Golden Retrievers
We are new to Golden Retrievers and added them to our team only in 2024. We did this because the assistance dog trainers we work with need access to a steady supply of suitable puppies. While the breed embodies exactly what we value most in dogs: sound temperament, willingness to learn, and a deep connection with people, it’s always difficult to source reliable dogs. Many reputable breeders do an awesome job, but most breed only 1-2 litters per year and few have access to the facilities and time needed to raise puppies like we do. Even fewer focus on breeding dogs able to perform well in demanding assistance dog and companion dog roles, rather than in the showring or other performance sports. Goldens are renowned for their patience, gentleness, and emotional attunement, making them exceptional partners in assistance and therapy dog work, as well as fantastic companions in family settings. They genuinely want to work with humans, not just for humans, and that’s exactly what we need in dogs who are going to be responsible for taking care of people with special needs. Veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms, for example, often want a larger, more robust dog than our Lagottos. A Golden Retriever might be a perfect choice, but only if it comes from lines with established health and behavioural traits and only if the puppies receive optimal developmental opportunities in the first eight weeks of their life, while they are still in the care of their breeder. That’s what we do!
Before we decided to breed Golden Retrievers, we spent a lot of time reading, talking to breeders and visiting kennels. Then we purchased our first four puppies – three lovely females and a very handsome male. Hugo, our male, unfortunately had to be retired from the program when he was 14 months old, after receiving unexpectedly bad hip scores. This was devastating, especially for his carer Amy, who spent a lot of time socialising and training him for therapy dog work, but he ended up in a lovely home. We bought Theo (Chaliagold Winter Sunshine) as a replacement in 2025 and decided to using outside males while we waited for Theo to grow up. Fortunately, other breeders have given us access to fantabulous male dogs, with our first two Golden Retriever litters due to arrive early in 2026. Check this page to meet the mums and dads of these litters, and of course the puppies once they arrive.
Ultimately, we chose to breed Golden Retrievers because they are dogs that can change lives. They bring warmth into homes, reassurance into challenging moments, and joy into everyday routines. They are not for everyone though. Compared with our other breeds, Goldens are BIG. They take up a lot of space and can be demanding of your time and energy, especially when young. They are also hairy. While our Lagottos and Havanese are non-shedding, our Goldens cover our floors with their hair. And they need training. An out-of-control 5.5 kg Havanese is bearable, but an out-of-control 35 kg Golden is something else. Our Goldens thrive in cooperative relationships and are highly trainable, without being sharp or reactive, but they do need owner commitment to display confidence without pushiness and sensitivity without fearfulness. These traits make them well suited to guide work, autism support, emotional support roles, and as steady, affectionate companions.
While we don’t have time to show our dogs, we are committed to preserving the classic Golden Retriever. In our heads, this is a larger dog that is healthy, structurally sound, and behaviourally stable. Breeding them responsibly is a privilege — and one we take very seriously. Our dogs are bred from health-tested parents with proven temperaments and raised in enriched environments that support resilience and calmness. If you think one of our puppies might suit you, please click on this link to see what we have available or this link to make contact with us.