Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about our puppies, the waitlist, application process or more? Please feel free to contact us! We are more than happy to help.

Please see our detailed page on future litters and how to get on the waitlist for our Golden Retriever puppies.

Our puppies are $2,500 (CAD) each including GST.

The deposit to secure your puppy is $250 (CAD) and is non-refundable. However, if your life plans should change, you are welcome to move your deposit to a future litter. Our puppies are not chosen in the order of deposits received. Each family is equally excited about adopting their puppy and it would be unfair to have a first come, first choice procedure. Rather, we choose puppies together and match individual temperaments to individual needs. See more about this process on our future litters' page!

The deposit is non-refundable but it can be transferred to a future litter. At Golden Valley Kennels, we allow clients to return their puppies to us, no questions asked. However, we will not be able to refund the cost of the puppy unless your puppy is returned to us for proven health reasons during the 1-year genetic health guarantee.

You can pick up your puppy starting at eight to nine weeks. We can also keep your puppy with our family longer to accommodate all schedules.

Our dogs are full Golden Retrievers. Our dogs are not CKC registered but they are "purebred" as per the Embark DNA test results. Our dogs are primarily bred for character and health. Genetic testing allows us insight into inbreeding (COI - Coefficient of inbreeding) and matching our girls with the right stud dog. Read more about our dogs here.

We deliver anywhere between the Creston Valley and Hope along Highway 3 at no additional cost. We will not fly puppies as this puts too much stress on any puppy.

We unfortunately can not offer boarding but we will be happy to help locate reputable boarding choices in your area.

We are a professional and ethical family and we go about raising puppies with utmost love and care.

Our dog's health, happiness and just overall well-being is always at the forefront. Each puppy is raised underfoot, receives early neurological stimulation, is properly socialized, and receives impeccable care within our home. If you want to learn more about Golden Valley Kennels, see our about page here.

When you get a puppy from Golden Valley Kennels, you can trust we won't abandon you. We offer assistance for any questions you have and help you through being a new puppy owner. We truly build a community and we are so grateful for the long lasting friendships and connections that resulted from families adopting a puppy from our home. We will be here for you to provide guidance from puppyhood all the way to helping you with your aging companion, including after life support.

Absolutely! We are very communicative during the application process. We will send weekly pictures and videos of your puppy, so you are updated on their development. Our clients are always welcome to visit with us in person anytime and experience our dogs' daily life first hand.

We welcome all of our future puppy owners to come to visit their new puppy in our home as often as they can! You can also meet our family and the adult dogs and see our loving whelping area and the pup's indoor and outdoor play areas.

Our puppies receive early neurological stimulation and will be extremely well socialized with children and other dogs. We raise them indoors with professional whelping equipment. The whelping box we use is designed for the best safety and hygiene. We have also operated a licensed family dayhome for nearly 20 years. It is such a wonderful symbiotic relationship between pups and children. Both receive the best interactions in a safe and loving environment.

All of our dogs receive a full veterinary check-up including hips, eyes, elbows and teeth. Our dogs are also screened for hip and elbow dysplasia. Our dogs are Embark DNA tested for genetic health concerns found within their breed. We stand behind our dogs and we are proud to offer a 1-year genetic health guarantee.

We are not registered with the CKC. We breed our dogs for comanionship, sound characters, and health. All of our un-registered dogs are 100% Golden Retrievers as per Embark DNA test results.
Raising Your new Golden Retriever

New Puppy Owner's Guide

Now that you have picked up your new bundle of sunshine, how do you take care of them? We have put together some of our top tips to prepare you for your new Golden Retriever puppy and how to best transition them into your home.

Puppy Food

At Golden Valley Kennels, we feed our dogs a diet of fresh foods (fresh farm eggs, chicken, beef, and brown rice mixed with the high-end packaged dog food brand, Go! (Grain Friendly). We send all our puppies home to their new families with a baggie of the Go! grain friendly salmon formula. If you wish to transition your puppy off of this brand, follow this guide here.

Tips For New Puppy Owners

When you are getting ready to bring your puppy home, there are some items you will have to have prepared before they arrive. Here is a list of things we suggest all new puppy owners have ready:

  • Food & Water Dishes
  • Healthy Dog Treats (Crumps)
  • Collar With ID
  • A Harness & Leash
  • A Crate Or A Dog Carrier
  • A Dog Bed
  • Puppy-Safe Shampoo
  • Nail Trimmer For Dogs
  • Poop Bags
  • Toys
  • Dog Toothbrush & Paste

House Training

Here at Golden Valley Kennels we will lay your puppies' foundation for potty training from 3 weeks onward. When you are house training your new puppy, you will want to keep a couple of things in mind. You want to continue house training the second you take your puppy home and start building those good habits. Golden Retrievers are eager to learn and typically understand to potty outdoors very quickly when approached with patience and positive support. Dogs instinctively don't like to potty in their home.

You should be taking your puppy out every couple of hours. Whenever they successfully relieve themselves, remember to give them praise and a treat to positively reinforce their behavior.

Socializing Your Puppy

Continuing your puppy's socialization is essential. You should introduce them to new sights, smells, and sounds in a safe and supportive manner. At the same time, you should avoid walks in high traffic areas, such as dog parks. Your puppy can absolutely walk outdoors and socialize around other animals who are familiar to you (neighbors, family, friends) I highly recommend joining puppy socialization classes if they are offered near you.

Lifelong Support From The Breeders

If you have any questions about raising your puppy or need guidance, I am always here to help with that. Henriette is here to support all of our puppy families and make sure that all our dogs get the best possible care and love in their future homes. Feel free to contact me with any of your questions.