Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’S

(Watch this first)

1.  What type of health testing do you do?

At Shadow Mountain Goldens we will not breed our dogs if they do not have all of their health clearances.  All of our dogs have their heart, hips, and elbows certified by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals).  You can see a copy of the certs on our “OFA Health Clearances” tab.

2.  Do you ship your puppies?

No we do not ship our puppies.  We love for families to meet us as well as the parents of their puppy and see where he/she has spent the first 8 weeks of life.  We enjoy meeting families and getting to know you in person.  We feel that having people pick up their puppies in person is the best way for a smooth transition from our home to yours.

3.  How do I reserve a puppy?

Please see “How to reserve a puppy” on our “Puppies” tab.

4.  How much are your puppies and what is your policy for deposits and payments?

Prices vary with each litter.  To be on our reservation list we require a $300 deposit. (For more info see our puppies page).  The deposit amount will be applied toward the cost of your puppy.  If there are not enough puppies in a litter, your deposit will be applied to the next available litter.  If you change your mind your deposit is not refundable.  You are welcome to make payments prior to picking up your puppy in any amount, however it is not required.  The total balance is required to be paid when you pick up your puppy at 8 weeks of age.  A check is ok for the deposit, but we prefer cash for the final payment.  At this time we are not accepting credit cards, but we are in the process of changing this and providing this option in the near future.

5.  How many litters do you typically have and do you ever have multiple litters at your home?

We only have a few litters per year.  We average 3 or 4.  It often happens that litters overlap because girls living in the same home tend to come in season together.  We have raised two litters at the same time on several occasions.  We have a large family and everyone helps out so our puppies get lots of love and attention and socialization.

6.  Do you breed your dogs back to back or skip seasons?

We make our decision about when to breed our girls on a case by case basis.  We also work closely with our veterinarian.  We believe back to back breeding is a good thing in most cases.  Most reproductive veterinarians agree that it is better to breed back to back than to skip seasons and continue to breed girls when they are older, as long as the previous litter was natural with no complications and the mother recovered quickly.  A dog goes through the exact same hormonal changes and their uterus wears out with every heat cycle whether she is bred or not.  Our philosophy is to breed our girls once they are two years old and have all of their required health clearances every season (with some exceptions) and then retire them early.  We then will place them with a loving qualified family. 

7.  At what age can we pick up our puppy?

We allow our puppies to go to their new homes at 8 weeks of age.

8.  Can we come and meet you, your dogs, and your puppies at your home?

Yes, we encourage this.  We love to meet all the new puppy owners.  An appointment is required for all visits.  However, we prefer you wait until the puppies are at least 5 weeks old.  Prior to that they have a pretty strict feeding schedule.  They also sleep most of the time.  Starting at 5 weeks, the puppies are much more awake and active and it seems to work best for visitors.  It is also easier to see their various personalities.  Puppy owners may come multiple times if they like and also invite friends and family to socialize the puppies.  We also encourage people who just want to meet us and our older dogs and check out our facilities.  Again this requires an appointment.  In order to protect our own family time we ask that you limit these visits to no more than 1 hour.

9.  Will you sell with full registration?

No, our puppies are all sold with AKC Limited Registration as pets.  You are still allowed to participate in any many types of AKC shows, except for conformation shows.  This is just a policy that Shadow Mountain Goldens has considered at great length and decided to not sell to anyone wanting to breed. 

10.  What makes a better pet, a male or female?

With Golden Retrievers, there is not a lot of difference in the temperament of boys and girls in our opinion.  The parents make the biggest difference in the temperament of the puppies.  It is really just a personal preference.  The biggest difference between the males and females is the size and look.  The boys are typically 10 to 15 pounds heavier and will have a bigger, blockier head whereas the girls head will be more narrow and feminine.