More About Us...
I have been involved in various activities with my dogs since 1976, but it was not until 1996 that "ACADIA" was born. In 1998 our first litter of Golden Retrievers was whelped and in 2004 our first litter of Afghan Hound pups arrived - a life long dream! Over the years, I have truly been blessed with the wonderful, loyal companionship and love that my dogs have unconditionally shared with me and my family . It has been a wonderful journey!
Our dogs are part of our family. I, along with two of my sons, have enjoyed competing with them, but most of all, we enjoy their companionship. Golden litters arrive only once or twice per year. We show our Afghan Hounds in conformation but I am not breeding them. This is a hobby - 100% of the money earned from puppy sales goes toward the care, training and showing of our dogs and the improvement of our breeding program, which in turn helps to improve the breed.
Our puppies are bred for soundness of mind and body to be loving family companions - some going on to therapy work and competition. My goal is that each generation will improve upon the last. Breeding choices are carefully selected for temperament ,health, trainability, and type. All obtain the Golden Retriever Club of America recommended health clearances before being bred. In addition, I am also DNA testing for prcd PRA, GR_PRA1 (eye diseases) and Ichthyosis (skin disease) which further improves my ability to make better informed breeding decisions. A tremendous amount of time, effort and love go into researching pedigrees, genetic studies and caring for our puppies and adults. There are numerous generations of health clearances in our pedigrees and I also research available information concerning the health and temperament of littermates to the dogs in the pedigrees I are using. Most puppies are placed in companion homes, keeping myself what I choose to compete with and/or add to my breeding program. Good health, wonderful Golden temperament, ability to be trained easily, and longevity are my main priorities.
In 2002, at the Golden Retriever National Specialty, I fell in love with an English style Golden who was competing there. Since then, I have been researching pedigrees and talking with various, long time breeders of this type of Golden Retriever to gain as much knowledge as possible. In 2006, I acquired my first English style Golden and began blending carefully selected European/English lines with our established American lines, building on the best qualities of both, with the goal to produce quality Goldens with full international lineage, always maintaining my high standards.
The English type Golden has a strong head with a typically wide back-skull, a thick muzzle with a deep stop, beautiful jet black pigment and dark eyes. Coat color can range from cream (these are not "rare" as some breeders are advertising and selling for exorbitant prices) to a darker gold and a wave is not uncommon. Most important, these lines are giving me not only the "type" I want, but also the biddable, stable temperaments I strive to produce.
Raising Puppies
30+ years spent gaining experience and knowledge in the sport of purebred dogs has enabled me to develop a method of raising puppies that I take extreme pride in. Every puppy, in every litter receives the same individual attention, regardless of whether or not they have show potential. To give puppies a strong foundation, resulting in loving, well adjusted adults, the following will give you an idea of what is involved:
Puppies are whelped beside my bed and someone is always at home with them. Their first week is spent just sleeping and eating except for the early neurological stimulation, a series of 5 exercises, 3-5 seconds each, which is started on day 3 and continues thru day 16. The benefits observed in canines exposed to this Bio Sensor stimulation are: improved cardio vascular performance, stronger heart beats, stronger adrenal glands, more tolerance to stress, and greater resistance to disease. At the end of the first week, toe nail clipping begins. At 3 weeks of age the puppies move from the whelping box to the puppy playpen and potty training begins. From the time the puppies' eyes and ears open they are exposed to household activity and noises - the sounds of the clothes dryer, TV's, radios, etc. At approximately 2 weeks of age, their eyes open and they are gently handled and cuddled by my immediate family. This constant human contact, fist by me from the time they are born, then by family is the time when socialization really begins. This associates the puppy to the human scent, developing a bond which can never be broken. At approximately 4 to 5 weeks weaning begins and the puppies begin to associate the command "come" , used with a clicker, to feeding times. Up until this point I do not supplement mother's milk unless absolutely necessary as this will put stress on a puppy's immature digestive system. At approximately 5 weeks, puppy visits begin - families who have reserved puppies are encouraged to visit and play with them. I watch how the families interact with the puppies and the puppies with them. This, along with my knowledge of the puppies' personalities, and finally the temperament testing at 7 weeks of age, enables me to recommend which puppy I feel will be the best puppy for each family. At 5 to 6 weeks of age the puppies are capable of being separated from the dam and littermates for short periods of time. This is when they are introduced to crates, baths, blow drying, leash training, and car rides. At this time they also begin eating separately in crates. This allows them to build their confidence in familiar surroundings. Between 7 and 8 weeks of age the puppies are taken to the vet for a thorough examination before they leave for their new homes. I remain available to answer questions, no matter how trivial they may seem, give guidance, or just plain friendship. I enjoy keeping in touch, love getting pictures, and regard our puppy buyers as extended families!
Our methods have provided us with wonderful results, whether it be.....
Is it a full time job? YES!! Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!
Reserving A Golden Retriever Puppy
* We put a great amout of time, love and effort into providing quality, healthy, well socialized puppies which will
be the most compatible with each family situation and lifestyle.
Puppies are placed in approved homes only, on AKC Limited Registration with a nonbreeding agreement.
To be placed on our waiting list, the first step is to submit a Puppy Questionnaire. Once the pregnancy is
confirmed we request a refundable, good faith deposit of $200. This lets us know that you are as serious as
we are about our precious pups.
I ask that if you find a puppy elsewhere after submitting a Puppy Questionnaire that you lplease et me know
as soon as possible, as the number of people on the waiting list effects breeding plans.
Once a breeding is accomplished, the families on the waiting list are notified. When the pregnancy is
confirmed approximately 30 days later, it will be announced on the "Litters" page and the families are
contacted with the good news!
Deposits are deducted from the total cost of the puppy.
Deposits are 100% refundable if:
- I do not feel that we have a puppy that has a suitable personality for your needs.
- either the breeder or the buyer feel uncomfortable for any reason
- you change your mind - deposit is refunded after the puppy is placed in another home if
reservations are canceled after puppies are born.
- in all instances, the Puppy Packet must be returned in reusable condition, and received by
us within 7 days of the reservation cancellation, otherwise $50 is deducted.
* If you have a puppy reserved, you will receive pictures and updates each week, e-mailed privately.
The weeks of preparation are a very exciting and important time!
* I realize that situations can change unexpectedly, however, this special time of preparation and
watching the puppies grow throughout the early weeks is missed by families if reservations are
canceled so I ask that you please be sure that you are ready to commit to sharing your home with
one of our puppies as an addition to your family before submitting a Puppy Questionnaire and
sending a reservation deposit. I am glad to answer any questions you may have.
* I mail a very comprehensive "Puppy Packet" after the puppies are born and I have received
your reservation deposit. This manual contains various info on training, feeding, vaccination, etc,
and also includes pictures of the sire and dam, copies of health clearances, pedigrees, the sales
contract with warranty information. This gives you plenty of time to learn, ask questions,
and get supplies. It is very important to me that our efforts are continued and recommendations
are followed to raise a healthy Golden Retriever.
* I am here to answer all questions. It is not only my responsibility as a breeder, I truly enjoy sharing
my experience and knowledge and am available for the life of our puppies. With continuing research
through Universities, veterinarians, the internet and fellow breeders, I am continually trying to learn
more, and try to keep on top of and pass on the latest information on health, environmental and nutritional
topics, especially preventative measures, which I strongly believe in.
* Each puppy is thoroughly vet checked before leaving at 8-9 weeks of age. Training is available for those
puppies who stay longer.
Purchase Prices
* Golden Retriever puppy prices depend on the breeding and the cost involved - our prices are comparable to other reputable breeders in our area and usually range from $1500 - $1800. We do not charge more for cream color. We occasionally have older puppies and adult Goldens available at different prices depending on age and training. We offer additional puppy training programs at limited availability.
* I can forward your name to reputable Afghan Hound breeders.
Although we give our puppies the best possible start in life, please be aware that Golden Retrievers and Afghan Hounds may not be the right breeds for every family.
The Golden Retriever breed is a "man made" breed. They were originally bred to be strong bodied water hunters able to fend with the heavy vegetation in which upland game was found. In general, Golden Retrievers can have a high activity level as puppies and adolescents and shed quite a bit. Goldens want and need people time and owners must be able to provide plenty of exercise opportunities and attention, otherwise unacceptable behavior can be exhibited. Being retrievers, Goldens also like to carry things around in their mouths and will gladly find every sock they can.
Unlike Goldens, the Afghan Hound, as we know the breed, was "discovered" during the 19'th century. Little is known about the breed's origin and history prior to then. They are primarily a coursing hound, pursuing by sight. They have highly individual personalities and are very capable of thinking for themselves. They are very intelligent, but on their own terms - it is not unusual to see an Afghan Hound turn a door knob to open a door. Afghan Hounds are not as needy for attention as Goldens but none the less, form strong bonds with their families and can be very protective of them.
If you are considering these breeds PLEASE:
* Life is a gift whether it be human or animal - please make sure you are willing to make a 10+ year
commitment before bringing a dog into your home and family.
* Find a reputable breeder you feel comfortable with who will be there for you for the life of your
dog and be willing to follow the advise the breeder gives you. They have years of knowledge and
experience to share that is not only breed specific, but also specific to the lines they are breeding.
You must be willing to continue the efforts begun by the breeder to raise a happy, healthy puppy.
* Gain as much knowledge as you can about the breed you are considering and how to choose a
breeder. A good place to start is the National Club web sites on our "Links" page.
Don't forget to visit our updated "Info Links" page!
