Virginia Goldens
- Salem, VA
Meet the breeder
I'm Nikki H., the breeder behind Virginia Goldens located in Salem, VA. I started Virginia Goldens after 20+ years of owning Goldens. It is my calling in life to make sure that everyone who wants a happy, healthy golden, can have one. We specifically breed service and therapy dogs, but they make amazing pets as well.
Q. & A. with Nikki
Why did you start breeding?
I have always been passionate about the well-being of animals. I wanted to put my passion to good use! It's been a joyful commitment, and it is a pleasure to live with, work with, and share with others these wonderful dogs.What makes your program special?
One puppy from each litter is donated as a service dog, and as a result we start biosensor training at 2 days old and Volhard testing at 6 weeks. This helps us determine which puppies will be right for service, but also gives us insight into which puppy will be right for which home.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.
Blue Boy
Went homeMale
Yellow Girl
Went homeFemale
Pink Girl
Went homeFemale
Orange Boy
Went homeMale
Boy 1
Went homeMale
Green Boy
Went homeMale
White Girl
Went homeFemale
Purple Girl
Went homeFemale
Boy 1
Went homeMale
Green Boy
Went homeMale
Gray Boy
Went homeMale
Black Boy
Went homeMale
White Girl
Went homeFemale
Boy 7
Went homeMale
Pink Girl
Went homeFemale
Blue Boy
Went homeMale
Yellow Girl
Went homeFemale
Red Boy
Went homeMale
Orange Boy
Went homeMale
Purple Girl
Went homeFemale
Getting a puppy from Nikki
Nikki 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
"Parents are OFA certified, AKC registered & genetically tested. We donate a puppy from each litter for service so we biosensor train & volhard test. Pups are wormed, vaccinated, and cleared by a DVM. Deposits are non-refundable but we are very lenient and will always allow you to use the deposit for a later litter."
Contract & health guarantee
Nikki 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 Nikki 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 Nikki directly.
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
- 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
Extras
- Toys
- Initial potty training
- AKC registration
- Puppy starter kit
- Food & treats
- Registration
- Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Nikki.
Breeder's location
Meet in Salem, VA
4253 miles away
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Other pick-up locations
Meet at Roanoke–Blacksburg Airport (Woodrum Field)
4248 miles away
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Meet in Daleville, VA
4242 miles away
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More about Nikki
Nikki has been a member of Good Dog for over 4 years
Nikki was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2021.
Nikki is a trusted Good Dog breeder
Virginia Goldens 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
Nikki H.
Program update on 04 May 2025 •Puppies we’ve placed over the years ♥️🐾
Nikki H.
Litter update on 26 Mar 2025 •
Phoenix and Bella's litter
Nikki H.
Litter update on 20 Mar 2025 •
Phoenix and Bella's litter
Parent dogs
Bella, mom
Golden Retriever
About Bella
Bella is a gentle soul. She’s never met another person or dog that she doesn’t love and want to play with. She’s silly and playful but a couch potato. My favorite thing about Bella is that she wants to do whatever you want to do. If you’re sick and need to sleep all day, she’ll be there, if you want to go on a hike or go swimming, she’s down for it. She’ll match your energy level. This likely comes from her long pedigree as a service and therapy dog!
Good health testing
Full Embark Panel, Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA), +3 more.
Finn, dad
Golden Retriever
About Finn
Finn is a male Golden Retriever almost 3 years old. Carefully selected as a great representative of his breed, Nikki decided to make him part of their program. Nikki has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Uploaded health tests
Full Embark Panel, Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI), +1 more.
Winnie, mom
Golden Retriever
About Winnie
Winnie is a female Golden Retriever. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Nikki decided to make her part of their program. Nikki has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Uploaded health tests
Full Embark Panel, Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI), +1 more.
Parent health testing
Good level
Virginia Goldens 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 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 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 (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.
Full Embark Panel
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 Nikki to bring home their puppies.
Rebecca K.
Verified owner · July 2024
+5There are truly not enough positive things we can say about Nikki and the entire Virginia Goldens family. Nikki’s breeding program is the most thoughtful and caring we have ever seen, and she pours every ounce of her heart and soul into her dogs and her puppies. What stood out to us initially was Nikki’s use of Volhard testing to help identify puppies who may be good candidates for therapy and service work, but we found that that is just the tip of the iceberg. Our Harvey is the happiest, healthiest dog we have ever met and he brings so much joy to our lives. We continue to stay in frequent contact with Nikki and love sending her updates on how he is doing! Virginia Goldens is just the best and we are so grateful for all of Nikki and family’s tireless labor of love.
