Frequently Asked Questions

In most cases, families give up their dog because of allergies, divorce, death, and, sometimes, because not enough thought was given to the activity level and time commitment that a Golden Retriever requires. Occasionally, we obtain Goldens that have been in abusive environments or that are found as strays.

Turkey Dogs, on the other hand, are abandoned Golden Retrievers that have been transported from Istanbul to the United States to find their forever homes.

A preliminary evaluation is performed by a member of our intake team before a Golden is accepted into the program in an attempt to weed out dogs with known aggressive tendencies. Once accepted, the Golden receives a veterinary examination and evaluation for existing medical problems, vaccines, and is spayed or neutered.

The Golden is then placed into one of our foster homes, where the foster family further evaluates the dog’s personality in a home environment and provides basic obedience training.

Once ready for adoption, a potential adoptive family is matched with the dog from our list of approved applicants.

Golden Retrievers are sporting dogs and most are quite energetic. Males typically weigh between 65 and 75 pounds and females between 55–65 pounds, depending on height. They have long coats and shed throughout the year. Daily brushing is recommended. If your family has an allergy problem, or if your lifestyle requires uncompromising housekeeping, one of the non-shedding breeds may be more suitable.

Golden Retrievers are extremely intelligent, which is why they are suitable for use as guide dogs and assistance dogs. You should take the time to take your Golden through a basic obedience class.

Some dogs come into our program having already had basic obedience training, however, it is good to repeat this program so that you can effectively communicate with your dog.

Golden Retrievers are known for their loving, affectionate temperament and must live in your home. They do not make good kennel dogs, and if this is in your plans, you should seek a breed that is less devoted to family life.

You can expect to spend around $500 per year for food. We recommend a well-balanced premium food, not a grocery store brand. Veterinary care, outside of illnesses and emergencies, will cost between $200—$250 per year, depending on the age of the dog. Heartworm preventative is required, and will cost an additional $80 per year. Flea and tick preventatives, which are highly recommended, will cost an additional $150.

Leashes, bowls, and toys will probably cost at least $50. Grooming by a professional groomer, at a minimum of every 3 months, will cost about $200 per year, bringing the total annual cost to over $1,000.

This figure does not include veterinary care when the dog gets sick, boarding or pet sitter fees, or other expenses. Make sure you can afford a Golden Retriever before you decide to adopt!

This is a personal choice, but the life spans of dogs are increasing, so don’t discount older Goldens. A Golden Retriever can live to 15 years with proper care, although 10–12 years is the average. A Golden at 7–9 years is still full of energy and is quite appropriate for a household that does not want to cope with the activity and training of a younger Golden.

Senior Goldens can still take long walks, swim, retrieve, and enjoy the favorite part of their day — laying near their human companions.

Although Golden Retrievers have the reputation of being wonderful family dogs, young Goldens can often be too strong, too mouthy, or too exuberant for young children. Therefore, we do not adopt to families with children under the age of 3, and do not place puppies in homes with children under 5.

We rarely get dogs under one year of age in the program, however, we consider a dog up to three years old to be a puppy because of the energy level and enthusiasm of this breed.

Yes!

We consider a Golden a senior canine at 9 years of age. They still have plenty of energy, affection, and are very loving. Although they may not be with you as long as you wish, you can have many wonderful years together.

The sense of joy in giving a senior dog a home is unequaled. Goldens quickly bond to their new families. Senior dogs are usually full of mischief, love to take walks, and especially enjoy being held and loved. And remember — no housebreaking or teething!

If you have reservations about this, we are happy to put you in touch with people who have adopted our dogs at a variety of ages, ranging from 1 to 16 years of age.

Yes!

Golden Retrievers thrive on obedience training. They are a large breed, and training should begin immediately and be an ongoing process. At the time of adoption, we will recommend some local trainers.

All Goldens are trainable and actually enjoy the learning process. Training creates a bond between you and your dog, and will make your Golden a good canine citizen.

You can click on the “Adopt a dog” button at the top of the website to fill out our Adoption/Foster Application.

The application must be completed in full. We ask many questions in order to match a dog to your lifestyle and family routine. Your application will be reviewed by our adoption team and a telephone interview may be conducted.

We will also contact the vet listed on your application to check on the care of your current or previous pets. The last step is a mandatory home visit.

For further information, or to speak to our Adoption Coordinator, you can Contact Us.

Once your application is approved, our Adoption Coordinator will forward your contact information to the foster family, who will contact you to arrange a meeting with the dog. We recommend bringing every member of your family. These meetings typically last one hour at the foster home.

The foster family has the final approval of the potential adoption. If you decide to proceed, you will need to sign our Terms & Conditions of Adoption and provide a copy to the foster family along with the adoption fee.

Rescuing a Golden can cost our program well over $600 per dog. Each dog receives a complete health checkup, has their vaccinations brought up to date, is spayed or neutered if possible, and is microchipped.

The adoption fee, determined by the age of the dog, is required at the time of adoption.

Up to 1 year: $750
1–2 years: $600
2–3 years: $500
4–7 years: $400
8–10 years: $200
10+ years & special needs: Donation requested
Turkey Dogs: $750

• There is a refundable $50 training deposit for all dogs 2 and under, all Turkey Dogs, and other special cases as determined by the adoption committee.

• There will be a refundable $100 spay/neuter deposit for dogs not yet spayed or neutered.

• The total deposit for training and spay/neuter for dogs under 4 months is $100. EGRR will pay for the spay/neuter if it is done at our vet, or will reimburse the owner up to our cost for this procedure.

• The entire fee is due when the Golden goes home with the family. This fee will be refunded if the final adoption does not take place.

The very need for our organization is why you shouldn’t breed the dog. Golden Retrievers are the sixth most popular breed registered by the American Kennel Club, and there is an overpopulation problem.

Breeding is a time-consuming, expensive venture that is best left to professionals who truly want to improve the breed and understand the intricacies of the breeding selection process. Few people make money from responsible breeding.

We are happy to help you for the rest of your Golden’s life! If you have any questions, issues, or just want to brag about your new family member, we want to hear from you! Click here to contact us.