We know you want to be sure you are making the right decision in purchasing a puppy/dog
Before formulating your list of questions to ask us during phone calls or in email's, please take
some time to read through our FAQ's as we may have already answered your questions below.
If you find that after reading through all the FAQ's, you still have questions that we have not
addressed here, please call or email us for more information.
If you have purchased a dog from someone other than Golden Journey and you have questions,
you should contact the person/breeder/store in which you purchased the dog. They should
know best how to answer your questions. We know how to appropriately answer questions
about our dogs because we know their history, pedigree and their level of care.
1). Is my decision to purchase one of your dogs the only factor in obtaining one of
them?
While it is very important that you have confidence and a comfort-level with us, we do not sell
our puppies without having a comfort-level with you. We reserve the right to refuse to sell our
dogs/puppies to anyone. We take great pride in our puppies, the way we care for them and the
way in which they are considered part of our family, before they join yours. Therefore, while
you will likely have many questions for us, we in turn will ask many questions of you. We make
every effort through our communications with you to be a good judge of character and to ensure
our puppies are adopted into loving homes where they will be properly cared for. You can
expect that we will ask questions such as: “Will your dog be kept inside or outside?”, “Will your
dog be a family member”, “How many children and other dogs/pets do you have?”, “how many
hours will the dog be left alone each day?”, etc.
2). What days and hours are you available to speak with me?
Please keep in mind we receive many inquires each week and we have posted FAQ's to save
us time and to help get you the answers you want quickly. We answer and return calls as soon
as we possibly can. Please, leave us a voice mail message, we will make every effort to return
your call as soon as possible. If you do not hear from us within 24 hours please try again. We
are in the Central Time zone ~ CST. We ask for your understanding as the care and attention
given to the puppies and adult dogs must remain our first priority.
3). How many pictures can I expect to receive of puppies I am interested in and how
often will I receive them?
We get picture requests each day, and as much as we would like to accommodate each and
every picture request, it takes a lot of time and energy away from caring for the dogs to respond
to each request, therefore we have established a “Photo Schedule”. We hope to take 2-3
pictures of each puppy on Sunday and make every effort to post them online by noon CST the
following Monday. Once a puppy has been selected the pictures will be removed from the
website and personally emailed to each individual family.
Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances and the unpredictable nature of raising, and caring for
our dogs, we may not always meet this time frame, but we make every effort to and appreciate
your understanding should we incur delays.
4). May I come to your home and pick out my own puppy?
Yes, After the puppies are 6-7 weeks old and have had a vaccination. Please call to make an
appointment. Occasionally we have several litters at varying ages, this will be a consideration
before visits.
5). Do you require a deposit to hold my puppy or get on our Waiting List for future
litters?
Yes. When being placed on a waiting list a deposit is required once we have confirmed the
pregnancy or occasionally after the puppies are born. Please call or email with inquires.
6). Are your prices negotiable?
Our puppies have been priced according to their specific pedigree, history, quality of their care
and the high level of service we provide to you, the buyer. We are confident that our puppies
are priced accordingly and therefore our listed/quoted prices are non-negotiable.
7). Do you ship dogs/puppies? Is it safe?
Yes, We ship from O'Hare Int. Airport in Chicago to
every major International Airport in the United States
using well respected airlines. Direct flights are chosen
as to avoid layovers and lengthening the pup’s flight
time. Shipping requires special attention to detail.
For the dogs safety there are government and airline
requirements and policies. We take care of all the arrangements for you.
All carriers are marked LIVE ANIMAL with instructions for watering and feeding.
You will be given all needed information to pickup your puppy, including suggestions
of what to take with you to the airport, directions to the selected airport and flight
details. Flight reservations are made within hours of the flight due to weather
restrictions. Therefore....
**YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PUPPIES FLIGHT INFORMATION 12- 48 HOURS
BEFORE HIS/HER DEPARTURE.
We make trips to O’Hare International Airport (Airport code: ORD) in Chicago, Illinois on
Thursdays and Sundays. Again, please understand that we are not able to be flexible with the
days as the trip to O'Hare is a minimum of a 6 hour journey for us and that is a long time to be
away from puppies at home.
8). What are the charges for shipping a puppy?
The buyer will pay actual airline shipping costs: ticket, airline approved carrier and a puppy
health certificate from our Vet (required by the airline for the safety of the pup)
Shipping costs are approximately $275.00-300. Ticket amounts are determined by the weight of
the pup and the carrier size NOT by the distance they travel.
9). Can I pick up my puppy in person?
Yes. Please call or email to make arrangements. We will make every effort to accommodate
your schedule.
10). What type of food are the puppies eating?
Our puppies are fed "Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy"
It is important to continue feeding the food the puppy
has been accustom to for several weeks. Weaning
over a period of time will help eliminate tummy issues.
11). What type of toys do you recommend?
Like with babies our concerns are choking, strangulation and poisoning including lead in toys. It
is difficult to watch your pup every second so providing safe toys to play with and chew on is
very important. Nylabone and Kong both make several products for "aggressive chewers". The
most important thing is that small bits will not come off. A good quality rope is fun, but if the
strings start coming apart it can turn into a dangerous toy as would the fiber from a stuffed toy.
Balls and frisbees are essential for a retriever.
12). What size collar and leash should I buy for my 8 week old puppy?
A lightweight 8-10 inch collar and 6 foot leash is standard for an average size 8-10 week old
retriever pup. Remember, your puppy will outgrow this collar quickly.
When unattended a collar can become a strangulation hazard. If your dog/puppy becomes
entangled with a branch on a bush, a larger dogs jaw while “puppy” playing, a fence or ????
The collar can quickly become a noose cutting away air supply. The puppy may not even be
able to bark to let you know that he/she needs you.
We highly recommend www.breakawaycollar.com
13). How can we ease the transition for our puppy from sleeping with their siblings to
sleeping alone?
We ship each puppy with a towel, blanket or toy that has the smells of our home and their
siblings on it to soothe them while they transition into the comforts of your home. You may find
that your puppy prefers to sleep with a stuffed animal that is their same size or a bit smaller.
This may remind them of sleeping with one or all of their siblings. They tend to sleep piled on
and cuddled with one another, so your puppy may enjoy snuggling or sleeping on top of a stuff
animal. Some schools of thought recommend getting a wind-up alarm clock and placing it under
a fluffy blanket to resemble their mother’s or sibling’s heartbeat. You might try putting an
unlaundered t-shirt in your pups crate he/she will be bonding to you even as they sleep. Unless
you prefer to have your puppy sleeping in bed with you every night, this may not be a habit you
want to start. Try to imagine sleeping with a 65-75 pound puppy on your bed in a few months.
14). Do you recommend we enroll our puppy/dog in obedience training?
Absolutely! You and your puppy will be much happier if you are both trained. It is best to begin
these classes after your pup has completed the vaccination series, around 16 weeks. Speak
with your vet or trainer for his advice.
15). Are there any books you recommend we purchase as a first-time puppy/dog
owner?
How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Clarice Rutherford
The Perfect Puppy: How to Raise a Well Behaved Dog by Gwen Bailey
Help! My Puppy is Driving Me Crazy: A Guide to Solving Common Puppy Problems by Diana
Delmar
16). Are there any websites you recommend we visit as first-time puppy/dog owners?
http://www.purebredlabs.com/puppies.htm
http://www.raisingspot.com/intro_bringing_puppy_home.php
http://www.professorshouse.com/pets/dogs/first-time-dog-owners.aspx
http://101-dog-training-tips.com/Puppy_Training/index.shtml
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/bring01.html
17). When will I receive my AKC paperwork/registration documents?
If your puppy is being shipped, all paperwork should be sent to you within 2-4 weeks. If you are
picking your pup up, you will be given paperwork at that time. Occasionally there can be a
delay ~ you will be notified as soon as possible.
18). What are some common issues that may occur after my puppy/dog comes home
with me?
Diarrhea: A stressful situation might be: changing their environment, water and/or food may
affect your puppies elimination habits. You may be able to ease this by adding a teaspoon of
plain yogurt with active cultures to their food. Be sure not to let the puppy become dehydrated.
Consult your vet.
Chewing: all puppies have a tendency to chew. It is up to you to teach your puppy what they
can and cannot chew. If they chew something you don’t want them to (a table leg), remove
them from the area and give them something they can chew (a Nylabone). Giving them an
alternative will help them learn what is off-limits and what is acceptable. There are many
training books out there that address this subject and we recommend you buy and read one
before bringing your puppy home with you. It may save you some heartache.
Potty in the house: some puppies are easier to potty-train than others. It is a dog’s nature not to
want to potty in the place where they sleep (in their “den”). We attempt to teach our puppies
this at an early age, by separating their sleep/play/eating area from their potty area in their
pens. We place newspaper in their potty area and many of them get used to going on the paper
before they come home to you, however we do not make any guarantees of you receiving a
potty-trained puppy. That part is up to you and your preference. There are different schools of
thought on how to potty-train your puppy, some of which include newspaper training and crate
training. We leave this part up to you and your personal decision and preference. Again, this is
where purchasing and reading some puppy books may save you time and flooring.
Worms: can be passed from the mother to the puppy while in the womb or during nursing.
At 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age, we administer de-worming medication. If you notice worms in your
puppies stool, this is normal cleansing. Your puppy will receive as many as 4 treatments until a
culture is clear. Please consult your veterinarian for suggestions and/or further treatment.
Soon their own immune system will be taking care of this by itself.
19). Do I need to take my puppy to the vet upon bringing it home?
Yes. As Per our Purchase Agreement, you must take your puppy/dog to your veterinarian within
72 hours of bringing it home. If a hereditary problem is found, we must be notified by your vet in
writing immediately.
20). What is your refund/replacement policy?
Per our Purchase Agreement:
All of our puppies are guaranteed to be in good health when purchased. We guarantee the
puppy to be free of any life-threatening hereditary defects for 1 year from date of birth. A
licensed veterinarian must examine your puppy within 72 hours of delivery. Seller does not
guarantee against communicable diseases such as giardia, coccidian, parvo, etc. If there is a
debilitating illness or disease, the breeder’s veterinarian will interpret the report and if he/she
concurs, then a replacement puppy will be given. There will be no cash or credit refunds.
Golden Journey Retrievers offers replacement puppies only. Replacement will be made within 1
year.
Before formulating your list of questions to ask us during phone calls or in email's, please take
some time to read through our FAQ's as we may have already answered your questions below.
If you find that after reading through all the FAQ's, you still have questions that we have not
addressed here, please call or email us for more information.
If you have purchased a dog from someone other than Golden Journey and you have questions,
you should contact the person/breeder/store in which you purchased the dog. They should
know best how to answer your questions. We know how to appropriately answer questions
about our dogs because we know their history, pedigree and their level of care.
1). Is my decision to purchase one of your dogs the only factor in obtaining one of
them?
While it is very important that you have confidence and a comfort-level with us, we do not sell
our puppies without having a comfort-level with you. We reserve the right to refuse to sell our
dogs/puppies to anyone. We take great pride in our puppies, the way we care for them and the
way in which they are considered part of our family, before they join yours. Therefore, while
you will likely have many questions for us, we in turn will ask many questions of you. We make
every effort through our communications with you to be a good judge of character and to ensure
our puppies are adopted into loving homes where they will be properly cared for. You can
expect that we will ask questions such as: “Will your dog be kept inside or outside?”, “Will your
dog be a family member”, “How many children and other dogs/pets do you have?”, “how many
hours will the dog be left alone each day?”, etc.
2). What days and hours are you available to speak with me?
Please keep in mind we receive many inquires each week and we have posted FAQ's to save
us time and to help get you the answers you want quickly. We answer and return calls as soon
as we possibly can. Please, leave us a voice mail message, we will make every effort to return
your call as soon as possible. If you do not hear from us within 24 hours please try again. We
are in the Central Time zone ~ CST. We ask for your understanding as the care and attention
given to the puppies and adult dogs must remain our first priority.
3). How many pictures can I expect to receive of puppies I am interested in and how
often will I receive them?
We get picture requests each day, and as much as we would like to accommodate each and
every picture request, it takes a lot of time and energy away from caring for the dogs to respond
to each request, therefore we have established a “Photo Schedule”. We hope to take 2-3
pictures of each puppy on Sunday and make every effort to post them online by noon CST the
following Monday. Once a puppy has been selected the pictures will be removed from the
website and personally emailed to each individual family.
Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances and the unpredictable nature of raising, and caring for
our dogs, we may not always meet this time frame, but we make every effort to and appreciate
your understanding should we incur delays.
4). May I come to your home and pick out my own puppy?
Yes, After the puppies are 6-7 weeks old and have had a vaccination. Please call to make an
appointment. Occasionally we have several litters at varying ages, this will be a consideration
before visits.
5). Do you require a deposit to hold my puppy or get on our Waiting List for future
litters?
Yes. When being placed on a waiting list a deposit is required once we have confirmed the
pregnancy or occasionally after the puppies are born. Please call or email with inquires.
6). Are your prices negotiable?
Our puppies have been priced according to their specific pedigree, history, quality of their care
and the high level of service we provide to you, the buyer. We are confident that our puppies
are priced accordingly and therefore our listed/quoted prices are non-negotiable.
7). Do you ship dogs/puppies? Is it safe?
Yes, We ship from O'Hare Int. Airport in Chicago to
every major International Airport in the United States
using well respected airlines. Direct flights are chosen
as to avoid layovers and lengthening the pup’s flight
time. Shipping requires special attention to detail.
For the dogs safety there are government and airline
requirements and policies. We take care of all the arrangements for you.
All carriers are marked LIVE ANIMAL with instructions for watering and feeding.
You will be given all needed information to pickup your puppy, including suggestions
of what to take with you to the airport, directions to the selected airport and flight
details. Flight reservations are made within hours of the flight due to weather
restrictions. Therefore....
**YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PUPPIES FLIGHT INFORMATION 12- 48 HOURS
BEFORE HIS/HER DEPARTURE.
We make trips to O’Hare International Airport (Airport code: ORD) in Chicago, Illinois on
Thursdays and Sundays. Again, please understand that we are not able to be flexible with the
days as the trip to O'Hare is a minimum of a 6 hour journey for us and that is a long time to be
away from puppies at home.
8). What are the charges for shipping a puppy?
The buyer will pay actual airline shipping costs: ticket, airline approved carrier and a puppy
health certificate from our Vet (required by the airline for the safety of the pup)
Shipping costs are approximately $275.00-300. Ticket amounts are determined by the weight of
the pup and the carrier size NOT by the distance they travel.
9). Can I pick up my puppy in person?
Yes. Please call or email to make arrangements. We will make every effort to accommodate
your schedule.
10). What type of food are the puppies eating?
Our puppies are fed "Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy"
It is important to continue feeding the food the puppy
has been accustom to for several weeks. Weaning
over a period of time will help eliminate tummy issues.
11). What type of toys do you recommend?
Like with babies our concerns are choking, strangulation and poisoning including lead in toys. It
is difficult to watch your pup every second so providing safe toys to play with and chew on is
very important. Nylabone and Kong both make several products for "aggressive chewers". The
most important thing is that small bits will not come off. A good quality rope is fun, but if the
strings start coming apart it can turn into a dangerous toy as would the fiber from a stuffed toy.
Balls and frisbees are essential for a retriever.
12). What size collar and leash should I buy for my 8 week old puppy?
A lightweight 8-10 inch collar and 6 foot leash is standard for an average size 8-10 week old
retriever pup. Remember, your puppy will outgrow this collar quickly.
When unattended a collar can become a strangulation hazard. If your dog/puppy becomes
entangled with a branch on a bush, a larger dogs jaw while “puppy” playing, a fence or ????
The collar can quickly become a noose cutting away air supply. The puppy may not even be
able to bark to let you know that he/she needs you.
We highly recommend www.breakawaycollar.com
13). How can we ease the transition for our puppy from sleeping with their siblings to
sleeping alone?
We ship each puppy with a towel, blanket or toy that has the smells of our home and their
siblings on it to soothe them while they transition into the comforts of your home. You may find
that your puppy prefers to sleep with a stuffed animal that is their same size or a bit smaller.
This may remind them of sleeping with one or all of their siblings. They tend to sleep piled on
and cuddled with one another, so your puppy may enjoy snuggling or sleeping on top of a stuff
animal. Some schools of thought recommend getting a wind-up alarm clock and placing it under
a fluffy blanket to resemble their mother’s or sibling’s heartbeat. You might try putting an
unlaundered t-shirt in your pups crate he/she will be bonding to you even as they sleep. Unless
you prefer to have your puppy sleeping in bed with you every night, this may not be a habit you
want to start. Try to imagine sleeping with a 65-75 pound puppy on your bed in a few months.
14). Do you recommend we enroll our puppy/dog in obedience training?
Absolutely! You and your puppy will be much happier if you are both trained. It is best to begin
these classes after your pup has completed the vaccination series, around 16 weeks. Speak
with your vet or trainer for his advice.
15). Are there any books you recommend we purchase as a first-time puppy/dog
owner?
How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Clarice Rutherford
The Perfect Puppy: How to Raise a Well Behaved Dog by Gwen Bailey
Help! My Puppy is Driving Me Crazy: A Guide to Solving Common Puppy Problems by Diana
Delmar
16). Are there any websites you recommend we visit as first-time puppy/dog owners?
http://www.purebredlabs.com/puppies.htm
http://www.raisingspot.com/intro_bringing_puppy_home.php
http://www.professorshouse.com/pets/dogs/first-time-dog-owners.aspx
http://101-dog-training-tips.com/Puppy_Training/index.shtml
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/bring01.html
17). When will I receive my AKC paperwork/registration documents?
If your puppy is being shipped, all paperwork should be sent to you within 2-4 weeks. If you are
picking your pup up, you will be given paperwork at that time. Occasionally there can be a
delay ~ you will be notified as soon as possible.
18). What are some common issues that may occur after my puppy/dog comes home
with me?
Diarrhea: A stressful situation might be: changing their environment, water and/or food may
affect your puppies elimination habits. You may be able to ease this by adding a teaspoon of
plain yogurt with active cultures to their food. Be sure not to let the puppy become dehydrated.
Consult your vet.
Chewing: all puppies have a tendency to chew. It is up to you to teach your puppy what they
can and cannot chew. If they chew something you don’t want them to (a table leg), remove
them from the area and give them something they can chew (a Nylabone). Giving them an
alternative will help them learn what is off-limits and what is acceptable. There are many
training books out there that address this subject and we recommend you buy and read one
before bringing your puppy home with you. It may save you some heartache.
Potty in the house: some puppies are easier to potty-train than others. It is a dog’s nature not to
want to potty in the place where they sleep (in their “den”). We attempt to teach our puppies
this at an early age, by separating their sleep/play/eating area from their potty area in their
pens. We place newspaper in their potty area and many of them get used to going on the paper
before they come home to you, however we do not make any guarantees of you receiving a
potty-trained puppy. That part is up to you and your preference. There are different schools of
thought on how to potty-train your puppy, some of which include newspaper training and crate
training. We leave this part up to you and your personal decision and preference. Again, this is
where purchasing and reading some puppy books may save you time and flooring.
Worms: can be passed from the mother to the puppy while in the womb or during nursing.
At 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age, we administer de-worming medication. If you notice worms in your
puppies stool, this is normal cleansing. Your puppy will receive as many as 4 treatments until a
culture is clear. Please consult your veterinarian for suggestions and/or further treatment.
Soon their own immune system will be taking care of this by itself.
19). Do I need to take my puppy to the vet upon bringing it home?
Yes. As Per our Purchase Agreement, you must take your puppy/dog to your veterinarian within
72 hours of bringing it home. If a hereditary problem is found, we must be notified by your vet in
writing immediately.
20). What is your refund/replacement policy?
Per our Purchase Agreement:
All of our puppies are guaranteed to be in good health when purchased. We guarantee the
puppy to be free of any life-threatening hereditary defects for 1 year from date of birth. A
licensed veterinarian must examine your puppy within 72 hours of delivery. Seller does not
guarantee against communicable diseases such as giardia, coccidian, parvo, etc. If there is a
debilitating illness or disease, the breeder’s veterinarian will interpret the report and if he/she
concurs, then a replacement puppy will be given. There will be no cash or credit refunds.
Golden Journey Retrievers offers replacement puppies only. Replacement will be made within 1
year.
| Click picture for a list of....... "Things you MAY need when puppy comes home" |
| Click picture for more Thoughts on Shipping |
| Questions and Answers |
Above picture taken by a very excited new puppy family
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| AKC Inspected |