • 11
    I asked my partner to just move on and forget the breeder who I believe will not share any health information because the puppy never saw a vet but rather he gives the litter treatments. Which I suppose is fine, but then do not sell dogs saying they see a vet imo.
    via jbecks123
  • 12
    My question is whether or not this is normal or we're inexperienced buyers? Any advice is welcomed!
    via jbecks123
  • 13
    Randr_sphynx Simple the puppies never went to the vet. They did vaccines and deworming at home and got the supplies from tractor supply. Thus being the excel spreadsheet. The puppy is fine now... wondering what those hips, elbows, and eyes are going to be up to when the puppy turns into an adult. Willing to bet the parents are not titled or ofa tested.
    via Randr_sphynx
  • 14
    Golden retriever puppy with tennis ball
    via paule858

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    OktoberStorms The breeder won't give you that info because they're lying about the records. It's normal for breeders, sure, since they cut corners every way possible.
    via OktoberStorms
  • 16
    It can be difficult to figure out if a breeder is ethical or not online, but generally you want to look for dog titling (conformation, sports, etc) and look up the dogs on the OFA database to make sure the lines are being tested for genetic health issues.
    via OktoberStorms
  • 17
    DannysMom03 Yeah, your puppy had not had appropriate medical care. Probably not a good or ethical breeder. Likely a sketchy BYB that does their own shots and de worming.
    via DannysMom03
  • 18
    Problem with that is they are not a vet. Where did they get the meds? Ordered online? Did they get what they think they ordered or a fake? Did the package sit on their porch in 95 degrees heat all day when it was delivered ruining the meds? Did they pick up livestock meds at TSC and dose them themselves? Did they dose appropriately? Maybe. Maybe not.
    via DannysMom03
  • 19
    Assume your new vet has start from scratch to get this puppy appropriately vaccinated.
    via DannysMom03
  • 20
    TwatWaffleWhitney Is it normal, probably and unfortunately. Is it okay? Absolutely not. Make a post about this breeder in any local groups, you know. Goldens are more and more prone to genetic issues. Vetting for parents and puppy is extremely important, especially for the prices people want to charge.
    via TwatWaffleWhitney
  • 21
    WilliamTindale8 I would refuse to take a pup and paying purebred prices without a vet certificate. There is a reason why the breeder didn't provide you with a vet certificate and none of the possible reasons are good ones.
    via WilliamTindale8
  • 22
    StillLJ "Health information" is more than just the puppy's clean bill of health. A good breeder will provide health clearances for both parents (at minimum) and, often, back several generations. The vaccination/exam information for the puppy should be directly from the vet with all contact information/letterhead intact.
    via StillLJ
  • 23
    It sounds like this wasn't a good breeder, and no, this is not normal. Unfortunately, breeders like this will continue to breed because it's so easy to be uninformed. A lot of people simply don't know better, or haven't done the legwork, and unethical breeders rely on these buyers. Most of them know that once you get a cute little puppy in your hands, you're not likely to stop the process.
    via StillLJ
  • 24
    CenterofChaos Is it normal? For a sketchy backyard breeder it sure is. If you're inexperienced then you likely fell for a bad breeder's facade. I'd advise you not to linger on that unless the pup is very ill. Good breeders will have information provided and proof able by a licensed vet.
    via CenterofChaos
  • 25
    I'd also advise you not to believe a random Excel sheet, especially when the vet named has never seen the pup. Please do the entire puppy series with your own trusted vet. You should probably do a DNA test to see if the dog is even a golden retriever.
    via CenterofChaos
  • 26
    Procrastibator8 A well puppy check and vaccines are pretty standard. However, I would be more concerned about the parent's health and genetics. I don't know about Goldens, but the breeds I deal with have genetic predispositions that should be screened for and documented in both parents.
    via Procrastibator8
  • 27
    Jenshark86 Nope it's a red flag. My bichon breeder shared 3 vet checks with me. I would ask the breeder what they are hiding.
    via Jenshark86
  • 28
    cari-strat The owners of my pups were allowed to come to the vet with me for their first visit and vaccines, to see for themselves exactly what condition their babies were in before they were anywhere near the going home stage.
    via cari-strat
  • 29
    I'd find it extremely dodgy if a breeder was falsifying records and I certainly wouldn't buy from them.
    via cari-strat
  • 30
    UnderwaterKahn This is absolutely not normal. Every animal that I have ever acquired, either through a breeder or a rescue/shelter, has come with vet records. When I decided to go with a breeder this time they were happy to
    via UnderwaterKahn
  • 31
    give their vet's name and contact information and that was one of the calls I made as a reference call. I'm glad everything turned out ok and you have your puppy on the appropriate rotation for vet care. But this is not a good breeder and please don't consider them in the future.
    via UnderwaterKahn
  • 32
    Ok-Committee-1747 Usually breeders have had initial puppy check up and some vaccinations before they are old enough to be adopted. So, not normal, no.
    via Ok-Committee-1747
  • 33
    princesssamc My havi came with a record of each visit in a little pamphlet that included all the stickers off the vaccines. I was also offered an opportunity to go speak to the vet if I wanted or choose another vet and have it checked out.
    via princesssamc
  • 34
    Its not ok to not have any information. I ran into a couple of breeders when I was looking for a puppy who were in something they tried to off like being akc registered and one of them informed me she would not give out the akc info even for her registered dogs. I steered clear.
    via princesssamc

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dog breeder shady dogs backyard breeders professional puppy dog parents puppies exposed vet golden retriever dog owners animals
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