FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As a breeder of Golden Retrievers, what makes you different from everyone else? 

We firmly believe that if you are going to do something in life, do it the right way and do it as best as you can. Our advanced health testing, cutting-edge socialization, and continual customer support provide the best experience possible for families who adopt our golden retrievers. Our goal is to improve the breed of Golden Retrievers and provide outstanding family companions. 

How do you breed your puppies to be as healthy as possible? 

Every dog breed is prone to certain health conditions. This is why advanced health testing is one of our top priorities at Summer's Goldens. Every one of our adult dogs has their hips, elbows, eyes, and heart tested to ensure that only the healthiest dogs are bred. Not only are our adult dogs tested in these four key areas, but we also go the extra mile to ensure quality genetic testing for each adult dog. Not all genetic testing companies are created equal. We have chosen Embark, a partner of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, to help us minimize genetic health risks in our puppies as much as possible. Many breeders choose not to do these tests because they are an investment, but we truly feel that they are a vital part of responsible breeding. 

Why does COI matter? 

The COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding) of each adult dog shows how much genetic overlap there is between its parents' lineages. The lower the COI, the better. By carefully pairing adult dogs who have diverse genetic backgrounds, we increase the chances that their puppies will live longer, healthier lives. Many dogs who are poorly bred will have a high COI. This leads to decreased lifespan and a greater likelihood of health issues. We have very low rates of cancer in our dogs' lines, and this is partly due to our focus on lowering the COI. As a responsible breeder, we don't breed just for today. We breed with the future in mind to have healthy, happy Golden Retrievers for decades to come. 

Besides health, what else do you focus on? 

At Summer's Goldens, we focus on creating lifelong family companions. High-quality socialization during the first two months of a puppy's life is one of the most critical components of its lifelong development. Our puppies experience a variety of different surfaces to walk on; human touch all over their bodies; temperature changes; different sounds like fireworks, doorbells, cats meowing, and car engines; children; baths and nail trims, and more. We want our puppies to be more than just physically healthy; we want them to be mentally and emotionally ready for their future families. 

What are the steps of your adoption process if I am located in Virginia?

 1. Check out our Available Puppies. Sometimes we have puppies available now, but we almost always have a waiting list as well. 

 2. Fill out the Puppy Application on our website. We typically respond to applications within 24-48 hours. We are committed to finding a forever home for each puppy, so we want to make sure the puppy is a good match for your family.

3. Once your application is approved, we ask for a deposit to reserve a puppy. Email us (summersgoldens@gmail.com) or call us (317-682-8826) with any questions you have. We look forward to working with you!