Puppy Care
Where are the puppies born/raised?
All puppies are born inside of our home (most often in a small whelping pen inside our master bedroom.) During delivery, we remain with mom to support her and the puppies as needed. Veterinary intervention is typically not necessary, but in the rare occurrence that it is needed, our veterinarian is less than five minutes away and is available for walk in emergency situations. The puppies remain in our bedroom for the first couple of weeks. This allows us to hear and respond immediately to any indicators that the puppies are uncomfortable.
At approximately two weeks old, the whelping pen is typically moved to the dining room as the puppies are now stronger (and louder at night!) and no longer need constant supervision. Puppies continue to receive daily handling and grow accustomed to the happenings of a busy family.
At approximately 5 weeks old the puppies may be moved outdoors throughout the day for fresh air and socialization. Puppies and mom maintain constant indoor access and all puppies sleep inside our home every night from birth until they head to their new homes.
We believe strongly in ethical, humane, loving, and supportive care of all of the dogs and puppies in our care. Be rest assured that your puppy has been hand raised in a home environment.
What type of socialization and training will my puppy receive prior to coming home?
Puppies are handled daily beginning at birth. From days 3-16 all puppies receive participate in the Early Neurological Stimulation Program. This is a series of daily exercises that increases the puppy’s stress tolerance and decreases negative reactivity. The program was developed to prepare puppies for future military work and has been proven to have lifetime positive impacts not only on behavioral health but also physical health.
In addition to ENS, puppies are held by the entire family on a daily basis before their eyes or ears even open! As they age, they are exposed to increasing amounts of stimuli including the vacuum cleaner, brooms, lights, and sounds. They are taken outside to explore all of the sights, scents, and sounds of the great outdoors. They learn to hear and tolerate the sounds of traffic and various weather and have nearly an acre of yard space to explore.
The puppies always remain together and are never isolated. This allows them to learn manners and how to safely and politely operate in a pack (family) setting.
Many folks have asked us about crate training and potty training. These items are not our primary focus. Instead, during the first 8 weeks, we focus almost exclusively on socialization to ensure that your puppy is happy, healthy, well rounded and equipped with the basic skills and temperament to adapt to their future placement whether that is in service work or as great family pets.
What medical care do the puppies receive?
All puppies receive worm prevention treatment every two weeks, starting at 4 weeks of age. At 6 weeks they visit our veterinarian who performs a head to tail exam. You will receive documentation of this. They also receive their first round of vaccinations and microchipping from the veterinarian. Many breeders perform vaccinations themselves. While this is typically effective from a health standpoint, these vaccinations are not recognized by the majority of veterinarians and will not be suitable for boarding or travel. Therefore, all vaccinations of puppies are done at a licensed veterinarian and you will receive documentation of such. Please see below regarding health guarantees.
Payments
What forms of payment do you accept?
Payment may be made by Cash, Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal. Checks or money orders are never accepted. Credit cards are not accepted directly but can often be ran through PayPal.
Why do you charge a reservation fee?
A reservation fee ensures that buyers are serious about the purchase and provides some support to the breeder should the buyer back out.
Is the reservation fee refundable?
The reservation fee is non refundable due to buyer change of mind or change of circumstances. It is only refunded in the event that Piedmont Golden Retrievers is either unable or unwilling to complete the transaction. It is transferable to another available puppy of the same litter. If any medical issues were noted during the puppy’s vet visit and, as a result, the buyer is no longer interested in purchasing the puppy, and no other puppies of the same litter are available, the reservation fee will be refunded.
Pickup/Dropoff
Do you ship puppies?
No, puppies are never shipped either alone or with transport companies. We would be unable to guarantee the safety or comfort of any puppy transported through these means. We are willing to drop off within approximately 150 miles of Salisbury NC at no additional charge. For those who live further away, nationwide hand delivery is available for an additional fee. This usually takes place via air travel with the puppy in cabin. All transportation expenses are the sole responsibility of the buyer. Please inquire to discuss the specifics of your situation.
Can my friend/partner/son/transporter/etc. pick up the puppy for me?
The legal buyer must be present at pickup/delivery. This should be the same person listed on the application and match the name/address of their I.D. Valid I.D. should be shown at pickup/delivery as buyer will be signing the purchase contract at this time. The AKC registration documentation will be completed with the buyer’s name and contact information as well. The puppy will not be left with anyone other than the buyer.
Can we pickup on site?
Yes! Family pickup days are typically the Saturday/Sunday following the puppies turning 8 weeks. Feel free to bring the whole family down to pickup your new puppy and even meet and snuggle some of their brothers and sisters. We will also spend about 20 minutes going over and signing documentation and checking out the new puppy welcome packet as well as answer any other questions that come up.
Will our puppy be healthy?
Yes! We guarantee it! We recommend that all puppies are seen by your veterinarian within 72 hours of pickup. If during this time, the puppy is found to have any illness, parasite, or infection, we will absorb the cost of diagnosis and treatment. If your vet, upon examination, finds any genetic defect, we will replace the puppy. Not only that, but your health guarantee extends until the puppy is a year old. If any severe genetic abnormality presents within a year’s time, we will replace the puppy or cover the cost of medical expenses up the the amount paid. In addition, our puppy parents have all been genetically tested to ensure that puppies are not affected by devastating conditions that are common to the breed. Our genetic panels test for nearly 200 different conditions and your puppy is guaranteed not to be affected by any of them!
