My road to becoming a breeder was actually a long and winding road.

I am an avid reader and one of my favourite authors is Dean Koontz. He wrote a book called “Watchers” and the main character in the book is a Golden Retriever called “Einstein”.

 

After reading the book I decided that this was the dog for me! I knew nothing about the breed or where to find one. A friend told me to phone KUSA and they gave me the contact information of Margaret McAra (Macanne Golden Retrievers).

We spoke for over an hour and she told me to first do my homework and decide whether a Golden was the breed for me. I bought books and the more I read and enhanced my knowledge of the breed, the more I became convinced this was the only breed for me.

After 3 months I obtained the contact name of a breeder who came highly recommended and off I went to collect my very own first Golden puppy. Arriving at the breeder I was so overwhelmed that my daughter had to choose my puppy for me. He was very light, very aloof and gorgeous. We named him “Shakespeare”, as all of this started with the love of reading.

 

After 4 years, in July 2000, I bought a female, “Pangea”, and after her first litter I knew that breeding Goldens was a passion of mine. Breeding actually came naturally and although many other breeders warned me that breeding is hard work (which it is), I enjoy it immensely. Being there when the female gives birth, helping the puppies grow, keeping them warm, seeing the eyes open and the personality develop is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done in my life.

It has now been 18 years since I started breeding. I have seen numerous puppies born and gone to their new forever homes. It is still the most rewarding experience in my life. I am now a "stay at home" grandmother and the time spent with my "doggy-grandchildren" has become extremely precious to me.

Much time has passed since my first litter of Golden Retriever puppies, and with the passing years I have become wiser and more knowledgeable about the breed and breeding. I have since started to breed selectively to preserve the Golden Retriever breed. I breed for the sound Golden Retriever temperament, and to the exclusion of the genetic diseases that Golden Retrievers are prone to.

I still believe that a home with puppies is a happy home! Plenty of laughs and cuddling to go around. I also believe that a Golden Retriever is better than any medicine a doctor could prescribe!

My golden family has since increased to ten dogs, all with their own unique personality and place in my heart and my home.