If the Canadian Golden Retriever club is like the US one, they will have a list of breeders that are club members. If so, then that is a good place to start. Going to shows and checking out the dogs, and making a note of the breeders of the ones you like is a good idea. I want to say that the website my Canadian friends use for shows is called Canuk Dogs.
Goldens can have some pretty significant health issues, so you want a breeder who does the recommended testing. Show breeders tend to be the ones doing the most testing, I've found. And before you say "but I don't want a show dog!", there are pet puppies in every litter. The difference between a show prospect and a pet or performance puppy can be so subtle that the average person wouldn't even notice them.
I will say that I wouldn't want to try house training a puppy in a Canadian winter. Heck, I don't even want to do it in a Texas gulf coast winter, and we have rain, not snow.
As for the "having a single master", while there might be one primary caretaker and trainer, everyone in the family needs to work together to avoid confusion. Set ground rules, and make sure they are followed through on them.
Good breeders typically have a waiting list for their puppies, and sell pet puppies on non-breeding registration. They will also match you with the puppy they think will best suit your family, and provide a lifetime of support.
The best thing you can do is make contact with breeders, find one you click with, and whose dogs you like and get on their list.
Goldens can have some pretty significant health issues, so you want a breeder who does the recommended testing. Show breeders tend to be the ones doing the most testing, I've found. And before you say "but I don't want a show dog!", there are pet puppies in every litter. The difference between a show prospect and a pet or performance puppy can be so subtle that the average person wouldn't even notice them.
I will say that I wouldn't want to try house training a puppy in a Canadian winter. Heck, I don't even want to do it in a Texas gulf coast winter, and we have rain, not snow.
As for the "having a single master", while there might be one primary caretaker and trainer, everyone in the family needs to work together to avoid confusion. Set ground rules, and make sure they are followed through on them.
Good breeders typically have a waiting list for their puppies, and sell pet puppies on non-breeding registration. They will also match you with the puppy they think will best suit your family, and provide a lifetime of support.
The best thing you can do is make contact with breeders, find one you click with, and whose dogs you like and get on their list.
