English Golden Retriever Breeder dedicated to raising healthy
Mollie had her second litter of beautiful puppies on 11/12/25.
We still have puppies available.
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About Us
Experienced Breeders
Welcome to River Birch Goldens
Located in Big Lake, Minnesota, River Birch Goldens is a small, family-run breeder specializing in English Golden Retrievers. We are committed to raising healthy, well-balanced dogs with calm, affectionate temperaments—ideal for families, companions, and therapy work.
Our dogs are well-socialized and have completed extensive obedience training. All four have earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification, reflecting their excellent manners and trainability.
As lifelong dog lovers with a special passion for Golden Retrievers, our dream of breeding began in 2015. Since then, it has been an incredibly rewarding journey filled with joy, purpose, and lasting connections.
We remain dedicated to every puppy we raise. Our relationship with families continues well beyond adoption—we love staying in touch and receiving updates as the puppies grow and thrive.
We also offer puppy-sitting services exclusively for our extended puppy family. Whether you're traveling or have plans that don’t allow your furry friend to join, we’re happy to provide care in a familiar, loving environment.
Happy, Healthy Bloodline
Our girls—River, Mollie, and Beverly—receive comprehensive health evaluations to ensure their well-being. These include:
- Hips: OFA certification at two years of age
- Elbows: OFA certification at two years of age
- Eyes: Annual examinations and certification by a board-certified ophthalmologist
- Heart: Evaluation and certification by a board-certified cardiologist after one year of age
- Genetics: DNA testing
Our Breeding Philosophy:
At River Birch Goldens, we are dedicated to breeding dogs with the temperament, health, and intelligence ideal for therapy work. Our program emphasizes calm, gentle dispositions, strong human connection, and emotional resilience—traits essential for successful therapy dogs.
Through thoughtful socialization and rigorous health screening, we aim to produce companions who bring comfort, support, and joy to those they serve.
We’re especially proud of our dogs’ contributions to therapy work. River is a certified therapy dog through Pet Partners and currently works in an elementary school, supporting students’ mental health through her partnership with You're Not Alone. Meg is a retired therapy dog who served through Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Many of our past puppies have followed in their footsteps, becoming certified therapy dogs and making a meaningful impact in schools, hospitals, and care facilities.
We believe in nurturing dogs that not only bring joy to their families but also have the potential to bring healing to others.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The English golden are known for being shorter, stockier and lighter in color than American goldens. English goldens typically have blockier heads with ears that sit a little lower than American goldens. English goldens are generally more calm, healthier and have less of a chance of developing cancer.
Both Kona and Meg and the studs we use have had regular, complete check-ups for their health including: Hips (OFA certified at age two), Elbows (OFA certified at age two), Eyes (certified by an ophthalmologist annually), Heart (certified by a cardiologist annually), Genetics (DNA testing after birth). Our puppies are free from health issues and are true to the English Golden Retriever temperament.
Adding an English Golden Retriever to your family is a very big decision. It is important that you develop a relationship with your breeder. River Birch Goldens encourages you to come and meet our family and most importantly our dogs. We instill lots of love and time into every litter. It is very common that I will cry when you take your forever baby home. We encourage communication and follow-up and are available for any questions or concerns that may arise. We love getting pictures and seeing how your new puppy is growing.
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Family is everything!
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Reserve Your New Friend!
Our babies are adopted quickly, so reach out to reserve your furever friend or to ask any questions.
River Birch Golden's
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 09:00 pm |
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Better yet, see us in person!
We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.
River Birch Golden's
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
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