4 Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Connecticut

Golden Retrievers have held the title of “America’s Dog” for years, and they consistently receive mentions as one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. They’re extremely friendly and are affectionate towards children, so they make exceptional family dogs. 

If you’re looking to bring home a Golden Retriever puppy, it’s essential to find a reputable breeder. Working with a good and responsible breeder can make a world of a difference because you’ll know that the puppy comes from a healthy bloodline and has received a lot of care and attention. 

Since Golden Retrievers are so popular, it’s not that difficult to locate a breeder. However, it can be a challenge to find a reputable and trustworthy breeder. Therefore, we’ve narrowed down the search to the four best places to find Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Connecticut. 

Official Golden Retriever Breed Standards

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has set standards for purebred Golden Retrievers. According to the AKC, Golden Retrievers have the following size requirements:

• Height (Males): 23-24 inches
• Height (Females): 21.5-22.5 inches
• Weight (Males): 65-75 pounds
• Weight (Females): 55-65 pounds

They should have a broad skull and a muzzle with a straight profile. The dog’s ears should be short and just cover the eye when pulled forward, and the nose should be black or brownish-black. 

Golden Retrievers should have a dense and water-repellent coat. It can be straight or wavy, and the coat can be various shades of gold. They can have lighter markings, but their coat should not contain any pure white hairs. 

Their temperament should be friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. Hostile, timid, or nervous traits aren’t in line with the Golden Retriever’s character. 

4 Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Connecticut

Good breeders share certain qualities. First, they’re very knowledgeable and are very willing to answer any of your questions. They should be able to produce legitimate copies of the puppy’s pedigree and health and vaccination records. 

It should also be very obvious that the breeder loves and cares for the puppies and the breeder dogs. They should provide many socialization opportunities for the puppies and look for good owners that can provide a happy home for their puppies. 

Most reputable breeders will also have registrations with the AKC and other organizations, such as the Golden Retriever Club of America. 

As we’ve searched for the best Golden Retriever breeders, we narrowed down our list based on Google reviews from customers that worked with these breeders. This list is a great starting point for your search and can help you find a puppy that fits well with your family. 

1. The Golden Gals

All puppies get treated like family at the Golden Gals. The breeding facilities are kennel-free, and the puppies live in the home. All the puppies also get introduced to a crate training schedule, and they leave for new homes with age-appropriate vaccines and health exams by a licensed veterinarian.

The breeders only work with dames and sires that accurately represent AKC breed standards and currently have seven dames and three sires. Many of them have champion backgrounds. 

The dogs also have to pass tests for hips, elbows, eyes, and heart issues. The Golden Gals is very transparent about their breeder dogs, and you can easily view their pedigrees, AKC registration ID, and health information on their online profiles. 

2. Indian Trail Golden Retrievers

Indian Trail Golden Retrievers are extremely caring and thorough with their breeding process. They have sires and dames from champion lines, and each dog received health clearance certificates for hip, eye, elbow, and heart conditions from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The breeding dogs also get selected for their obedience and show standards. 

The breeders raise the puppies in the home, and they don’t use kennels. They also socialize and intentionally expose their puppies to typical sounds you’d find in houses so that they have an easier time adjusting to their new homes. For example, the puppies gently and progressively get introduced to the sound of washers, vacuums, and telephones. 

The breeders only raise one to two litters a year so that they can give their puppies individual care and attention. All the puppies also receive their first vaccinations and a full health check from a veterinarian before going to their new homes.

3. Abalee Golden Retrievers

Abalee Golden Retrievers are caring and trustworthy breeders. They conduct thorough research on their breeder dogs to make sure that they have healthy backgrounds and have passed health tests. 

They also prioritize temperament and do not accept any dogs with a history of aggression into their breeding program. They look for dogs with friendly and gentle temperaments because they know that many of their puppies go to homes with young children. The puppies must also pass health checks and receive age-appropriate vaccines before living with their new families. 

All Abalee Golden Retriever puppies live in the home and receive a lot of socialization and exposure to daily life. The breeders also go the extra mile and don’t have their lawns chemically treated so that puppies have a safe place to play. 

Abalee Golden Retrievers is a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America and has good standing. They also have recognition as an AKC Breeder of Merit. 

4. Crane Hollow Goldens

Crane Hollow Goldens have recognition for bringing up well-mannered and beautiful puppies. This breeder specializes in the Light Golden category of Golden Retrievers. All their dames and sires come from champion lines and must have OFA certifications for hip, elbow, eye, and heart clearances. 

Crane Hollow Goldens love all their puppies and have all the litters live in the home. The breeders want to set up their puppies for success in finding their forever home, so they begin socializing them at birth. They also specialize in matching their puppies with families based on lifestyle and activity levels. 

All the puppies also come with a guarantee policy. If new families find that their puppies have a genetic health issue or other health issues within two years, they can return the puppy and receive a full refund. This guarantee policy just doesn’t apply to any parasite-related issues.