If you are looking for the best Golden Retriever breeders in Scotland, you’ve come to the right place. Golden Retrievers are friendly, personable, and have eager-to-please personalities. Out of the over 200 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Golden Retriever is ranked at three.
You will find dozens of Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Scotland and the UK, but not all are from reputable breeders. The importance of buying your puppy from a reputable breeder cannot be overemphasized, as your puppy’s health and overall well-being depend on it.
Do not get carried away by the cuteness of these puppies or the cheap prices of some puppies. Getting a health-tested and happy Golden Retriever puppy from a reputable breed will cost anywhere from £900 to £2,500.
We have listed some breeders in Scotland that we found reputable. However, we recommend you ask the breeders about the health tests carried out on the breeding dogs and verify on the OFA website for elbow/hip evaluation, ophthalmologist evaluation, cardiac exam, and Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis.
After extensive research and consultation, here are some of the best places to buy this breed in Scotland.
Before reading this list of Golden Retriever breeders in Scotland, check out: 4 Best Dog Breeders in Scotland! (2023) and 7 Best Labrador Rescues in Scotland! (2023).
1. Drumkilty Golden Retrievers
Drumkilty is a reputable Golden Retriever breeder owned and managed by Fiona and Alastair Clarkson. She got her first Golden in 1976 after falling in love with the breed in a Hamlyn book of dogs.
Fiona spent her holidays working in dog kennels, where she became completely obsessed with the breed. She started her breeding journey in 1978 when she bred her first litter. Fiona is a verified veterinary nurse, putting her in the perfect position to raise your puppies.
Health is one of her major focus areas when breeding. For genetic diversity, Fiona sources her stocks from various countries, including the US, Australia, and other parts of the UK. The entire family cares for and loves the dogs like their personal pets.
They always ensure they are healthy and comfortable. Fiona believes the best puppies come from healthy and happy parents, so she does everything possible to ensure the sires and dams are always happy.
All the breeding dogs are genetically sound and suitable for the process. The puppies are also health-tested and vet-checked to ensure they are free from genetic defects.
Your new puppy will come home with a health certificate showing its current health state. Their puppies also go home with a health guarantee to protect against congenital health issues.
You will also benefit from her years of experience when you go home with her puppy. She offers a lifetime of support and advice to all their clients, meaning you will get all the guidance and help you need when raising your puppy.
Drumkilty Golden Retrievers Details:
- Location: Woodfield House, ML12 6SQ, Scotland
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Drumkilty Golden Retrievers
2. Garline Golden Retrievers
Garline Golden Retrievers is a small kennel originally from the Highlands of Scotland, but they now reside in the Northumberland. This family-owned breeding program has five dogs they cherish.
They live with all their dogs in their home, giving them all the care, love, and attention they deserve. The family made a debut in the breeding business in 1986 after acquiring their first two Goldens.
Garline breeds only one litter per year, aiming to maintain excellent health and temperament. All their breeding dogs have current health tests (elbow, hips, eyes) before breeding. They are health-tested before they join the program and every year before breeding.
The health tests are expensive, but the breeder spares no expense to ensure you get the healthiest puppies possible. They live with their dogs on an 18-acre farm, providing them with more than enough room to play, exercise, explore, and learn. The dogs are part of the family.
All the puppies are bred and whelped in their home. They have a well-equipped nursery to ensure the safety and comfort of the moms and their babies. The nursery is cleaned daily and disinfected to prevent the puppies from developing any health issues.
Once they are old enough, the puppies roam and play freely in the house. They are also exposed to stairs, different surfaces, environments, sights, and sounds. Your puppy will already be used to everyday family life, including noises from TVs and other home appliances.
Their socialization training also extends to kids, adults, and other dogs. The family home rears the puppies, ensuring they have the best possible start in life. During pregnancy, the breeder gives the mother protein-rich diets to ensure she gives the babies everything they need before entering the world.
Their puppies are vet-checked, microchipped, and dewormed before going home.
Every new owner goes home with a Puppy Pack that includes the following:
- All the information you will need, including a feeding guide, training, and housebreaking tips
- Scented blanket
- Toys
- Health certificate
Your puppy will also come with a letter that you will give to your vet. This will tell your vet exactly what the puppy has been brought up on, including his kennel registration name and num, microchip number, vaccinations, and wormings.
Garline Golden Retrievers Details:
- Location: Northumberland, Scotland
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Garline Golden Retrievers
3. Nedlezah Golden Retrievers
If you are looking for well-bred, healthy, and happy Golden puppies for sale in Scotland, Nedlezah is one of the few breeders to trust. Anne McGeoch is the proud owner of this great establishment, and she has been involved with Goldens since the 1970s.
Her involvement with this breed started when her friend bought a Golden Retriever. In 1975, Anne got her first Golden puppy, “Blair,” from a kennel. Blair was a loyal and loving member of her family for 15 years. Since 1999, Anne has been breeding a litter per year, breeding as little as she can always care for.
There is a long queue for the puppies from Anne’s kennel because she pays attention to detail and follows due procedures when breeding. You might have to wait up to a year to get a puppy. However, the wait is worth it, as you will get nothing but the best, healthiest puppies from her.
Anne breeds purely for pleasure and aims to produce Golden Retrievers to the Breed Standard, emphasizing temperament, health, personality, and suitability to be the perfect family companion.
She lives in East Ayrshire on a small working farm with her dogs and puppies. She currently has eight Golden dogs, and they have free access to about eight acres of land. In addition to enjoying the comfort of her home, the dogs also swim in their ponds. Anne raises the puppies with her family; her kids help with the socialization of the puppies.
Nedlezah Golden Retrievers Details:
- Location: Easter Blacklaw, Old Glasgow Road, Stewarton, East Ayrshire KA3 5JU
- Phone Number: 015-6048-5119
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Nedlezah Golden Retrievers
4. Knockothie Golden Retrievers
Claire Gray, a knowledgeable breeder with many years of experience, owns and runs Knockothie Golden Retrievers with her husband, Stuart, and their lovely daughter, Emily. The family cares a lot about the dogs and would also do whatever it takes to keep them healthy, safe, and comfortable.
They reside in rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with their dogs and puppies. Their dogs are much-loved pets and are treated like family members. Knockothie shows their Golden friends at the championship and open level in the United Kingdom.
The family breeds occasionally and from breeding stocks with below-average hip scores. They also ensure the dogs have current clear eye certificates beforehand. Claire goes the extra mile to DNA and health tests her dogs for various health conditions associated with this breed.
Additionally, she ensures they are healthy and genetically sound. Knockothie Golden Retrievers is a member of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme, the Scottish Kennel Club, and the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland.
Being members of these organizations ensures they adhere to industry standards and meet all the requirements for breeding dogs in the country. All her puppies go home vet-checked, dewormed, and microchipped.
Knockothie Golden Retrievers Details:
- Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Knockothie Golden Retrievers
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Golden Retriever Club of Scotland has a rescue and rehoming program.
A Golden Retriever puppy in the UK can cost as much as £2,500 when buying from a reputable breeder. If you see a lower-cost option, make sure to ask questions so you don’t end up with health issues or other headaches down the road.
The life expectancy of a Golden Retriever is 10 to 12 years.
Conclusion for “Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Scotland”
There you have it. These are some of the best Golden Retriever breeders in Scotland. Bringing a new puppy home is a huge responsibility and also a lifetime commitment. As such, you want to ensure you are ready to own up to the responsibility of having this breed before contacting a breeder.
Ensure your home is puppy-proofed and you have prepared your entire family for the arrival of the new family member.
For guides similar to this list of Golden Retriever breeders in Scotland, check out:
- Best Golden Retriever Breeders in New York
- Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Florida
- Best Golden Retriever Rescues in Michigan
Learn more by watching “Golden Retriever: The Pros & Cons of Owning One” down below:
Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.