Currently there are ten (10) DNA tests available for Golden Retrievers. We use Paw Print Genetics and OFA for our breeding dogs. Puppies will NOT be AFFECTED by any of the ten (10) diseases. Click on this link for a detailed explanation of each disease. https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/products/breeds/75/ https://www.ofa.org/diseases/dna-tested-diseases/neuronal-ceroid-lipofuscinosis We use this DNA information as one of the critical factors in determining which dogs we chose for a mating. We breed as follows: Clear bred to Clear / Clear bred to Carrier / Clear Bred to Affected (ICT only) Paw Print Genetics explains the results as follows: For each test, you have the possibility of receiving the following results: normal, carrier, or at-risk (affected). Normal means that your dog has two copies of the "wildtype" or normal DNA sequence for the gene being tested. Carrier means that your dog carries one copy of the "wildtype" sequence (normal) and one copy of the mutation. For most diseases, your dog will not be affected with the disease, but simply a carrier. Carriers can pass this mutated copy of the gene to half of their offspring and depending on the genetics of their mate, may produce at-risk or affected puppies. An at-risk result means that your dog has two copies of the mutation and is at-risk for developing the disease. In this case, these dogs carry two copies of the mutation so that all offspring will inherit at least one copy of the mutation and depending on its mate, is at high-risk of producing affected puppies.

This is not a short answer. Because we own and operate a successful service-based construction company we understand the demands of our client’s needs and do our best to exceed their expectations. We are also aware of our competition and strive to be better than them in all aspects. These same principles we apply toward our breeding program. After we lost our five-year-old Golden Retriever Sammy to mast cell cancer we were devastated. Sammy came into our life at one year of age, a few months after we lost our first Golden Retriever to an enlarged heart at age 18 months (both American Lines not bred by us). When the time came to add another dog to our family we decided to consider a English Golden Retriever. Countless hours were spent researching different breeder’s websites around the world, looking up pedigree history, health, longevity, emailing breeders, asking the questions we did not know to ask before. Our findings – the breeders that checked all our boxes sold their puppies before they were born and had endless wait lists – we did not want to wait. Other breeders had nice dogs but had clauses in their health guarantee to buy certain foods and supplements or the health guarantee was void– that did not work for us, we want to feed and supplement what we choose. It pretty much went downhill from there. Many claimed to have all the health complete – not true. Many breeders abroad do not check the heart, not because they are unethical they just believe that it is not an issue – well it is to us since we lost our 18-month-old to an enlarged heart. Some USA breeders use OFA preliminary results for hips and elbows and think that is acceptable – not to us – we want to purchase a dog from a breeder that is following the ethical guidelines established by the GRCA (see links page for testing requirements). Other issues that concerned us – no health testing at all – no DNA testing - breeding dogs to young – eye exams not current -require early spay or neuter - vague websites with no reference of dogs registered name, OFA link or k9data link – extravagant claims their dogs are the best bloodlines or are rare – breeders changing their business name multiple times (probably to avoid negative publicity or a marketing strategy), negative comments about the breeder that come up in search engines or found in forums – unresolved complaints found on Rip-off Report. It became clear to us that there are as many good breeders as there are bad. We did end up buying Jarvis from a breeder in Northern California. Jarvis as a puppy was much calmer than the four American bred Goldens. He did not have any health issues and was growing up to be a very nice stud prospect. Many of our family, friends and neighbors wanted Jarvis puppies, and so did we. We decided to start all the OFA testing, if he passed one test we would complete another. We also started searching for a breeding quality female. Everything discussed above, about finding a quality dog, déjà vu. We could not go back to Jarvis’ breeder as the dogs are too closely related. We spent a year searching, emailing, Facebook private messaging and hit a dead end. Then one day we saw a Facebook post of a dog we thought was nice – clicked on the k9data link and looked to see who bred the dog – Andreea Cletiu of Clear Passion Kennel. I had emailed Clear Passion before – she was one of the good ones that sold her puppies before they were even born. Again, Andreea said she is sold out, but has an upcoming litter and check back in a few months. We thanked her, said we will check back, gave a lengthy explanation why we chose her out of all the breeders and that we will wait for one of her females. She emailed us back that evening and offered us Vanille and the rest is history. All three of our breeding females are from Clear Passion Kennel. Now we will answer the question – YES – you can trust us. We spent years developing our breeding program before we bred our first litter. All our dogs come from health tested parents and grandparents. Our dogs have their health completed and listed on OFA – each dog has a link on their page to take you directly to the OFA page. In addition, a K9data link will take you to their pedigree. We do a test breeding for each litter and provide that K9data link on the puppy page. You can check the genetic information of this paring for the coefficient of inbreeding (COI) as well as health history and longevity of the parents and grandparents. Be mindful that the k9data is an open data base, and that some owners do their best to update the data, but it is reasonable to assume information could be missing. Our contract is fair and benefits both parties. We do not require special foods and supplements, but we do ask you to partner with us in maintaining the health of your puppy as he grows into adulthood. We will email the contract upon request. We have educated ourselves in whelping and raising puppies. We have assembled an amazing team of veterinary specialists, veterinary technicians, nutrition consultants, trainers and caregivers to assist us in the proper growth and development of our puppies. Up to this point we have so much of ourselves invested into our breeding program that we are looking for families that we can trust to take care of our puppies for life. The short answer is that we must trust each other and make our relationship mutually beneficial.

There are no known cases of cancer in our English breeding lines or the English stud dogs we have chosen; however, it is our belief that cancer does not discriminate and can appear in any lines at any time. We believe it would be unethical to guarantee our puppies will not get cancer. We will honor a 50% refund of the purchase price if a cancer diagnosis is giving -within our two-year guarantee period – if it is determined to be a genetic type cancer. Our contract has more details. We found out about the prevalence of Golden Retriever cancer when Sammy (American Bred Golden – bred by another breeder, not part of our breeding program) was diagnosed with a mast cell cancerous tumor on his spine at age five. We worried his half -brother Bentley (same dam different sire from the same breeder) would get cancer. He is now almost 10 (2019) and healthy (note: Bentley is a pet and not part of our breeding program). We have read the studies, researched on our own, read other breeders websites and concluded that English Goldens may have less cancer rates compared to American Goldens – but – we question why. English breeders/owners do not actively spay or neuter their dogs. The pet food quality is much better in Europe (compare the labels) vs USA. We believe there is a Nature vs. Nurture aspect to some cancers as well a genetic predisposition. There is a link below that explains Nature vs. Nurture in childhood cancer. http://www.arizonaadvancedmedicine.com/Articles/2015/December/Nature-vs-Nurture-What-Causes-Cancer-in-Children.aspx

To reserve and puppy or inquire about a future litter, click on the Available Puppies tab and begin by filling out the Puppy Request From. We will get back to you within 24 hours. We are also available to answer any question by telephone, text message, email, Facebook messenger – see Contact Page for information. To reserve a puppy, we do require a non-refundable $500.00 deposit. Before we accept a deposit, we will provide you with our Puppy Contract to review. Deposits are made by check or wire transfer only. In the event we are unable to fill your reservation after the litter is born we will refund your deposit.

We believe having health insurance in place for pets delivers peace of mind. Pet insurance is a simply approach to ensure your dog can receive the best medical treatment, should your dog become ill or injured. Most importantly, pet insurance coverage could save - even - extend the life of your dog by enabling you to authorize the best medical options available, and not be restricted based on family finances. We chose Healthy Paws to insure our own pets because their pet insurance plan covers accidents, illnesses, cancer, emergency care, genetic conditions and alternative care. They have unlimited lifetime payouts, speedy claims payments, a user-friendly website for submitting claims, top rated customer service (2015-2016-2017), and they are underwritten by the Chubb Group, an A+ rated insurer, with over $25 billion in surplus. At eight (8) weeks of age we will purchase coverage for the puppies in our name. We chose the 90/10 - $100.00 deductible plan (the best coverage – a little higher monthly fee) because that is what we have on all our dogs. In addition, Healthy Paws, like many other insurance companies, will let you “step down” in coverage to save money on the monthly premium (example: 80/20 - $250.00 deductible) without “re-underwriting” the policy (any pre-existing conditions will still be covered). If you want to “step up” to more coverage (example: 90/10 $100.00 deductible) Healthy Paws may “re-underwrite the policy and EXCLUDE any pre-existing conditions. We pay two (2) months of the insurance premium to keep coverage in place. At the end of the first month we email Healthy Paws to have the insurance policy transferred to your name and to take over the monthly premium. Healthy Paws will email you to confirm the transfer, then all records will be transferred to you and you will provide method of payment. Our Puppy Contract requires you to keep coverage in place for 24 consecutive months, without a lapse in coverage, to be eligible for full reimbursements under our 24-month guarantee. (see Puppy Contract for more details). Note: We do not receive any financial kick-backs or reduced premium on our policies for requiring you to maintain coverage. There is a partner program for referrals; however, we are NOT referring you, as the policy is already in place – it is just being transferred to another party.

Golden Retriever NON-EPIDERMOLYTIC Ichthyosis is generally considered a mild form of scaling (dandruff) and affected dogs are otherwise healthy. Ichthyosis, whose name is derived from the Greek word for "fish" due to the fish-like scales that are observed on dogs with the disease, is a common inherited dermatosis observed in the Golden Retriever. Dogs with Ichthyosis may develop white scales on the skin soon after birth. The scales persist through the animal's life and may progressively blacken, becoming dry and rough with age but typically do not cause itching. Secondary infectious complications (bacterial, fungal or parasitic) are occasionally associated with the condition. This condition has been around for years but has recently become more familiar due to a new genetic test developed by Antagene (based in France) now available for Golden Retrievers, and hence more discussion amongst breeders and veterinarians worldwide. Ichthyosis is a known genetic condition (Golden Retriever Ichthyosis is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait). A dog must have two defective copies (one from each parent) of the mutated gene to be affected by the disease. Ichthyosis occurs in many breeds of dogs, including American Bull Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Boxers and Golden Retrievers. It is also a common condition in humans. The level it affects certain dogs’ breeds varies and some forms are more serious and can make life a misery for dogs affecting their feet and making the skin crack, other forms appear to be rather self-limiting such as in Golden Retrievers, and they do not appear to suffer much more than constant falling skin. The severity varies considerably and may only be present in times of stress. Some dogs may be affected and show little or no sign. It has a simple autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, so is not difficult to breed out, simply by careful selection. In the perfect world, a dog with this condition or one that is a carrier would be best to go to a clear partner, so that incidence is reduced in their offspring. Puppies can be tested before they leave so that clear puppies can be kept for future breeding. Affected puppies will usually be seen before 8 weeks (by brushing, but the disease can take 1-2 years to appear) By doing the DNA test we accurately know the status of each puppy/adult. A carrier will show no signs of the condition.Scaling is only seen on affected dogs. (J. Hodges, Ichthyosis in the Golden Retriever) To review the complete article click on the link below. http://australiangoldenretrieverbreeders.com/assets/ichthyosis%20in%20the%20golden%20retriever%20pdf.pdf Another Good article to read in layman’s terms is published by Purinaproclub.com: Most data available on the internet is written by the laboratories that need to make money off the DNA testing. These laborites make it sound like a scary condition that will negatively impact the dog’s quality of life, when in fact the condition of an affected dog is seldom severe. https://www.purinaproclub.com/resource-library/pro-club-updates/golden-retriever-ichthyosis-may-be-underdiagnosed-due-to-seborrhea-similarity/

“English Cream Golden Retriever” is a coined term some breeders use to differentiate between USA Bred Goldens and English Bred Goldens. There is only one Golden Retriever breed, governed by the breed standard endorsed by various recognized Kennel Clubs around the world. Author Bev Brown wrote an article titled “What Exactly Is An English Golden Retriever? In this article Bev Brown answers this very question in great detail. ​ http://www.englishgoldens.net/pdf/WhatExactlyIsAnEnglishGoldenRetriever.pdf

Yes. We pay for and submit the AKC paperwork. We require our kennel name to be included in the name. Pick your name and it will end with ………of Golden Sensation.

If you are unable to personally pick up your puppy we are willing to explore options of transport, at your expense, such as personal delivery (we fly your puppy in the cabin to you and fly back), we drive your puppy to your home or we meet you half way. Should you wish to travel to California and see the sites, such as Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, the beach, etc., we will help you plan your trip.