07/01/2025
Hello everyone! We are an NC local Golden Retriever breeder, and we're currently looking to partner with individuals in a mutually beneficial arrangement to help grow our kennel and continue prioritizing the health and genetic quality of our puppies. We do this through our Guardian Home Program.
Here’s how our Guardian Home Program works:
- When we have a litter, female puppies with the best DNA results and temperaments are selected to participate in the program as future breeding candidates.
- Once a guardian takes the puppy home, she will remain in their care for two full years before any breeding-related needs arise. At the two-year mark, we cover the cost of all necessary OFA testing.
• If the results are excellent, we begin planning for her to have a litter during her next heat cycle.
• If the results do not meet our standards, full AKC ownership of the dog is transferred to the guardian, and she remains with them for the rest of her life as their permanent pet.
- If the dog is bred successfully, she will return to our facility 1–2 days before her due date and stay with us for approximately 4–5 weeks to nurse and care for her puppies. Afterward, she returns to her guardian home. (Visitation is fully open—guardians are welcome to visit their dog at any time or arrange a meet-up.)
- Once the dog has had at least three litters, full AKC ownership is permanently transferred to the guardian.
What’s in it for you:
We offer two incentive options for participating in our Guardian Home Program. Guardians may choose the plan that best fits their goals:
Option 1:
Pay full price for the guardian puppy upfront and receive $200 per puppy from each litter.
This typically results in a return of $1,600 per litter, or a lifetime return of $5,000–$6,000, depending on the number of litters.
Option 2:
Pay 50% of the dog’s upfront cost, and receive $50 per puppy in future litters.
Returns in this option are about $400 per litter, or $1,200–$1,600 over the course of her breeding career.
This program is a wonderful opportunity to welcome the puppy you’ve always wanted—while also earning extra income over the years. We understand that this is a significant commitment, and we don’t take it lightly. For the right person, however, it can be a rewarding and meaningful partnership.
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We are Golden Hour Kennels, and we are an AKC-recognized “Breeder with Heart” with four litters of healthy, well-socialized puppies to date.
We take the health and development of our puppies very seriously. Here are some of the measures we take…
All puppies are:
• DNA tested prior to going home
• Temperament tested
• Crate trained
• 100% potty trained to p*e pads and ~90% fully housebroken
• Trained with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) to enhance cardiac, immune, and neurological development
• Exposed to a comprehensive desensitization curriculum, including:
• Loud noises
• Thunderstorms and fireworks
• Strangers
• Large dogs and cats
• Car rides
• Nail grinding
• Water/swimming
• And more
All of our breeding dogs have passed all their OFA exams and certificates of the parents will be included in the puppy's go home folder.
We are fully aware of the significant need for shelter dog adoption in our community. However, not every individual or family is well-suited to care for a rescue dog, particularly those requiring specialized attention or support. At the same time, there is also a growing demand for therapy, service, and other professionally trained dogs—roles that require specific temperaments and early, consistent training. This is where responsible, ethical breeding plays a crucial role.
Several of our puppies have already gone on to become therapy dogs, serve in hospital settings, or are currently in training to become service animals. It is essential that breeders remain committed to producing healthy, even-tempered puppies suited for these important roles, as well as for families who may not be prepared or equipped to adopt from a shelter.
That said, we remain deeply supportive of adoption efforts and because of that, once our 2 guardian home puppies are successfully placed, a portion of the proceeds will be used to sponsor the adoption fees for two dogs at the Johnston County Animal Shelter. Our hope is that this will help those dogs find the loving homes they deserve.
If you have any questions please reach out to us on our Golden Hour Kennels page!
