Feedback on a breeder
Hello,
We just lost our golden to at 13 to old age and kidney failure. I am looking for another golden and I am a bit new to this forum. My family is/was thinking about getting a golden retriever from Jamie Nye. I spoke to her but during our conversation there were a few RED flags I had in my gut. After looking her breeding dogs and their health clearances. Which is why I am posting and wanted to hear any feedback about them and their program or get any other breeder recommendations?
After reviewing Ridley's Red Retrievers' website alongside the OFA database, I found several discrepancies
For example, OFA lists Ridley's Reds Ascari (SS45676901), born February 2, 2023, with Ridley's Reds Alfa Romeo (SS33114601), born January 4, 2022, as the dam. Based on those birthdates, Alfa Romeo would have been bred before reaching 12 months of age. At the same time, an earlier version of the breeder's website reportedly identified a different dam ("Alaria") for Ascari. I could not independently locate an OFA record for a Ridley's Red dog named Alaria.
I also noticed that Alfa Romeo's publicly available OFA hip and elbow certifications were completed after the litter had already been produced. The current GRCA Code of Ethics recommends that Golden Retrievers have hips and elbows evaluated at 24 months or older before breeding, along with current eye and cardiac examinations. I reached out to GRCA and they recommend I reach out to local clubs and on post on this forum form for reccomndations. I also noticed Ridley's was not a memeber of GRCA and when I asked her Why? She responded that GRCA does not like "goldadors" which she also breeds as a hybrid.
Another area I believe deserves scrutiny is the health testing advertised on the breeder's website compared with what is publicly available through OFA. Should Buyers independently verify every sire and dam rather than relying solely on website summaries?
For example:
• Shelby appears on the breeder's website as a breeding female, yet I could not independently verify all of the health clearances advertised through OFA.
• Senna similarly appears to have advertised health testing that I could not reference.
• Blue (Bill Blue Allen) has been used repeatedly as a sire. His OFA records are incomplete. He sired a golden named Bleu. Bleu has health clearances on OFA but I am unable to identify his dam which is concerning.
• The breeder's own social media previously stated they gave up their AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. participation because one of the sires did not have complete OFA exams.
I also noticed that some dogs advertised as fully health tested do not appear to have publicly available CHIC numbers or complete OFA records that are easily verifiable. Should all breeders be posting tag/chic numbers for their breeding dogs so potential buyers can cross reference. I also noted that she seems to name alot of her dogs with the same name which is very confusing.
I also looked at their kennel license 9998 and although they passed inspection I noticed they have very high transfers/sales every year. Can someone please explain what this means?
Her website advertises HOME OF HEALTH CLEARED, OFA, PENN HIP, DNA CLEARED AND CERTIFIED RED RETRIEVERS. This is all a bit overwhelming to me and I feel I needed to share this information to gain an idea of what kind of breeder Ridley's Red Retrievers are?
I have included screenshots for reference and review.
Any help and feedback is greatly!
Thank you