Adopting a Golden Retriever in Manchester: rescues, costs and health

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Golden Retriever and Golden cross listed with us in Manchester and within about 25 miles. Expect it to read zero most weeks: Goldens seldom reach the rescues round here, so use our Manchester Golden Retriever page alongside the club route below. For other big dogs listed today, see our Manchester large dogs page.

The Golden Retriever Club says its clubs exist to rehome Goldens whose owners can no longer keep them, whatever the reason. It gives no breakdown of those reasons, so ask what is known about the particular dog. The North West club adds a warning from the other end: its puppy page says the breed's popularity makes it a target for unscrupulous breeders, which is one more reason to ask what is known about any dog's start in life.

Most of a new dog's vet work comes with a rescue fee. At Manchester & Cheshire Dogs' Home, the £200 adult fee includes a health check, neutering, a first vaccination, a microchip, a collar and tag and four weeks' insurance, and Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary vaccinates, chips and flea treats its dogs.

With a bought puppy the chip is already paid for, because the breeder has to microchip it by 8 weeks under UK law. What you add is neutering and the later jabs, on top of the £400 to £3,000 Blue Cross quotes for the puppy. The North West club also argues that good breeding doesn't come at a premium: a puppy from fully health-tested parents is often cheaper than people expect.

A rescue Golden rarely comes with its parents' test certificates, so ask instead what a vet has found in the dog itself. UK breed sources point to four areas:

• Hips and elbows. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to have hips and elbows scored under the BVA/KC schemes as a minimum. PDSA says a badly formed hip or elbow joint wears into arthritis over time.
• Eyes. Eye checks and a DNA test for one type of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) are also on The Royal Kennel Club's must-do list; PDSA adds cataracts, retinal dysplasia and glaucoma. The North West club says Goldens are tested for four eye conditions, with several of the tests repeated every year.
• Skin. Ichthyosis, in PDSA's description, thickens the footpads and leaves rough skin with greasy flakes in the coat. The North West club notes that it often shows before 18 months and can be mistaken for puppy dandruff.
• Weight. PDSA says the breed tends to put on weight, so find out the dog's current weight and what it is fed.

This is a big dog that needs room and hours. The Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours of exercise daily and a large house with a large garden, and PDSA agrees on two hours as the minimum. Local rescues check gardens as well: Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary won't rehome a dog to a home without "a secure garden or yard", or to one with children under five.

PDSA says Goldens can be a great dog for an active family and, being easy to train, can make a good first dog. It also says they do best with someone at home most of the time, and that no dog should be left for more than four hours. If you commute into the city centre, sort out who walks the dog at lunchtime before applying.

No rescue sells a Golden: rescue Goldens are matched to homes for an adoption fee or donation, and that goes for every dog on our Manchester Golden Retriever page. Few puppies come through, so plan on an adult.

If you buy, the North West club's health tests page explains what to look for: hip and elbow scores for both parents, current clear eye certificates, and the lower the hip score the better. Dogs Trust says some vets offer a pre-purchase consultation, and The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud).