Puppies born July 31!

Kiley’s last litter with “Joey” of Lycinan Goldens is here! They are a gorgeous group. She had four boys and four girls, all good sized at birth. The puppies have been claimed. It’s delightful to place puppies in loving homes. Each of our puppies has a special new life they are beginning. Check out more photos on the blog and our Instagram.

One of our girls, now Hero Dogs Jody, is beginning a two-year training program to become a life companion to an injured first responder. She joins her uncle, Hero Dogs Captain, in this important work. Go Jody!

If you’re interested in learning more about Lake Joy Goldens or want to join the waitlist for future litters, please download the Questionnaire and send it to us via email at katy@lakejoygoldens.com. We sell all puppies limited registration only.

 

About Us

We are a selective hobby breeding family who loves Golden Retrievers and lives on 2 acres in Great Falls, Virginia. We carefully research and plan limited breedings, and then turn our attention to providing these puppies with the best nutrition, love, and stimulation we can possibly give them.

We came to love Golden Retrievers through our first Golden, Holly. Our crazy, large family wanted a dog to join in our family adventures (which are many), but it had to be just the right breed for water, family, friends, and fun. Holly joined us and changed us all through her sensitive, noble, and devoted spirit. She was a walking advertisement for Goldens!

Our house in Great Falls!

Every June, as soon as school was out, we packed up our large family and headed by van from Great Falls, VA to a small lake outside of Seattle, WA called Lake Joy. Yes, it’s really a place!

We spent the entire summer there (my husband works for a Seattle based company so this all worked) in kayaks, sailboats, and constantly in the water, returning usually the day before school started.

Holly was the best friend and companion to our kids.

Holly was with us on every adventure of those sun-filled, Lake Joy days and also in our life back in Great Falls (although she preferred the lake). Unfortunately, Holly died suddenly in 2014 at age 7, much too soon.

Lake Joy Goldens was born of my determination to help in the effort to breed only very healthy Goldens. In some breeding lines, cancer is taking dogs at much too young an age. I began to search for a female puppy, with an impeccable health pedigree, who was also an excellent example of the Golden Retriever breed standard in conformation and temperament. After researching for nearly a year, we found our Lina, Goldenway’s Stellina d’Oro from our fantastic and encouraging friend and mentor, Leslie Lesser of Goldenway Goldens.  Now, Lina is our beloved family companion and the foundation female for Lake Joy Goldens.

Explore our website to learn more about us, our breeding philosophy, and our two foundations dogs, Lina and Kiley.

We’re also excited that Lake Joy Goldens is officially listed on the Puppy Culture world wide map of breeders! This puppy training method that we use is designed to take full advantage of the natural intelligence and developmental capacity that puppies have from birth through eight weeks. That means your puppies will come to you with a great head start! Check out their website for more info if you’re curious.

Check out our blog, Facebook, or Instagram (follow us at @lakejoygoldens) for lots more photos and information about past litters!

Our Dogs

Indigo aka “Indy”

Indy will be two on October 18th. She will be bred during her next heat for an expected Winter/Early Spring litter.

Bonnie

Bonnie turned one in May 2023! She still has a year of growing to do before she is eligible to become a Lake Joy Goldens mama.

Kiley – Retired

Katy and Kiley

Our beautiful Kiley is our keep from Lina’s first litter with Mystic of Poetic Gold Farm. She’s a joyful, even, happy girl! She’s so smart and playful and takes all of her cues from me. She’s unflappable with other animals and children and has her father Mystic’s even temperament.

She also has his gorgeous blocky head, combined with Lina’s soulful eyes. She is a honey golden color, with excellent bone and straight correct coat. She’s a little bigger than her mother at 68 lbs.

Lina – Retired

Lina is a little lady at 61 lbs. She has a happy, confident style that makes everyone notice her and compliment her beauty. She is a light gold with a gorgeous straight correct coat and outstanding structure. She has a blocky head and an excellent stop. Her eyes are expressive and cheerful.

Lina is a playful Golden who loves to be with people. She loves spending time outside running and walking, but is also happy to cozy up next to us by the fire in the evenings. Lina is Kiley’s mother and retired from our breeding program in 2020.

Lake Joy Goldens Photo Gallery

Pedigree and Certifications

Eye certification updated 2021 - Kiley passed.

Kiley’s Hip + Elbow Preliminary Certification

Kiley’s Hip + Elbow Preliminary Certification

Kiley’s Heart Certification

Kiley’s Heart Certification

Kiley’s Eye Certification

Kiley’s Eye Certification

Kiley’s Pedigree from the AKC

Kiley’s Pedigree from the AKC

Results from Kiley’s Genetic Tests

Results from Kiley’s Genetic Tests

Lina’s Hip Certification

Lina’s Hip Certification

Lina’s Elbow Certification

Lina’s Elbow Certification

Lina’s Heart Certification

Lina’s Heart Certification

Lina’s Eye Certification

Lina’s Eye Certification

Lina’s Pedigree from the AKC

Lina’s Pedigree from the AKC

Results from Lina’s Genetic Tests

Results from Lina’s Genetic Tests

Breeding Philosophy

I carefully select a stud dog that comes from healthy lines, with excellent Golden Retriever temperament and beautiful conformation. Superior health and temperament are the traits I breed for, but I don’t believe in breeding a dog that isn’t also an excellent example of the breed standard.

I use Jane Killion’s Puppy Culture protocol with all of my puppies and can be found on their world wide map of breeders. This puppy training method is designed to take full advantage of the natural intelligence and developmental capacity that puppies have from birth through 8 weeks and means that your puppies will come to you with a great head start! Check out their website for more info if you’re curious.

Golden Retrievers belong with people, and our adults and pups are born in our home surrounded by people (and 2 friendly cats), and will stay in our home until they go to their new families. I will not kennel my dogs or ship puppies. Puppies must be picked up from our home in Great Falls, Virginia.

I will keep a journal about each puppy as they develop, noting stories of their escapades that give clues about their temperament so that you can know some of what I know about each puppy when they go home with you. Each puppy will go home with a puppy packet with instructions, and a blanket that will come from the litter. They will be de-wormed with all their initial vaccinations.

Temperament testing will be done by me and an outside professional. We will give you as much information as possible about your puppy and his or her patterns of behavior so you will “know” your puppy a bit when he or she goes home with you. We want each puppy and family to be the perfect fit for each other.

When filling out the puppy questionnaire, please be as candid as possible about your lifestyle and wishes for your new family member. This will help us ensure that you and your puppy are a good match.

Blog

A Summer of Puppies

Our COVID-19 summer was made a lot brighter by the arrival of Kiley’s first litter of puppies with Forrest of Mardover Goldens. Kiley’s mothering adventure began on […]

Kiley Preps for First Litter

We are announcing both Lina’s retirement and the upcoming breeding of our new Lake Joy Goldens mama, Kiley. Our beautiful Kiley just turned two! She is our […]

Read the blog →

Contact

If you're interested in learning more about Lake Joy Goldens and the upcoming litter of puppies, please reach out to us at katy@lakejoygoldens.com and we will send you a Puppy Questionnaire, or download the Questionnaire and send it to us. We sell all puppies limited registration only. We look forward to hearing from you!

Special thanks to Josemaria and Paul Joseph for their constant love and assistance.
Follow us on Instagram @lakejoygoldens.