6 Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Virginia

If you are considering adding a furry friend to your family that will remain loyal and is great with young children, there is no need to look any further as a Golden Retriever is the perfect fit. Not only are Golden Retrievers the perfect family dog, but they also contain traits of loyalty, adoration, and love to please their humans.

While they require activities to help mental stimulation, they can make an excellent indoor or outdoor dog in your country or suburban Virginia home. Their willingness to please their master and learn new tricks makes them excellent companions.

If you have decided to add a Golden Retriever to your family, it is time to begin researching what characteristics make up the breed and where you can find Golden Retriever breeders in Virginia that instill these traits and characteristics into their puppies.

Breeding Standards

Golden Retrievers are an average-sized breed that varies depending on the gender of the dog. According to American Kennel Club, the average height, weight, and life expectancy are as follows:

Male

• Height – 23-24 inches
• Weight – 65-75 pounds
• Life Expectancy – 10-12 years

Female

• Height – 21.5-22.5 inches
• Weight – 55-65 pounds
• Life Expectancy – 10-12 years

Golden Retrievers are known for their high levels of affection, and their happy-go-lucky personality is a highly sought-after trait in a four-legged friend. Family life, physical, social, and personality traits include:

Family Life

• Highly affectionate with family
• Very good with young children
• Great with other dogs

Physical

• High shedding level
• Monthly grooming
• Moderate drooling level

Social

• Very open to strangers
• Need constant playtime
• Moderately protective
• Adaptive

Personality

• Highly trainable
• Moderate energy levels
• Only bark on alert
• Needs regular, brain-stimulating activities

Overall, Golden Retrievers are bred to be affectionate with family members of all ages and are an excellent breed to have around other dogs, as they see very little threat around other dogs. Their shedding levels are high, so frequent grooming is essential to ensure their coats don’t become matted down.

Golden Retrievers have low drooling levels, so you don’t have to worry about a slobbery mess when you get done playing with your golden. They have high playfulness levels and are open to strangers while maintaining a moderate protective instinct.

Adaptability and training levels are very high in the Golden Retriever breed, which is what makes them eager to please. Because they are so eager to please, they refrain from barking and only bark to alert their humans. With high mental stimulation needs, Golden Retrievers love to learn and need activities to keep them entertained.

Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Virginia

Are you looking for golden retriever puppies for sale in Virginia? While breeders are common throughout the United States, it can be tough to determine which breeders in your state aspire to breed Golden Retrievers to meet the breeding standards. Below is a list of the 6 best Golden Retriever breeders in Virginia:

1. Break Of Dawn Farm & Kennels

Break of Dawn Farm & Kennels is based in Henrico, Virginia, and specializes in the breeding of Labrador and Golden Retrievers. To ensure only healthy and happy puppies are sold, they require their breeders to receive clearance on four health requirements including elbows, hips, eyes, and EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse).

The health requirements ensure that the puppies produced are healthy, structurally balanced, smart, and easy to train. This also ensures that they are great with families and young children. Although the general public has access to the puppies at Break of Dawn Farm & Kennels, they are service-dog based.

Both male and female puppies are sold at the same rate, no matter the color of the pup.

2. Shadymist Kennel, LLC

Established in 2009 in Richmond, VA, Shadymist Kennel produces the highly sought-after English Cream Golden Retrievers. With a mission statement that informs them that they strive to sell puppies that have the potential for a long healthy life, you can rest assured that Shadymist Kennel understands the requirements necessary to accomplish this mission.

By striving to raise puppies with long lifespans, Shadymist Kennel set themselves up to produce puppies with a healthy makeup and the affectionate temperament and disposition that Golden’s are widely known for.

In addition to strong, healthy pups, Shadymist Kennel places a heavy emphasis on connecting the right puppy with the right family to ensure a positive and successful relationship that will ultimately enrich the life of the pup and its new owner.

3. Liberty Run Golden Retrievers

Great companionship is the name of the game at Liberty Run Golden Retrievers. With over 24 years of experience, the knowledge on what a Golden Retriever should possess in characteristics, personality, and companionship is widely known.

Although they are outside the Northern Virginia border in Sykesville, MD, Liberty Run Golden Retrievers is a Golden Retriever breeder known to Virginians. With a mission to produce calm, intelligent, and healthy Golden Retrievers,  they understand that companionship and service are the puppy’s most sought-after characteristics.

One way Liberty Run Golden Retrievers accomplishes this goal is by puppy socialization. Puppy socialization begins on day one of the puppies’ lives as children and other individuals play with the puppies and get the puppies used to being around people. This is what they refer to as their “secret weapon.”

4. Riverbluff Retrievers 

Native to Radford, Virginia, Riverbluff Retrievers is home to all varying types of retrievers. With training specialized for personal pets, hunting retrievers, and service dogs, they place a heavy focus on proper training to ensure your puppy selection fits your retriever needs.

Previous and current customers of Riverbluff Retrievers boast about the well-mannered puppy they took home and how they fit perfectly with the family. Not only do Riverbluff Retrievers breed top-notch retrievers, but they also provide new pet owners with tips on crate training, feeding, and other helpful puppy hints and tips.

5. Hidden Mysteries Farm

Intending to provide puppies with the “best puppy ever”, Hidden Mysteries Farm is one of the best Golden Retriever puppy breeders in Virginia. Located in the town of White Post, this breeder strives to carefully plan the breeding process to ensure they only produce smart, healthy, and beautiful furry friends.

Hidden Mysteries Farm specializes in Bernedoodles, Goldendoodles, Golden Mountain Dogs, Golden Labs, and Golden Retrievers. Their Golden Retriever line of puppies  English Cream, and you can set up an appointment to view them in person once they reach six weeks of age or older.

Hidden Mysteries Farm AKC Golden Retrievers come from a champion lineage bloodline, and the puppies’ parents must pass health testing where hips, elbows, heart, and eyes are tested. This ensures the puppies are of the best health to accompany their enthusiastic and devoted personalities. All of the puppies from Hidden Mysteries Farm come with a written full-year health guarantee.

6. Colebrook Golden Retrievers

Based out of Broadway, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, Colebrook Golden Retrievers is a family-owned breeder striving to ethically produce Golden Retrievers. Established in 1997, the company provides clients with versatile pups that are AKC registered.

These AKC registered puppies are of show quality with a breeding emphasis on health, temperament, conformation, and structural soundness. It is also vital to note that all Sires and Dams of this breeding facility are OFA certified and genetically appropriate for the breed.

The full commitment necessary to breed and raise Golden Retrievers is highly prominent in this facility and is a knowledge they strive to instill in all the new puppy owners. If you are looking for a show dog, hunting dog, or simply a new best friend, Colebrook Golden Retrievers ensures you will find the perfect fit for you and your family.