"Spooooool" wrote

;
There's a note in his folder saying the breeder has breeding restrictions
to protect the breed

That most likely means you don't have legal right to breed him.
Many good breeders retain the right to say whether or not the dogs they sell
can be bred; didn't you read the contract you signed?
Although the breeder *should* have explained it to you, as well.

which will be lifted after he has undergone 'breed health screening'.
Anyone know what that is?

Yep. Your breeder, with whom you have the contract.

My vet didn't know, unless it was some sort of hyper expensive X ray.

Breed health screening normally means screening for ALL the hereditary
disorders common to a particular breed - and IMO, a vet who doesn't know
that isn't a competent vet.
I don't even own a Golden, and I know that hip dysplasia is very common,
elbow dysplasia well-known although less common, and that heart and eye
problems are also known in the breed. ALL of those should be ruled out
before breeding - and should also be ruled out in the bitch.

And that's just the start of it. Regardless of his health, he should not be
bred unless he's proven himself in some way - shown hunting ability, for
example - to have genes worth passing on. Do you have any idea of how many
unwanted Goldens there are in rescue? How about having any idea of how many
are put down for lack of homes every year.
And are you aware that breeding your dog means taking on life-long
responsibility for the puppies produced?


And afterwards, how does it all work? Do you put an ad in a canine contact
magazine personals column, or .....

Hrm, well... the fact that you're asking this on a USENET forum tends to
indicate that you don't know enough about breeding to be considering it. If
and when your dog has passed health screening, AND has demonstrated that
he's worthy of being bred, you shouldn't need to advertise - and you should
be very carefully screening which, if any, bitches you breed to.

Have you ever seen a young Golden so crippled by dysplasia that s/he can
barely walk at the age of two?

Any advice appreciated

I'd advise that you call your breeder and start asking him or her these
questions, and that you start educating yourself about the health problems
known to exist in your breed, about what breeding your dog entails -
including the risks to his health- and about what makes a dog worthy of
being bred.

I'd also advise finding the contract you signed when you bought him, and
reading it carefully - again, it sounds like you don't have the legal right
to breed him. And yes, breeders can and do have say over what people can do
with the puppies they sell... if they're good breeders and have their buyers
sign appropriate contracts.