Heart and Soul Dog Breeding, Inc.

Karen G.

Certified Breeder of Golden Retrievers

  • Gainesville, FL
  • Responds within a day

Available puppies

Quasar (brown)

Ready now

10 weeks old · Male

Upcoming litters

Fluffy
Willow

Planned Golden Retriever litter

Due Nov. 2025

Ready Jan. 2026
Troy
Olympe

Planned Golden Retriever litter

Due Nov. 2025

Ready Jan. 2026

Meet the breeder

I'm the breeder behind Heart and Soul Dog Breeding, Inc. located in Gainesville, FL. Embark genetic testing, OFA- heart, eyes, elbows, dentition, thyroid (females only), and hips (OFA). Confirmation championship through IABCA. Puppy culture and Avid dog, ENS, ESI, extensive socialization and environmental exposure using principles of 7s. Clicker charging, crate & potty training.

Q. & A. with Karen

  • Why did you start breeding?

    I bred English Mastiffs 24 years ago initially. I did rescue and foster dog training for over 20 years. I started therapy and service dog training just over 7 years ago. I have been Hope Service Dogs Inc.'s whelping nurse, medical director and trainer for over two years, where I delivered and raised their first five litters in the past two years.
  • What makes your program special?

    We will breed only fully health tested dogs that are clear in genetics, good to excellent health ratings, low inbreeding coefficient for the breed, and provide a complete enrichment training program up until the puppy is 10 weeks old, to give the owners the best possible companion, Therapy or service dog candidate possible.
  • What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

    Our puppies include dark golden, golden, and light golden. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
  • Where do your breeding dogs live?

    They live in my home.

Matched dogs

These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.

Getting a puppy from Karen

Karen has been certified by Good Dog’s screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you’re ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.

Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.

Price

Puppy prices include a $550 non-refundable deposit and between $1,195 - $6,950 final payment, before taxes & fees.
Pay over time with Klarna.

“limited registration is $3500 and full registration is $7500. The price of puppy will have an additional 6.5% fee added to price. Transportation and flight nanny is an additional charge ranging from $250-over $500 . Nonrefundable deposits with a limited registration contract, a spay/neuter agreement, and payments made through Good Dog only. A 6.5% fee will be added to the price.”

Contract & health guarantee

Karen may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Karen offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to Karen directly.

Always communicate and pay on Good Dog.Learn more

What’s included

    • From Good Dog
      • Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
      • 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
      • Puppy Training Program & private community
    • Enrichment & socialization
      • Various sounds
      • Car rides
      • Surface & tactile stimulation
      • Socialized with children
      • Socialized in new places
      • Scent introduction
      • Daily handling
      • Socialized with other dogs
      • Introduced to people of different ages and appearances
      • Socialized with other animals
    • Puppy health practices
      • Vet check
      • First round of shots and deworming
      • Vet records
      • Microchip
    • Extras
      • Basic obedience & manners
      • Toys
      • Puppy starter kit
      • Initial potty training
      • Food & treats
      • Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent
      • AKC registration

Location & pick-up

You can fly or drive to pick up your puppy from Karen.

  • Meet in Gainesville, FL

  • Meet in Sarasota, FL

  • Meet in Jacksonville Beach, FL

  • Meet in St. Augustine, FL

  • Meet in Tallahassee, FL

  • Meet in Tampa, FL

  • Meet in The Villages, FL

  • Meet in Cape Coral, FL

  • Meet in Vero Beach, FL

  • Meet in Valdosta, GA

  • Meet in Lakeland, FL

  • Meet in Lake City, FL

  • Meet in St. Petersburg, FL

  • Meet in Starke, FL

  • Meet in Jupiter, FL

  • Meet in Ormond Beach, FL

  • Meet in Orlando, FL

  • Meet in Jacksonville, FL

  • Meet at GNV airport

  • Meet at MCO airport

  • Meet at TPA airport

  • Meet at JAX airport

  • Flexible meeting point

    Karen can meet at a location that works for both of you


Puppy transport options

Karen offers options to safely drop-off your new puppy.

More about Karen

  • Club memberships

    Karen is a member of Golden Retriever Club of America, AKC, and IABCA.

  • Certifications & recognitions

    Royal Canin Crown Breeder, Certificate in Managing Genetics for the Future (Institute of Canine Biology), DNA for Dog Breeders (Institute of Canine Biology), American Kennel Club Canine College, Professional Handler, CHIC Certified, Associate Dog Trainer, AKC Breeder of Merit, Fitness and Nutrition Diploma (e-Training for Dogs), Canine Behavioral Consultant Certificate (e-Training for Dogs), Avidog Transformational Puppy Rearing, Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Whelping and Medical Intervention Course Completed (AKC), AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Canine Nutritionist, Puppy Culture Breeder, Avidog Associate.

  • Karen has been a member of Good Dog for about 4 years

    Karen was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2021.

Karen is a trusted Good Dog breeder

Heart and Soul Dog Breeding, Inc. meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:

  • Responsible breeding practices
  • Health of breeding dogs and puppies
  • Puppy environment and enrichment
  • Buyer education and policies

Litter and program updates

Parent dogs

Parent health testing

Breeder-Reported Testing

Great level

Heart and Soul Dog Breeding, Inc. reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Golden Retrievers.

  • Hip Dysplasia , Hip Dysplasia (Preliminary)

    Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.

  • Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI), Elbow Dysplasia (Preliminary)

    Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.

  • Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)

    Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.

  • Cardiac Evaluation , Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)

    Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.

  • Temperament Test, Dentition, Brucellosis, Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

    A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.

  • Full Embark Panel, DNA Profile, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5), Golden Retriever Type, Ichthyosis, Golden Retriever Type 1, Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A), PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd), PRA, Golden Retriever 2, PRA, Golden Retriever 1

    Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).

Verified owner stories

Hear what other owners say about working with Karen to bring home their puppies.

  • Daniel N.

    Verified owner · Sept. 2025

    Karen was a fantastic breeder to work with and we are so thankful that we chose her for our first Golden Retriever. Having been a Bernese Mountain Dog family for over 20 years, we were in need of a patient, knowledgeable and caring breeder who would knowledgeably match us with the perfect puppy for our wants and needs. Karen is definitely that breeder. From her consistent and almost immediate communication to the care she took in flying Lola directly to us (she flew on the plane and had Lola as a carry-on), it was an amazing experience all around and we couldn’t be happier with our puppy.

    Donna S.

    Verified owner · Jan. 2025

    Karen was wonderful to work with and it’s so obvious how much she loved Winnie and how much Winnie loved her. It’s been about 2 weeks and we are absolutely in love with Winnie. She is so loving and affectionate and has quickly become part of our family. We can’t imagine life without her. Thank you Karen for raising such a wonderful girl !

    zachary s.

    Verified owner · Dec. 2024

    We adopted Peaches about two months ago from Heart and Soul Dog Breeding, and WOW have our lives been changed for the better. Peaches is a perfect, healthy, happy, beautiful little girl who is well behaved and has a loving temperament. She loves people and other animals and always wants to be by our side. Karen from Heart and Soul was one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met on the breed. She not only gave us a starter kit for Peaches with food and toys, but she also gave us detailed instructions on how to care and train our dog. The best part of all of it was Peaches was already crate trained and well on her way to being potty trained when we brought her home. 10/10 would recommend adopting from Heart and Soul!

  • Eric M.

    Verified owner · June 2025

    Karen took extra time to help us understand how to best care for our little guy when we got home. He’s such a joy to us! Smart, snuggly, curious, and loves his new brother and sister and even our cat! I highly recommend Karen.

    Sophia I.

    Verified owner · Dec. 2024

    We had a great experience getting our Golden puppy from Karen. She offered to FaceTime to see the puppies since we were far away. When we visited, she let us take our time playing with all the puppies and answered all of our questions. She was very knowledgeable about the breed and offered great advice for raising our boy. I recommend her to everyone!

    CL

    Chris L.

    Verified owner · Dec. 2024

    Karen was excellent to work with. From our interview she was very informative and anytime we had questions prior to pick up was very responsive. On the day of pick up spent time explaining what to feed the pup. She even gave my daughter a training book along with a goodie bag of treats for the pup.

Photos

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

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