​​About Snitker Goldens

"You cannot buy loyalty; you cannot buy the devotion of hearts, minds, and souls. You have to earn these things."    
- Clarence Francis

Snitker Goldens is a family-owned and operated breeding program striving for excellence and integrity in the rearing of Companion, Service, and Therapy Dogs. Their focus is on the relationship and everything from breeding selections, puppy handling, training, and enrichment is based on this. They believe it to be the most important factor when imprinting puppies and raising their own Goldens.

"A trusting bond is the foundation upon which all training happens; a trust our Goldens give us willingly, one we strive to be worthy of." - Rhonda Snitker

From humble beginnings to the professional program it is today, Snitker Goldens have been raising and breeding Golden Retrievers for nearly two decades. 

While focusing on breed standards as determined by the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club, improving their lines in regards to health, conformation, titles, and temperament, the heart behind the Snitker Goldens breeding program is raising Golden Retrievers who are not only equipped to serve others, but given the opportunity to reach their individual potential to serve. 

The Imprint™ program was created to give puppies 0-8 weeks a solid base for families to build on. Parent selections are made with the intent to produce puppies with exceptional intelligence and working abilities and The Imprint™ program is used to develop these qualities in each puppy. 

Please visit The Imprint™ page to learn more about the protocols used in this specialized puppy enrichment program.

Service Dog, Prince (pictured above).

All Snitker Goldens breeding dams and sires have medical tests and clearances before formally entering the breeding program. This includes: hips, elbows, eyes, heart, Ichthyosis, prcd-PRA, PRA1, and PRA2. Final test results are located on K9data. The Snitker Goldens team has also found great merit in utilizing the expertise of Iowa State University specialists in interpreting test results and pairing this with clinical examinations. They realize the story of each dog is best told with hands-on care, examining each aspect of canine health with human touch and sight. All of these factors are taken into consideration when breeding selections are made. "We appreciate the expertise we receive from these specialists, assisting us in what we deem as solid, ethical choices in breed pairings." ​Rhonda Snitker

Inspected and Licensed by the State of Iowa 
​Inspected and Approved by AKC
Veterinarian Recommended

The Legacy

A boy and his dogs. A thirteen year-old boy pulls a small puppy out of a Christmas box, smiling the widest smile you can imagine. That was our oldest son and his girl, Mandy. A year later, Rusty joined the two of them. From these very humble beginnings of a little boy and his puppies, grew a love of Golden Retrievers and Snitker Goldens.

Rusty and Mandy were close companions for our son, providing that love and acceptance only a dog can give.  As these two Goldens reached breeding age, our son raised several litters of puppies on the farm.  Something special for all of us.  From that moment forward, it didn't take long for a more serious heart of a breeding program to begin. This was my passion, one that continues to keep me striving to learn more, love more, and give more.   ~ Rhonda

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