Preservation Bred Golden Retrievers in Northwest Arkansas
Sleepy Grove Golden Retrievers is a small, family-run breeding program located in Gentry, Arkansas, focused on health, temperament, and lifelong soundness.
AKC registered • CHIC qualified • OFA Health testing publicly available
A Thoughtful Approach to the Golden Retriever
At Sleepy Grove Goldens, our story didn't begin with plans to become Golden Retriever breeders. It began with the search for a truly good dog and the realization of just how rare that can be. What started with a single puppy has grown into a purposeful breeding program rooted in ethics, education, and preservation.
Our first well-bred Golden Retriever came from a breeder who valued health testing, thoughtful pairings, and puppies raised underfoot with early handling and real world exposure. She grew into exactly what the breed is meant to be. Sound in body and mind, confident in new situations, and deeply connected to our family. Living with a dog like that changed the way we looked at the breed. We began asking better questions. What creates stability in temperament? Why do some dogs age soundly while others struggle? How do early experiences shape the adult dog?
That curiosity and years of research led us to Sleepy Grove in Gentry, Arkansas, nestled in Northwest Arkansas, where we focus on raising Golden Retrievers with intention, consistency, and respect for the breed's purpose.
Read Our Story
Health and Soundness
Health & Quality
Our breeding dogs complete comprehensive health testing following GRCA recommendations. Results are publicly available through OFA, and all breeding dogs meet CHIC requirements prior to consideration.
Home Raised and Family Focused
Our dogs live as part of our household, not in kennels. Puppies are raised in our home with daily handling, early socialization, and exposure to normal household life.
Proven Temperament and Ability
Our Goldens participate in conformation and performance venues including scent work. Titles matter less to us than stable temperaments and dogs who are capable partners in everyday life.
Our Puppies
We raise a limited number of Golden Retriever litters each year with a focus on health, temperament, and thoughtful placement. Puppies are born and raised in our home, where they are given intentional early handling and age appropriate experiences designed to support confidence and stability as they mature.
Each puppy is evaluated individually as it grows. Rather than placing puppies by pick order, we match based on temperament, energy level, and lifestyle so every puppy has the best opportunity to thrive in its new home.
Our goal is not to produce as many puppies as possible, but to raise each one with care, intention, and lifelong support.
The GRCA provides puppy referral as a convenience to puppy buyers to find out about breeders who are GRCA members and their litters. GRCA takes no responsibility whatsoever for any puppies/dogs that you may acquire through GRCA puppy referral. GRCA is not responsible for any breeder's sale practices and sales contracts, nor will GRCA be involved in any manner in contract disputes between puppy buyers and breeders. Availability of puppies and conditions of sale are at the sole discretion of the individual breeder. Buyers are encouraged to read ACQUIRING A GOLDEN RETRIEVER, as found on the grca.org website, for general information about obtaining a puppy, to take as much time as necessary to locate a reputable breeder from whom they feel comfortable purchasing a puppy, and to investigate breeders and their puppies thoroughly before committing to a purchase. You are not obligated to purchase a puppy from the breeders whose names you obtain from GRCA puppy referral.