STAR Puppies
STAR Golden Retrievers are puppies we keep a little bit longer. We help them to navigate the seas of housebreaking, leash training and other basic obedience skills during the first few months so you don’t have to. STAR puppies are able to pass their AKC STAR PUPPY evaluation before they go to their new homes and they are well on their way to AKC Canine Good Citizen titles. Families who are in need of a service dog find that a STAR puppy is a good beginning. All of our STAR puppy families find the investment worthwhile. When both parents work and kids are active, schedules change and there isn’t much time to train a puppy. At the end of the day, though, our STAR puppy families can come home to a well-mannered puppy without worrying about cleaning up accidents or runaway dogs. We can only reserve two STAR puppies per litter for extended training. STAR training usually takes 4-6 months. During this time, you are welcome to visit as much as you’d like. You can also take your puppy home for a weekend or two!
STAR Puppy Training takes place at Golden Rule. Your puppy will stay with us until he graduates at around 36 weeks old. You can visit as often as you would like and you can even take your pup home a few times during his schooling.
STAR PUPPY TRAINING teaches basic commands such as Sit, Down, Stay, Place, Touch and Here. We also crate train, leash train and housebreak your new best friend. We will provide your pup with a solid introduction to navigating public access, interactions with other dogs and strangers. We will also help your puppy to get past chewing, biting and other puppy behaviors so that he will be Canine Good Citizen ready when he goes home! Because every puppy is different, those in the STAR program develop and grow at different rates. Our goal is for STAR puppies to go home at 7-8 months, however sometimes families ask us to keep their pups longer for more targeted training. We are happy to help with beginning service training, but we ask our families to understand this involves more commitments in time, training and funding. As we try to meet the demands for trained puppies, we are dedicated to adding more commands that will help your new family member’s transition into your home to be one that brings joy and laughter. Vet costs, vaccinations, food, toys, and other expenses are covered in the STAR Puppy fee.
AVAILABLE NOW!
REBEL
REBEL, born 3/21/2024, is a fantastic therapy dog candidate, but we also feel he would be a loyal and loving family dog! He loves meeting people and he finds joy in everything he does. He is motivated to make connections with humans and will be a wonderful addition to a family with kids. Rebel likes fetching and going on adventures. Rebel is treat-motivated and he picks up new things after just a few repetitions. He might need a little bit of help with motion sickness if he is going on a long car ride, but he loves to go where his people go! He likes the water and he will do well with an older dog sibling. He is ready to meet his new family! $9,000
RAINY
RESERVED - RAINY, born 3/21/2024 is very similar in temperament to one of our Golden Rule legends, Georgie. She is mellow and calm when in a group of humans or dogs, lending her low energy to a more peaceful environment. Rainy is patient with those around her and is a good therapy dog candidate. She will do well as a volunteer in a school or hospital, or as part of a therapy dog program, but from what we are seeing of her right now, she will not want a full time gig. She will want to be wherever her human goes. Rainy will lean at her own pace and she doesn’t get into a hurry about anything. One of the best things about her is that she almost always makes good choices. Rainy will want to be more than a family dog and she has a lot to share in serving others. Her human will not need to do extensive training with her as the STAR program should fulfill her training goals. Rainy will be ready to go home December 2024.
SPUD
RESERVED - UNDERWOOD FAMILY, HIGHLAND PARK, TX Spud, born 3/31/2024, is a very chill boy who likes to be near the happenings but not in the middle of them. He finds a spot under a chair or table and can sleep while all the fun is being had around him. Spud will be an easy family dog as he is kind of an old soul. He might do well in a busy family because he will not mind being home alone sometimes. He will like going out as well, but if he could talk, he might just tell you he would rather stay home. The beauty of an adult golden like this is no digging in the trash, no jumping, no counter-surfing- and he will get along well with other pets. Spud likes his sleep. but he does like to play! He enjoys the water and he also likes having his tummy rubbed. Spud will be ready to go home December 2024.
SKITTLES
RESERVED - Skittles, born 3/31/2024, loves one on one time with her humans. She enjoys the attention she gets from the two legged animals who come into the room. She is reserved, always thinking and processing and planning. She gathers information before acting and is very observant. Skittles is not motivated to learn tricks but she is doing well with her commands. She will be calm around kids and will be a good golden to grow up with a young family. She reminds us a little bit of Glenda the Good Witch because she is so tender and gentle. Skittles will be ready to go home December 2024.
STAR PUPPY: $12,500 ($5,000 nonrefundable deposit required)
Please Note: In the past, Golden Rule Retrievers donated puppies and dogs to individuals and families in need. Due to instances in which recipients were irresponsible in caring for their Golden Rule dogs, we no longer donate puppies or dogs. Law enforcement officers, veterans and active duty military members may still receive a $300 discount. Please be responsible. Spay, neuter, vaccinate, train and microchip!
“It was such a relief to find the Golden Rule family, to visit your home and to see where the dogs eat, sleep, play and learn. To me, it made all the difference that Ruger was raised in your home using a puppy protocol that covered everything from the sounds of fireworks and sirens to learning the sit command.”