Our Puppy Process
Intentional Matches, Lifelong Companionship
At Bethel Retrievers, we believe finding the right puppy is about more than choosing a beautiful Golden Retriever. Every puppy has its own personality, strengths, and needs, and every family has a unique lifestyle.
Our reservation and selection process is designed to give families a meaningful opportunity to choose their new companion while allowing us time to evaluate each puppy's health, development, and temperament.
Reserving Your Puppy
Families may reserve a place in our puppy selection order with a $500 non-refundable deposit, which is applied toward the total purchase price of $2,600.
Puppy selection takes place in the order reservations are received, allowing families to choose from the puppies available when their turn arrives.
Bethel Retrievers reserves the first selection from each litter for our breeding program. Families wishing to secure the first available public pick may do so for an additional $350, subject to availability.
We encourage prospective families to reach out early, ask questions, and share what they're looking for in their future companion.
Health Evaluations & Temperament Testing
We believe that choosing a puppy should be an informed decision.
Rather than asking families to make their final selections when puppies are only a few weeks old, we wait until approximately seven weeks of age. This gives us time to observe their developing personalities and complete important evaluations.
Before puppy selections begin, we arrange veterinary examinations and conduct temperament assessments to better understand each puppy's individual characteristics.
Throughout their development, we also observe how puppies interact with people, respond to new experiences, engage in play, and settle after activity.
These evaluations help us provide thoughtful guidance to families as they consider which puppy may be the best fit for their home.
Puppy Selection
At approximately seven weeks of age, families are invited to make their puppy selections in reservation order.
We share information gathered through daily observation, veterinary examinations, and temperament evaluations to help families make informed choices.
Our goal is never simply to place puppies in homes, but to help each puppy find an environment where it can thrive.
Some puppies may be naturally outgoing and adventurous, while others are more relaxed, thoughtful, or people-oriented. We take these differences into consideration alongside each family's lifestyle, experience, and expectations.
Although selection order is determined by reservation placement, we are always happy to offer recommendations based on what we've learned about each puppy.
Preparing To Go Home
Our puppies remain in our care until they are at least eight weeks old and have been cleared by a veterinarian to go home.
As going-home day approaches, we communicate with families about pickup arrangements, final payments, and preparations for welcoming their new companion.
We want every family to feel informed and prepared as they begin this exciting new chapter.
Our Purchase Agreement & Health Guarantee
Transparency is an important part of our breeding philosophy. We believe families should understand our policies, expectations, and commitments before making the decision to reserve a puppy.
Every Bethel Retrievers puppy is sold under our Puppy Purchase Agreement, which outlines reservation terms, registration, health guarantees, and our commitment to the lifelong welfare of the dogs we produce.
Our agreement includes a one-year limited genetic health guarantee, specific veterinary examination requirements, and a return policy intended to ensure that a Bethel Retrievers dog always has a place to go if its family can no longer provide care.
We encourage all prospective families to read our complete agreement carefully before submitting a deposit.