I'm Shannon S., the breeder behind Sanctuary Ranch Goldens located in Fresno, CA. We breed Golden Retrievers with exceptional temperaments from therapy lines, raised for health, enrichment, and therapy or service work.
Q. & A. with Shannon
Why did you start breeding?
Mentored by a top breeder, I imported Quince from Europe—the foundation of my program and an accomplished therapy dog.
What makes your program special?
Temperament and health driven, Quince is our foundation—an accomplished therapy dog serving Children’s Hospital, CalVet, and pre-K.
What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies are light golden. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.
Matched dogs
These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.
Dolly Parton
Went home
Female
Lyle Lovett
Went home
Male
Buck Owens
Went home
Male
Louis Armstrong
Went home
Male
Patsy Cline
Went home
Female
Rhett Butler
Went home
Male
Gilbert Blythe
Went home
Male
Mr. Darcy
Went home
Male
Atticus Finch
Went home
Male
Oliver Twist
Went home
Male
Getting a puppy from Shannon
Shannon 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
Puppy prices include a $500 non-refundable deposit and $4,000 final payment, before taxes & fees.
Pay over time with Klarna.
“Includes: First Vaccinations, Puppy Socialization, Puppy Desensitization, Puppy Culture, AKC Limited Registration, ENS, Microchipping and Pedigree. Deposit goes toward the final payment.”
Contract & health guarantee
Shannon 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 Shannon 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 Shannon directly.
Sanctuary Ranch Goldens 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
Shannon S.
Program update on 18 Jan. •
Our 6 pack just turned 3 weeks and are “on the move”!
Shannon S.
Litter update on 28 Apr. 2025 •
Hank and Quince's litter
Shannon S.
Litter update on 23 Apr. 2025 •
This beautiful boy is Atticus Finch and he is 9 weeks old. He is a sweet, velcro pup, who loves to play! He’s also a big foodie, which come in handy with training!
He is currently available!
…
Hank and Quince's litter
Shannon S.
Litter update on 19 Apr. 2025 •
And then there was one!
Atticus Finch is our chunky remaining!
Hank and Quince's litter
Shannon S.
Litter update on 28 Mar. 2025 •
Testimonial: coming soon!
Hank and Quince's litter
Shannon S.
Program update on 28 Mar. 2025 •
Testimonial: below is a message
from one of our puppy families from our previous litter. Please read below…
Hi Shannon, Archie is such a wonderful dog with such good temperament, he is the star in our dog park group. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to raise Archie.
Your new litter is so cute.
Best regards, Kavita
…
Shannon S.
Litter update on 28 Mar. 2025 •
Meet Shannon, an ethical breeder of therapy and service dogs, as well as companion dogs. Shannon’s goal is to breed dogs with the very best temperament, top health, and personality. Shannon’s dogs are therapy and service dogs, and their mission is to provide more people with the opportunity to perform therapy work. If you’re in need of a high-quality dog with the potential to do service work, Shannon’s litter is the place to look.
…
Hank and Quince's litter
Shannon S.
Litter update on 28 Mar. 2025 •
Here’s our gorgeous boy Atticus Finch, from our literary litter! He is adventurous, inquisitive, cuddly and smart!
Hank and Quince's litter
Shannon S.
Program update on 25 Mar. 2025 •
Fluffy fun!
Shannon S.
Program update on 25 Mar. 2025 •
These fantastic boys are 5 weeks old and beautiful!
Parent dogs
Scarlett, mom
Golden Retriever
About Scarlett
Scarlett is a low to medium energy golden retriever with a heart of gold and a perfect, calm temperament! Scarlett attained her CGC title at a young age and is now completing work as a therapy dog, spreading joy and happiness with her calm, collected, and precious behavior.
Quince, mom
Golden Retriever
About Quince
Introducing our gentle Golden Retriever, Quinny! She’s a dedicated therapy dog spreading comfort and joy at Valley Children’s Hospital, retirement and assisted living homes, and local schools. With a soft, approachable temperament, she thrives on bringing calm and connection to everyone she meets, making each visit a heartwarming experience. A true ambassador of kindness, she’s perfectly at home lifting spirits wherever they go.
Parent health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Good level
Sanctuary Ranch Goldens 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 Golden Retrievers.
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.
Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
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.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Ichthyosis, Golden Retriever Type
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.