A Few of Our Favorite Things to Get Ahead of Time.
We have prepared a list of things you may want to consider as you prepare to bring home your new Freedom Retriever.

There’s a lot to remember when you are preparing to bring home a puppy. Here’s a quick checklist of a couple of the real important things.

Make your vet appointment now so you’ll be sure to get your puppy seen within 4 days of coming home.  Please send us a pic or copy of the veterinary visit summary or receipt for our records.

Trupanion Insurance This 30 day free trail is a great resource and must be activated 24 hours on either side of your puppy’s go-home date. No credit card is required, so there’s really no reason not to take advantage of this.

Sign up for Baxter & Bella Online Puppy School (Code FREEDOMRETRIEVER Saves 25% on a lifetime membership. Start training yourself now and your transition will be much smoother when you bring your new puppy home.

Microchip information verification.

Payment & Pricing
The balance for your Freedom Retriever will be due when puppies are 2 weeks old. If you join the list late or fill a vacant spot, payment will be due right away. Any additions will be due when you meet your puppy at week 7. Sales tax of 8.2% will be collected with the final payment.

Our price for a Freedom Retriever puppy with limited registration is $3800. We have limited opportunity to apply for full registration.

At this time, we accept Zelle, check or cash for payment. Please contact me for my Zelle email address. There may be some daily limits on transactions, and it might need to be done in two transactions. Please keep this in mind and check what your limits are in advance.

Health Testing & Warranty
‍We have done our best to ensure you have the healthiest pet or service animal possible. This process begins with extensive health testing (eyes, hips, elbows, heart and genetics) on our breeding dogs. A golden retriever that does not pass our stringent health testing requirements is not placed in the Freedom Retriever breeding program. To be completely transparent, we have made our health test results accessible on this website. You will see we had to pull our most recent import from Serbia, Senna, as her hips did not conform to standards.  We were heartbroken for her, but she loves her job as a supermodel. View the health testing results for each of our breeding dogs.

We start our puppies on the highest quality nutrition and supplements, begin socialization early, and always keep our puppies' well-being and happiness at the forefront of our minds. Freedom Retrievers stands behind our practices and the health of our puppies by offering a two-year health warranty, which can be extended to three years if NuVet Vitamins are included daily and to four years if your puppy is fed exclusively Pawtree kibble, raw diet.  Proof of purchase will be required in the event the health warranty is enacted.

Important Vet Information
‍Our puppies receive a well-check visit from our local vet before Retriever Day. All buyers must have a puppy well-check performed, at the vet of their choice, within 4 days of pick up as stated in our health warranty agreement. Please schedule this appointment now as many vets are booking out several weeks in advance. If you don’t have your puppy seen within the allotted time, your health warranty will be voided. We guarantee that every puppy is healthy when it leaves our home, but we cannot guarantee that your puppy will never develop any health problems. Our extensive health testing means the puppies are less likely to develop problems but does not guarantee this will never happen. Many problems facing dogs today stem from the environment and lack of nutrition – which is why you must maintain proper nutrition and health as a top priority for your pet. Do your homework in advance to give your puppy the best possible life with your family.

Don’t wait until your puppy is sick to introduce him to the vet. Get in the habit of seeing your vet regularly. Think of them as your puppy's pediatrician. The vet is a good person to get to know. Do this by taking them in for shots, health checkups, even nail trims. Some vets allow you to stop by just to say hi and get a treat, making it a positive experience.

If your puppy is acting strange, don’t wait to take them to the vet. Do it as soon as possible.

Transportation
Freedom Retrievers offers various transportation options for our puppies. We transport them to Bellingham and Seattle airports and will deliver puppies up to 760 miles away. All delivery arrangements must be made in advance and prepaid.  

Ground transportation rates are as follows:

Seattle/SeaTac: $170  (216 miles RT + 5 hours) $50 gas +$24/hr

Portland:  $400 (570 miles RT + 10 hours) $120 gas + $28 / hr

Spokane - $600 (760 miles RT + 12 hours) $160 gas + $150 hotel + $24/hr

Grooming
‍Your puppy has been introduced to bath time, blow drying, and nails trimmed with the grinder. You will want a gentle, hypo-allergenic shampoo that is tear free. We previously used Bobbi Panter shampoo, but after trying the Pawtree oatmeal shampoo, that will be our new go-to. It smells amazing and leaves their hair so soft. Best of all, it’s tear-free.  Plan to get your puppy groomed once all vaccinations have been given; usually around 5-6 months. Taking your puppy in for a bath is helpful for getting them used to the groomer. We start introducing puppies to the noise and vibrations of the nail grinder at 1 week old and continue throughout their time with us. Always start things like this slowly.  Maybe turn it on and let them see and hear it.  Then slowly move it closer and touch the puppy’s feet with it. Slow and calm introductions are always best. We have made some suggestions for grooming tools for at home maintenance.

Returning a Puppy
‍Very rarely is a puppy ever returned, but it has happened on a few occasions because families were not as prepared as they previously thought, for the time and energy required to raise a puppy. This is why it is so important to educate and prepare yourself for bringing a puppy home. In the event, you are not able to keep your puppy, and provided your puppy is under six months old, you may be refunded a portion of your purchase price.  This will be dependent on the rehoming fee recouped less your initial deposit, and any boarding, training, medical, and other related expenses that are incurred in the process of finding a new home for the puppy. Any refund due will not be calculated or reimbursed until the puppy has been placed in its forever home.

After the puppy is six months old, it is part of our contract that the puppy will be returned to us to find a suitable new home, but no refund will be given.

Once the puppy has been returned to us, they will not be returned.

Vaccinations
‍The puppy will be given the DA2PP at 7 weeks of age by a veterinarian. We like to watch them for a few days after vaccines, before we send them home to make sure there are no reactions. We like to give the vaccines when the puppies are as old as possible. We do not recommend Bordatella or Lepto at any age. A second and third booster of the DA2PP should be given three to four weeks apart so around 12-14 weeks, followed up by rabies between five and six months of age. NOTE: Rabies should never be given at the same time as any other vaccine. Puppy will require a rabies booster on year from the date of the initial rabies vaccination. Your puppy will also require a booster to the DA2PP on year from the date of the third vaccine.

PLEASE Be aware that vaccinations sometimes fail for various reasons, and a dog does not develop full immunity to some diseases until they are a full year old and have had all their puppy shots. If you are not willing or able to ensure that your puppy gets ALL of their scheduled vaccines and boosters, please do not purchase a puppy. With your puppy, you will receive a vaccination and deworming record to track your pet’s information. Always take the envelope with you to the vet’s office and have it updated to keep your puppy on track and ensure they are not over-vaccinated. The ideal method of guarding your new puppy against illnesses is to keep it away from places where other puppies or unvaccinated dogs, or dogs who are ill are found. This includes dog parks, walking trails, or even Lowe’s and Home Depot. If you take them there, put them on a blanket in the cart and make sure they are secure and cannot jump out or fall.

We believe in the value of having your puppy receive initial vaccinations but be aware that the protocol for vaccine schedules is changing. To determine if your adult dog requires a vaccination, and to find out what is safe for your younger puppy, please review Dr. Jean Dodds’ vaccination research. Over vaccinating is also very unhealthy for your pet. Titer tests are available to determine your pet’s level of disease antibodies to vaccinate for only those that are needed. Most vaccines protect for up to five years, once a puppy vaccination has been given. Dr Jean Dodds’ Vaccination Schedule can be viewed here:

Here is a great informational video from Dr. Jean Dodds

‍Deworming
‍Your little Freedom Retriever has gone through a series of deworming, beginning at two weeks and again at five weeks using Pyrantel Pamoate, and then three consecutive days of Safeguard, with the final dose being given on puppy’s Retriever Day. It is not unusual for puppy to have some residual diarrhea from the deworming which should clear up pretty quickly. 100% pureed pumpkin is a great remedy for diarrhea and even constipation. We highly recommend keeping it as part of your pet’s diet. You can freeze the puree in ice cube trays to preserve it for longer use.

Deworming can be done every six months, but for the health of your pet, it is a great practice to get a stool sample tested for the presence of worms before administering a dewormer.

‍Flea & Tick Medications
‍Currently, we are in the process of researching alternative options but have been using Stonghold (aka Revolution) during the summer months when fleas and ticks are more of a problem. We will update this topic if we make a switch.

‍Pet Insurance
‍Pet insurance is a great way to protect your investment and can be a life saver. As noted above, you can get 30 days of free coverage from Trupanion, but long term, you may save going with a company like USAA, Costco or PetsBest. Do a little research and see if it is a good choice for you and your pet.  Make sure you are comparing equal coverage.

Training
‍Socialization of your new Freedom Retriever is so critical. Especially in those first 4 weeks. I would recommend reading “Before and After Getting Your Puppy”, by Ian Dunbar before you bring your puppy home. The first 12 weeks of the puppy's life is so important and the most crucial time for lots of socialization. You don’t want to miss a single opportunity. This is part of the reason we are hesitant to place puppies in homes where the humans work full time or must leave puppy for extended periods. While in our home they have been exposed to car rides, wagon rides, outside play in a fenced area, chickens and cats, loud noises, desensitization noise playlists on Youtube, sleeping in a crate alone, playing with other dogs, playing with children, riding in shopping carts and meeting strangers at stores like Tractor Supply, Lowes and Home Depot. We do our best to give them the best possible beginning and make a great transition to your environment.

‍Baxter & Bella
‍We highly recommend puppy training and more advanced dog training classes. The saying is true. You will get out of your puppy whatever you invest into them, and you need to start the day you pick them up. Spend a little time each day working with them. Training should always be kept to short sessions that they can retain, and done throughout the day at various times. Make sure you use lots of praise and love to reinforce what you want puppy to do. Once they get older it is harder to train or retrain. It is possible, but much more time-consuming. There are great resources out there. Make sure you find some good training books, classes, and check out YouTube for online videos. As mentioned before, we have partnered with Baxter and Bella Online Puppy School and it is one of our favorite training programs Ever! We have even contacted them directly to help with a tragic family situation that resulted in delayed puppy training. They were incredible! They have created a website with classes, blogs, and a multitude of resources to help you successfully train your puppy. This will always be my top recommendation for training and best of all, you get a 25% discount on their lifetime membership if you use promo code FREEDOMRETRIEVERS. You will love this training program. Get a head start before puppy even comes home.

‍Potty Training
‍We begin potty training around 3 weeks. We add a litter box filled with pine pellets which are easy to clean and add a texture for their sensory development. First thing in the morning, right after naptime, and during the night, we put the puppies in the pellets. They catch on very quickly and are quite successful by 8 weeks when they come home. This makes for a very easy to house train puppy. For those hopefully few accidents in the house, we love Nature’s Miracle

‍Crate Training
‍Crate training begins around 4 weeks of age. We have open crates in the puppy play area available for puppies to explore and play in. We begin putting puppies in groups of 2-3 into a crate for a nap time. When they wake up we immediately go potty. This also helps with the potty training habits. Around 5 weeks we put puppies in the crates at nighttime and add a Snuggle Puppy. These are incredible little stuffies that come with a beating heart and warm pack that tuck into a Velcro pocket and imitate being next to littermates. They can be purchased on Amazon for $39.95 or you can purchase the exact Snuggle Puppy your little floof has been snuggled up to and has littermate and moms’ scent on it, for $25 or included in the “Golden Take Me Home” bag for $100.

‍ENS
‍The puppies will begin ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) at day 3 and continue daily through day 16. We are firm believers in the benefits of ENS and the overall powerful impact it has on the puppy as it enters adulthood. Here is a link to some information from AKC on the benefits of ENS.

‍Volhard Testing
‍On day 49, puppies will be personality tested using the Volhard Puppy test. We use these results along with your requests, concerns and preferences when we sit to make a match. The tests are simply a tool and it’s important to remember that on the day of testing, puppy might be extra tired or super energetic. We are catching a snapshot of a day and time, and don’t use this exclusively to determine the overall personality of the puppy as observed day in and day out. We will be sending lots of pictures and videos throughout the process so you can see how puppies are reacting to their environment.  Here is a link to the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test for your information.

There are many ways to care for and feed our pets and many things can influence the decisions we make around feeding like lifestyle, convenience, and personal preferences. We believe that many diseases are environmental and food has a huge impact on the overall health of our pets as much as it does for us.  That’s why we try to avoid food that contains GMO’s and poor-quality ingredients. Take some time to do some research before you bring your floof home. There is a lack of regulation around pet foods in America. What they put in our pet food is terrible. Here are some articles on this topic and why we have made the switch.

‍Truth About Dog Food: Death by Dog Food

Dog Food Advisor: Ingredient Splitting – Deceptive Dog Food Labeling Trick

Nutrition is one of the most important things we can provide for our little floofs. After much research and experimenting with “high-quality foods, we have finally landed on what we feel is the equivalent to the dog food fountain of youth.

PawTree has created a food that is nutrient dense and comparable to a raw diet but is much more suitable for a busy household and more budget friendly.  We personally feed PawTree kibble products in addition to raw meat and bones from Lynden Meats, kefir, raw eggs, bone broth, greek yogurt and pumpkin. We feel this highly nutritious diet is so important, especially for the first 12 months of life as they are developing. We have removed all chicken products from our dog’s food and treats due to the “hot protein” nature of chicken and its tendency to create allergy issues in so many dogs. Our dams are spoiled and pampered with extra supplements to ensure excellent health and to give our puppies the very best start possible.

One of the things we really like about PawTree is the real ingredients used to create this food.  The first ingredient is real meat and it contains no corn, soy, wheat (major allergy contributor), artificial colors, poultry by-products, or preservatives. Another impressive thing to consider is that PawTree has NEVER had a dog good recall. This speaks highly of their quality and dedication to premium pet food. Please contact me for assistance in getting your Pawtree account set up and to ensure you receive 10% - 20% off your first order.

We started the puppies on Real Lamb, Chickpea and Lentils, and Real Salmon, Pea, and Sweet Potato both available from PawTree. Once bringing your puppy home, continue to feed one of Pawtree’s high-quality, all life stages, kibble options. This should be done for at least the first year and preferably forever. Choose one of the higher fat content kibbles until the puppy reaches one year of age. When it is possible, we highly recommend feeding a balanced diet of raw or a combination of the two like what we do here.

You will receive a bag of kibble to cover about 3 days and here is the recipe for the raw mixture you can use to continue to feed your puppy. We mix up a week's worth and then freeze it in individual portions.

Recipe (substitutions can be make as needed)
• 3 lbs of raw meat (with organ meats)
• 4 cups of uncooked brown rice, sorghum, or quinoa (cook it before adding it to your dog’s food)
• 2 raw eggs1 cup pumpkin puree1 cup cottage cheese (if desired)
• 1 cup kefir (or less desirable Greek Yogurt)
• 4 Tbsp MCT oil or coconut oil
• Freeze in single serving sizes according to your dog’s size and appetite
• Thaw, and right before feeding, mix with the kibble, fish oil, and probiotics (My favorite probiotic for dogs is PawTree’s Gastro Pro Plus.)

Congratulations on your new puppy from Freedom Retrievers!
‍Now is the time to continue your dog on an immunity support system – not just for puppies: NuVet Plus 90-day supply is our top lifetime recommendation as an immunity support supplement!

This product is only available through Breeders, Vets, and pet professionals. Call them during the week and set up an auto-ship order by phone at 800-474-7044. Please provide our code 837127. Selecting to auto-ship provides a 15% discount.

NuJoint Plus is a secondary option to cover the growing joints and is a great lifetime product.

Ask for the Customer Service Department during the week:

Phone: 1-800-464-7044

Hours: Monday through Friday, 6am – 5pm PST

‍https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opAtO6NHzZU

After the Surgery
‍Based on recent research about early spay and neuter we have chosen not to implement early spay/neuter. Science is beginning to prove that it’s better for the puppy’s reproductive system to stay intact until they are past puberty. Females should be allowed to have their first heat cycle, and both sexes should be fully grown. It is also better to sterilize, but not de-sex, which leaves the ovaries in place.  This may be more expensive, but so much healthier for your furry best friend. Here is a great article that helped cement my opinion on this matter.

The spay /neuter of the puppy is a part of our health warranty and purchase agreement between Buyer and Seller. The Buyer is required to ensure the spay/neuter is done after puberty and no later than

We have partnered with Spay Secure to ensure that the requirements of our spay/neuter contract are met. In addition to the above stipulations, it is imperative that the dog is maintained so that an opportunity to get pregnant or breed another dog is never allowed. If pregnancy happens in a female, or if a male is used for breeding, the buyer will be liable to pay the seller the amount of money stated in the contract, up to $10,000. To fulfill the terms of the spay/neuter agreement, a valid veterinarian’s receipt with the corresponding microchip # of the pet, must be submitted to Spay Secure. If the puppy is spayed or neutered before one year of age, the health warranty will become null and void.

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