Getting a Laurelin Golden
Choosing a breeder is about more than just checking boxes for health testing and looking at titles. You and I need to be a good fit as well. I want to have a relationship with you and keep up with the puppies that I will never stop loving. If you’re seriously considering a Laurelin Golden, read through this page to learn what I’m looking for in a buyer and my expectations on how a Laurelin puppy will be raised. You can also find information on my pricing, policies, and procedures. We plan to breed very infrequently, less than once every two years on average.
If you read through this site and everything below, and you think that we are a match made in heaven, I hope you’ll contact me. I may not have a puppy for you today, or even next year, but I would love to establish a relationship with you.
What “a lot of dog” Really Means
I’ve said before that Eevee is a lot of dog, so I just want to reiterate: Eevee has a lot of drive and energy. I don’t plan on breeding her to a slug, either. So what does that mean for you? It means that her puppies will not be easy puppies. She was hell on wheels as a baby. And sweet goodness, was she mouthy. It took years of structure, discipline, and training to harness that drive and energy into the dog she is today. She’s a very biddable and intelligent dog, but she is a lot. I love that about her, and she came home with me instead of someone else because I could handle it.
The thing is… I asked for it. Literally. I asked for a smart, drivey, bossy puppy that would be a fantastic obedience partner. Even though she’s 4 years old now and matured considerably, she is still a sporting dog. Sporting breeds were developed to work all day pointing, setting, flushing, and retrieving. Eevee needs mental stimulation and plenty of exercise or she gets bored. I fully expect her future puppies to be very similar in energy and drive levels. If you are not able to provide the stimulation and exercise that we provide for Eevee, then a Laurelin puppy probably isn’t for you.
Great Expectations
What I Expect from You
Speaking of training, structure, and discipline… I prefer that my puppy buyers have a similar approach to raising puppies as me. If you’re a fur mom that believes crates and scheduled meal times are abusive, then I am NOT the breeder for you. This list is not intended to be a set of concrete rules, but more a list of preferences. You don’t need to match everything exactly to get a Laurelin Golden. Some, like crate training for example are pretty much non-negotiable though. My philosophy for raising and training Goldens to be well-adjusted, healthy, and confident members of the family includes:
- Crate training. For the love of dog, crate train your puppies. It’s for their safety and it gives them a space that is only theirs.
- Feed on a schedule, and don’t overfeed. Treats are rewards for good work. They aren’t a treat anymore if they get 12 a day for free.
- Feed a high quality food. If you choose kibble, make sure it’s grain inclusive and AAFCO compliant. If you want to do raw, show me that you know what you’re doing.
- Keep your dogs at a healthy weight. If you think it’s ok for a Golden female to weigh more than about 70 lb (or a male more than 80), then I’m probably not the breeder for you. Just about the fastest way to get on my “DO NOT SELL” list is to have obese dogs.
- Use a balanced training approach. I love using positive reinforcement to teach new behaviors, but I also love a good correction for a puppy (or adult) that is misbehaving. I run a tight ship. If you really want to know what I think about training puppies, read these: 1) How to Train Puppies to be the Best Dogs, 2) How to Train Puppies to be the Best Dogs Part 2, 3) 5 Essential Skills to Teach Your New Puppy
- Take structured group puppy classes, like S.T.A.R. Puppy. Preferably with a trainer that competes with their dog. Classes with free-for-all play time won’t help you teach your dog to be focused in spite of distractions.
- Spay or neuter at the appropriate age: preferably after 24 months for a male or the second heat cycle for a female. If your vet tries to talk you into altering your dog before they are a year old, get a new vet. Neutering a Laureling Golden underage is about the second fastest way to get on my DNS list.
- Use heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives as appropriate for your area. Some tickborne diseases have been linked to hemangiosarcoma, and that is not a risk I am willing to take.
- Be willing to have a relationship with us for the life of your dog. Send us updates and photos!
Performance/Show Homes
I feel that I need to say this up front: performance/show homes are preferred. Please don’t misunderstand, I love great pet homes, but I do prefer homes that compete. Proven competitors in obedience, agility, rally, hunt tests, etc., get priority over pet homes. If you want to get started in dog sports, but haven’t yet please do contact me. I LOVE helping people get into the Dog World. Even if I don’t have a puppy for you, I will help you find one. However, don’t tell me that you’re a performance home if you are not and have no intention of becoming one.
If you are not a performance home, but are looking for an active pet, PLEASE still contact me. Great pet homes really are invaluable. What I look for most of all, are homes that understand what having a Golden Retriever is like. I don’t want a puppy to be returned because the owner overstated their experience with Goldens and couldn’t handle it. Golden puppies can be a lot and it takes years for them to be like the dogs you see on TV. And again, if you are looking for a couch potato, I’m not the breeder for you.
Additionally, a select few puppies from each litter may be available to show homes. We will be extra selective about who gets a show puppy, and keep in mind that one of the show prospects will probably be mine. However, I do not have the space to keep a puppy from every litter that I will hopefully breed, so there may be times when there is a show pick available to the right home.
What You can Expect from Us
For starters, you can expect a lifetime of support for your Laurelin Golden. We do our best to be there for our puppy buyers, and I try very hard to respond to emails in a timely manner. Whether the questions seem silly or are very serious, please ask me. If I don’t know the answer, I probably know someone who does. Remember though, that I have a day job. I may not answer immediately, but I will get back to you. Unless you have an emergency, please don’t call/text late at night or early in the morning.
You can also expect us to do everything in our power to make sure that your puppy is healthy, beautiful, and confident. We take breeding very seriously, and if you know much about responsible breeders, you know that we breed for ourselves, not for you. We want our own puppy to be the best it can be, so of course that extends to yours. This includes always health testing our breeding animals, evaluating risk in every pedigree we bring into our program, raising every puppy the same way, proving our dogs in multiple venues, etc.
My Puppies, My Rules
When it comes to who gets which puppy, the choice is ultimately mine and my husband’s. For performance homes: we can work together on which puppy goes home with you, except of course, our keeper. Pet homes: please trust us to guide you to the right puppy for you. We know them the best – after all, we’ve raised them for 8+ weeks and we know their mother better than anyone. In order for us to guide you to the right puppy, you must be honest and open with us. We need to get to know you as well.
Every puppy will be sent home with their registration paperwork, vet records, and a goodie bag (food samples, toys, etc.). Each puppy will also be microchipped before leaving. The chip will automatically be registered in my name until you update the registration.
How to Get a Laurelin Golden
Before Puppies
First, check our Litters page to see if applications are open. If they are, download the application from there. After you’ve filled it out, send it to me at laurelingoldens@gmail.com along with an email that functions as a sort of cover letter (read about proper emails here). I will review it and get back to you as soon as I can. If I like what I see, the second step is a phone call or video call (Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, etc.). If you’re local, maybe we can meet for coffee or lunch somewhere. This interview is a two-way street: I will ask you questions and you should ask me questions. We need to get to know one another! If we both think we are a good fit, then you’ll be added to our pool of approved buyers.
Pregnancy and Early Puppy Life
For those with approved applications, I will email you when Eevee comes in season, after the breeding has occurred, and after the pregnancy has been confirmed via ultrasound. Please reply to my first in the series of emails to let me know that you are still interested (or not).
We will take a few (probably 2-4) deposits after pregnancy is confirmed, the rest will be after the puppies are two weeks old and we are almost certain of the number of puppies we will have available. Your spot for the litter is confirmed when the deposit is received. However, if something goes wrong and I don’t end up having a puppy for you, I will either refund your deposit or keep it toward another litter. I will send a confirmation email after each deposit is received.
There is no preference given to the order of deposits. We don’t really believe in having a pick order… BUT, the first two “picks” obviously go to us, Eevee’s breeder, and/or the stud dog owner (if they wish). Not every litter will have two picks reserved; some may only have one. Performance homes take the next priority slots, and then pet homes. An important thing to remember about any well-bred Golden litter is this: There are NO bad puppies in a litter. No matter where you land in the “priority” list, you still get a wonderful puppy. The puppies in each litter will have slightly different personalities and aptitudes. We want to make sure that each puppy goes to right home for that puppy.
Updates and Meeting the Puppies
I will do my best to send weekly updates as the puppies grow and change, but no guarantees. I’m sure there will be many, many pictures and videos on social media, so make sure you follow us! We will host a party when the puppies are around 6-7 weeks old so that those with deposits can meet them. This is NOT mandatory, and if the majority of our buyers are out of town, we’ll do a Zoom call so everyone can see them. Official puppy evaluations happen when the puppies are 7-8 weeks old. This means that you won’t know which puppy is yours until they are about 8 weeks. Once we know who is going where, you can pick up your puppy after that 8 week mark. Final payment is due at or before time to pick up your puppy. Our specific policies can be viewed below.
Policies and Pricing
In this section, you’ll find a list of our policies. This list may be changed at our discretion and includes, but is not limited to the following:
- All pet puppies will be registered with the AKC using limited registration.
- Puppies are vet checked, vaccinated, and microchipped before going home to their new families.
- All puppies go home with a health statement signed by me that we have done all recommended health testing and that every puppy has been checked by a veterinarian prior to going home with you. We do the best we can, but we can’t control everything.
- Spay/neuter policy: after 24 months for males and after second cycle for females. Early spay/neuter (prior to 18 months) increases the risk for orthopedic disease and certain cancers. If you wish to keep your dog intact without breeding rights, we can discuss that at the appropriate time.
- A deposit of 25% of the total purchase price is required to hold your spot for a litter, after you have been approved. Deposits will be taken after puppies are at least two weeks old. Deposits may be refunded on a case-by-case basis and at my sole discretion.
- We do not ship puppies. If needed, buyers can fly into Chicago O’Hare or Chicago Midway and fly the puppy back in the cabin.
- Laurelin Goldens will gladly accept your dog into our home if for any reason you cannot keep your Laurelin Golden. We will take back any puppy that we have bred, regardless of reason. Please let us help you.
- Eevee’s first litter is priced at $3,600. However, her next litter will be priced at $4,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you do health testing?
- Yes, Eevee has all of the required health testing for Goldens and a few other tests that are good practice for breeding animals. We only choose stud dogs that also have all required testing for Goldens. This includes: hips, elbows, yearly eye exams, heart by cardiologist, and DNA testing.
- Do you have English Cream Goldens?
- No, we do not breed “English Cream” Goldens. For one, there is no such thing as an English Cream Golden. For another, color is literally the last thing on our priority list when thinking about breedings. If you want to know more about the “Cream Craze”, read my blog article here: The Truth About English Cream Goldens
- Do you remove dewclaws?
- No, we do not remove dewclaws.
- Where are you located?
- We live in the Bucktown neighborhood near downtown Chicago.
- Do you allow home visits prior to the puppies going home?
- We will have a puppy visitation party when the puppies are around 6-7 weeks old. However, for their safety and ours, we prefer not to have visitors prior to that time. If you want to see how they are raised, follow us on social media. There will be lots of updates on Instagram and Facebook.
- Will I be able to meet my puppy’s mom?
- Yes, Eevee lives with us, so you will be able to meet her at the puppy party if you wish. Potential buyers are always welcome to track us down at shows as well. We sometimes post on Instagram when we are going to larger shows that are spectator friendly.
- Will I be able to meet my puppy’s dad?
- Probably not. The studs we have in mind for Eevee’s litters do not live nearby. We believe in finding the best match for our girl that we can, and that usually means a dog that is not close by.
- Do you sell service dog prospects?
- We do not sell owner-trainer service dog prospects. If you are in need of a service dog, please contact a reputable, non-profit service dog organization.
- Do you sell puppies on full registration?
- Only known/proven show and performance homes may get a puppy on full registration. ALL pet puppies will be sold on limited registration. No exceptions.
- How will my puppy be raised?
- All Laurelin puppies are raised in our home. My home office is where they will be whelped and spend most of their time. They will hear lots of noises, get plenty of enrichment, be handled each and every day, exposed to various surfaces (hardwood, tile, concrete, rocks, bricks, carpet, etc), have their nails trimmed, be bathed and blow dried, exposed to crates and potty training, etc. When they are old enough, we will give them outside time and time in our living room where most of life happens. We will raise the whole litter how we want our own keeper puppy to be raised.