Golden Retriever Experience®
$99.95
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Golden Dog Farm and Butternut Goldens bring a whole new meaning to “Happy”! Surround yourself with a “happy” of Goldens from Butternut Goldens and Golden Dog Farm. Much like a gaggle of geese or a rhumba of snakes, a “happy” is a group of Golden Retrievers! And whether you think of the Golden Retriever Experience® as the "Golden Hour, or a "Happy Hour," you will enjoy an hour-plus playdate with at least 10 Golden Retrievers in the bucolic setting of Golden Dog Farm. Play ball, snap photos, and cuddle on your way to having the best afternoon of your life! Refreshments provided.
If you'd like to join us for lunch before the event while enjoying our magnificent new hospitality barn and expansive views of Smugglers' Notch and Mt. Mansfield, we'll serve you a boxed lunch with a delicious sandwich from a local deli, chips, cookie and a beverage (sparkling water or soft drink). Sandwich options include the classics, including a vegetarian option. We'll share specific sandwich options if you select the lunch option.
Note: On Select Sundays we offer a Pancake Breakfast with the Golden Retrievers (you can book those through our Sunday AM Pancake Pup-up in our menu bar).
Pricing:
$99.95/person and includes 6% Vermont State Sales Tax ($94.30 + $5.65 = $99.95).
$129.95/person lunch option includes an additional 9% Vermont State Sales Tax on the lunch portion ($27.52 + $2.48 = $30.00).
PLEASE REGISTER with both your phone number and email. Thanks!
**IMPORTANT DETAILS TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE BOOKING**
- You are purchasing a ticket to a specific event. Like any ticketed event (ie., theater, concert, sporting event), bookings are non-refundable. Once you book it, there are no refunds and no rescheduling. You may transfer your booking to friends or family, but you need to let us know who will be attending in your place so that they can be checked in for the event.
- The Golden Retriever Experience® is a group event with limited attendance - not a private appointment.
- No outside dogs are allowed to attend this experience.
- Everyone needs a ticket to attend, there are no observers or chaperones. Children under 12 cannot be unaccompanied.
Time: Event typically occurs once/day at 2:00pm and runs approximately 90 minutes. Please note that Golden Dog Farm is a working farm and a private home. Kindly arrive no earlier than one hour prior to the event. We did just receive our winery license, and if you do arrive early, you'll be able to enjoy wines from Golden Dog Farm and other Vermont craft makers.
Booking: The Booking Calendar is at the bottom of this section. Click on "Book Here!" to check available dates and to complete your booking. If, when you select a time, it says "No Time Slots Available," that means we are sold out. If we are sold out, be sure and add your name to our waitlist. We also may have space in our Wines and Wags events for the dates for which you are looking at 5:30P (we do offer a non-alcohol option if you are with kids or a non-drinker). Also, be sure and look at some of the other Experiences for the dates you are interested in, we may be hosting something that works for you! There is a calendar below the "Book Here!" button that highlights all of our farm events.
We currently have dates on the calendar through December 2026. We will release dates for first quarter of next year in November.
If you want to be notified when we release future dates, be sure and subscribe to our emails. And you will be the first to be notified as we add more dates. Thanks!
One of the best experiences I have ever had! I could have stayed there all day!
Best birthday present ever! The goldens, the scenery, the maple syrup, and the quiet time made my 68 trips around the sun just perfect! Thank you!
Amazing experience. Wonderful dogs and hosts and photo ops. Dog therapy but better!
I can see why they call this the "Perfect Day". What is not to love about spending an afternoon with a 'happy' of Golden Retrievers. My family has had 5 and I wouldn't consider owning another breed. I am in love with the breed, the history and the temperament and personalities of this breed. ( And every one of our 5 goldens had their own personality)
I arrived at the farm on August 18th 2026 for the afternoon Golden Dog experience. I was warmly greeted by the team members and "Uncle Lenny." Got down to the field and saw the "releasing of the hounds" completely wonderful except poor old Uncle Lenny got run over and had to be taken back. It was my turn next and this didn't have anything to do with the dogs. I took a fall on the hill and came up dazed & confused to say the least. Becca and her team sprang into action. They put me in the 6 person RV and brought me up the the club-house. I was traveling solo and they decided I should be checked out medically. Becca drove me in my rental car and Micah, one of her staff. followed us and we went to a local firehouse and ambulance station (I guess the Vermont version of urgent care and I'm not mocking it). I was briefly checked out by one of the med techs and it was decided I needed further treatment. Once again Becca drove me in my rental car with Micah following to the local hospital. She got me checked into the hospital and then stayed with me for a bit. Later that afternoon she followed up with a text message to see how I was doing. She later contacted my brother in Colorado by phone. I want you all to think about this. Most businesses would run from this level of involvement, they did just the opposite. They treated me like family. I ended spending 2 nights in the hospital. When I was released I saw that they were having a session that afternoon but the session was sold out. I called and asked if I could just come out and get a few pictures with the dogs. They insisted that I got to do the full experience that afternoon. When I arrived Micah was waiting with the 6 person RV. They sure I had a chair to sit on during the experience and used the RV to move me about. Then I got the end of the session photographs with Micah taking pictures on my cell phone and camera. It truly was a perfect day.
I cannot thank the staff enough for their patience, understanding and going completely beyond and beyond normal business practices to see to my comfort, safety and satisfaction. Golden Dog farm, you have a customer for life! If I could give 10 stars for rating, I would, that's how much I think this place. For those considering a visit, I couldn't encourage you more to do so. From singles, couples and families this is an INCREDIBLE experience!
(BTW I've had several family and friends tell me they haven't seen me this happy in quite some time. What's not to be happy about--surrounded by a group of goldens in a beautiful place)
Absolutely amazing experience. Our whole family with multiple ages just had the best time, I can’t think of a quicker route to happiness than this experience!
Everything was so thoughtfully prepared and you could tell it brings joy to everyone involved.