Gold Ducat Kennels
- Leander, TX
- Responds within a few days
Meet the breeder
I'm Helen D., the breeder behind Gold Ducat Kennels located in Leander, TX. I am extremely interested in how nutrition affects the long term health and longevity of my dogs. I keep up to date with the current research on dog health in order to ensure that I am feeding my dogs well and giving the best chance of a long happy life.
Q. & A. with Helen
Why did you start breeding?
The purpose of Gold Ducat Kennels is to breed physically and mentally sound, healthy Golden Retrievers. All of our breeding stock are screened by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a board certified cardiologist and an ophthalmologist. We do not consider dogs to be breeding stock if they are on thyroid medication, have “innocent” heart murmurs, or have had corrective surgery—orthopedic or otherwise.What makes your program special?
We have been outcrossing for several generations now in an attempt to keep the inbreeding coefficient low and increase longevity. However, low COIs seem to make no difference. Most of our breeding stock is clear for hips, eyes, and heart for at least four generations. We like to think we have minimized the problems but it is not easy to predict what individuals will produce when their various genes are combined.Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.
Getting a puppy from Helen
Helen has been certified by Good Dog's screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you're ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.
Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Price
"Deposits are required once the puppies are on the ground."
Contract & health guarantee
Helen may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Helen offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don't hesitate to reach out to Helen directly.
What's included
From Good Dog
- Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
- 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
- Puppy Training Program & private community
Puppy health practices
- Vet check
- First round of shots and deworming
- Vet records
Extras
- Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent
- Registration
- Toys
- Puppy starter kit
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Helen.
Breeder's location
Meet in Leander, TX
Other pick-up locations
Meet at Austin–Bergstrom Airport
Flexible meeting point
Helen can meet at a location that works for both of you
More about Helen
Club memberships
Helen is a member of Golden Retriever Club of America, Austin Golden Retriever Club, Travis County Kennel Club, Lone Star American Eskimo Dog Club, Capitol Dog Training Club of Austin, and American Eskimo Dog Club of America.
Helen has been a member of Good Dog for over 7 years
Helen was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2018.
Helen is a trusted Good Dog breeder
Gold Ducat Kennels meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
- Responsible breeding practices
- Health of breeding dogs and puppies
- Puppy environment and enrichment
- Buyer education and policies
Litter and program updates
Helen D.
Program update on 13 June 2025 •4 weeks old!
Helen D.
Program update on 09 June 2025 •Luna and Jackson litter ready for new homes July 10th! Well socialized already at 3 1/2 weeks! They’re camped out in the living room in the middle of everything getting used to all the noises and all the attention! More photos/updates to come!
Parent dogs
Noggin, dad
Golden Retriever
About Noggin
Noggin is a male Golden Retriever. Carefully selected as a great representative of his breed, Helen decided to make him part of their program. Helen has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Oliver, dad
Golden Retriever
About Oliver
Oliver is a male Golden Retriever. Carefully selected as a great representative of his breed, Helen decided to make him part of their program. Helen has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Parent health testing
American Eskimo Dog
Golden Retriever
Excellent level
Gold Ducat Kennels reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for American Eskimo Dogs.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A), PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd)
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).
