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There’s no doubt that the popularity of Golden Retrievers has always ranked high. Being in the top ten for the last decade, and ranking as the third most popular breed since 2013, it’s no secret that people love Goldens. However, with the rise in popularity of the breed comes an increase of breeders, and not all of these breeders are going to be reputable, or even slightly responsible, about breeding. It is essential to know what to look for when you are searching for a Golden Retriever breeder or a Golden Retriever Puppy.

Finding a Reputable Golden Retriever Breeder in California

California has no shortage of Golden Retriever breeders, but how do you know which one to choose? Reputable breeders are “reputable” for a reason. Doing your research on Golden Retriever breeders in your area will ensure that you are getting a healthy puppy and prevent heartache. Reputable breeders will have the parents’ health tested to make sure that genetic diseases are not going to affect current or future litters.

A quality Golden Retriever breeder is in the breeding business because they love the breed, and strive to perfect and uphold the standards. Upon visiting, a reputable breeder, they should have no issues showing you both parents, where the puppies are whelped, housed, and fed, and willingly handing over proof of health testing. If the breeder refuses any of these things, the conditions in which they are bred and raised are most likely questionable.

Choosing a Golden Retriever Puppy

When you meet a litter of Golden Retriever puppies, you want to look for several things when choosing one to come home with you. All puppies should have a sturdy, compact, stable body (despite being a bit shaky, still), and a clean, shiny coat. Golden Retrievers are known to have a medium length, thick coat in a variety of golden shades. Their coats range in shades of light cream (English Cream) to a dark copper-red (however, keep in mind that if you’re looking to show your Golden Retriever, English Cream is not recognized by the AKC). The puppy’s coat could slightly change in color throughout its life, but it should always look fuzzy. A short or flat coat could mean it is a victim of poor breeding, or generally unhealthy.

Knowing how to select a healthy puppy is paramount in buying a puppy from a Golden Retriever breeder in California. Inspect each puppy for clear eyes, a clear nose, and clean ears, which means no goop, phlegm, discoloration, or other things that might make him look sickly. If you have a chance to get a good look at his stool, it should be firm, and a typical “poop color.” It is normal for puppies to get worms, but if your breeder is on top of the litters’ vet visits, they should be completely up-to-date on shots, and dewormer.

Finally, you want to look for a puppy who is spirited and energetic! While some puppies can be naturally more laid back than others, they should not appear lethargic. Puppies, unless worn out and sleeping, love to play no matter how “laid back” they are.

Keep in mind that you will come across breeders who are only in it for the money, which can lead to puppies who are not being health checked for common Golden issues, such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and eye and heart diseases. Another common problem with irresponsible breeders is inbreeding. Down the line, this can cause aggression and lack of intelligence in a usually charming, and brilliant, breed.

Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale in California

Golden Retrievers can be an excellent addition to your family! However, before jumping the gun with the excitement of a new Golden puppy, ensure that you are doing proper research. There are many reputable Golden Retriever breeders in northern California, as well as a wide selection of fantastic Golden Retriever breeders in Southern California. Taking the time to find the right one will help you to find the perfect puppy for your family!

1. Chadwick’s Goldens

Three beautiful Chadwick's Goldens' puppies.

Chadwick’s Goldens breeds American Standard Golden Retrievers and English Cream Golden Retrievers from world-class lines. Their puppies are microchipped and AKC registrable.

This Golden Retriever breeder in Southern California has been breeding golden retrievers for over 16 years. All of their puppies are family raised and socialized with children, toy poodles, and cats. In recent years, they have started breeding English cream golden retriever puppies.

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2. Golden Meadows Retrievers

Two Golden Meadows puppies playing.

Golden Meadows Retrievers is a Golden Retriever breeder in southern California. The kennel is conveniently located roughly one hour from Los Angeles and 45 minutes from Santa Barbara.

These Golden Retriever breeders in California offer top-flight golden retrievers. In addition, they breed Vizsla as well. They have a number of golden retriever puppies that grow to become service and therapy dogs. Furthermore, they show their golden retrievers in AKC and IABCA conformation shows.

Golden Meadows Retrievers has been breeding golden retriever puppies in California for nearly 25 years. They have imported several English cream golden retrievers from Europe. Their dogs come from exceptional pedigrees with stunning looks and sweet temperaments.

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3. The Bearden Pack

The Bearden Pack golden retriever puppies.

The Bearden Pack is a small golden retriever breeder in Beaumont, California. Their kennel is roughly 90 minutes outside of Los Angeles. They can be described as a hobby breeder of English cream golden retrievers with champion lineages. Their core dogs were imported from Europe.

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4. Lucky Charm Golden Retrievers

Lucky Charm Golden Retriever puppies in a basket.

Lucky Charm Golden Retrievers is a hobby golden retriever breeder in Southern California. They strive to breed for health, conformation, and temperament. This breeder ensures that their dogs are champions before they are bred. All of their golden retriever puppies for sale in California are cleared for health. In addition, their dogs display exceptional intelligent and affectionate behavior.

This breeder tends to their puppies 24/7. Every puppy is fed high-quality, home-cooked meals. All of their puppies are examined by a veterinarian for confirmation and health before going home for the first time. Moreover, all parasite checks and vaccinations are also completed. This golden retriever breeder in California is confident in the health of their dogs. In fact, all of their puppies are backed with a 1-year health guarantee.

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5. Nicholberry Goldens

Two adorable Nicholberry Goldens' puppies.

Nicholberry Goldens is a small golden retriever kennel located in Clovis, California. They specialize in breeding English Cream Golden Retrievers. They put a relentless focus on the health and temperament of their dogs. All puppies are raised according to a special enrichment program, which results in balanced puppies ready for a new family.

This English cream golden retriever breeder in California is also a passionate therapy dog breeder. Many Nicholberry golden retrievers become talented and certified therapy dogs.

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This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. hello, I’m wondering how you came up with this list of top breeders in CA… what is this based on? I’m seeing some negative reviews of a couple of these places and so just curious, because I had come across the breeders before seeing your blog. thanks for info.

    1. Hello Benjamin,

      Great question. We take the reviews and star ratings from Google, Yelp!, Facebook, and other notable review sites. Then, we average the ratings and implement our Trust algorithm. The Trust score reflects their domain’s authoritativeness and trustworthiness.

      We’ll have this information listed on the page soon. We’re aware that full-transparency is required for our list to stand on its own. We’re a young site and we’re growing all the time.

      Best, Josh

    1. Hi Angelica! I reached out to the breeders on your behalf, and you should be hearing from them soon. Keep in mind that availability varies so some of our breeders don’t have puppies available at this time. But we’ll get you in touch with one that does.

  2. We have an English Cream golden retriever who is now 13 years old. A wonderful dog, bred by Angelica Barrera from Dream Max Apple computer and Dios Nepuno Stop-and-Look. We would like to get in touch with her. Do you have her contact information? Please email your reply. Thank you.

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