Appalachian Dog Training, LLC
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Appalachian Dog Training

Golden Retriever Puppy Application & Pricing | North Carolina2026-09-02T10:04:05+00:00
AKC REGISTERED • HEALTH TESTED • TEMPERAMENT SELECTED

Apply for a Golden Retriever Puppy

Welcoming a Golden into your life is a big decision. We don’t take it lightly, and we don’t think you should either. Below, you’ll find our full process, our pricing, and the application that starts it all.

Not ready to apply? Meet our dogs & see success stories →

AKC REGISTERED • HEALTH TESTED • TEMPERAMENT SELECTED

Apply for a Golden Retriever Puppy

Welcoming a Golden into your life is a big decision. We don’t take it lightly, and we don’t think you should either. Below, you’ll find our full process, our pricing, and the application that starts it all.

Based in Mills River, NC, serving Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, Arden, Charlotte, and Upstate South Carolina.

Upcoming Litters

Here’s what’s coming up in our breeding program.
Litters go quickly — join the list below to be notified the moment applications open.

Aris, a Golden Retriever dam in Appalachian Dog Training's North Carolina breeding program, posing with an AKC ribbon.

Aris

Born: August 2026
Go Home: October 2026

Marty, a Golden Retriever, racing down the FAST CAT course.

Marty

Born: August 2026
Go Home: October 2026

Winnie, a Golden Retriever, sprinting during a FAST CAT competition.

Winnie

Due: Winter 2026
Go Home: February 2027

Cora, a Golden Retriever dam in Appalachian Dog Training's North Carolina breeding program, competing in Fast CAT.

Cora

Due: Winter 2026
Go Home: February 2027

Start your application
Join the Newsletter

Upcoming Litters

Apply Today
Contact Us
Memphis, a Golden Retriever service dog from Appalachian Dog Training's breeding program.

Memphis

Born: June ’26
Go Home: Aug ’26

Aris, a Golden Retriever dam in Appalachian Dog Training's North Carolina breeding program, posing with an AKC ribbon.

Aris

Born: Aug ’26
Go Home: Oct ’26

Marty, a Golden Retriever, racing down the FAST CAT course.

Marty

Born: Aug ’26
Go Home: Oct ’26

The Path to Your Puppy

Step 1: Apply & Talk With Us

Every match starts with two things — a puppy application and a phone consultation with our breeder.

Please complete your application before your call so we can review your household, lifestyle, experience with dogs, training expectations, and what you hope life with your Golden Retriever will look like.

During your consultation, we’ll talk through our breeding and training philosophy, answer your questions, and begin identifying the type of temperament that may be the best fit for your home. Whether you’re looking for a family companion, an adventure buddy, or a service, therapy, or facility dog prospect, this conversation gives us important information we’ll use later during the matching process.

You’re getting to know us just as much as we’re getting to know you.

The goal from the beginning is simple: make sure this is the right fit on both sides.

    Once your application and consultation are complete, we can approve you for an upcoming or future litter.

    If the litter you’re interested in has not yet been confirmed by ultrasound, you can join that litter’s “approved” waitlist without paying a deposit yet.

    Once the pregnancy is confirmed, we’ll contact approved families and collect the $500 reservation deposit. Your spot in that litter is officially reserved once the deposit is paid.

    If you apply after a litter has already been confirmed, you may move directly from approval to paying the deposit and reserving your spot.

    Reserving a spot in a litter does not mean choosing your individual puppy. Every family is matched based on the best fit for their home and goals — not simply the order they joined the list. Final puppy matches are made later through our AVIDOG® evaluation and matching process, with particular care given to service, facility, and therapy dog placements where specific temperament and working traits matter as much as timing.

    Once your litter is born, preparation begins long before go-home day.

    Families receive litter updates, AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day information, and our Appalachian Golden Puppy Handbook — a comprehensive guide designed to help you prepare for life with your new puppy before they ever walk through the door.

    From home routines and foundational training to socialization, grooming, nutrition, veterinary care, and supplies, the handbook gives you the same guidance we use when raising and training our puppies. Your puppy comes home with a foundation — and we want you to feel prepared to continue building on it.

    You’ll also be able to follow along with litter updates through our Instagram, newsletter, and communications from our team.

    Before your puppy comes home, we strongly recommend deciding what their ongoing training will look like. Your puppy can:

    • Remain with Appalachian Dog Training after Match Day to complete one of our Puppy Training Levels;
    • Go home with you and attend our weekly puppy classes if you’re local;
    • Return later for Board & Train, often around 6–9 months old; or
    • Train closer to home through a qualified trainer, group class, or local kennel club.

    We’d love to stay involved in your puppy’s training whenever possible, but there is no single required path. What matters most is starting early and having a plan.

    Compare Puppy Training Levels ↓

    At around eight weeks old, every puppy participates in our AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day.

    Each puppy is evaluated individually to help us better understand their temperament, confidence, resilience, energy level, recovery, sociability, and working potential. We then compare what we’ve learned about each puppy with what we’ve learned about you through your application and consultation.

    This is why our families don’t simply choose a puppy based on collar color, appearance, birth order, or who joined the list first.

    We first identify puppies whose temperament and working traits make them strong candidates for service, therapy, or facility work. Puppies who are not selected for specialized work are not lesser puppies — working dogs require a very particular combination of traits, and many puppies without those specific working characteristics are exactly what makes an exceptional family companion.

    Once evaluations are complete, we begin matching puppies with families based on lifestyle, household, goals, experience, training expectations, and temperament. Each family meets the puppy selected for them before the match is finalized. This gives you and the puppy an opportunity to interact and make sure the match feels right on both sides.

    We ask families to come into Match Day with an open mind. If you don’t feel that connection — or if we determine that the litter simply doesn’t contain the right puppy for what you need — we won’t force a match. For example, if your household needs a particularly low-energy puppy and the entire litter happens to be high-energy, we may recommend waiting for another litter instead.

    That situation isn’t common, but our priority is placing the right dog — not simply placing a dog.

    Families are encouraged to attend AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day in person, and we also livestream the event for families who cannot make the trip.

    If your puppy is going home at their earliest go-home age, you’ll take them home at the conclusion of the event. If traveling by plane, puppies may generally fly in cabin until approximately nine weeks old; after that, they are often too large for an under-seat carrier.

    If you’ve chosen for your puppy to remain with us for additional training, they’ll stay with our team and you’ll continue receiving updates throughout their program.

    Bringing your puppy home isn’t the end of your relationship with Appalachian Dog Training. For most of our families, it’s just the beginning. We love watching our dogs grow, and many of them come back to us throughout their lives for continued training, boarding and events.

    As your puppy grows, you can stay connected through:

    • Board & Train: Continued obedience, manners, confidence-building, and real-world training as your puppy matures.
    • Refresher Training & Boarding: Available to qualifying dogs who have completed training programs with us and need continued support or a training tune-up.
    • Golden Palooza: Our community event for Appalachian Golden Retriever families, giving our dogs and their people an opportunity to reconnect, socialize, and celebrate together.

    And often, staying connected is much simpler than that. Our families send us photos, updates, milestones, titles, adventures, and achievements throughout their dogs’ lives — and we genuinely love hearing where each of our Goldens go!

    The Path to Your Puppy

    Step 1: Apply & Talk With Us

    Every match starts with two things — a puppy application and a phone consultation with our breeder.

    Please complete your application before your call so we can review your household, lifestyle, experience with dogs, training expectations, and what you hope life with your Golden Retriever will look like.

    During your consultation, we’ll talk through our breeding and training philosophy, answer your questions, and begin identifying the type of temperament that may be the best fit for your home. Whether you’re looking for a family companion, an adventure buddy, or a service, therapy, or facility dog prospect, this conversation gives us important information we’ll use later during the matching process.

    You’re getting to know us just as much as we’re getting to know you.

    The goal from the beginning is simple: make sure this is the right fit on both sides.

      Once your application and consultation are complete, we can approve you for an upcoming or future litter.

      If the litter you’re interested in has not yet been confirmed by ultrasound, you can join that litter’s “approved” waitlist without paying a deposit yet.

      Once the pregnancy is confirmed, we’ll contact approved families and collect the $500 reservation deposit. Your spot in that litter is officially reserved once the deposit is paid.

      If you apply after a litter has already been confirmed, you may move directly from approval to paying the deposit and reserving your spot.

      Reserving a spot in a litter does not mean choosing your individual puppy. Every family is matched based on the best fit for their home and goals — not simply the order they joined the list. Final puppy matches are made later through our AVIDOG® evaluation and matching process, with particular care given to service, facility, and therapy dog placements where specific temperament and working traits matter as much as timing.

      Once your litter is born, preparation begins long before go-home day.

      Families receive litter updates, AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day information, and our Appalachian Golden Puppy Handbook — a comprehensive guide designed to help you prepare for life with your new puppy before they ever walk through the door.

      From home routines and foundational training to socialization, grooming, nutrition, veterinary care, and supplies, the handbook gives you the same guidance we use when raising and training our puppies. Your puppy comes home with a foundation — and we want you to feel prepared to continue building on it.

      You’ll also be able to follow along with litter updates through our Instagram, newsletter, and communications from our team.

      Before your puppy comes home, we strongly recommend deciding what their ongoing training will look like. Your puppy can:

      • Remain with Appalachian Dog Training after Match Day to complete one of our Puppy Training Levels;
      • Go home with you and attend our weekly puppy classes if you’re local;
      • Return later for Board & Train, often around 6–9 months old; or
      • Train closer to home through a qualified trainer, group class, or local kennel club.

      We’d love to stay involved in your puppy’s training whenever possible, but there is no single required path. What matters most is starting early and having a plan.

      Compare Puppy Training Levels ↓

      At around eight weeks old, every puppy participates in our AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day.

      Each puppy is evaluated individually to help us better understand their temperament, confidence, resilience, energy level, recovery, sociability, and working potential. We then compare what we’ve learned about each puppy with what we’ve learned about you through your application and consultation.

      This is why our families don’t simply choose a puppy based on collar color, appearance, birth order, or who joined the list first.

      We first identify puppies whose temperament and working traits make them strong candidates for service, therapy, or facility work. Puppies who are not selected for specialized work are not lesser puppies — working dogs require a very particular combination of traits, and many puppies without those specific working characteristics are exactly what makes an exceptional family companion.

      Once evaluations are complete, we begin matching puppies with families based on lifestyle, household, goals, experience, training expectations, and temperament. Each family meets the puppy selected for them before the match is finalized. This gives you and the puppy an opportunity to interact and make sure the match feels right on both sides.

      We ask families to come into Match Day with an open mind. If you don’t feel that connection — or if we determine that the litter simply doesn’t contain the right puppy for what you need — we won’t force a match. For example, if your household needs a particularly low-energy puppy and the entire litter happens to be high-energy, we may recommend waiting for another litter instead.

      That situation isn’t common, but our priority is placing the right dog — not simply placing a dog.

      Families are encouraged to attend AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day in person, and we also livestream the event for families who cannot make the trip.

      If your puppy is going home at their earliest go-home age, you’ll take them home at the conclusion of the event. If traveling by plane, puppies may generally fly in cabin until approximately nine weeks old; after that, they are often too large for an under-seat carrier.

      If you’ve chosen for your puppy to remain with us for additional training, they’ll stay with our team and you’ll continue receiving updates throughout their program.

      Bringing your puppy home isn’t the end of your relationship with Appalachian Dog Training. For most of our families, it’s just the beginning. We love watching our dogs grow, and many of them come back to us throughout their lives for continued training, boarding and events.

      As your puppy grows, you can stay connected through:

      • Board & Train: Continued obedience, manners, confidence-building, and real-world training as your puppy matures.
      • Refresher Training & Boarding: Available to qualifying dogs who have completed training programs with us and need continued support or a training tune-up.
      • Golden Palooza: Our community event for Appalachian Golden Retriever families, giving our dogs and their people an opportunity to reconnect, socialize, and celebrate together.

      And often, staying connected is much simpler than that. Our families send us photos, updates, milestones, titles, adventures, and achievements throughout their dogs’ lives — and we genuinely love hearing where each of our Goldens go!

      Why families choose our program

      OFA & Penn
      Health Tested

      AKC
      Registered

      Best
      Matched

      Training
      Foundations

      How We Evaluate and Match Our Golden Retriever Puppies

      Your puppy’s temperament isn’t a random guess.
      Every puppy goes through structured development and an AVIDOG® temperament evaluation before we make our final matches. Because choosing the right Golden Retriever involves more than coat color, gender, or which puppy climbs into your lap first.

      Understand the Puppy

      Individual temperament, confidence, resilience, energy, recovery and working aptitude.

      Understand the Family

      Lifestyle, household, goals, experience, training expectations & preferred relationship with your dog.

      Make the Match

      We compare both sides to identify the puppy most likely to thrive in that particular home.

      How We Evaluate and Match Our Golden Retriever Puppies

      Your puppy’s temperament isn’t a random guess.
      Every puppy goes through structured development and an AVIDOG® temperament evaluation before we make our final matches. Because choosing the right Golden Retriever involves more than coat color, gender, or which puppy climbs into your lap first.

      Understand the Puppy

      Individual temperament, confidence, resilience, energy, recovery and working aptitude.

      Understand the Family

      Lifestyle, household, goals, experience, training expectations & preferred relationship with your dog.

      Make the Match

      We compare both sides to identify the puppy most likely to thrive in that particular home.

      Why Families Choose our Golden Retriever Program

      Our program combines health-tested genetics, thoughtful breeding decisions, structured early development, and temperament-based matching. Learn More About Our Golden Retriever Program →

      OFA & PennHIP
      Health Tested

      Every breeding dog in our program completes orthopedic and genetic health screening through OFA and Penn (PennHIP) before being bred, before being bred, helping us make informed decisions that reduce inherited health risks and support long-term health.

      AKC
      Registered

      Every litter is AKC registered, with documented pedigrees tracing four generations of dogs selected for health, structure, and working temperament — giving families a clear record of their puppy’s lineage.

      Temperament
      Matched

      Puppy matching isn’t first-come, first-served. We consider your home, experience, goals, and training expectations alongside each puppy’s evaluation to identify the temperament most likely to thrive with you.

      Training
      Foundations

      Every puppy starts AVIDOG®-informed early socialization and training from day one, building confidence, resilience, engagement, and problem-solving skills that prepare them to keep learning in their new home.

      Two adults holding their Golden Retriever puppy outdoors after puppy pickup
      Family posing outdoors with their new Golden Retriever puppy
      Family with children holding their Golden Retriever puppy on puppy pickup day
      Two adults posing outdoors with their new Golden Retriever puppy
      Two adults holding their Golden Retriever puppy outside
      Couple posing with their new Golden Retriever puppy and adult Golden Retriever
      Two adults smiling outdoors while holding their Golden Retriever puppy

      Puppy Training Levels

      Each package builds on the last, tailored to your family’s goals.

       

      Prices shown are total package prices and include your puppy.

      8-Week Go-Home No Extended Training Level 1 Level 2Most Popular Level 3
      Go-Home Age 8 Weeks 12 Weeks 16 Weeks 24 Weeks
      Total Price $5,000 $9,500 $13,500 $18,500
      What’s Included Your puppy goes home after AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day at their earliest go-home age, without an extended training stay. Crate and potty routines, early obedience foundations, name response, confidence building, and exposure to everyday sights and sounds. Everything in Level 1, plus leash manners, stronger focus around distractions, public greeting skills, and confidence in new environments. Everything in Levels 1 + 2, plus off-leash recall and obedience, advanced impulse control, high-distraction training, and travel-ready manners.
      Best Fit For Families ready to begin puppy training at home from day one. Families wanting a stronger training foundation before bringing their puppy home. Families wanting established manners, confidence, and stronger real-world skills. Active families and service, therapy, or facility dog prospects seeking our most advanced puppy foundation.
      start your application
      questions about training levels?

      Puppy Training Levels

      Each package builds on the last, tailored to your family’s goals.

      8-Week Go-Home

      NO EXTENDED TRAINING

      Includes: Your puppy goes home after AVIDOG® Evaluation & Match Day at their earliest go-home age, without an extended training stay.

      Best for: Families ready to begin puppy training at home from day one.

      $5,000

      Level 1

      GOES HOME AT 12 WEEKS

      Includes: Crate and potty routines, early obedience foundations, name response, confidence building, and exposure to everyday sights and sounds.

      Best for: families wanting a stronger training foundation before bringing their puppy home.

      $9,500

      Level 2

      GOES HOME AT 16 WEEKS
      Most Popular

      Includes: Everything in Level 1, plus leash manners, stronger focus around distractions, public greeting skills, and confidence in new environments.

      Best for: Families wanting established manners, confidence, and stronger real-world skills.

      $13,500

      Level 3

      GOES HOME AT 24 WEEKS

      Includes: Everything in Levels 1 + 2, plus off-leash recall and obedience, advanced impulse control, high-distraction training, and travel-ready manners.

      Best for: Active families and service, therapy, or facility dog prospects seeking our most advanced puppy foundation.

      $18,500
      Two adults holding their Golden Retriever puppy outdoors after puppy pickup
      Family posing outdoors with their new Golden Retriever puppy
      Family with children holding their Golden Retriever puppy on puppy pickup day
      Two adults posing outdoors with their new Golden Retriever puppy
      Two adults holding their Golden Retriever puppy outside
      Couple posing with their new Golden Retriever puppy and adult Golden Retriever
      Two adults smiling outdoors while holding their Golden Retriever puppy

      Not sure which path is right for you?

      We’ll help match you with the right puppy for your lifestyle and goals.

      What Families Are Saying

      Google Reviews From Families Who’ve Brought Home a Golden
      Golden retriever puppy from Appalachian Dog Training breeding program resting with owner in Western NC


      Fizz       (Red Boy 8)

      “My entire experience working with ADT was so smooth and they made everything so much less stressful for us! 5 months later my handsome little boy is in training to start service work and has been an absolute dream. Fizz has been the absolute best addition to our family and we would absolutely come back again in the future! 🥰🦮”

      – Hannah

      Couple holding their Golden Retriever puppy Goose outdoors on go-home day from Appalachian Dog Training in Mills River, NC

      Goose (Light Blue boy 7)

      “Goose joined our family earlier this year and we could not have picked a better pup! He has the absolute best demeanor and personality. His sweet disposition is recognized by everyone around and we are regularly recommending Katie for those in search of a golden! We will absolutely be back when we decide to add another furry friend or need training support.“

      – Natalie

      Golden Retriever puppy Rosie wearing a name bandana, a service dog prospect from Appalachian Dog Training in Mills River, NC

      Rosie (Yellow Girl 8)

      “I brought home Rosie … as a service prospect and my first puppy! I could not have been better matched… She is just now hitting adolescence and is about to complete her CGC, she has been so rock solid in her early service dog training and has had so much confidence in every situation! I am so thankful for Katie and how she set Rosie and I up for success!“

      – Shelby

      family companions to working dogs: some of our successful placements

      Every Golden is raised with a purpose in mind — see where our dogs have landed.
      K9 Zyon, a Golden Retriever police dog, sitting beside handler Officer Chandler Lail and a Lincolnton Police K-9 Patrol vehicle in North Carolina.

      Zyon

      Nina, an Appalachian Dog Training service dog, providing calm support to a child while wearing a service dog vest.

      Nina

      Golden Retriever therapy dog Summer resting beside students reading books in a classroom.

      Summer

      Jules, a golden retriever facility dog wearing a therapy dog vest, sits with a staff member inside Carolina Village.

      Jules

      Zoey, a trained Golden Retriever family companion, standing in a grassy field beneath a colorful evening sky.

      Zoey

      Think an Appalachian Golden might be right for you?

      Your application helps us learn about your household, goals, and ideal temperament match.
      Start your application

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Still deciding? Here are the questions families ask us most before applying.
      How much do your Golden Retriever puppies cost?2026-08-06T04:43:35+00:00

      Our Golden Retriever puppies are $5,000, which includes the $500 reservation deposit. Additional training options are also available for families who would like extra support before their puppy comes home.

      What health testing do your Golden Retrievers have?2026-08-06T06:17:43+00:00

      Every dog in our breeding program completes comprehensive health screening before being bred, including orthopedic evaluations through OFA and PennHIP, along with breed-relevant genetic testing. Each litter is also raised with veterinary oversight from birth.

      What’s included when I bring home a puppy?2026-08-11T13:43:35+00:00

      Each puppy goes home with age-appropriate veterinary care, health records, registration paperwork, and resources to help support a smooth transition into your home. Puppies are also introduced to early socialization and foundational training appropriate for their age. A puppy gift bag with toys and treats are also be included.

      How does the application and waitlist process work?2026-08-17T23:22:12+00:00

      The process begins with a puppy application & a scheduled call so we can learn more about your household, lifestyle, and goals for your future dog. After we connect and confirm the program is a good fit, approved families are invited to place a deposit and join the waitlist. From there, we guide you through next steps and help match each puppy based on temperament, lifestyle, and family needs. As the puppies grow and their personalities develop, we work carefully to match each puppy with the most appropriate home with the objective & transparent puppy temperament test AVIDOG. You get to see each puppy, how they perform, and what that translates to in terms of energy levels and personality traits.

      Do you offer started dogs or only puppies?2026-08-17T23:22:44+00:00

      Yes. Alongside our puppy program, we occasionally have started puppies or adult dogs available as family companions, facility dogs, or service dog prospects.

      What areas do you serve?2026-07-28T08:37:38+00:00

      We are based in Mills River, North Carolina, and work with families throughout Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, Arden, Western North Carolina, and the Upstate South Carolina region. We may also place puppies with approved families outside the immediate area.

      Do you require me to spay or neuter my dog?2026-08-06T05:11:43+00:00

      Yes. Our puppy purchase contract requires buyers to have their dog spayed or neutered by 24 months of age.

      What health guarantee do you offer?2026-08-06T05:15:52+00:00

      Our puppies include a two-year health guarantee against life-inhibiting genetic defects. Full terms, coverage requirements, and exclusions are outlined in the puppy purchase contract.

      Do you ship puppies?2026-08-06T05:18:41+00:00

      No. We do not ship puppies or use pet brokers. Families must travel to meet and approve their puppy in person; we’re just 10 minutes from Asheville Regional Airport, and in-cabin travel may be possible for puppies going home by nine weeks.

      Do you sell puppies to service dog or therapy dog organizations?2026-08-06T05:25:13+00:00

      Yes. We work with service, therapy, and facility dog organizations, including qualifying nonprofit programs. Contact us to discuss your organization’s needs and upcoming availability.

      Do you sell puppies with full registration or breeding rights?2026-08-06T05:26:15+00:00

      Breeding placements are extremely limited and considered only for approved breeders or established co-ownership arrangements.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      How much do your Golden Retriever puppies cost?2026-08-06T04:43:35+00:00

      Our Golden Retriever puppies are $5,000, which includes the $500 reservation deposit. Additional training options are also available for families who would like extra support before their puppy comes home.

      What health testing do your Golden Retrievers have?2026-08-06T06:17:43+00:00

      Every dog in our breeding program completes comprehensive health screening before being bred, including orthopedic evaluations through OFA and PennHIP, along with breed-relevant genetic testing. Each litter is also raised with veterinary oversight from birth.

      What’s included when I bring home a puppy?2026-08-11T13:43:35+00:00

      Each puppy goes home with age-appropriate veterinary care, health records, registration paperwork, and resources to help support a smooth transition into your home. Puppies are also introduced to early socialization and foundational training appropriate for their age. A puppy gift bag with toys and treats are also be included.

      How does the application and waitlist process work?2026-08-17T23:22:12+00:00

      The process begins with a puppy application & a scheduled call so we can learn more about your household, lifestyle, and goals for your future dog. After we connect and confirm the program is a good fit, approved families are invited to place a deposit and join the waitlist. From there, we guide you through next steps and help match each puppy based on temperament, lifestyle, and family needs. As the puppies grow and their personalities develop, we work carefully to match each puppy with the most appropriate home with the objective & transparent puppy temperament test AVIDOG. You get to see each puppy, how they perform, and what that translates to in terms of energy levels and personality traits.

      Do you offer started dogs or only puppies?2026-08-17T23:22:44+00:00

      Yes. Alongside our puppy program, we occasionally have started puppies or adult dogs available as family companions, facility dogs, or service dog prospects.

      What areas do you serve?2026-07-28T08:37:38+00:00

      We are based in Mills River, North Carolina, and work with families throughout Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, Arden, Western North Carolina, and the Upstate South Carolina region. We may also place puppies with approved families outside the immediate area.

      Do you require me to spay or neuter my dog?2026-08-06T05:11:43+00:00

      Yes. Our puppy purchase contract requires buyers to have their dog spayed or neutered by 24 months of age.

      What health guarantee do you offer?2026-08-06T05:15:52+00:00

      Our puppies include a two-year health guarantee against life-inhibiting genetic defects. Full terms, coverage requirements, and exclusions are outlined in the puppy purchase contract.

      Do you ship puppies?2026-08-06T05:18:41+00:00

      No. We do not ship puppies or use pet brokers. Families must travel to meet and approve their puppy in person; we’re just 10 minutes from Asheville Regional Airport, and in-cabin travel may be possible for puppies going home by nine weeks.

      Do you sell puppies to service dog or therapy dog organizations?2026-08-06T05:25:13+00:00

      Yes. We work with service, therapy, and facility dog organizations, including qualifying nonprofit programs. Contact us to discuss your organization’s needs and upcoming availability.

      Do you sell puppies with full registration or breeding rights?2026-08-06T05:26:15+00:00

      Breeding placements are extremely limited and considered only for approved breeders or established co-ownership arrangements.

      Start Your Puppy Application

      Whether you are seeking a family companion, sport prospect, or a puppy completing one of our training levels, this application helps us understand your household, goals, and ideal placement.

      Applicant Information

      Your Home Environment

      Do you lease or own your home? *
      Do you currently have a fenced yard? *
      Do you use insecticides or pesticides on your lawn or use a professional lawn care company? *
      Are all household members ready for the demands of a new puppy? *
      Do you have any other pets? *

      Registration Preference

      Are you applying for Limited or Full Registration? Limited Registration means you are not planning to breed your dog (contract enforced). Full Registration is reserved for applicants that have requested breeding rights. *

      Training Style & Household Expectations

      Every family has a different idea of what life with a dog should look like. There are no right or wrong answers here — greater honesty helps us match you with a puppy whose temperament and training needs fit your household.

      When it comes to everyday rules and obedience, which sounds most like your household? *
      Imagine taking your adult Golden Retriever to a brewery, café, or other dog-friendly outing. What would you ideally want that experience to look like? *
      A friendly Golden Retriever runs up to you and jumps on you because they’re excited to say hello. Which reaction sounds most like you? *

      Your Puppy Preferences

      Puppy selections are made by best match with your application responses, AVIDOG temperament test, and puppy availability. Do you have a puppy gender preference? *
      Puppies are also best matched based on your home's activity level. Which would best describe your home? *
      To envision your home's activity level, how often are other people visiting your home? *
      How much time do you currently spend outside? *
      Help us get to know you by selecting the family members your puppy will spend time with on a daily basis: *
      Select ALL roles you wish for your puppy: *

      Pickup Logistics

      We are located 10 minutes past the Asheville Regional Airport. Your puppy can fly home with you on the plane between 8-9 weeks age. We do not ship puppies for you. How will you travel to us to meet and purchase your puppy? *

      Start Your Puppy Application

      Applicant Information

      Your Home Environment

      Do you lease or own your home? *
      Do you currently have a fenced yard? *
      Do you use insecticides or pesticides on your lawn or use a professional lawn care company? *
      Are all household members ready for the demands of a new puppy? *
      Do you have any other pets? *

      Registration Preference

      Are you applying for Limited or Full Registration? Limited Registration means you are not planning to breed your dog (contract enforced). Full Registration is reserved for applicants that have requested breeding rights. *

      Training Style & Household Expectations

      Every family has a different idea of what life with a dog should look like. There are no right or wrong answers here — greater honesty helps us match you with a puppy whose temperament and training needs fit your household.

      When it comes to everyday rules and obedience, which sounds most like your household? *
      Imagine taking your adult Golden Retriever to a brewery, café, or other dog-friendly outing. What would you ideally want that experience to look like? *
      A friendly Golden Retriever runs up to you and jumps on you because they’re excited to say hello. Which reaction sounds most like you? *

      Your Puppy Preferences

      Puppy selections are made by best match with your application responses, AVIDOG temperament test, and puppy availability. Do you have a puppy gender preference? *
      Puppies are also best matched based on your home's activity level. Which would best describe your home? *
      To envision your home's activity level, how often are other people visiting your home? *
      How much time do you currently spend outside? *
      Help us get to know you by selecting the family members your puppy will spend time with on a daily basis: *
      Select ALL roles you wish for your puppy: *

      Pickup Logistics

      We are located 10 minutes past the Asheville Regional Airport. Your puppy can fly home with you on the plane between 8-9 weeks age. We do not ship puppies for you. How will you travel to us to meet and purchase your puppy? *

      Training | Boarding | Golden Retrievers | Client Portal

      © 2026 Appalachian Dog Training, LLC

      Professional dog training, boarding, and Golden Retriever puppies.
      Serving Asheville, Mills River & Western North Carolina.

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