Snitker GoldensWhere Imprinting Matters™
If dogs are Man's Best Friend, then your Golden Retriever puppy deserves nothing less than the best start in life you can give!
Companion, Comfort and Therapy, Emotional Support, and Service Dogs all have a job to do, but without the right tools, they won't reach their potential. A reputable breeder commits to providing the right tools for your puppy during the most critical periods of their life. Learning occurs faster during the first four months than any other period of your Golden Retriever's life - which is why we have built our program on The Imprint™. |
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The Imprint™
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"A wise man cares for the needs of his animals" Nothing can replace the benefit of careful, skilled, and controlled imprints for your puppy during those critical 16 weeks. No other time is as valuable and once lost, is lost forever. Our imprinting practices are based on years of experience in animal husbandry, relationship-based training methods by Suzanne Clothier, reputable training programs such as Puppy Culture, our relationships with service/therapy dog organizations, both old and new research, the care and knowledge of our local Good Dog Center trainers (Decorah, IA), as well as the field performance we find in our Snitker Golden offspring in the way of service, therapy, and companionship dogs. Click to visit The Imprint™ page. |
Our Goldens
"Everything we are born with we inherit from our parents...environment will modify, but never add nor take away". - Clarence Pfaffenberg, Trainer & Educator
Even with the best imprint, a breeder cannot create what is not already present, which is why we are continually seeking to better the breed. Our Snitker Golden Retrievers complete medical testing and health clearances before breeding which includes hips, elbows, eyes, heart, Ichthyosis, prcd-PRA, PRA-1, and PRA-2. With the emphasis of our program being that of the working dog, we watch for characteristics in our selected breeders to embody this. We want our Golden Retrievers to show a willingness to work for their handler and the drive to learn - all paired with an exceptional temperament and excellent health, so that we can provide the best genetic potential for your puppy.
We're located in the heart of the Midwest in the northeast corner of Iowa, close to the Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois border. Most of our families fly into the Minneapolis airport, while some do choose O'Hare in Chicago. We're within a reasonable driving distance from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Rochester, Madison, and have plenty of families who still make the drive up from Kansas City, Missouri or Omaha, Nebraska areas. We've even hosted families who decide to make a sight-seeing trip out of their pickup and drive all the way up from Texas.
Even with the best imprint, a breeder cannot create what is not already present, which is why we are continually seeking to better the breed. Our Snitker Golden Retrievers complete medical testing and health clearances before breeding which includes hips, elbows, eyes, heart, Ichthyosis, prcd-PRA, PRA-1, and PRA-2. With the emphasis of our program being that of the working dog, we watch for characteristics in our selected breeders to embody this. We want our Golden Retrievers to show a willingness to work for their handler and the drive to learn - all paired with an exceptional temperament and excellent health, so that we can provide the best genetic potential for your puppy.
We're located in the heart of the Midwest in the northeast corner of Iowa, close to the Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois border. Most of our families fly into the Minneapolis airport, while some do choose O'Hare in Chicago. We're within a reasonable driving distance from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Rochester, Madison, and have plenty of families who still make the drive up from Kansas City, Missouri or Omaha, Nebraska areas. We've even hosted families who decide to make a sight-seeing trip out of their pickup and drive all the way up from Texas.
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The Gold Select™Specialized Training for Golden Retriever Companion and Therapy Dogs
Training a puppy from eight weeks old to adulthood takes a huge amount of time and energy, but the benefits of a well-trained adult are well worth the effort! We understand that not every family has that time and energy, but they still deserve to enjoy a loving Golden Retriever in their home. |
Gold Select puppies start their specialized training with us at eight weeks of age and continue to your desired level of training. We have two training options available. To learn more, please visit the Gold Select™ page.
A message from Rhonda
In a world of dog breeders on every corner. . .
Dog breeders come in all shapes and sizes, with all skill levels, all types of experiences, all sorts of ethics. But when it comes to the professional breeder, she(or he) is doing this from her heart. Adults and puppies are children to her. She's carefully considering the health, temperament, and conformation, breeding coefficients, and DNA test results, but she's also considering the years and years of progeny comparison. She's looking at resiliency, adaptability, relationship, working potential, intelligence, and so on. This to say, it is not a simple puzzle, and the results are not always what we think they might be when we put the puzzle together. It might be better than anticipated, or maybe not so much. But the bottom line is this: when a professional breeder is choosing to breed, raise, and train your puppy, it is because she believes in the outcome. Her days are not her own. . .it is not 24/7 daycare, but 24/7 cleaning, holding, caressing, training, planning, inspiring, directing, hoping. . . she often gives up time with her family and she gives up those trips to the coast (settling for a quick paddle out on the lake for a few hours). And if she is training your precious baby for additional skills? She is pouring out, giving out, playing out for your little one. She wants your baby to succeed to her/his fullest potential, much like we do our human children, because she knows that baby has a role to fulfill. . . and that is within your home, with your own children, with your own family.
I was moved to write this post because I was thinking about my own journey and that of others who have chosen this same path as a profession. We're not on it because we want to breed a good-looking dog for a few extra dollars . . . but because we are passionate about the breed we raise and know the potential these dogs have to change lives for the better.
- Rhonda Snitker, owner/breeder Snitker Goldens
September 28, 2022
Dog breeders come in all shapes and sizes, with all skill levels, all types of experiences, all sorts of ethics. But when it comes to the professional breeder, she(or he) is doing this from her heart. Adults and puppies are children to her. She's carefully considering the health, temperament, and conformation, breeding coefficients, and DNA test results, but she's also considering the years and years of progeny comparison. She's looking at resiliency, adaptability, relationship, working potential, intelligence, and so on. This to say, it is not a simple puzzle, and the results are not always what we think they might be when we put the puzzle together. It might be better than anticipated, or maybe not so much. But the bottom line is this: when a professional breeder is choosing to breed, raise, and train your puppy, it is because she believes in the outcome. Her days are not her own. . .it is not 24/7 daycare, but 24/7 cleaning, holding, caressing, training, planning, inspiring, directing, hoping. . . she often gives up time with her family and she gives up those trips to the coast (settling for a quick paddle out on the lake for a few hours). And if she is training your precious baby for additional skills? She is pouring out, giving out, playing out for your little one. She wants your baby to succeed to her/his fullest potential, much like we do our human children, because she knows that baby has a role to fulfill. . . and that is within your home, with your own children, with your own family.
I was moved to write this post because I was thinking about my own journey and that of others who have chosen this same path as a profession. We're not on it because we want to breed a good-looking dog for a few extra dollars . . . but because we are passionate about the breed we raise and know the potential these dogs have to change lives for the better.
- Rhonda Snitker, owner/breeder Snitker Goldens
September 28, 2022
Custom Designed Facilities
The BarnIn Iowa, the word barn is synonymous with our heritage and the legacies of Iowans before us. It felt only natural to label our custom designed facilities as the "Dog Barn" and the "Puppy Barn". Though it is doubtful there are many dog barns quite so house-like!
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The RunsWith outdoor runs boasting over 30,000 square feet of open space - we're proud of the care and facilities we raise our beloved Golden Retrievers in.
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The HouseWe're now seeing other breeders adopt our concept of bringing the home to the puppy, which began in 2008. This concept has completely revolutionized our effectiveness to train your puppies in a controlled and positive environment, making their transition to their forever homes a smooth one.
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