Puppies
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Important Note: Please click on the tabs below for information about current and planned litters. We get a lot of inquiries for puppies and because we are not commercial breeders, we usually have a waiting list and puppies are occasionally available to approved homes only. To be considered for a puppy, please complete the puppy questionnaire and return to us. We are trying our best to respond to all puppy inquiries but we are not able to help everyone with a puppy. We follow a strict screening process for prospective puppy owners and will only consider an application for a puppy upon receipt of a completed questionnaire.
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Process to Secure a Puppy
In order to secure a puppy, please provide us with the following information
- Please go through all the information provided on the website regarding our dogs, about Golden Retrievers to ascertain whether a Golden Retriever is suitable for your lifestyle. Take everything into consideration - from your current situation, possible future relocation, current family and future family plans, work situation as well as financial situation.
- Then please complete the puppy questionnaire that provides us information about your family, lifestyle, location, home and current situation in order for us to determine if a Golden Retriever will be a suitable addition to your family. Golden Retrievers are not the ideal dog for every family and we provide information on the website regarding this.
- Please send us the questionnaire and we will be in touch, advising you of our current litters or future planned litters and if we can consider you as a prospective owner.
- We charge a premium price for our puppies (between R15,000 and R20,000, depending on the dogs used and the number of puppies in a litter) and details of what is included and what we offer is also provided on the website. All our puppies are registered and options for non-registered puppies is not available. We also sell our puppies with breeding restrictions and discourage irresponsible breeding practices.
- Once you have been selected as a prospective puppy owner, we will keep you up to date on the progress of the pregnancy, litter and puppies. We will also provide regular updates on our Facebook page.
Important Note: Due to the popularity and demand of Golden Retriever in South Africa, we are not able to provide everyone with a puppy. It is important to note that we screen our puppy owners and that we are only able to consider you as a prospective owner if all the information requested is provided. We spent a lot of time to make our website as comprehensive as possible to answer all the questions that you might have and therefore there will be a delay in response if all the requested information is not provided. We do receive a lot of inquiries and we are doing our best to respond to all.
How to choose a breeder:
by Marycke Ackhurst
What are the 10 things I would look for in a breeder?
by Marycke Ackhurst
What are the 10 things I would look for in a breeder?
- Immense experience in the breed, in depth knowledge of pedigrees in the breed, following the breed in other countries, visiting breeders and events in other countries.
- Competing in working or breed shows. Successfully campaigning own dogs (Ch bloodlines aren’t enough, it should be self obtained to understand what it takes). Comparing breeding “stock” is important. To remain objective about ones own dogs, virtues & faults. The perfect dog is yet to be born, all dogs have “faults” just like we as humans do.
- The dogs and their family: please view both parents as far as possible (most valued breeders will use a variety of dogs, perhaps belonging to others, so might have the dad on their premises. Watch their interaction with people and other dogs. Also note their condition and how the are kept. Meet as many other family members and ask for references.
- Make decisions before puppies are involved. Choose your breeder without the emotional pressure of puppies or having to say no to a cute pic of a pup. Both parties should be able to withdraw from the transaction at any stage. I would not want to buy a puppy I don’t like and neither would I like the flip side of a family for one of my puppies that is not suitable. Deposits is a personal decision, but certainly don’t pay a deposit before puppies aren’t about 3 weeks old and certainly not before they’ve been born!
- Selecting a breeder is like selecting a friend. It is a life long commitment. They should want to keep in contact with you and your values should resonate. What support does the breeder offer in helping you prepare for your puppy, once you have your puppy, as well as for the rest of the puppy’s life?
- Puppy selection: how are puppies selected for each home? A number system, first come first serve? Or careful consideration as to which puppy fits where; taking into consideration temperament, family composition and family lifestyle.
- The registration body: for all breeds except German Shepherd Dogs & Boerboels the Kennel Union of South Africa (KUSA) is the only internationally accepted registration body. Don’t be fooled into thinking a registration form from any other organisation is legit - it is NOT!
- Health testing and understanding the impact & diseases that one can’t health test for on the breed. How to use and implement this knowledge. Also open and honest communication about health issues in their lines. Every breeder has had health issues, if they deny this, they are either not honest, they do not keep contact with their puppies or they have little experience in the breed.
- Prioritizing environmental enrichment & socialization of puppies. Most of socialization takes place from 3-12 weeks of age, so it is important that puppies are not only appropriately exposed to socialization aspects but also that their environment is suitably enriched. This is also the start of teaching them life skills as far as possible.
- Animal welfare practices included in their “facilities”. What is the level of care, enrichment, training, grooming and love other dogs receive?
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We feed Hills to our own dogs and recommend Hills to all our Puppy Owners. Our puppies are raised on Hills from birth to weaning and they get their Hills Welcome Pack together with the Puppy Pack. We also feed our females Hills Puppy from the time that we start planning a litter and return to the normal Adult food after the puppies has gone to their forever homes! We have proven that by feeding Hills, our puppies grow up strong, their health checks for Hip and Elbow displaysia is improved and the puppies "grow" a bit slower, allowing for their bones and growth plates to close accordingly to their age. We have found that by feeding Hills Puppy kibble and Hills Puppy tins, also prevent runny tummies once they start their weaning from mommy! We provide all our puppy owners with a large bag of Hills Puppy food to ensure that our puppies remain on Hills (to avoid any tummy upsets by changing over to a different diet in their new homes). We recommend that all new owners keep feeding their puppies on Hills - at the very minimum until they are 18 months old!
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From Marycke Ackhurst:
If you are thinking of getting a puppy, any breed, please read this!
This might give you some insight into why dogs are shown.
I can’t take credit for this insightful piece but I have slightly adapted it for our local circumstances from J. Kimball & Bellator Basenjis
I don’t want a show dog, I just want a pet...
This is one of the most pervasive sentiments that puppy buyers, especially families, express when they're looking for a dog. What they really mean, of course, is that they don't want a show BREEDER – don't want to pay the high price they think show breeders charge, don't want to go through the often-invasive interview process, and think that they're getting a better deal or a real bargain because they can get their chosen breed for far less.
I would like to change your mind. I’d like you to not only realize the benefits of buying a show-bred dog, but ultimately INSIST on a show-bred dog, and by this you come to realize that the cheap dog is really just that - a rip-off.
Then you can go and be obnoxious and, when your workmate says she's getting a puppy because her neighbor, who raises them, will give her one for free, or when your brother-in-law announces that they're buying a goldendoodle for the kids, I want you to now launch yourself into their solar plexus and steal their wallets and their car keys.
Here's why:
If I ask you why you want a Golden Retriever, Corgi, Lab, Poodle, Husky, Sheltie, or a Basenji, etc...I would bet you're not going to talk about how much you like their color. You're going to tell me things about personality, ability (to perform a specific task), relationships with other animals or humans, size, coat, temperament, and so on. You'll describe playing ball, or how affectionate you've heard that they are, or how well they get along with kids.
The things you will be looking for aren't the things that describe just the "dog"; they'll be the things that make this particular breed unique and unlike other breeds.
That's where people have made the right initial decision – they've taken the time and made the effort to understand that there are differences between breeds and that they should get one that at least comes close to matching their picture of what they would like a dog to be.
Their next step, tragically, is that they go out and find a dog of that breed for as little money and with as much ease as possible.
You need to realize that when you do this, you're going to the used car dealership, WATCHING them pry the "Audi" plate off a new car, observing them as they use Pritt to stick it on a '98 Corolla, and then writing them a check and feeling smug that you got an Audi for so little.
It is ultimately no bargain.
Those things that distinguish the breed you want from the generic world of "dog" are only there because somebody worked really hard to get them there. And as soon as that work ceases, the dog, no matter how purebred, begins to revert to the generic.
That doesn't mean you won't get a good dog – the magic and the blessing of dogs is that they are so hard to mess up, in their good souls and minds, that even the most hideously bred one can still be a great dog – but it will not be a good Shepherd, or good Lab, or a good Retriever.
You will not get the specialized temperament, abilities, tendencies, or talents of the breed.
If you don't NEED those special abilities or the predictability of a particular breed, you should not be buying a dog from a breeder at all. You should go buy one from a rescue. That way you're saving a life and not putting money in pockets where it does not belong.
If you want a purebred and you know that a rescue is not going to fit the bill or fit your circumstances, the absolute WORST thing you can do is assume that a name equals anything. They really are nothing more than name plates on cars.
What matters is whether the engineering and design and service department back up the name plate, so you have some expectation that you're walking away with more than a label. Keeping a group of dogs looking and acting like their breed is hard, HARD work.
If you do not get the impression that the breeder you're considering is working that hard, is that dedicated to the breed, is struggling to produce dogs that are more than a breed name, you are getting no bargain; you are only getting ripped off.
Also don’t expect that your puppy is really cheaper! Because of demand, those breeders often charge the same if not more for puppies! They have puppies available frequently, so can supply the demand.
Please educate yourself on what a good breeder actually is. ANYONE can make themselves seem wonderful on a website, via email, or online. Learn the right questions to ask to determine whether a breeder is really as good as they say they are and DOUBLE check everything they say. Unethical breeders are SMART! They know what to say to sound legitimate and fool unsuspecting buyers. While we are at it, any pet purchased from a pet store, gumtree, on a website is a “puppy mill” puppy. No ethical or reputable breeder sells to pet stores or need to advertise to sell puppies. Rather contact breed clubs, The Kennel Union of South Africa, or visit a show to meet reputable breeders.
Health scoring is a minimum requirement and does not define a good dog of it’s breed. A rescue dog can have clear hips, eyes & elbows. Stating dogs are healthy because they’re checked over by the veterinarian means nothing when it comes to genetics and breed specific health testing. A person with cancer or HIV can seem healthy too, but you won’t know the truth without health testing. Without breed specific health testing there is no guarantee something isn’t lurking in the background.
I’ve heard countless stories of unethical breeders falsifying health records or showcasing records for different dogs. Also look up what health tests are recommended for your breed...don’t settle for the bare minimum.
Schemes like “accredited breeder” have not taken off in South Africa so don’t be fooled by someone claiming to be a registered breeder. There is also only one official registrar for each breed. In South Africa, the Kennel Union of South Africa is in most cases recognised by the FCI as that body, except for Boerboel and German Shepherd Dogs.
Any credentials a breeder is claiming, check them! If they claim championship lines, are they riding on the coattails and experience of someone that has taken the time to breed and prepare a dog for show? Have they spent countless Rands and all their free time on traveling, accommodation, entry fees, grooming products & equipment, ring craft, training and developing their grooming skills, nevermind the broken back after grooming and setting up at shows? Have they ever even been to a show or showed a dog? How are they able to evaluate their stock if they can never compare them to others of their breed? Are they blind to their breeding faults by not getting exposed to good dogs?
Rather buy a rescue dog and give a dog that needs a home one. Don’t create a market for breeders that do not give their dogs the best of care and their puppies the best start in life and prepare their new owners to set up their puppy for success.
The only way to reduce the amount of homeless pets is responsible breeding, responsible purchasing (whether from a rescue or breeder), and responsible ownership.
Be the change. Be educated. Be informed. Don’t get ripped off.
If you are thinking of getting a puppy, any breed, please read this!
This might give you some insight into why dogs are shown.
I can’t take credit for this insightful piece but I have slightly adapted it for our local circumstances from J. Kimball & Bellator Basenjis
I don’t want a show dog, I just want a pet...
This is one of the most pervasive sentiments that puppy buyers, especially families, express when they're looking for a dog. What they really mean, of course, is that they don't want a show BREEDER – don't want to pay the high price they think show breeders charge, don't want to go through the often-invasive interview process, and think that they're getting a better deal or a real bargain because they can get their chosen breed for far less.
I would like to change your mind. I’d like you to not only realize the benefits of buying a show-bred dog, but ultimately INSIST on a show-bred dog, and by this you come to realize that the cheap dog is really just that - a rip-off.
Then you can go and be obnoxious and, when your workmate says she's getting a puppy because her neighbor, who raises them, will give her one for free, or when your brother-in-law announces that they're buying a goldendoodle for the kids, I want you to now launch yourself into their solar plexus and steal their wallets and their car keys.
Here's why:
If I ask you why you want a Golden Retriever, Corgi, Lab, Poodle, Husky, Sheltie, or a Basenji, etc...I would bet you're not going to talk about how much you like their color. You're going to tell me things about personality, ability (to perform a specific task), relationships with other animals or humans, size, coat, temperament, and so on. You'll describe playing ball, or how affectionate you've heard that they are, or how well they get along with kids.
The things you will be looking for aren't the things that describe just the "dog"; they'll be the things that make this particular breed unique and unlike other breeds.
That's where people have made the right initial decision – they've taken the time and made the effort to understand that there are differences between breeds and that they should get one that at least comes close to matching their picture of what they would like a dog to be.
Their next step, tragically, is that they go out and find a dog of that breed for as little money and with as much ease as possible.
You need to realize that when you do this, you're going to the used car dealership, WATCHING them pry the "Audi" plate off a new car, observing them as they use Pritt to stick it on a '98 Corolla, and then writing them a check and feeling smug that you got an Audi for so little.
It is ultimately no bargain.
Those things that distinguish the breed you want from the generic world of "dog" are only there because somebody worked really hard to get them there. And as soon as that work ceases, the dog, no matter how purebred, begins to revert to the generic.
That doesn't mean you won't get a good dog – the magic and the blessing of dogs is that they are so hard to mess up, in their good souls and minds, that even the most hideously bred one can still be a great dog – but it will not be a good Shepherd, or good Lab, or a good Retriever.
You will not get the specialized temperament, abilities, tendencies, or talents of the breed.
If you don't NEED those special abilities or the predictability of a particular breed, you should not be buying a dog from a breeder at all. You should go buy one from a rescue. That way you're saving a life and not putting money in pockets where it does not belong.
If you want a purebred and you know that a rescue is not going to fit the bill or fit your circumstances, the absolute WORST thing you can do is assume that a name equals anything. They really are nothing more than name plates on cars.
What matters is whether the engineering and design and service department back up the name plate, so you have some expectation that you're walking away with more than a label. Keeping a group of dogs looking and acting like their breed is hard, HARD work.
If you do not get the impression that the breeder you're considering is working that hard, is that dedicated to the breed, is struggling to produce dogs that are more than a breed name, you are getting no bargain; you are only getting ripped off.
Also don’t expect that your puppy is really cheaper! Because of demand, those breeders often charge the same if not more for puppies! They have puppies available frequently, so can supply the demand.
Please educate yourself on what a good breeder actually is. ANYONE can make themselves seem wonderful on a website, via email, or online. Learn the right questions to ask to determine whether a breeder is really as good as they say they are and DOUBLE check everything they say. Unethical breeders are SMART! They know what to say to sound legitimate and fool unsuspecting buyers. While we are at it, any pet purchased from a pet store, gumtree, on a website is a “puppy mill” puppy. No ethical or reputable breeder sells to pet stores or need to advertise to sell puppies. Rather contact breed clubs, The Kennel Union of South Africa, or visit a show to meet reputable breeders.
Health scoring is a minimum requirement and does not define a good dog of it’s breed. A rescue dog can have clear hips, eyes & elbows. Stating dogs are healthy because they’re checked over by the veterinarian means nothing when it comes to genetics and breed specific health testing. A person with cancer or HIV can seem healthy too, but you won’t know the truth without health testing. Without breed specific health testing there is no guarantee something isn’t lurking in the background.
I’ve heard countless stories of unethical breeders falsifying health records or showcasing records for different dogs. Also look up what health tests are recommended for your breed...don’t settle for the bare minimum.
Schemes like “accredited breeder” have not taken off in South Africa so don’t be fooled by someone claiming to be a registered breeder. There is also only one official registrar for each breed. In South Africa, the Kennel Union of South Africa is in most cases recognised by the FCI as that body, except for Boerboel and German Shepherd Dogs.
Any credentials a breeder is claiming, check them! If they claim championship lines, are they riding on the coattails and experience of someone that has taken the time to breed and prepare a dog for show? Have they spent countless Rands and all their free time on traveling, accommodation, entry fees, grooming products & equipment, ring craft, training and developing their grooming skills, nevermind the broken back after grooming and setting up at shows? Have they ever even been to a show or showed a dog? How are they able to evaluate their stock if they can never compare them to others of their breed? Are they blind to their breeding faults by not getting exposed to good dogs?
Rather buy a rescue dog and give a dog that needs a home one. Don’t create a market for breeders that do not give their dogs the best of care and their puppies the best start in life and prepare their new owners to set up their puppy for success.
The only way to reduce the amount of homeless pets is responsible breeding, responsible purchasing (whether from a rescue or breeder), and responsible ownership.
Be the change. Be educated. Be informed. Don’t get ripped off.
Mochavulin Puppies
Below are photos of dogs that we have bred, most of the photos taken by their owners.
The Puppy Price Debate
We often get inquiries from people just wanting to know what the price is for our puppies. We sell our puppies at a premium price - due to all the health checks, including DNA testing that we do, the quality of our dogs, our careful selection of breeding dogs according of COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding) Analysis and that we raise the puppies inside our homes and the ongoing support that we provide.
We do the following Health Checks on our dogs:
If price is your only consideration, then I would like to recommend that you read this page carefully as it will contain VERY IMPORTANT information on why you should not just be concerned about price as you can get a puppy for as little as R3000 or as much as R20,000 - but manor factors are applicable that you should consider.
There is quite a considerable difference in price & therefore also in QUALITY. You might buy a puppy now for R3000 / R8000 / R10 000, but the chances that you will soon be burdened with high vet bills will increase two-fold & you will probably also not get any support, advice or guidance from the breeders should any problems arise. As with any pedigree dog, every breed suffers from genetic problems due to the limited gene pools being used. That is why pedigree dogs sometimes do get sick more often than the usual "pavement special" because with mixed-breeds its exactly what you get - a diverse combination of numerous genes from different breed that may or may not counteract against one another. Although you might end up with a more "genetically sound" dog you will also never know the temperament of the dog, the full size it might reach or whether or not any of its ancestors has any genetic defects that can result in more problems, huge vet bills and a lot of heartache when you have to put your beloved dog to sleep because of cancer or other ailments, or simply cant afford the veterinary costs associated with hip replacements, expensive exploratory surgery or any other major illness.
Choosing a RESPECTED, REPUTABLE Breeder is therefore one of the most important decisions that you will make. Although all dogs are still "livestock" there cant be any guarantees as we are still dealing with nature ... and even the most carefully planned mating can still result in either minor or major problems - the difference comes in the breeder, the support, the advice, guidance and expertise that you will not get from someone that does not know the breed intimately as well as the associated problems with the breed. With the right guidance you can avoid a lot of problems, simply by following the recommended feeding, exercise and training guidelines & you are more assured of a long-term, happy, healthy pet!
Its therefore easy to see WHY going to a RESPECTED, REPUTABLE and REGISTERED KUSA BREEDER is the only option that you should consider!!!
We do the following Health Checks on our dogs:
- DNA for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and Ichtdiosys
- Eye Tests
- Hip Xrays
- Elbow Xrays
If price is your only consideration, then I would like to recommend that you read this page carefully as it will contain VERY IMPORTANT information on why you should not just be concerned about price as you can get a puppy for as little as R3000 or as much as R20,000 - but manor factors are applicable that you should consider.
There is quite a considerable difference in price & therefore also in QUALITY. You might buy a puppy now for R3000 / R8000 / R10 000, but the chances that you will soon be burdened with high vet bills will increase two-fold & you will probably also not get any support, advice or guidance from the breeders should any problems arise. As with any pedigree dog, every breed suffers from genetic problems due to the limited gene pools being used. That is why pedigree dogs sometimes do get sick more often than the usual "pavement special" because with mixed-breeds its exactly what you get - a diverse combination of numerous genes from different breed that may or may not counteract against one another. Although you might end up with a more "genetically sound" dog you will also never know the temperament of the dog, the full size it might reach or whether or not any of its ancestors has any genetic defects that can result in more problems, huge vet bills and a lot of heartache when you have to put your beloved dog to sleep because of cancer or other ailments, or simply cant afford the veterinary costs associated with hip replacements, expensive exploratory surgery or any other major illness.
Choosing a RESPECTED, REPUTABLE Breeder is therefore one of the most important decisions that you will make. Although all dogs are still "livestock" there cant be any guarantees as we are still dealing with nature ... and even the most carefully planned mating can still result in either minor or major problems - the difference comes in the breeder, the support, the advice, guidance and expertise that you will not get from someone that does not know the breed intimately as well as the associated problems with the breed. With the right guidance you can avoid a lot of problems, simply by following the recommended feeding, exercise and training guidelines & you are more assured of a long-term, happy, healthy pet!
Its therefore easy to see WHY going to a RESPECTED, REPUTABLE and REGISTERED KUSA BREEDER is the only option that you should consider!!!
