Frequently Asked Questions

We require OFA hips and elbows after the age of 2, annual eye exams by a veterinary Ophthalmologist, heart clearances by a board-certified veterinary Cardiologist, and DNA testing for each Golden Retriever in our breeding program. Our Golden Retriever breeding dogs undergo strict health testing, and you can access these detailed health screening results by visiting ofa.org. We strongly advocate for transparency by publicly sharing this essential health data. Our commitment to maintaining accessible health screenings is important to advancing the overall health standards within the breed.

Each puppy comes with a limited 2-year hereditary health guarantee. Our top priority is health.

In our breeding program, we prioritize the comprehensive development of our puppies. Each puppy undergoes Volhard temperament tests by a Service Dog trainer when our Golden Retriever puppies reach 7 weeks old. These tests are invaluable in unveiling a deeper understanding of each puppy's behavioral traits, allowing us to ensure optimal placements for our dogs. Many of our Golden Retriever puppies are destined to become remarkable therapy or performance dogs. Thus, our commitment to maintaining and delivering predictable temperament is paramount in fostering the success of our puppies and their new owners.

Please contact us for pricing information. Our puppies are priced the same regardless of whether they are placed in pet or show homes, the same thought and care goes into every breeding, and prospects are just that, prospects.

We carefully plan our breedings and focus on quality over quantity, so puppies aren't always immediately available. If you're willing to wait for an exceptional puppy, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to learn about upcoming litters and join our waiting list.

In our breeding program, we prioritize the careful matching of puppies with their optimal homes. Unlike traditional methods where buyers select from a litter, we take the lead in selecting first picks, aligning with our specific breeding goals. Each of our Golden Retriever puppies undergoes meticulous temperament testing, enabling us to do our very best at thoughtfully pairing them with compatible owners. While we value your preferences and certainly take those into consideration, our primary aim is to ensure that every puppy finds a fitting and nurturing environment. Matching a puppy with the right family brings immense benefits to all involved parties, enhancing the dog's well-being and fostering a harmonious relationship within the home.

We like for our Golden Retriever puppies to go to their new homes at 10 weeks old. We make exceptions for this depending on each circumstance. The reason we like to keep puppies until this age is because it gives the puppy more time to socialize with littermates, mom, get in some training to make the transition easier, etc.

Each Golden Retriever puppy goes home with limited AKC registration, a lifetime AKC reunite microchip subscription, and a small bag of high-quality puppy food to ease any transitions. We also provide a folder with veterinary records and documentation of their first round of vaccinations. Additionally we provide a small blanket with their mother's scent, a list of recommended reading/training materials, and recommendations on what we think is the best type of puppy food for your Golden Retriever. Should you have any questions, we are always here for you!

We follow the Puppy Culture program with each of our puppies. We make sure our puppies are properly adapted, ready to go home to their new homes, and set up for success! We also have a live stream for puppies so you can tune in for your daily dose of cuteness.

Each first time puppy owner is required to attend a puppy class of their choice. We believe this builds a bond and communication between owner and puppy. This is to set the puppy up for success. We offer puppy classes at our home for puppy buyers at a small cost. This involves group socialization and basic manners. More advanced classes are available upon request.

While we do not ship puppies, we will happily fly your puppy out to you or you can fly into XNA airport to pick up your puppy. All fees associated with this are at your expense. While we are located in Arkansas, many of our puppies go on to live across the U.S. We have puppies living in Louisiana, Oklahoma, California, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, Washington, and more!

Each of our dogs are pets and live inside our home. As members of the Golden Retriever Club of America, our Golden Retrievers are health screened and DNA tested before becoming a part of our breeding program. We submit this information to OFA and it is available to view on ofa.org. We select sires to compliment our females. We make sure these sires also have the high standards of health testing we follow at the time of breeding. We cannot say for certainty that every puppy we produce will be free of hereditary issues, because genetics are complicated. However, we do these tests in order to stack the odds in the puppy's favor and we stand behind all puppies produced with a 3-year hereditary health guarantee. We want something out of every litter to pass onto the Golden Retriever breed and to compete with. We want a sound Golden Retriever with proper structure and temperament that is capable of doing what the breed is meant to do. We participate in various dog sports to ensure our Golden Retrievers are well-rounded. We are not breeding just to produce puppies to sell. Because of this, our litters are limited and selective. We believe in quality over quantity.

Our Golden Retrievers are shown in AKC, IABCA, and/or UKC. We strongly believe that showing our dogs helps us keep the best in our breeding program. We compete in Conformation, Obedience, Scent Work, Rally, and Dock Diving. Through these competitions, we not only exhibit the wonderful characteristics of our Goldens, but also deepen the bond between handler and canine companion. We cherish each moment spent together in the ring, fostering a strong relationship that reflects the heart and dedication we invest in our breeding practices.

We prioritize responsible breeding practices and care deeply for the puppies we produce. Thus, all our Golden Retriever puppies are offered with AKC limited registration. While our puppies can participate in various AKC performance activities, we do not provide breeding rights. This policy is meant to safeguard the welfare of our beloved puppies, ensuring they are nurtured in loving homes without concerns about indiscriminate breeding practices. Your puppy can still engage in AKC performance activities.

If you do not like shedding, we do not feel a Golden Retriever is right for you! We highly recommend regular brushing, a good quality vacuum cleaner, and regular grooming.

Golden Retrievers are amazing dogs. They are so much fun and easy to exercise. They are retrievers and that means most of them almost naturally enjoy the game of fetch. They are generally friendly and biddable. They are also so excited to learn! They also love to bring you anything, so channeling that retrieving drive is so important for a well-balanced Golden Retriever. People forget that Golden Retrievers are a sporting breed. They weren't meant to lay on a couch all day, though many of them have excellent off-switches. But a well-balanced Golden Retriever requires appropriate physical exercise for their age. We love this about the breed because it makes them so fun and versatile. They are a mouthy breed so they need appropriate toys (with supervision!), play time, and training. We strongly believe that, with proper exercise and training, Golden Retrievers make the best family companion.

In our breeding program, the Golden temperament is far more important to us than the shade of gold. We highly recommend not making a decade-long commitment based on color. The Golden Retrievers in our breeding program are all shades of Gold because we breed dogs based on temperament and structure, not color. Color does not dictate how healthy a dog is, how capable it is to perform the primary function of this wonderful breed, or how long they will live. Many breeders who sell what they call "English Cream" golden retrievers claim they are rare and/or healthier. This is just marketing. Light Golden Retrievers have always been a part of the breed.

We do not breed or sell mixed breed dogs. We believe in preserving the Golden Retriever. We love the sound and predictable temperament of the Golden Retriever.

Of course, we love puppy updates! Join our Golden Retriever community on our dedicated Facebook Puppy group. Share the golden moments and milestones of your journey with your Sleepy Grove puppy, we adore seeing these updates and photos. Your stories are invaluable to us, and we love to hear about your experiences and are always here to address any questions or concerns you may have. Stay connected with us; we're here to support you every step of the way.

Should the need arise for any of our Sleepy Grove bred Golden Retriever puppies to find a new home, we care for their well-being. In this circumstance, we require the puppy to be returned to us. This ensures that our beloved Golden Retriever puppies don't end up in shelters and are responsibly placed in suitable, carefully vetted homes. Our commitment is to secure a nurturing and well-fitting environment for the puppies we produce, minimizing the chances of them being in shelters and ensuring their continued welfare.