Frequently Asked Questions

Golden Retrievers are intelligent, friendly, and incredibly loving dogs. Originally developed in the Scottish Highlands to retrieve game for hunters, they quickly became beloved as family companions. They are known for their patience with children, eagerness to please, and versatility in service roles. At The Golden Virtues, we focus on raising well-balanced Golden Retrievers that embody these amazing traits, making them perfect for Utah families and beyond.
Learn more from the AKC here. or Learn more from our blog post here.

Your puppy will receive veterinary care before going to their new home, including:
Deworming at 2, 4, and 6 weeks
First round of vaccinations at 6 weeks
A full vet exam at 6 weeks to ensure they are healthy and ready
A second round of vaccinations at 9 weeks, if needed

My program is special because I focus on raising healthy, well-mannered Golden Retrievers in my home, never in kennels. I am devoted to doing things the right way with full health testing, hands-on daily care, and early socialization. I never cut corners and put my whole heart into giving every puppy the best start possible.

Our puppies are raised in our home with constant care and attention. Their mother receives high-quality food to maintain her health and milk supply. We perform Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS), expose the puppies to sounds, smells, textures, car rides, grooming, guests, other animals, toys, and daily handling. We also maintain clean bedding and safe spaces for play and learning.

We perform necessary health testing. This includes:
Genetic health testing to screen for 200+ diseases
OFA clearances for hips, elbows, heart, and eyes
This ensures your puppy is healthy and has the best chance of a long, happy life.

We do not ship puppies unattended. However, we offer several safe options:
Home Pickup – Come to our home to get your puppy.
Local Meet-Up – We can meet halfway for a fee of $50 per hour of travel.
Airport Pickup – Fly into Salt Lake City Airport; we’ll meet you there.
Pet Transporter – You can hire a flight nanny or a ground transporter to accompany the puppy.
Our priority is your puppy’s mental well-being and safety during travel.

We place puppies only in homes where they will be treated as family members. This includes providing:
Daily love and attention, living indoors with their people, a healthy diet, regular veterinary care, and plenty of exercise, training, and mental enrichment.
We ask all potential families to complete a pre-screening questionnaire available on our contact page.

At 8 weeks old, the puppy will go home with:
AKC Limited Registration paperwork
Vaccine and deworming records
A small bag of their current food
food scoop
poop bags
A stuffed toy

Start by completing the Puppy Request Form on our contact page. Once you submit the form, we’ll send you an email confirming whether your request has been approved. We love talking about our dogs, so feel free to reach out anytime with questions by email, text, or phone. More details are available on our puppy page.

The price is $3,500.

We carefully observe our puppies as they grow to understand their personalities, temperaments, and physical characteristics. This observation allows us to make recommendations to families based on their lifestyle, activity level, and preferences. Our goal is to ensure the best match for both the puppy and your family, creating a lifelong bond.

The order for picking a puppy is based on when deposits are received. The first pick begins when puppies reach 6.5 weeks old, and then picks continue down the list in the same order until all puppies are chosen.
You can pick your puppy in the way that feels best for you. Some families come to our home to meet the puppies in person, and others choose through pictures, videos, and breeder recommendations.

Socialization begins at birth and continues every day. Puppies are exposed to:
Adults and children
Everyday household noises
New textures, toys, and surfaces
Car rides
Smells
Early Neurological Stimulation. (ENS)
Basic crate training and obedience commands
This early foundation helps them grow into confident, well-adjusted dogs.

Yes! We welcome visits by appointment. This is a great opportunity to meet us, interact with the puppies, and ensure we’re the right fit for your family.

Yes, we provide both short term and long term guarantees. Further information is available in our agreement, which will be reviewed with you prior to any payments.
At Golden Virtues, we do everything that modern science and responsible breeding practices allow. However, living things are not perfect, and some things simply cannot be predicted or tested for. That is simply part of life, and something we all have to recognize when working with living animals.

You’ll have one week to pick up your puppy once they are ready to go home at 8 weeks old. That first week is our standard pickup window and there are no holding fees. If your puppy is still here during the second week, the holding fee is $30 per day. After three weeks, the holding fee becomes $50 per day, which helps cover their continued food, daily care, and early training.

We do, but we are extremely selective. We only work with breeders who uphold the same high standards in health, ethics, and dedication to the breed.

To stay informed about upcoming litters, puppy availability, and news from The Golden Virtues, follow us on our website and social media. We post regularly and love sharing our journey!