Frequently Asked Questions
We adore our dogs, and the breeds of goldens and labs. After both growing up with with family dogs from a wide range of breeds, we are confident there is no better breed of dog for a companion and for families. Goldies are quick to learn, affectionate, quiet and want to be with you.
You need to be available to connect and build a relationship with your goldie, they are not recommended for people who do not intend to make them a part of their family circle. They need exercise and mental stimulation. They need to feel safe and to understand their place in your family. They will need training; your puppy will love it and it will make your life with them more complete. Early socialisation, good boundaries, and plenty of playtime will lead to a happy, healthy life for your goldie.
We could talk all day about their different personalities, what they like and dislike as individuals. Overall, they are patient, kind, happy, loyal, and loving. They are gentle and quiet. We do not worry about reactive behaviour, when we have visitors, if there are children or other animals. They do however compete for pets and will push in to secure their spot in the pet handout line. Flower is especially good at this!
We have a wonderful relationship with our vets, we trust them when they perform our puppy health checks and if they find anything that is notable, this information is passed on. We believe in open disclosure. The vets check our pups at 6 weeks of age and do a full pup work-up, including weight, temperature, teeth, eyes, overall health, their first vaccination and microchipping.
Your puppy is wormed fortnightly from 2 weeks of age. Please keep this up until 12 weeks of age and then follow your vets recommendation (usually every 3-6 months for the dogs lifetime).
We are not vets, so if you notice anything of concern about your puppy, please have them checked at your local veterinary clinic.
Please come prepared with towels, blankets, water and a drinking container.
Your puppy will be stressed leaving their mum and siblings. They may vomit in the car - newspaper and baby wipes are helpful with this. They may cry and pant. They may also just go to sleep! A washing basket for the pup to sit in can be useful.
Please have the pup sleep inside your home, the laundry is often a great place for them as it is easy to clean! They will need lots of time to adjust and become familiar with their new surrounds. Once they are happy and confident in your home and with you, you can have them spend more time outside and away from you.
Your puppy is well socialised so please keep this up! Letting them explore your yard, back and front! Taking them for a drive around the block, slowly introducing your other pets, are all simple things to do in the first week or two. As they become more confident please wait until they have had all of their vaccinations before introducing them to other dogs (outside of the one/s you may already own).
Please have BalckHawk Puppy Kibble purchased and ready, a water bowl, a bed, a collar/lead.
There is a lot more to cover, we will discuss this all in detail with you before you arrive.
Our dogs are fed BlackHawk Kibble for Large Breeds - both chicken and rice and lamb and rice varieties. This feed is supplemented with chicken and sheep liver, chicken frames and chicken necks. When our girls are pregnant, they are fed the puppy kibble from BlackHawk as it contains more calcium. They are also given a calcium supplement once they have pupped.
The dogs have 13 acres to run and play, a large dam to swim in and another 30 acres next door to really stretch their legs.
Most of the time though, they just hang out with us. Following us around as we potter outside, lying down and sleeping near us as we work outside or trying to look in through the kitchen window to see what we are cooking.
Occasionally we will take one or two of them with us to a café, farmers market, the beach, or school pick up.
Pet insurance is a personal choice and up to individuals to decide if it is right for them. A few of our families have needed to use theirs due to unexpected illnesses (like a puppy eating bad mushrooms... and one eating rocks!). As registered breeders we can offer 6 weeks free pet insurance through PetCover Australia. We do not get any commission from this.