Bear State Golden Retrievers
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    • Our Policies/FAQ'S
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    • Spay & Neuter information
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Our Policies

Important: Policies are subject to change at any time. Bear State Goldens reserves the right to withdraw an approved application, issue a full refund of all payments made and void all agreement(s); at any time until the puppy leaves to their new home. This includes if we feel uncomfortable at any point during the placement of the puppy, if it is determined that you are not a good match for one of our puppies upon our in-person meeting, if we do not have a puppy available that would be a good match for you OR if we feel that we are not the right breeder for you.

Reservations

Pre-Reservations
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Refundable under certain timelines and conditions on the buyer's behalf, no questions asked. Refundable or transferable if the sire changes, if mama dog doesn’t become pregnant, if we do not have your preferred gender available at birth, if we do not have a puppy available for you, if we are not the right breeder for you, if our available puppy is not a good match for you based on temperament test and our opinion, or other.

Final Reservations/Reservations

Refundable under certain timelines and conditions on the buyer's behalf, no questions asked. Refundable or transferable if we do not have a puppy available for you, if we are not the right breeder for you, if our available puppy is not a good match for you based on temperament test and our opinion, or other.
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Transfers
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All Reservations are transferable to another litter at any time; your wait list position will depend on current availability. Reservations are valid for up to 2 years and for a one-time transfer, should you decide to transfer to a different litter. If you inform us of your intent to transfer before the litter is ready to go home, then you will automatically be added to our email list and notified whenever we have an upcoming litter. Communication is very important. If, after 2 years, you still haven’t reserved a puppy from any of our litters, your reservation will expire, and you will be removed from our email list. If your plans to purchase a puppy have changed, please notify us so that we may update our list.
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Preferred Gender
Unfortunately, there is no way for us to be able to guarantee that a puppy of your preferred gender will be available at birth. We could potentially have all males or all females in any given litter. If a Pre-Reservation is placed and we do not have gender availability at any time, then the client may have the choice of a refund, an opposite sex puppy if available, or transfer to another litter.

​Breeder’s Reservation
Clients who are on our waiting list have priority after us when we are accepting reservations. We evaluate and decide which puppies will be kept back or placed around 8 weeks old. We reserve the right to keep back or place a promising puppy at any time and from every litter. If we choose not to keep or place any prospects from the litter, then the first pet reservation on our waiting list will have the next position available.

General

The matching process
We completely understand that meeting the puppies is a very emotional and exciting time for clients. For our smaller litters, we mostly match our puppies to their new owners. With larger litters, visits can be a bit overwhelming for clients at times; therefore, we prioritize showing clients the puppies that are available and are a potential match for them. Depending on the number of puppies that are in a litter, gender preference and their temperament test results; there may be one puppy that you are matched with that fits your needs, 2+ puppies to choose from that are very similar OR rarely no puppy(s) that are a good match(you will be refunded or transferred to another litter in this case). Every litter is different! We’ve spent countless hours with the puppies; therefore, we know them the best. We reserve the ultimate say in where our puppies call home. For our available adult dogs, our process is a bit different from that of puppies. During the application process, we choose the best possible match and meet with that applicant by appointment. A reservation is not required to meet the dog; however, a $500 reservation fee is required to hold the dog if picking up at a later time or if delivery is requested.

AKC Registration
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Our pet puppies are strictly sold on Limited Registration. With limited registration, your puppy will be a companion but will still be able to compete in AKC Performance, Obedience, and Agility sports. Showing/breeding rights may be available with select puppies and only to an approved small breeding program or home. Co-ownership will apply; the contract requires titling and health clearances.

Discounts
We offer discounts to active military and veterans. Proof is required. We also offer discounts to repeat clients! Contact us to learn more.

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Return to Breeder Clause
If, for any reason and at any time, a client is in a position where they are unable to care for the puppy/dog, Bear State Goldens must be notified immediately of the return of the puppy or dog. We will always accept one of our puppies back into our home at any point in their life. We understand that life circumstances can change at any time, and as hard as the decision may be, we are the best place for them. We do our best to ensure that your dog is in a familiar, comfortable environment while we search for their new perfect home. If a client wishes to return their puppy/dog, they will need to sign our surrender form and surrender all available paperwork. Any information is greatly appreciated. Dogs that are returned will go through a quarantine phase before being reintroduced to our pack. We will get them up to date on anything that is required in order to prepare them for their new home. Once available, we will begin accepting applications and meeting with potential matches.
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​​Boarding
If you are unable to pick up your puppy at 8-10 weeks of age, please let us know in advance. Once 9 weeks of age, the puppy must be paid for in full. We will begin to charge a nightly rate to board your puppy starting at 10 weeks of age(this includes food and top-quality care from us). Puppies may board for no longer than 2 weeks(12 weeks). If you need your puppy boarded for longer than 2 weeks, then we suggest buying a puppy from a litter with better timing for you. Any wormings needed while the puppy is boarded will be charged at a very affordable rate. Our vet will administer any vaccinations needed, the cost of vaccination will depend on their current rates. If requested, training will be an additional cost.
*Past Litters: We board and groom our puppies from past litters when available. We can board for hours or months at a time.
Rates are very affordable and are typically charged nightly. Clients board with us for peace of mind during their vacations. Your dog is safe with us, hanging out with their doggy friends while you’re away. Dogs remember where they were raised. Our home is a familiar place for them, and we get a chance to visit with them. If this is their first time boarding with us or it’s been a while, we typically go through an introductory phase over a few days before fully reintroducing them to our pack. Clients must provide their dogs' food and anything else(their bed, treats, toys, etc) that would make their dog feel as comfortable as possible for the duration of the stay. Dogs must be up to date on vaccinations, up to date on flea/tick control, and worming. Text us for further details! We board one client at a time.
​Boarding limit: 2 dogs.


Rules of Visitations
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As a conscientious breeder, we follow the BAB program protocol regarding visitation. Visits are by appointment only, and they usually start around 9 weeks old. By 9 weeks old, the puppies have had at least 1 vaccination to help build their immunity against deadly illnesses, have been dewormed, have had at least 1 normal fecal test, have been temperament tested, and have been fully cleared by our veterinarian. We do not allow visitors when we have young unvaccinated puppies or when we have a pregnant mama. We enjoy showing our puppies to clients; therefore, we post them regularly on our Instagram stories starting from birth, so that you may stay connected throughout the process. We take so many pictures and videos that this is the easiest way for us to share them all. If you're an approved applicant but you're unsure of placing a reservation due to mixed information shared online about breeders not allowing visits with young puppies or due to scams, we are happy to FaceTime/Video Chat with you so that you can view the puppies beforehand. Contact us to request an appointment. Meeting the parents before the breeding, visits with available adult dogs or available vaccinated puppies are by appointment only. Please keep in mind that visits are reserved for serious, approved applicants only. This requirement is for our puppies as well as their mama’s health, protection, comfort, and safety.
*We do not have puppies year-round. We do not have a commercial facility, we are not a pet store, nor do we have a “kennel”. Our puppies are raised in the privacy of our home.

The reason…
​1.
Heavy foot traffic near the puppies and on our property isn't ideal due to it being very high-risk. Deadly illnesses and parasites can travel innocently through clothing and shoes. Contamination risks the health of our current litter(s), future litters, and even our fully vaccinated adult dogs. In the past, we’ve allowed clients to visit with the puppies when they were around 6 weeks old; however, we ended that a couple of years ago, as I have read of too many awful stories from other breeders that did the same but had different results. Many breeders were very hygienic about the puppy handling process with visitors, but the puppies still became sick and died one by one from Parvo, Parasites, or another deadly disease. If our dogs and puppies were to become sick, it would be extremely costly for us, ex. tens of thousands of dollars and emotional distress. In addition to that, it would be devastating to our other clients who are waiting patiently for their new companion. It is our job to protect our puppies, and we take that job seriously!
2. It
is far too common for puppies and adult dogs to be stolen from breeders’ homes. Sadly, a few breeders have even passed away as a result.
3. To prevent emotional attachments to certain puppies that may not be available. We want to ensure that all puppies are fully evaluated and cleared prior to offering them to their new family.
4. It can be stressful for their mama to have many strangers visiting around her babies, especially when they’re newly born. It is any mother’s instinct to protect their young.
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​Trust is very important in the relationship between the breeder and the client. We prioritize our puppies' and our dogs’ health. They will always come first!
If this policy does not work for you, then we are not the right breeder for you. We may adjust this policy as we deem fit; however, there will be no exceptions.
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In-person appointment rules:
  • ​Clients and immediate family are allowed for visitation only.
  • Visitors must not be sick. If someone is sick.. You must cancel your visit and reschedule your pickup meeting. Placement If you are showing signs of illness, you will be asked to leave.
  • There are no public restrooms, so please plan accordingly.
  • ​Visits are limited to 1 1/2 hours max per appointment.
  • Children under 13 years old are NOT allowed to pick up puppies or run around where the puppies are to avoid injuries.
  • Puppies are to stay in their designated area only.
  • **Clients should NOT visit pet stores, pet shelters, rescues, veterinarian offices, another breeder’s home, a dog park, or be around any sick dogs prior to the visit. If you have been around a sick dog, please let us know before your visit.
  • Bringing pets from home is NOT permitted unless they are from one of our breedings and they are approved beforehand.
  • We do NOT allow shoes into our home where the puppies are kept. Please wear socks or bring a pair of socks with you just in case. Please come with clean clothes and expect to use hand sanitizer.
  • Children should have jackets or sweaters on, as puppies have a tendency to jump, scratch, and nibble when they’re excited. Puppies will match children’s energy. Hair ties are recommended because hair is really fun for puppies, and they may bite it. ​
  • Photos & videos of the puppies are permitted. We may take videos or pictures during visitation to show how our puppies respond to visitors. We take photos of the puppies with their new families when they leave us.

All images are copyrighted © 2019-2023 Bear State Goldens. Do not copy, reprint or reproduce without written permission.
  • Home
  • Litters
  • Our Goldens
    • Our Puppies
  • Our Application Process
  • Our Breeding Program
  • Testimonials
  • Resources & FAQ'S
    • Our Puppy Application
    • Pricing & Payment options
    • Our Policies/FAQ'S
    • About Golden Retrievers
    • Delivery & Transportation
    • Recommendations and Resources
    • Spay & Neuter information
    • Our Partners