Hoekema Homestead Goldens

Family, friends, Christmas prep, reconnecting, soggy doggies,  rain, flooding and planning for puppies.  I strain my eyes trying not to blink to avoid missing a moment.     On a personal note, but intertwined on a business front as well,  my youngest daughter..my right hand girl, has returned home to me after 6 mths of traveling. Tanzania, Egypt, Uganda, Nepal & India gifted her growth, strength,  abundance and experiences far greater than any other life moment could have pre

The holiday season is definitely upon us! Everywhere I go now Christmas has sneezed in all its glory all over everything!  Elves peeking around corners, snowflakes dangle from every light pole, jingle bells and Santa Claus is coming to town plays in my head long after I leave every store.  Families make plans,  decorate their trees and stringing cranberries and popcorn on endless strings.  It's simply the best time of the year.. now bring on the snow!    My dogs dart out in t

I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving filled with everyone and everything wonderful. Sharing time with family, friends, loved ones and fur friends of course. I am thankful beyond belief at how many of you shared updated photos of your pups and to boast about how well they all did with the hustle and bustle of your gatherings. Dogs quietly greeted guests, roamed the additional new legs in their homes, nudged toddlers hands looking for strange snacks and slept under the T

Let me start by saying,  that I am in no way an expert in the service dog world, I’m not trained,  certified or professionally educated in the field. However,  I have spent countless hours learning from professionals across service, therapy, and emotional support disciplines. Its incredibly important to me to understand what it truly takes for a dog to thrive in this kind of work so I can help guide my families in making the best match for their family and situation.   Becaus

Why Do People Rehome Their Dogs? - A Compassionate Look Behind the Choice   Rehoming a dog is one of the most emotional and misunderstood decisions a family can face. From the outside, it can look like failure , abandonment or even cruel—but in reality, most rehoming stories come from a place of true love, reflection, compassion, and a desire to do what’s truly best for the dog. When we step into these families’ shoes, we often find far more complexity and heart than judgment

I thrive off of immersing myself in my breeding community and being part of their joys and sorrows as they go through chapters in their programs that I've either gone through myself or am just not living right at this specific moment.  Importing new males, making the hard decision to pull a dog from a program, failing a health test, passing a health test,  finding out a girl didn't get pregnant, confirming a pregnancy, ... telling the families, watching pups show up, sitting

Let me touch on a topic of conversation from this week - Misconceptions about young, happy, peppy, bouncy new pups. Most people assume that their new pup that they have just brought home needs to be exercised/played with until they’re exhausted to live a happy life. We’ve all heard the saying,  “a tired dog is a happy dog.” While young pups do need appropriate outlets for their happy, enthusiastic energy, playing with them until they’re too exhausted to move is very dangerous

Everyone is gathered and bundled around the fireplace this week, passing the time like we're hosting a 1950's radio segment. The commentary has been riveting stuff, truly. But when it sounds like your roof is about to file for relocation and float down the street, that is exactly the topic of discussion. I wouldn't say my dogs LOVE the rain, a drizzle they don't even notice, even a slight passing rain storm doesn't seem to phase them. "Ah yes...this again. Acceptable" or "Rai

As the air recently spins into a chill, I still spend countless hours each day playing, snuggling, chatting, laughing, and simply loving and living alongside my pack. This daily rhythm with them is grounding — they lift me up, center me, bring balance, entertainment and immense joy to my life. Goldens are acutely aware, emotionally attuned, have an uncanny sensitivity to read people. Often accurately detecting and responding to human affective states. Studies of canine socio-

You’ve anticipated, waited, paced, and dreamt of fur and fluff for months. You wake up early, pack the blankets and make the drive.    ...