The Basics of the Foster Program:  

The way the foster program works is, I place my "pick of the litter" females in foster homes. The dogs live in these homes for their entire life. The foster parents do not pay for the dog, I will give the dog to them. Registration will be maintained by Golden Ridge Farm until breeding is complete.  

This program allows local people an opportunity to own top of the line show quality Golden Retrievers without paying for it - These are pups that sell for $1800.  It also allows breeding stock to live out their lives indoors with a family.

As a foster puppy grows up we monitor its temperament, drive and health. If the female is good enough, she will be used in our breeding program. Before breeding the dog we test for congenital problelms that are common to Golden Retrievers.  These include hip xrays, elbow x-rays, heart clearances by board certified cardiologists, and eye exams by a board certified opthamologist.  If the dog does not clear,  we ask the foster parents to have the dog neutered and our breeding rights are terminated.  

When a female is 2 years old she will come back to the kennel when she comes into season for approximately 1 week depending on timing of her heat cycle.  After getting bred she will go back to her foster home. Then 1 week before whelping she comes back to the kennel and has her babies here and stays until she weans the pups (at 6 weeks). When a female is at our kennel we encourage visits from the foster parents.  They can stop by as often as they want and walk their dog and play with the pups.  Females are only bred as long as they are healthy.  Generally by the age of 7 their breeding years are done.

Females come into season twice a year. This generally entails bleeding from 9 to 21 days heavy at times. Owners are required to take stringent precautions that she is well contained during this time.  We only breed a female once a year.  I am constantly searching for the super female. Should someone get one of those super females, they will be bred every year.

In my opinion placing dogs in foster homes results in a far better life for a dog than living in a dog kennel. The foster home program is good for the dog, for the foster parents, and my breeding program. It's one of those "win - win" situations for everyone involved.

If for some reason I don't like a female when she is old enough to breed, or when I am through breeding a female, we will ask that she be neutered. When that is done the breeding contract is null and void.