Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Francis.
Hi Jen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My love for Golden Retrievers began when I was around 8 years old. From that point on, I knew they held a special place in my heart. In 2016, I purchased my very first Golden Retriever, Kaiya, from the previous owners of Eagleridge Golden Retrievers. Looking back now, it feels like fate was already setting my future into motion.
One of my biggest dreams was to one day experience whelping and raising a litter of Golden Retrievers of my own. In 2019, that dream became a reality when Kaiya delivered 9 beautiful puppies that we lovingly raised in our home. That experience changed my life. It deepened my passion for the breed and inspired me to pursue something even bigger.
During that process, I shared my interest in eventually taking over Eagleridge Golden Retrievers. About a year and a half later, that dream became reality when I officially assumed ownership. Since then, this journey has truly felt like a dream come true.
Over the years, I have worked tirelessly to grow and improve Eagleridge. I’ve completed numerous renovations and continue working toward the vision I have always had for our program. I incorporated the Super Dog Program into our breeding program to help ensure our puppies develop the best possible temperaments and confidence from the very beginning.
The health of our dogs is one of my greatest priorities. All of our breeding dogs undergo OFA heart, eye, elbow, and hip clearances in addition to DNA testing. I also take a more natural and holistic approach when raising our puppies. I strongly believe in utilizing titer testing to help avoid over-vaccination, and I often turn to holistic treatments before opting for allopathic medications whenever appropriate. We avoid routine flea and tick preventatives whenever possible and make every effort to reduce our puppies’ exposure to environmental and household toxins. Nutrition also plays a huge role in our program, and we focus on feeding a species-appropriate diet that is low in unnecessary starches and carbohydrates.
None of this would be possible without the incredible team I have built along the way. Every member of our team is deeply dedicated to the health, happiness, and wellbeing of our dogs. At Eagleridge, our dogs are family. They are raised with love, respect, and intentional care every single day.
In 2024, we were honored to receive an Honorable Mention for Best of Florida, and in 2025, we were awarded Best of Florida in the Best Breeder category. Seeing the impact our puppies make on the lives of others is the greatest reward of all. Our dogs have gone on to become service dogs, emotional support animals, therapy dogs, and beloved family companions. Three of our dogs are even serving as Chief Dog Officers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class cruise ships.
To me, Golden Retrievers are one of life’s greatest gifts. I feel incredibly privileged and grateful to spend every day surrounded by their unconditional love, loyalty, and joy. Eagleridge is so much more than a breeding program — it is the realization of a lifelong dream and a passion that continues to grow with every puppy we raise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any business, there have definitely been bumps along the road. One of the biggest challenges was building the right team — finding people who shared the same passion, work ethic, and level of dedication that this program requires. Caring for dogs is not a typical 9-to-5 job. It involves long hours, sleepless nights, weekends, holidays, and constant commitment. It took time to build a team that truly treats these dogs like family.
Another difficult part of breeding is that, despite doing everything possible to provide the best care, there are still heartbreaking moments. Sometimes puppies struggle to thrive, and no matter how much love, medical care, and effort is poured into them, losses still happen. Those moments are devastating and never get easier.
One of the hardest losses of all was recently losing Kaiya — the dog who started it all for me. She was my first Golden Retriever, the foundation of my dream, and the reason this journey began in the first place. Losing her has been incredibly painful, but her legacy lives on in everything we have built at Eagleridge.
Even through the difficult moments, every challenge has strengthened my passion and reinforced why I do this. The joy these dogs bring to families and the impact they make on people’s lives makes every obstacle along the way worth it.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In terms of networking, I believe social media and Google reviews are extremely important. Social media gives people an opportunity to truly see your program, your values, and the level of care you provide on a daily basis. It allows you to build trust and relationships with families long before they ever bring home a puppy. Google reviews are equally important because they provide honest experiences from the families you’ve worked with and help establish credibility within the community.
As far as finding a mentor, that was honestly one of the more difficult parts of this journey for me. The dog breeding world can sometimes feel very closed off and difficult to break into. When I first assumed ownership of Eagleridge, I reached out to many local breeders to introduce myself, hoping to build connections and learn from others in the field. Unfortunately, I never received responses back from most of them.
Because of that experience, I learned that sometimes mentorship doesn’t always come in the traditional form you expect. I had to learn through hands-on experience, research, continuing education, veterinarians, and surrounding myself with people who genuinely cared about the wellbeing of the dogs. Over time, I also realized how important it is to be the kind of person who is willing to help others entering the field, because I know firsthand how discouraging it can feel when doors seem closed.
My advice would be to stay genuine, stay humble, and stay consistent. Build relationships organically, focus on doing things the right way, and let the quality of your work and the care you provide speak for itself. The right connections and opportunities will come with time.
Pricing:
- 8 week puppies $3500 plus sales tax
- 16 week trained puppies $6500 plus sales tax
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.eagleridgegoldenretrievers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eagleridgegoldens?igsh=cGpmc2psaWNwNTI2&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Gb9ZCK2kp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@eagleridgegoldens?_r=1&_t=ZT-96BF8IUV6Jq
