Originally posted by Slave of 15 Dogs

While I understand that some people get their dogs from breeders for temperment, I'm unclear how it is guarenteed that they will be of good temperment, Candy, could you explain that to me? I've never figured that out. Is temperment genetic??
I will try to answer. Yes, I do believe that temperment is genetic. I also believe that it can be influenced by environment to a degree so both genetics and environment play a part in the outcome of the temperment. For that reason you can not guarentee the temperment 100%.

When the puppies are 49 days old they are temperment tested to a strict set of guidelines established by the Golden Retriever Club of America to determine strengths and weaknesses in temperment.

Case in point is the one dog in the same litter as Dusty that I recently was informed was aggressive. There is not another dog in the litter that is aggessive and his temperment test at 49 days did not show any of these traits either. But his environment has influenced him to become food aggressive since he was not getting enough to eat and then was teased by the children in the family. He is in a new home now and doing well.

A responsible breeder trying to better the breed will investigate the line of the potential mate for health, temperment and conformation. The goal is to attempt to breed as close to or better than the standard. Knowing my girls faults to the standard and her strong points, I attempted to find a male that could compliment her strong points and enhance her weak points but not add any traits that would create weakness in the offspring.

Bottom line....Temperment, health and conformation can not be guarenteed 100% but the breeder can attempt to come as close to 100% as possible through selective and careful mating.