Our Application Process

Step 1. Submit an Application

Only complete a puppy application when you feel that you are ready to commit to one of our puppies. Our applications usually open a few months before the puppies arrive and we begin accepting pre-reservations for available positions on our waiting list. We do not hold long waiting lists for years at a time anymore because we find that most buy a puppy elsewhere before it’s time for our litter to go home. We regularly operate by Message and E-mail.. it is the simplest and quickest form of communication for us. Calls are by appointment only and applicants have priority. All application responses will be communicated via e-mail. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have.. feel free to send them over via Contact Form, please include information about yourself and we will respond as quickly as possible. Please keep in mind that when we do have puppies, we are very busy with little sleep therefore time gets away from us often. If you haven't received a response within a few days, reach out for an update!

Please read through our website including our policies for FAQ’s. See our breeding program for more information on how we raise our puppies and to learn more about how our program is ran.

Begin the process

Step 2. Pre-Reservation

When an application is accepted, you will be contacted with an email of approval. The next step is placing a Pre-Reservation to reserve your position on our waiting list. This confirms your commitment to obtain one of our puppies. All reservations are accepted in the order in which they are received. If you're applying to an adult or if the puppy is older than 2 weeks old, please skip to Step 4. All reservation payments are non-refundable however if we do not have a puppy available for you then we will discuss options such as a full refund, transferring the reservation to the opposite gender or transferring to a different litter.

Step 3. Availability

Within 1 week from Birth, we will evaluate our waiting list. If we do not have a puppy available for you at birth or at any time during the first 2 weeks, you will have the option to receive a refund, to pick an opposite sex puppy if available or transfer your Reservation to a different litter.

Step 4. Final Reservation

Once the puppies reach 2 weeks of age, it is time to secure your Reservation. At this time the Final Reservation payment must be paid. There will be a contract to sign when sending your reservation payment. This payment secures your reservation & acts as a place holder for your puppy until pick up day. If you are applying for a puppy that is 2 weeks of age or older; the full reservation payment is to be paid in full when your application is approved and this reserves the puppy until pick up. All reservation payments are non-refundable however they are transferable and deducted from the total cost.

Step 5. Pupdates

You will begin receiving email updates every 1-2 weeks on the puppies starting from birth. We enjoy showing our puppies to clients therefore we post the puppies regularly on our Instagram stories starting from birth so that you may stay connected throughout the entire process. We take so many pictures and videos that this is the easiest way for us to share it all. Follow us @bearstategoldens to keep up with us!

Step 6. Appointment Scheduling

Around 5 weeks of age, we will reach out in order by reservation to schedule a meeting with the puppies. We prefer to schedule meetings on weekends. We reach out to everyone on our list in order by reservation with dates & times to choose from to meet the puppy(s). If you are unable to meet with us during the available time-frames, please contact us for other options.
See our policies page for more information on visits.

Step 6. Contract Signing

By 6 weeks of age, our Genetic Health guarantee/Sales contract will be sent via email and must be signed digitally. We utilize a very user friendly platform to sign our contracts and you will receive a pdf copy after your puppy is selected. Contract is available to view in advance upon request.

Step 7. Meeting

Starting from 8-9 weeks of age, it will be time to find out which puppy will be your furry companion! Puppy placement follows after temperament tests, evaluations, fecal tests and health exams are all completed from 7-8 weeks of age. By this time, your puppy will be of age and can leave with you after our meeting or you may schedule pick-up for a later date if unavailable. This process works the best for us. We operate our meetings this way to ensure that all puppies are vaccinated, evaluated & health is fully cleared prior to meeting their new potential families. Only clients that have placed a reservation are welcome to visit our home to meet the puppies and parent(s) in person! Sometimes only the mother will be available to meet when we do not own the sire. Each puppy will have different colored collars, litter reference names and microchip numbers for identification. All health, temperament and personality information is presented at this time or often just before the meeting. The puppies will have very similar temperaments but personality, drives and energy levels may be slightly different.

Step 8. Bring your puppy home with you

From 8-9 weeks of age, you will be able to bring your puppy home with you. The remaining balance is to be paid via Cash(USD), GoodDog, Zelle or ApplePay. Unfortunately we do not accept Money orders, Cashier's Checks, Personal Checks, Venmo, Paypal or any Direct Cards at this time.
Puppies will not be able to leave our care until balance is paid in full before or at the time of pick up. We will accept a payment plan as long as the balance is paid in full on the puppy’s going home day. See our Breeding program and scroll to the bottom to see what your puppy will go home with.