Breeder: Amy Schlabach

🐾 BREEDING PHILOSOPHY & EXPERIENCE

How did you get started breeding, and how long have you been doing it?
We started our breeding program in 2001, and my family raised Golden Retrievers while I was growing up, so our program was a natural extension of that experience. Our adults are carefully selected for both health and temperament.

How do you ensure your puppies are well-socialized before going to their new homes?
Our puppies receive ENS according to the AKC guidelines, and we interact with them on a daily basis, exposing them to a variety of environments and stimuli.

What steps do you take to ensure the health of your puppies (e.g., vet visits, health testing, etc.)?
We have a careful deworming and vaccination schedule that we follow under the guidance of our veterinarian. At six weeks old, the puppies receive a full exam from our vet, along with fecal testing to ensure no parasites, including Giardia and Coccidia. Our adults are all OFA certified and genetically tested for breed specific disorders.

🏡 FAMILY LIFE

Can you tell us a little about your family and your personal hobbies, or other areas of expertise or work?
We have five children and enjoy rural life on our large property, which gives our Goldens plenty of room to explore and play. I have always loved animals, and besides our Goldens, I also have a Siamese cat. When I am not busy with our dogs, I enjoy freelance writing and watercolor painting.

🏠 HOME ENVIRONMENT & SETTING

What kind of space do your puppies grow up in, and do you have any favorite spots where you like to sit with the pups or let them play?
We have a backyard surrounded by woods that is a perfect spot to hang out with the puppies on warm summer evenings. We have a spacious, climate-controlled kennel with roomy outdoor access at all times, where they can play and enjoy the sunshine.

🐶 PUPPY CARE & PERSONAL TOUCHES

How do you prepare each puppy for their new home?
Each puppy is exposed to a variety of sounds and experiences by the time they are eight weeks old. They spend much of their time in our kitchen, surrounded by normal family life. When they are ready to go to their forever home, each puppy is bathed and meticulously groomed.

What do you send home with each puppy?
Our goodie bags contain a bag of food, treats, a toy and blankie that smell like home, and a sample of our supplements. The paperwork that goes home with each puppy includes their AKC registration papers, health guarantee, vaccination and dewormer records, a health paper from our veterinarian, and a new puppy take-home guide.

What advice do you usually give to new puppy owners?
Introduce your puppy to his new home slowly. Start with one or two rooms, and gradually give them more space to explore. Also, keep him or her on the same food for at least six months. We are always available to answer questions after you have taken your puppy home!

💬 PERSONALITY & HEART

What’s one thing you wish every family knew before bringing home a puppy?
I try to encourage all of our new puppy owners to take it slow. A puppy learns about life through scent, and too much too soon is confusing and distressing for a little puppy. Keeping those first few days calm, quiet, and in the same environment will help you bond and establish him in his new household. There will be plenty of time to introduce your puppy to family and friends, but for now, stick close to home and give him time to get used to all the new people and things.

Do you have a favorite past puppy or one that especially stands out?
My favorite puppy family story was a local family who called me a few weeks before Christmas and wanted to stop by to see one of our puppies. They wanted to pick her up on Christmas Eve, since it was to be a surprise gift for their children. We arranged a time, and the parents came over during the day so their children would be at school. We talked about everything they would need to know when taking a new puppy home, and then we started chatting about our families. She asked me where my children went to school, and I told her that our older children go to a private school, but our youngest son, who has special needs, attends the local public school’s special education program. She gave me a funny look and asked what his name was. When I told her, she was so excited. Her daughter was in the same grade and frequently spent time with our son when the typical students had a chance to interact with the special ed students. “Lea just loves him so much,” she told me. When Christmas came, she picked up the puppy and then sent me a video of Christmas morning. “Lea actually cried when she heard where this puppy came from,” she told me later. “It just made it extra special!”