Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Tennessee (2026)

Finding the right golden retriever breeder in Tennessee is not hard, but most online lists make it easy to get it wrong. They give you names and phone numbers without telling you whether the breeder actually completed health testing on the parent dogs. That one check, which takes 30 seconds on ofa.org, separates a responsible program from a gamble on your future dog’s health.

We researched 13 golden retriever breeders in Tennessee using our 12-criterion evaluation framework: claimed health certifications, Google and Good Dog ratings, community forums, regional breed-club referrals, and what we could verify independently. Breeders based outside Tennessee are listed in their home-state directories. See our Kentucky golden retriever breeders guide for KY-based programs.

How Do We Evaluate Golden Retriever Breeders in Tennessee?

Every breeder on this list was scored against our 12-criterion framework: 7 Hard Requirements (all must pass for a recommended listing) plus 5 Quality Indicators that determine the star rating. Full methodology in our reputable golden retriever breeder guide.

For this Tennessee research, we checked each breeder against:

• OFA.org for hip, elbow, eye, and cardiac certifications on both parent dogs
• GRCA member directory at grca.org for active breed club membership
• AKC Marketplace for Breeder of Merit status
• Good Dog for verified buyer reviews and health documentation
• Google Maps for local review scores and review volume
• Golden Retriever Forum threads for community reputation signals
• Sandlapper Golden Retriever Club (the regional GRCA affiliate covering TN) for vetted referrals

Research took place in April 2026. Health testing statuses, GRCA memberships, and litter availability change regularly; always verify directly with each breeder and at ofa.org before purchasing.

We use this verification key throughout the article:

A note on ✅ vs 📋: A 📋 Self-reported rating means we found the claim but could not confirm the specific OFA record. Before you pay a deposit, look up the parent dogs yourself at ofa.org. Any reputable breeder will give you the registered names to search.

Which Golden Retriever Breeders in Tennessee Meet Our Standards?

Thirteen breeders made this list, organized by Tennessee’s five major metro regions: Nashville Middle, Memphis West, Knoxville East, Chattanooga, and the Tri-Cities. The top three get full reviews with complete criteria tables. Breeders four through eight get abbreviated profiles with criteria tables. Breeders nine through thirteen are listed as options worth researching, with specific verification steps noted.

1. Falkinburg Goldens, Clarksville, TN (Nashville Middle)

📍 Clarksville, TN | 🌐 falkinburggoldens.com | 📞 (931) 237-0800
💰 Contact for pricing | ⏳ Waitlist required | 📅 Multi-generational program | Breeder: Lori Falkinburg

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)

Lori Falkinburg runs Falkinburg Goldens from a small family kennel in Clarksville, about 40 miles north of Nashville. The program stands out from almost every other Tennessee breeder we reviewed for one reason: published OFA application numbers. The site lists at least five OFA appnums alongside k9data pedigree links, which means you can click through and see the actual hip and elbow records on each breeding female before you ever pick up the phone. That level of public transparency is rare even at the GRCA-member level.

The kennel is a Pet Partners-affiliated therapy team (Tender Paws of Clarksville), with Anna Grace earning her Intermediate Rally Title in November 2025. Lori is dual-credentialed: GRCA member and Sandlapper GRC referral list member. SGRC requires referral-list members to provide proof of OFA hips, elbows, hearts, and eyes on both sire and dam, so Lori’s appearance on the SGRC page is itself an independent verification.

The 2025 AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. banner is current. Where the records get thinner is on DNA panels (GR-NCL, prcd-PRA, Ichthyosis): these are not publicly published. Ask Lori for lab reports on both parents before signing anything. The current waitlist is forming with a litter expected in early June.

2. Cobblestone Goldens, Eads, TN (Memphis West)

📍 Eads, TN (Memphis area) | 🌐 cobblestonegoldens.com | 📞 (901) 854-0565
📧 [email protected] | ⏳ Waitlist required | Breeder: Lynne Shoesmith-Briggs

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)

Cobblestone Goldens is the rare TN program where every single hard requirement reads ✅. Lynne Shoesmith-Briggs holds a registered GRCA kennel prefix (on the 2021 master list) and runs a Good Dog-certified profile that documents the full health panel: OFA hips and elbows (preliminary), OFA-registered CAER eyes, OFA cardiac, plus DNA testing for PRA1, PRA2, and Ichthyosis. That is the four-clearance plus DNA standard the GRCA Code of Ethics asks for, openly published on a third-party platform.

The breeding line carries CH Cobblestone’s Mile High Club “Branson” and CH Cobblestone’s Love Is In The Air. One Tennessee buyer on Golden Retriever Forum wrote that Lynne is “good about clearances, shows her dogs, and is described as a lovely person,” and that “sketchy clearances won’t be found in her program.” The kennel website is intentionally minimal, which means most of the verification work happens on Good Dog and OFA, not on the breeder’s homepage.

Cobblestone is the cleanest single example we found in Tennessee of a preservation breeder who quietly does everything right without paid marketing. They are an SEO-ghost candidate (almost no presence on standard breeder-aggregator searches) which is exactly the profile of a kennel where waitlists move by word-of-mouth.

3. Passion For Gold, Clarksville, TN (Nashville Middle)

📍 Clarksville, TN | 🌐 passionforgold.com
⏳ Waitlist required | Breeder: Heike Stroup | 📅 Multi-decade program

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Passion For Gold is the only Tennessee golden retriever breeder we found that publicly claims AKC Breeder of Merit status. Heike Stroup’s program in Clarksville competes successfully across three AKC sport venues (Conformation, Obedience, and Field), which is the breadth of versatility the breed standard was originally written for. The kennel is small by design (around five adult goldens, all in the family home as companions), and puppies are raised inside with documented socialization.

Forum members in the Tennessee thread frequently mention Heike alongside Lori Falkinburg as the two reliable Clarksville-area programs. The OFA clearances are claimed on-site rather than published as appnums, so when you contact Heike, ask for the registered AKC names of both parents and look them up at ofa.org. Companion and show puppies are produced several times per year. Stud service is available for outside breeders.

One verification step before depositing: the AKC Breeder of Merit registry is searchable. Confirm Heike’s BoM tier (Standard, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) at apps.akc.org/apps/breederofmerit/ before relying on the on-site claim.

More Highly Regarded Golden Retriever Breeders in Tennessee

4. Meirzah Goldens, Knoxville, TN (Knoxville East)

📍 Knoxville area, TN | 🌐 meirzahgoldenretrievers.com
📧 [email protected] | Owners: Stormy & Scott Washington | 📅 Preservation breeder

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)

Meirzah Goldens is the most network-credentialed Tennessee program we identified. Stormy and Scott Washington are members of four breed and kennel clubs simultaneously (GRCA, Sandlapper GRC, Tarheel GRC, Atlanta GRC, plus Oak Ridge Kennel Club), which is unusual and signals genuine investment in the show and breeding community across the entire Southeast. The site explicitly commits to the GRCA Code of Ethics and has a dedicated OFA & Genetic Testing page documenting clearances on each breeding female.

Notably, the program waits until 24 months for OFA finals before breeding any female, with Aria’s first breeding date specifically noted as on or after January 24, 2027 (her 24-month birthday). This kind of explicit calendar-publishing about age thresholds is the opposite of how puppy mills operate; it’s the discipline you want.

Adara had a litter of 12 puppies born January 3, 2026, all already placed. The next planned breedings will involve daughters from the Adara and Nava lines being raised and shown. Ask Stormy for the OFA cert numbers on the planned sire and dam and verify each at ofa.org.

5. Ethos Golden Retrievers, Chattanooga, TN (Chattanooga)

📍 Chattanooga, TN | 🌐 ethosgoldens.com
Owners: Ginny & Aaron Kincer | 📅 25+ years with purebred dogs

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Ethos Golden Retrievers fills the Chattanooga gap on this list. Ginny and Aaron Kincer have 25+ years of collective experience with purebred dogs and run a small program in southeast Tennessee close to the Georgia border. The site explicitly states GRCA membership and Code of Ethics adherence, and the family is active across three AKC venues: conformation, rally, and field trials.

The website does not publish specific OFA cert numbers, so when you contact Ginny, ask for the registered AKC names of the planned sire and dam and verify at ofa.org. The Code of Ethics commitment combined with active GRCA volunteer involvement gives reasonable confidence that clearances are in place; the verification step still belongs to you, not the breeder.

6. Nolichucky Goldens, Chuckey, TN (Tri-Cities NE)

📍 1210 Horse Creek Park Rd, Chuckey, TN 37641 | 📞 (423) 426-4484
📸 Facebook page | 📅 GRCA member program

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Nolichucky Goldens covers the Tri-Cities region (Johnson City, Bristol, Kingsport) from a small program in Chuckey, about 30 minutes southeast of Johnson City. The program specializes in both English and American style golden retrievers and combines GRCA membership with a published health-testing commitment that explicitly covers all four core OFA panels (hips, elbows, eyes, heart). Puppies are raised inside the home with daily socialization from birth.

The web presence is light; most of the recent activity lives on the Nolichucky Goldens Facebook page. This is typical for a hobby breeder in Northeast Tennessee where word-of-mouth among hunting and field-trial communities still drives most placements. Ask for the OFA registered names on both parents and verify at ofa.org before depositing.

7. Powderhorn Goldens, Hohenwald, TN (Nashville Middle)

📍 Hohenwald, TN | 📞 (423) 948-0193 | 📧 [email protected]
Breeder: Cindy Price | SGRC referral list member

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Powderhorn Goldens is on the Sandlapper GRC referral list, which means SGRC has independently verified that Cindy Price provides proof of OFA hips, elbows, heart, and eyes on both sire and dam. That regional-affiliate verification is the cleanest documentation we have for the Hohenwald-area program; the breeder’s standalone website was not reachable during research, so all verification flows through the SGRC referral page and direct contact.

Hohenwald is in Lewis County, about 90 minutes southwest of Nashville and 90 minutes east of Memphis, which makes Powderhorn a useful Middle-TN option for buyers who want to stay outside the major metros.

8. Starfire Goldens, Hendersonville, TN (Nashville Middle)

📍 Hendersonville, TN (~30 min NE Nashville) | Owners: Maria & Paul Franklin
📅 Conformation breeder; on Golden Retriever Forum’s USA Ethical Breeder List

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Starfire Goldens combines a strong conformation track record (Reserve Winners Bitch at the GRCA National, a recent Best In Show win on a young bitch under two) with a community-vetted reputation on the Golden Retriever Forum’s USA Ethical Breeder List. Maria Franklin paused active showing for a back injury but continues to breed under the Code of Ethics. Best for: North-of-Nashville buyers (Hendersonville, Gallatin, Goodlettsville) who want a show-line program with national-level credentials.

More Tennessee Golden Retriever Breeders Worth Researching

9. Origins Goldens, Strawberry Plains, TN (Knoxville East)

📍 Smoky Row Rd, Strawberry Plains, TN 37871 | 🌐 originsgoldens.com
📞 865-850-7130 | 📧 [email protected]

Origins is a small AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. (Gold tier) program in Strawberry Plains, just east of Knoxville. The Hendricks family deliberately rejects English Cream and Goldendoodle crossbreeding and breeds for the traditional moderate-coated Golden suitable for field work. Important timing note: the planned spring 2026 litter is the program’s last for at least two years while a new prospective breeding female completes health testing. Don’t expect availability before late 2028 unless the program reverses course.

10. RedHill Goldens, Knoxville, TN (Knoxville East)

📍 Knoxville, TN | Breeder: Paula Petelle | Forum-vetted ethical breeder

Paula Petelle’s RedHill program in Knoxville is a community-vetted hobby breeder. Multiple Golden Retriever Forum threads recommend Paula not just for her own litters but as a referral source for ethical East TN breeders. She follows the GRCA Code of Ethics. There is no standalone website or social media presence we could verify; contact is by recommendation only. Ask for OFA registered names and look them up at ofa.org. Best for: Knoxville buyers who want a low-volume, recommendation-driven program and are comfortable working without a polished web presence.

11. Mountain Laurel Goldens, Dunlap, TN (Chattanooga)

📍 Dunlap, TN 37327 | 🌐 mountainlauralgoldens.com | 📞 (423) 779-8682
📅 Est. 2016 | 24-acre farm | European bloodlines

Elizabeth Leigh Easterly’s Mountain Laurel Goldens specializes in European Goldens with bloodlines imported from Hungary, Netherlands, Finland, and Russia. Genetic testing is documented for PRA1, PRA2, prcd-PRA, Ichthyosis, MD, and DM. OFA hip/elbow/eye/cardiac testing is implied by the broader health-testing language but is not explicitly published per panel. Dunlap is between Chattanooga and Nashville on the Cumberland Plateau. Ask Elizabeth for OFA records on the planned sire and dam before deposit. Best for: Buyers in southeast TN who specifically want European-style goldens.

12. Summerland Goldens, Southern Middle TN (Nashville Middle)

🌐 summerlandgoldens.com | English-style breeder | Good Dog certified

Summerland Goldens publishes a CHIC-certified program in southern Middle Tennessee. CHIC certification means OFA-registered hips, elbows, eyes, and cardiac, plus DNA panels, all on file with the Canine Health Information Center. Champion bloodlines, English style. Ask for the CHIC number on each breeding dog and look it up at ofa.org/chic-programs. Best for: Middle TN buyers who want documented CHIC certification and an English-style Golden.

13. Radiant Goldens, Middle TN south of Nashville

🌐 radiantgoldens.com | English Cream specialty | Middle TN

Radiant Goldens raises AKC-registered, OFA, PennHIP, and DNA-tested European-bloodline Goldens about an hour south of Nashville. The combination of OFA and PennHIP is unusual; PennHIP is a separate hip-evaluation method useful as a complement to OFA, not a substitute. Ask for both sets of records. Best for: Middle TN buyers seeking English Cream goldens with documented dual-method hip evaluation.

Honorable Mentions: Community-Vetted Tennessee Names

These programs surface in Golden Retriever Forum threads and the Sandlapper GRC referral list. We list them here as starting points for your own verification rather than full reviews.

• Gemstar Golden Retrievers (TN). SERP-active program; verify GRCA membership and OFA records before contact.
• Carlins Goldens (TN, Good Dog listed). Good Dog community-standards screening passes; full health-testing details on Good Dog profile.
• Grace Golden Retrievers (TN, Good Dog listed). Same protocol as Carlins; verify on Good Dog directly.
• Regal Retrievers (TN, Good Dog listed). Good Dog certified.
• HS Goldens (TN, Good Dog listed). Good Dog certified.
• TriStar Goldens (TN, Good Dog listed). Good Dog certified.

We exclude breeders listed only on puppy aggregator sites (Lancaster Puppies, Greenfield Puppies, Puppyhero) because they typically do not provide OFA certification numbers and platform screening standards are lower than what we require. We also exclude social-media pages advertising “puppies always available,” a red flag consistent with overbreeding (one Nashville-area program with this pattern was specifically called out on Golden Retriever Forum for “rarely will you find clearances” and breeding multiple unrelated breeds).

Where to Find More Verified TN Breeders?

If our 13 picks don’t fit your timeline or location, the regional GRCA-affiliated club covering Tennessee maintains its own breeder referral program. Affiliate clubs require members to provide proof of OFA hip + elbow + heart + eye clearances on both sire and dam, which means anyone surfaced through this channel is by definition highly credentialed.

• Sandlapper Golden Retriever Club (SGRC). Established 1990; covers FL, GA, NC, SC, and TN as the regional GRCA affiliate. Online breeder list at sgrc.org/sgrc-breeders/; referral chair Linda Love at [email protected]. Last list update: November 2025. Three confirmed TN members at time of research: Falkinburg Goldens (Clarksville), Powderhorn Goldens (Hohenwald), and Meirzah Goldens (Knoxville).

For statewide rescue, Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (TVGRR) in Knoxville has been placing rescued Goldens since 1997 across East Tennessee, North Alabama, and parts of Southeast Kentucky. Rescue is the responsible alternative to buying when waitlists run long.

You can also cross-check anyone SGRC recommends against the AKC Breeder of Merit registry and the GRCA national directory at grca.org/find-a-golden/.

A note on the regional affiliate landscape: Tennessee does not have its own state-resident GRCA-affiliated breed club. Some online directories mistakenly list a “Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Club” as a breeder source; the actual organization with that name (TVGRR) is a rescue, not a breed club. SGRC is the canonical regional GRCA affiliate covering Tennessee.

What Do Golden Retriever Puppies Cost in Tennessee?

Reputable golden retriever breeders in Tennessee typically charge $2,000 to $3,500 per puppy. Breeders with AKC Champion lines, GRCA membership, and full health testing sit at the higher end. English-style imports and European-bloodline programs often price slightly above mainstream American-line breeders.

“Golden retriever puppies nationally average $1,500 to $3,000 from quality breeders; Southeastern pricing trends near the national median.” (Good Dog, 2025 pricing data)

If you see a price below $1,500, treat it as a red flag. Full OFA testing, ACVO eye exams, cardiologist evaluations, and DNA testing represent real costs that responsible breeders pass on to buyers.

Waitlists of 6 to 18 months are standard. The top programs produce one to two litters per year and have more applicants than puppies. Apply to multiple breeders if you want a dog within a year. Deposit expectations: Most breeders require a non-refundable $200 to $500 deposit. Ask about their deposit refund policy before paying.

Alternative to buying: Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (TVGRR) is the primary golden retriever rescue organization for East Tennessee. For everything else you need to know about this breed before bringing one home, see our complete golden retriever breed guide.

How Do You Verify a Tennessee Golden Retriever Breeder Before Buying?

The OFA database is publicly searchable and free. Five steps before paying a deposit:

1. Ask for the registered AKC name of the sire and dam (the name on registration papers, not the call name).
2. Go to ofa.org and open Advanced Search. Select breed: Golden Retriever.
3. Search each parent. Look for OFA Hip, Elbow, Eye (CAER/ACVO), and Cardiac results.
4. Check the eye exam date. ACVO certifications expire annually; most recent exam should be within 12 months.
5. Check the cardiac examiner. The OFA cardiac entry should show the exam was done by a board-certified ACVIM cardiologist.

If a breeder refuses to give you registered names, or the names return no results, walk away.

Also check the GRCA member directory and the AKC Breeder of Merit registry.

What Questions Should You Ask a Tennessee Golden Retriever Breeder?

The right questions separate responsible breeders from those not prepared for scrutiny:

1. Can I have the registered AKC names for both parents to look them up on OFA.org?
2. When was the dam’s most recent ACVO eye exam? Is it within 12 months?
3. Was the heart exam performed by a board-certified ACVIM cardiologist?
4. Have both parents been DNA-tested for GR-NCL?
5. Can I visit your facility and meet the dam before the litter is born?
6. Do you have a written contract I can read before committing?
7. What is your take-back policy if I can no longer keep the dog?
8. How many litters do you produce per year?
9. Are you a GRCA member or on the Sandlapper GRC referral list?
10. Can you provide references from families who purchased in the last 12 months?

For the complete 15-question list with “good answer vs. red flag answer” for each, see our golden retriever breeder evaluation guide.

Looking Nearby?

TN buyers regularly extend their search across state lines when local waitlists run 12 to 18 months or when geography favors a neighboring state. These directories use the same OFA-first verification framework.

• Golden retriever breeders in Kentucky: Lexington and Louisville are 3 to 4 hours from Nashville; Bowling Green is 1 hour.
• Golden retriever breeders in North Carolina: Asheville is 90 minutes from Knoxville; useful for East TN buyers.
• Golden retriever breeders in Georgia: North Atlanta is 2 hours from Chattanooga.
• Golden retriever breeders in Louisiana: For Memphis-area buyers willing to drive 5 to 6 hours south.
• Golden retriever breeders in Virginia: Bristol is on the TN/VA border; useful for Tri-Cities buyers.

If a top-pick TN breeder is closed to new buyers, contacting two or three breeders in these neighboring states is usually faster than waiting another year locally.

Frequently Asked Questions About Golden Retriever Breeders in Tennessee

How much does a golden retriever puppy cost in Tennessee?
Reputable TN breeders typically charge $2,000 to $3,500 per puppy. AKC Champion lines, GRCA membership, and full OFA testing sit at the higher end. Prices below $1,500 are a red flag.

Are there any AKC Breeders of Merit in Tennessee for golden retrievers?
Passion For Gold (Heike Stroup, Clarksville) publicly claims AKC Breeder of Merit status. Verify the current tier directly at apps.akc.org/apps/breederofmerit/ before relying on the claim.

Is there a Tennessee Golden Retriever Club affiliated with GRCA?
No. Tennessee does not have its own state-resident GRCA-affiliated breed club. The regional affiliate covering Tennessee is the Sandlapper Golden Retriever Club (SGRC), which also covers FL, GA, NC, and SC. Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (TVGRR) is a separate rescue organization, not a breed club.

How long is the waitlist for a golden retriever puppy in Tennessee?
Expect 6 to 18 months with the top reputable TN breeders. Programs producing 1 to 2 litters per year have more interested families than available puppies. Falkinburg’s current Liberty litter is expected in early June 2026.

What health tests should a Tennessee golden retriever breeder complete?
At minimum: OFA hip evaluation (both parents, ≥24 months), OFA elbow, ACVO eye certification (annual), and ACVIM cardiologist heart exam. Responsible breeders also test for GR-NCL, prcd-PRA, Ichthyosis, and CMS via DNA panels.

Which Tennessee breeder publishes the most OFA records publicly?
Falkinburg Goldens in Clarksville publishes at least five OFA application numbers directly on the website with k9data pedigree links, which is unusual transparency for the breed in this region.

How do I find a golden retriever rescue in Tennessee?
Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (TVGRR) in Knoxville has placed rescue goldens across East TN, North AL, and Southeast KY since 1997.