Owner adopts cream golden retriever, then has shock realization about DNA

After purchasing an English cream golden retriever, a couple started going down the “rabbit hole” and ended up questioning their decision. 

In a viral Reddit post shared on Monday under the username u/NapkinZhangy, the posters shared a picture of their 11-week-old puppy, with a caption that reads: “Did we make a mistake with our cream-colored Golden Retriever?” 

They explained in the post: “We recently adopted a new golden retriever puppy. We got her at 8 weeks from a breeder and she is now 11 weeks. Before getting her, we did our due diligence on ethical breeding and made sure our new puppy had a good lineage.  

“We found a breeder who was legitimate-looking with great reviews. We did all the steps of meeting the parents, seeing the living conditions, looking at the parents’ health reports on OFA {Orthopedic Foundation for Animals], etc. Both parents are AKC [American Kennel Club] registered as well and the sire was a former therapy dog (CGC and TDI [Canine Good Citizen] and TDI [Therapy Dogs International] certified).” 

When everything checked out, the posters decided to go through with the purchase, and so far, they are “madly in love with her.” They described the pup as a “a jewel,” adding that, in the three weeks they have had her, she has already learned commands such as sit, paw, and down; she is doing well with training; and she is almost potty trained. 

However, after doing more research, the poster discovered something that has made them almost regret their decision. 

They said: “Recently, I got deeper into the golden retriever rabbit hole and found out how the term ‘English Cream’ has negative connotations and usually means an irresponsible breeder who breeds for color and not health, how it’s unethical, etc. We had no idea prior to getting her; we thought the white coat was just really pretty.” 

Following their discovery, the couple now feel “kind of guilty,” and are worried that their puppy will have health problems down the line because of the color of her fur.

“I’m also now worried about other owners judging us by assuming we went to a puppy mill for her,” the posters added. 

The couple argued in the post that the breeder they got their puppy from never advertised her directly as “English cream,” but rather as a “cream colored [golden retriever], similar to those of European bloodlines.”  

“They didn’t specifically breed for color; she just turned out this way. Am I worrying too much? Are there “good” breeders with cream-colored Goldens?” the posters wrote. 

“I figured the irresponsible BYBs [Back Yard Breeders] or puppy mills wouldn’t have provided such a detailed lineage and health record, but now that I’ve unlocked Pandora’s box about ‘English Creams,’ I can’t help but to feel uneasy.” 

Experts at PetHelpful say the color of the pup’s coat has nothing to do with their health conditions; in fact, they emphasize that the health of the pup will depend on good breeding lines and owner care, not on whether it is cream-colored or toffee-colored.