Welcome to Goldiva Goldens! Home of Three Top 10 Golden Retriever Bitches and one Top 20 Males in the US: #4 American Grand Champion Bronze “Geti” Show Dog Hall of Fame in 2023 (AKC/Canine Chronicle stats 8/31/2023); #9 Am Grand CH Bronze “Sizzle” in 2024; and, #6 Am Grand CH Bronze “Jouët” and #12 Am Grand CH Bronze “Brinkley” in 2025. It’s the greatest honor to be a Top 20 Breeder in the US and Top 20 Breeder in New England beautifully presented by our handlers Robert & Hailey Carusi and their team. We’ve had 5 American Champions and Grand Champions this year which is quite an accomplishment! Bonnie Fisher is our Canadian handler. 2023 was another bonus year for 18 Canadian Champions, 5 Grand Champions for my daughters, Lauren and Katie, and I. 2024 & 2025 continue the same tradition of Champions with both handlers.
Our biggest shared achievement was my daughter Katie’s first Am CH Sake at the 2024 National Golden Retriever Club of America. Sake finished her Am CH title on Friday and got to compete against 400 finished Am CHampions on Sunday. Sake won Best of Winners defeating 399 Am Champions plus 800 other Goldens entered. Lauren owned Sake’s father, Can CH Etric. I owned Sake’s mother, Jameson. Katie raised the litter and selected Sake for her show puppy. It was a Cinderella story for sure and we’ll shared this victory and cherished memory forever!
We have raised only Golden Retrievers since 1984 in our homes. In 2001, Lauren and I started competing in the Conformation ring for beauty with the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club. In 2011, the AKC awarded us the Breeder of Merit Award for our premium dogs with performance titles as Champions, Hunting and Obedience titles. We are so pleased to be participants in this elite program of recognized breeders. Striker was my first American Champion handled by Jeanette Gould and Pam & Mark Desrosiers. Striker got a 3-point Major in his first show along with his sister Bonita. The excitement was thrilling and the show circuit became our passion. Gracie was my first home-bred American Champion handled by Pam & Mark. Sookie was Lauren’s first home-bred American Champion (“Am CH”) handled by Karen & Sam Mammano. Remy’s Grand Champion handler was Brian Still for 25 points. In 2018, our AKC handlers, Stacy & Evan Threlfall and assistant Julia Rudzik, have put on 100 points for the Grand Champion Bronze level title on Remy (“Am GCHB”) as well as Remy’s sister Am GCH Margarita, Am CH Isolde, Am CH Tito and sister, Am CH Bellini, Am CH Lillet, Am GCH Mojito and now Duke has his first 2 AKC points. Katie joined us in 2019 and has her first five Champions and Grand Champions. Then Covid hit in March and all dog shows stopped. The Canadian border was closed March 2020 for 16 months. Evan & Stacy moved to NC and our new handlers are Robert & Hailey Carusi, sisters Catherine & Emily Pulik and now Kasey O’Brien has joined the Carusi Team. Our Canadian Handler is Bonnie Fisher of New Brunswick. We love the Canadian shows because they do 2 shows each day. We can really rack up the points for 10 shows in 5 days, rotate dogs at the Border for the next 3-4 dogs going up. After Covid, we played catch up on several older dogs for their Champion titles.
Goldiva Goldens are not kennel dogs but live in our homes as personal companions with our family or in Co-Owner contract homes for our show & breeding dogs we have access to. The puppies are wonderfully socialized with families. The Co-Owners share in the thrill and pride when the handler’s text message comes through that our dog won: Best in Breed, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite, Winners Dog/Bitch, Group wins or Best In Show. The judge is the one who selects the best dogs of the day. Each day is an equal chance to win. It’s addicting….
Our pups go to their new homes at 8 weeks of age.
All puppies are examined by the Falmouth Veterinarians for a complete check up with health records on each puppy including vaccines, microchipped and several de-worming given by us. Two to three times a year, we hold heart & eye clinics at our home in Cumberland thru the Lewiston Auburn Kennel Club. This clinic is open to all breeds for health clearances.We also volunteer for the Maine Golden Retriever Club annual health clinics.
Our Puppy Contract requires you to enroll in puppy obedience classes. We keep our growing pups in obedience training the first year, then fine tune with handling classes. We use the clicker training method for positive reinforcement. If you are interested in a Pet Therapy dog yourself, the puppy will need a Canine Good Citizen “CGC” certificate. The next level is the Advanced Canine Good Citizen “CGCA.” It’s a longer sit, a longer stay from 20′, come when called; not scared of people, friendly towards people, non-aggressive to other dogs; doesn’t pee when afraid; ride in elevators, different surfaces; basically a well-socialized pup. A puppy needs to be a year old before he/she can be tested for Pet Therapy. It’s a wonderful way to share the love of a Golden with someone that is lonely or doesn’t feel well, or read to children in the library. Lauren and I work and show our Goldens in Conformation, Field/Hunting, Rally O Obedience and Pet Therapy.
Goldiva Golden puppies are sent home with AKC Limited Registration papers with the American Kennel Club (“AKC”) on spay/neuter contracts. We do not allow puppy buyers to breed their dogs. We do not allow any UKC registrations for exhibition. All of our health clearances can be verified thru the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (“OFA”) or PennHip. All pedigrees are linked to www.k9data.com which is a website just for Golden Retrievers. Show puppies are available to experienced breeders who exhibit their dogs in AKC and/or CKC dog shows.
We have loved our Goldens for over 25 years.
They have the best temperament for families, kids, active people or senior companions. They are easy to train and want to please their owners. Socializing them as young puppies is so important as well as introducing them to different situations and locations. Please don’t create just a backyard dog. They will go with you anywhere and with proper training, they will never embarrass you. They may chew the plastic toys or the leg to the coffee table if they’re bored but they’d rather be by your side. They will be your best friend for life with unconditional love!
Dog Clubs in which we’ve participated:
- Golden Retriever Club of America
- Maine Golden Retriever Club
- Lewiston Auburn Kennel Club
- Therapy Dog, Inc.