All About Puppy Matching

"When do I get to pick out my puppy?"

We hear this one one a lot and the answer might surprise you!

You don't.

We actually match puppies to their future homes- and we've gotten pretty good at it!

We take matching pretty seriously and for a good reason- every puppy is an individual with different temperament traits and often times we have very different homes lined up in each litter. Some homes may be looking for a hunting dog, while others are wanting a service or therapy dog. All of those are "jobs" and it's not often that every single puppy will be a good match for a single home. Each litter of puppies usually has a wide range of pups in terms of temperament, drive and energy and it's not uncommon for as litter to have hunt, therapy and service prospects all in one litter, the Golden Retriever is a versatile breed after all!

HOW we do it:

We match puppies to homes when they turn 7 weeks of age, after the Volhard Temperament test has been completed. This allows us to get an idea of what the puppy is actually like, if they are social, handler oriented, forgiving, confident, curious, reserved, or are high drive vs low drive.

• Confidence – How they approach new environments, people, and objects

• Energy level – Calm, moderate, or very active

• Sociability – Interest in people and engagement with humans

• Sensitivity – How they respond to handling, sound, and pressure

• Recovery – How quickly they bounce back from a startle or challenge

• Independence vs. people-oriented behavior – Do they seek reassurance or problem-solve on their own?

WHY we match puppies to families- not the other way around

Success in the Home

Families have different lifestyles, experience levels, and expectations. A high-drive, bold puppy may thrive in an active home that enjoys training and adventure, while a softer, more thoughtful puppy may be happiest in a quieter household or with a first-time dog owner. We've found that WE know our puppies best, we can best guide them to the home where they will thrive, succeed, and meet the expectations of their families.

By matching temperaments to homes:

- Puppies experience less stress

- Families have fewer behavior challenges

- Long-term success and stability increase

-- The human-dog bond is stronger from day one

Temperament Over Appearance!

While looks can be fun, they don’t determine compatibility or any other aspect of temperament in general. Families tend to get caught up on coat color, wanting a lighter or darker colored dog but we have a saying in the golden world, " The right dog is never the wrong color." Our priority is placing each puppy where they will feel secure, understood, and successful for life.

The Bottom Line:

Every puppy deserves a family that fits them—and every family deserves a puppy whose temperament aligns with their world.

This thoughtful matching process is one of the ways ethical breeders protect not just the breed, but the lifelong wellbeing of both puppy and family.