Frequently Asked Questions
Do the puppies come with papers?
Yes, the puppies are purebred and come with CKC limited registration papers for the purposes of being a household pet only. We are not offering puppies for breeding purposes and do require they be spayed/neutered at the appropriate age. We are unwavering in this stance and give no exceptions, as we do not wish to be burdened with the responsibility of placing puppies for the purposes of breeding. We intend for our puppies to enter into family homes solely as pets.
Have the puppies been dewormed?
The puppies are dewormed every two weeks, beginning at two weeks of age, so they are wormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age while in our care. Your veterinarian will continue to deworm your puppy regularly.
Are the puppies checked by a veterinarian?
Yes, all of the puppies will visit the vet at around six weeks old. At this visit, they’ll be examined, receive their first shots, and begin heartworm prevention.
When will my puppy be due for his/her next shots?
Your puppy will receive his/her first shots at six weeks old (date will be given), and subsequent shots are given at three-week intervals until the series has been completed. Timing is critical; your puppy may have to restart the entire series if a shot is given late. Each successive shot builds upon the previous shot, and your puppy is not fully-protected until approximately two weeks after the entire series has been completed. Your puppy should avoid public areas, unvaccinated animals, or where unvaccinated animals have visited until fully-protected.
Your puppy will require additional vaccinations throughout adulthood as directed by the veterinarian.
Are the puppies on heartworm prevention?
Yes, we start the puppies on heartworm prevention at around six weeks before they go to their new homes. Heartworm prevention is so important! Heartworms are a silent nuisance that can be fatal for any dog. Heartworms are passed to dogs through the bite of an infected mosquito. Not all mosquitos are infected, but it only takes one. All puppies will be started on Heartgard Plus heartworm prevention while in our care, and we strongly encourage you to keep your pet on monthly heartworm prevention. Missing a monthly dose or being late on a dose can provide an opportunity for heartworms to develop. Heartworm prevention is approximately $110 per year and is well worth the cost. For comparison, if a dog were to become infected with heartworms, the treatment for that is approximately $1200+ and comes with its own risks. Prevention is a much wiser approach.
Are the puppies micro-chipped?
Yes, we micro-chip the puppies with an ISO standard chip that is recognized worldwide and required for international travel. You will receive your pet’s microchip number and will need to register it to you in case your puppy is ever lost. The microchip manufacturer charges a one-time registration fee (I believe around $26*).
Because chips can sometimes migrate or stop working, please have your vet scan for the chip at each visit throughout the years to confirm its location and functionality.
*Beware of free microchip registries. If your pet gets lost, the animal shelter will scan the chip. The first three digits of the chip indicate the chip manufacturer, and often times, shelters will only search the manufacturer’s registry for the owner. If you only register with a free, generic registry (instead of the manufacturer’s registry), there’s a chance they may not be able to reunite your lost pet with you.
Do you offer a health guarantee?
Yes, we give you four calendar days from your Take Home Day to verify the health of your puppy with your veterinarian. (See: “How can I maintain a healthy puppy?” below.)
Additionally, when you register your puppy with CKC, you will receive 30 days of pet insurance!
Have the puppies been socialized?
Our Goldens are an important part of our family. Our family, children included, spend time with the puppies on a daily basis.
When will the puppies be ready?
The puppies will be ready at eight weeks of age, which is January 8, 2023. More information coming soon.
How can I reserve the puppy I want?
You may come to reserve your puppy in person by appointment only beginning December 29th. Please contact us to schedule your appointment. Please note that I do have some terms for my appointments.
- Please do not visit other puppies before visiting my puppies. Deadly illnesses such as parvovirus can be carried on your shoes, clothing, or person, and passed onto my puppies. As a precaution, please do not assume this cannot happen simply based on the appearance of other puppies.
- Please do not bring any animals with you to your appointment. I’m not allowing our puppies to be around other animals for which I do not have a direct healthcare responsibility.
Safeguarding the health of my puppies is a big responsibility that I take seriously, so I appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
Which payment methods do you accept?
Presently, we accept cash or electronic payment via Zelle or ApplePay Cash.
How can I maintain a healthy puppy?
All of the following contribute to maintaining the health of your new puppy:
- regularly-scheduled veterinary visits, as recommended by your veterinarian
- keeping up with regular deworming
- promptly beginning heartworm and flea prevention.
- completing the puppy immunization series in the recommended time frame. Immunizations are typically given at three-week intervals until 16 weeks of age or so (but can vary among veterinarians). Talk to your veterinarian to see when you should bring your puppy in for its next puppy shots. After completing the puppy series, immunizations will be once a year or less. To reduce the number of vaccinations your pet receives through the years, please talk to your vet about titers and also the 3-year rabies vaccine.
- not exposing the puppy to public areas or unvaccinated animals before completing the puppy immunization series. It is also advisable to wait two weeks after the completion of the series to ensure all has taken effect. Read more: https://www.petmd.com/news/view/when-can-puppy-go-outside-37926
- Proper nutrition and exercise, as with humans, is also paramount to staying healthy. The puppies have been started on Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy dry food. It is imperative that the puppy continues to receive age-appropriate food specifically formulated for large breed puppies/dogs, according to the feeding guidelines indicated on the bag. Hip and joint issues can be influenced by improper diet, overfeeding, failure to maintain proper weight, and improper exercise.
How do your goldens live?
Our goldens are a part of our family. They are “inside dogs” but really enjoy going outside, as well. We live on 10 acres, so they have plenty of opportunity for exercise and outdoor adventures. They especially enjoy being with us as we work outside or do our routine “farm chores”.
Do your goldens have good hips?
Hip dysplasia is a common concern for large breed dogs. Our goldens are very active and show no signs of the onset of any hip issues. They have even shocked us by climbing a tree, which we definitely discourage and prevent (now that we know it’s a possibility!) due to the risk of injury. Watch the video.
Studies have shown that hip issues can be influenced by several factors within the pet owner’s control. The following two articles from the Institute of Canine Biology are very informative:
- 12-11-2015 The 10 Most Important Things to Know about Canine Hip Dysplasia
- 4-21-2019 An update on hip dysplasia in dogs
We’ve given our puppies a thoughtful start and have taken great care to ensure they are not on slippery surfaces while in these beginning developmental stages, from birth and at all times while in our care.