Where is Selah Mountain Dogs located?

Selah Mountain Dogs is a family-run breeding program located in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Our puppies are raised in our home and are part of our family life from the beginning.

What breeds do you raise?

Our primary focus is Goldendoodles, Golden Mountain Doodles, and Golden Retrievers. Our breeding plans can change throughout the year, so our Upcoming Litters page is the best place to see the breeds and pairings we currently have planned.

What makes Selah Mountain Dogs unique?

Our program places a strong emphasis on health, temperament, early development, and helping each family find a puppy that fits its home. We thoughtfully select parent dogs based on health testing, genetics, temperament, and the qualities they may contribute to a pairing.

Our puppies are raised in a home environment and receive age-appropriate handling, socialization, exposure, and foundational training. Our goal is to raise affectionate, resilient, and trainable companions with the potential to thrive as family dogs, therapy companions, emotional-support animals, or service-dog prospects.

Are you members of the Goldendoodle Association of North America?

Yes. Selah Mountain Dogs has been a member of the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA) since 2018, and our Goldendoodle breeding program has achieved Gold Level status.

GANA membership and its health-testing requirements specifically relate to our Goldendoodle program.

What is the difference between an F1 and a multigenerational Goldendoodle?

An F1 Goldendoodle is a first-generation cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. A multigenerational Goldendoodle is produced from Goldendoodle lines that have been intentionally developed over multiple generations.

After years of breeding Goldendoodles, our program has increasingly focused on multigenerational breeding rather than F1 litters.

Why do you focus on multigenerational Goldendoodles?

Through our experience, we have found that thoughtfully pairing selected Goldendoodle parents can provide greater consistency in characteristics such as temperament, size, coat, and appearance than we typically see in first-generation litters.

Multigenerational breeding also allows us to draw on our knowledge of several generations of dogs and the puppies they have produced. No breeding can make every puppy identical or guarantee a particular result, but this history helps us make more informed pairing decisions.

How do I know which breed or litter may be right for my family?

Start by telling us what everyday life looks like in your home. Your activity level, children, other pets, work schedule, grooming expectations, preferred adult size, and the personality you hope for in a dog all help us determine which litters may be a good fit.

We encourage families not to focus only on appearance. Temperament and how a puppy fits into your actual lifestyle are extremely important.

How do I apply for a puppy?

The first step is completing our Puppy Application. The application tells us about your household, lifestyle, dog experience, schedule, other animals, children, puppy preferences, and what you hope for in your future dog.

You do not need to have every detail decided before applying. Flexibility often gives us a much better opportunity to help you find a suitable puppy.

Does submitting an application mean I am approved for a puppy?

No. Submitting an application allows us to determine whether our program and upcoming puppies are likely to be a good fit for what you are seeking.

If your application appears to be a good fit and we have a suitable litter, we will explain the available options. If a family requires a very specific combination of size, color, sex, coat, timing, and temperament that we cannot realistically promise, we would rather be honest than accept a reservation we may be unable to fulfill.

Can I request a specific sex, color, coat, or size?

Yes. We want to understand your preferences, including which ones matter most and where you can be flexible.

The more traits that must occur together, the less likely it becomes that one puppy in a particular litter will satisfy every request. We especially encourage flexibility about sex when temperament and compatibility are the family's highest priorities.

How much do your puppies cost?

Goldendoodle and Golden Mountain Doodle puppies are currently $3,000. The $300 reservation fee is credited toward the total puppy price rather than added to it.

Pricing for an occasional breed, adult dog, breeding-rights placement, transportation, or additional training may differ. Please review our Purchase Process and Pricing page for current payment information.

How does the reservation process work?

After we review your application and offer you an available position on a litter, a $300 reservation fee is required to secure that position.

Your reservation holds your place in the litter's picking order. It does not reserve one particular puppy before puppy selection. The reservation fee is credited toward the total purchase price.

Is the $300 reservation fee refundable?

No. The $300 reservation fee is non-refundable. Because accepting a reservation means holding a litter position for your family, please make sure you are comfortable with the pairing, expected timing, and your selection position before paying the fee.

Can I move my reservation to another litter?

Reservations are made for a particular litter and selection position, so moving a reservation is not automatically guaranteed. If your circumstances change, please contact us as soon as possible so we can discuss any options that may be available.

What payment methods do you accept?

The $300 reservation fee can currently be paid by Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle. The remaining puppy balance is handled separately and may be paid by check, Zelle, cash, or an online QuickBooks invoice. Payments made through QuickBooks may include processing fees.

We do not use Venmo or PayPal for the remaining puppy balance. Your invoice will provide the payment amounts, available methods, and deadlines that apply to your puppy.

When will I receive the Purchase Agreement and Health Guarantee?

We normally send the Purchase Agreement and Health Guarantee through DocuSign when the litter is approximately six weeks old. It must be reviewed, signed, and returned within the timeframe provided for your litter.

If you would like to review the agreement earlier, please ask. We want families to understand the terms before moving forward.

How often do you have litters?

Litters are planned periodically throughout the year based on our breeding program and the natural timing of each mother's heat cycle. Please visit our Upcoming Litters page for the most current information.

How reliable are planned litter and go-home dates?

All dates before puppies are born are estimates. A female may come into heat earlier or later than expected, breeding may not result in pregnancy, pregnancy timing can vary, and litter size cannot be known in advance.

Once puppies are born, their actual birth date allows us to provide a much firmer go-home date. Families with inflexible travel or work schedules should tell us before reserving.

How do I know which puppies or litters are available?

Our Available Puppies and Upcoming Litters pages are the best places to begin. Availability can change quickly as applications and reservations are received.

If you see a litter that interests you, or you are unsure which pairing best fits your needs, complete an application and tell us what you are looking for.

How does puppy selection work?

Families select puppies in their reserved picking order. Selection generally occurs when the puppies are approximately eight weeks old, after temperament testing and veterinary evaluation.

Before selection, we provide our observations, temperament information, and relevant veterinary information. When it is your turn, you choose from the puppies available at your selection position. Selection may take place in person in Pagosa Springs or remotely by FaceTime.

Should I be concerned about having a later picking position?

Not necessarily. A later position means fewer puppies will remain when it is your turn, but it does not mean the remaining puppies are lower-quality dogs. The important question is whether the puppies available at your position fit your family.

Later positions work especially well for families who have some flexibility. If you require a very specific combination of sex, color, coat, size, and temperament, discuss that with us before reserving.

Do I need to travel to Colorado for puppy selection?

No. Families may select their puppy remotely through a FaceTime appointment. We will talk through the available puppies with you, and you will receive temperament and veterinary information before selection.

Families who prefer to select in person are welcome to come to Pagosa Springs for their scheduled appointment.

Can we visit the puppies before selection?

Because our puppies have developing immune systems and are raised inside our home, visits must be arranged with us in advance. In-person selection appointments are available.

If you hope to visit at another point during the litter, please ask before making travel plans so we can determine what is appropriate for that litter and age.

What updates will I receive after joining a litter list?

After the litter is born, families on that litter's reservation list generally receive weekly email updates with individual photographs and information about the puppies' growth, development, and training progress.

When can my puppy come home?

Puppies generally go home at approximately eight weeks of age, after their pre-go-home veterinary care and when they are ready to transition to their new families. Your litter's actual go-home date will be provided after the puppies are born.

A puppy participating in Puppy Kindergarten or additional training will have a later individual go-home date.

Can I get a Selah puppy if I live outside Colorado?

Yes. Many of our puppies live outside Colorado. We regularly work with families who travel to Pagosa Springs or arrange transportation for their puppy. Available options depend on your location, the puppy's size, timing, and other circumstances.

Can I fly home with my puppy?

Many families are able to fly home with their puppy in the cabin. Airline requirements vary, so families are responsible for confirming current pet policies, carrier requirements, reservations, and documentation before booking travel.

We are happy to coordinate your pickup time with your travel plans.

What if I have a vacation or another commitment around go-home day?

Please tell us before reserving whenever possible. A different litter may be a better fit, or Puppy Kindergarten or another approved arrangement may allow your puppy to remain with us longer.

Any extended stay must be arranged in advance because training and boarding availability is limited.

Do you offer puppy training?

Yes. We offer Puppy Kindergarten for families who would like their puppy to receive additional age-appropriate training after the normal go-home age. Please ask about training as early as possible so we can discuss your goals and determine whether space is available.

Visit our Training page for current program information.

Will my puppy be fully trained after Puppy Kindergarten?

No training program can turn a very young puppy into a completely trained adult dog. Additional training can provide a valuable head start with routines, crate skills, potty training, manners, leash work, and other age-appropriate foundations.

Families must continue the training and establish consistent expectations at home.

Why do you begin working with puppies at an early age?

A puppy's earliest weeks provide an important foundation for learning and emotional development. We use age-appropriate handling, new experiences, environmental exposure, and foundational training to help puppies develop confidence, resilience, and the ability to recover from manageable challenges.

Activities are introduced gradually and with consideration for each puppy's age and stage of development.

Will my puppy already be potty trained and crate trained?

We begin introducing a designated potty area when puppies are approximately three weeks old, building on their natural desire to keep their sleeping space clean. Crate introduction generally begins at approximately five weeks and progresses gradually.

Families should not expect an eight-week-old puppy to be completely potty trained or crate trained. Young puppies still need frequent potty breaks, supervision, and continued practice. We will share the routines your puppy knows so you can continue building on that foundation.

Can we get a puppy if we work during the day?

Yes, provided you have a realistic plan for caring for a young puppy. A puppy cannot be expected to remain alone through an entire workday without bathroom breaks, interaction, exercise, and supervision.

Tell us what your typical workday looks like on your application. Working outside the home does not automatically make someone an unsuitable puppy owner; having an appropriate plan is what matters.

Are your puppies hypoallergenic?

We cannot guarantee that any puppy will be hypoallergenic. Allergies vary from person to person, and even a dog that sheds very little may cause an allergic reaction.

If allergies are an important consideration for your family, please tell us before reserving so we can discuss your concerns and the coat traits expected from a particular pairing.

What coat types do your puppies have, and will they shed?

Many of our puppies have soft, furnished, wavy or loose-wavy coats. Coat and shedding characteristics vary among puppies and litters. We use the parents, genetics, and our experience with previous generations to estimate these traits, but we cannot guarantee that a puppy will be completely non-shedding.

Furnishings, rather than curl alone, influence the characteristic facial hair and shedding patterns commonly associated with doodles. Expected coat types will be described with each individual litter.

How much grooming will my puppy need?

Doodle coats require regular brushing at home and professional grooming. The exact schedule depends on the individual coat and the length you prefer.

Lower shedding does not mean lower maintenance. Loose hair can remain trapped in the coat and create mats instead of falling out. Beginning gentle brushing, handling, and grooming routines while your puppy is young can make lifelong coat care easier.

Can you guarantee my puppy's adult size?

No. Adult size is always an estimate. We consider the parents, grandparents, previous offspring, and our knowledge of the lines, but a puppy may mature larger or smaller than the estimated range.

If you have a strict adult-size limit, please tell us before reserving so we can determine whether one of our planned litters is realistically suitable.

What health testing do you complete on your breeding dogs?

Our breeding dogs complete health testing before being approved for breeding. Testing is selected according to the breed and ancestry of the individual dog and may include genetic-disease screening, joint evaluations, cardiac testing, and eye examinations.

Our Goldendoodle program follows GANA Gold Level health-testing requirements. If you are considering a particular litter and would like more information about its parents' testing, please ask.

Will my puppy see a veterinarian before going home?

Yes. Puppies receive a veterinary examination before leaving Selah Mountain Dogs. You will receive your puppy's health information so your veterinarian can review the care already completed and continue an appropriate vaccination and preventative-care schedule.

Do your puppies come with a Health Guarantee?

Yes. Every puppy we produce is sold with the same written Purchase Agreement and Health Guarantee. It includes a 72-hour initial health guarantee and 24-month coverage for qualifying life-altering hereditary or genetic conditions.

The signed agreement explains the coverage, exclusions, owner responsibilities, and claim requirements. Please review our Health Guarantee page and read the agreement applicable to your puppy.

When should I take my puppy to my veterinarian?

Please establish care with a licensed veterinarian immediately after your puppy comes home. The puppy must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours for the initial health guarantee to remain in effect. If appointments are difficult to obtain in your area, schedule one before puppy pickup.

Because veterinary clinics see sick and unvaccinated animals, carry your puppy into the clinic and keep them off shared floors and public ground while their puppy vaccination series is incomplete.

How can I socialize my puppy before vaccinations are complete?

Socialization is extremely important, but it does not require placing an incompletely vaccinated puppy on the ground in high-risk public areas.

Your puppy can experience new people, sounds, objects, handling, car rides, and controlled environments while being carried or using a carrier. Avoid high-dog-traffic areas such as dog parks, pet-store floors, heavily used public dog areas, and veterinary clinic floors until your puppy's vaccination series is complete. Your veterinarian can help you assess disease risk in your area.

When does my puppy need to be spayed or neutered?

Pet puppies are sold on a non-breeding agreement. Under our current pet-puppy agreement, a puppy must not be spayed or neutered before eight months of age and must be spayed or neutered before twelve months of age. Veterinary documentation is required.

A dog specifically approved and sold with breeding rights is governed by a separate written agreement.

What should we buy before our puppy comes home?

We provide our puppy families with a suggested shopping list and basic puppy guide before go-home day. This includes recommendations such as an appropriate crate size and other supplies that can make the transition easier.

You do not need to purchase every puppy product available. Begin with the essentials and add items as you learn what works best for your dog.

What food should we buy?

We will tell you what your puppy is eating before go-home day. We recommend keeping your puppy on familiar food during the initial transition rather than changing their home, family, routine, and diet at the same time.

If you decide to change foods later, transition gradually and consult your veterinarian about individual dietary concerns.

What should we expect during the first few days at home?

Your puppy has left their mother, littermates, familiar people, smells, sounds, and routines. Even a confident puppy may need time to adjust.

Keep the first several days calm and predictable. Focus on sleep, regular meals, frequent potty breaks, bonding, and a simple routine. We provide a recommended schedule for the first seven to ten days to help families establish consistent habits.

Are your puppies accustomed to children and other pets?

Our puppies are raised in a family environment and, when it is safe and developmentally appropriate, receive controlled exposure to children, other dogs, cats, household activities, sounds, surfaces, and new experiences.

Every puppy and household animal is still an individual. Children and puppies should be supervised together, and introductions to existing pets should be calm and gradual. Please tell us about the children and animals in your home on your application so we can consider them when discussing puppy fit.

What support do you provide after a puppy goes home?

Our relationship with families does not end on go-home day. We remain available to help with questions about adjustment, routines, crate and potty training, care, and other concerns that may arise as your puppy grows.

For a health concern, contact your veterinarian promptly and keep us informed when appropriate.

Can we stay in touch as our puppy grows?

Please do. We love receiving photographs and updates and seeing the dogs we raised grow with their families. Staying in touch also gives us valuable information about the health, temperament, coats, and development of our lines over time.

What if we can no longer keep our Selah Mountain Dog?

Please contact Selah Mountain Dogs first. Our Purchase Agreement requires families to consult us before privately rehoming their dog, placing the dog with a rescue or shelter, or otherwise transferring ownership.

Depending on the circumstances, we may take the dog back or help find an appropriate new home. Contact us so we can work through the appropriate next steps together.

How can I contact Selah Mountain Dogs?

The Contact page is the best place to begin with a general question. If you are interested in a puppy, please complete our Puppy Application so we can learn about your household, preferences, and plans.

You may also contact us through our social-media accounts. We are happy to help you understand our program and determine whether one of our upcoming litters may be a good fit.