Typically, we have one to two litters a year. Our litters are whelped and raised either in western North Carolina. All litters are raised according to Avidog’s development and socialization standards. Our bitches are excellent mothers so our pups begin their lives well cared for and loved by their moms.
Our dams are raw-fed and the pups are weaned onto their mom’s diet. We use nomographs through the University of Wisconsin Vet School to optimally time our pups’ vaccinations while keeping them safe during key socialization periods.
We spend that time getting to know our pups and evaluate them with the Avidog Puppy Evaluation Test (APET) so we can match them well with their new owners. As an aside, we do the matching; buyers do not pick out their own puppy.
And please note, we do not breed for any color other than gold, so if color is your primary consideration in choosing a puppy, we are probably not the breeders for you.
BEFORE EMAILING US ABOUT A PUPPY:
Please read the following portions of our website to be sure that we and our dogs are right for you:
We strongly prefer email contact (gaylanspups@gmail.com) and will not return phone calls. We apologize ahead of time for any delays in our response to your emails. In your first email, please introduce yourself to us so we have some idea if we might have a puppy that is a compatible match for you.
We do not ship puppies as freight; all owners must come in person to pick up their pups. We have a very successful program to prepare pups and owners for these flights so that dozens of our pups have flown home with their owners in the cabin of a commercial airliner with no problem. To use this program yourself, download the FREE ebooks:
All of our pups experience our extensive developmental protocol found at Avidog International. For more about how we raise our pups, check out How We Raise Our Puppies.
- Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS/Biosensor)
- Early Scent Introduction (ESI), featured by the AKC Canine Health Foundation in a webinar from 3-17 days of age
- regular socialization with people of all ages and sizes
- a physically and mentally stimulating environment appropriate to their age
- potty training
- problem-solving exercises, again, appropriate to their age
- socialization with dogs other than their dam
- introduction to solid food after 4 weeks of age followed by natural weaning, often not until 8 or 9 weeks
- daily walks in the woods (weather dependent)
- regular opportunities to swim (weather dependent)
- introduction to game birds
- crate training
- impulse control
- teaching the recall
- introduction to cues, like sit
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL GOLDEN RETRIEVER LOVERS!!
All buyers of golden retrievers with North American show champions (typically designated by CH before the dog’s name) anywhere in their pedigrees, even many generations back, must be aware of pigmentary uveitis, an eye disease found in golden retrievers and golden crosses. We have produced some affected dogs and have posted that information on k9data.com. If you looking for a golden retriever, please familiarize yourself with this relatively new disease.
All golden retrievers from North American lines, including ours, should see an ophthalmologist EVERY YEAR after the age of 2 since this disease can strike any time from 1.5 until 15 years of age. If you are unwilling or unable to have these exams done, please get another breed of dog.