Frequently Asked Questions

All of our breeding dogs have been DNA tested through Embark for over 200 traits

8 week Puppies: $2000

• AKC limited registration
• First round of Core Puppy Vaccines (Canine Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvo, Parainfluenza, Bordatella)
• Microchipping
• Deworming
• State required Health Certificate by a licensed veterinarian
• 1 Year Health Guarantee
• Early Neurological Stimulation and Socialization (see our "Super Dog Program" section for more details)

Trainees: $5000

• Basic Obedience Training and Socialization (see "Training Program" section for specifics)
• AKC limited registration
• All 3 rounds of Core Puppy Vaccines (Canine Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvo, Parainfluenza, Bordatella)
• Microchipping
• Deworming
• Heartworm Preventative (given the day of pickup)
• State required Health Certificate by a licensed veterinarian
• 1 Year Health Guarantee
• Early Neurological Stimulation and Socialization (see our "Super Dog Program" section for more details)

SandyPaws primarily works with Golden Retrievers. The sire and dam of the puppies must have a calm, gentle and confident temperament. Golden Retrievers are widely used and have the highest rate of success in the industry. They instinctively retrieve; a very important part of their daily work, and the public perceives these dogs to have a gentle, kind temperament, making acceptance with the public easier.

To have a successful program, selection of a dog is critical. An assistance dog candidate must have the right temperament, bone structure and health. Acquiring dogs through a shelter is both labor intensive and time consuming.

The dogs most likely to pass our rigid standards are also likely the first to be adopted from the shelters. As a relatively small, primarily volunteer organization, SandyPaws With A Cause feels procuring dogs from shelters is neither time nor cost-effective. Our mission is to place quality assistance dogs with people with disabilities. Time and money spent searching for the right shelter dog can more effectively be spent training dogs that have a higher percentage rate of success. Our program does ensure that before finding either a full time placement or a full time loving home, each dog is spayed or neutered, and EVERY dog in our program either goes on to a full time placement or a loving home.

At this time, we are dedicated to working with the dogs we procure to place as assistance dogs and do not train privately owned dogs.

People with physical or developmental disabilities who can demonstrate that an SandyPaws assistance dog will enhance their independence or their quality of life are qualified to apply. All qualifying applicants will be considered and evaluated without regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or other categories protected by law.

Please note we do not train assistance dogs for the following:

• Diabetes detection
• Seizure alert
• Hearing Dogs – for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Guide Dogs – for the blind and visually impaired
• Alert to dangerous situations/provide safety
• Protection work
• Alerting handler to take medication

Applications are reviewed and evaluated as they are received. SandyPaws For A Cause strives to make the best match between dog and recipient, so time frames will vary.

SandyPaws For A Cause is funded by private contributions, gifts from businesses, civic groups and service clubs, grants from corporations and foundations, and ongoing fundraising activities such as special events and mailings.

Visits are by appointment only and are dependent on if we have puppies and how old they are. We don't allow visitors if we currently have puppies less than 5 weeks old. NO EXCEPTIONS!!

When the pups turn 2 weeks old, we will share the puppy cam with you via the Wyze App. You will have unlimited access to this until the pups turn 8 weeks.  Around the 3-4 week point, you will see that the pups have been moved from the whelping box to our puppy play yard.  At this time you may schedule an appointment to come and view the litter. At this age,  the pups are not vaccinated and therefore, we do not allow  touching/handling of them.  When the pups turn 8 weeks and after they  are cleared by our vet, we will schedule a puppy meet, greet, and go home weekend (we will have done puppy temperament testing at 7 weeks). At this time, if you are getting a trainee puppy, we will  schedule your first visit.

• 8 week puppies go home at 8 weeks
• Trainees go home at 16 weeks