Camuka Golden Retrievers

19/01/2026

17/01/2026

I highly recommend this program for families welcoming a new puppy, particularly those with children.

15/01/2026

‼️A Word of Caution on “Low-Shedding” Golden Retrievers‼️

We are increasingly seeing breeders promoting “low-shedding” Golden Retrievers and charging a premium price for these puppies. This is something buyers should approach with caution.

All Golden Retrievers shed. Some may shed slightly less than others, but shedding is a normal and expected trait of the breed. A Golden Retriever’s coat is its crowning glory - it should be a dense, weather-resistant double coat, as described in the breed standard.

Even if both parents appear to shed less, there is no guarantee their puppies will do the same. The only way to determine shedding tendency is to DNA test each individual puppy, not simply rely on parent coats or marketing claims.

Unfortunately, we are also seeing some breeders focus heavily on this “low-shedding” narrative while cutting corners on critical health testing, such as hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts - all of which should be non-negotiable in a responsibly bred Golden Retriever.

If dog hair is a major concern for your household, a Golden Retriever may not be the right breed for you. In that case, it is far better to choose a breed that is naturally low-shedding, rather than being misled by marketing terms that do not align with the reality of this wonderful breed.

An informed choice is always the best choice, for both the puppy and the family.

14/01/2026

Definitely going to sit down and read this book.

Inside of A Dog - Alexandra Horowitz

It was after my dog barked for what felt like the hundredth time at something I couldn’t see, eyes alert, tail stiff, chest lifted as if to say, something is here, that I realized I live with a creature whose world I don’t fully understand.

I stood there in the dim hallway, seeing only stillness, while he stood on edge, certain of what my senses couldn’t grasp. I feed him, walk him, love him, yet there are places in his world I’ll never reach. I call him “companion,” but how much of him remains a mystery?

That day, I accepted a quiet truth: my dog inhabits a universe I cannot see, smell, or hear. He moves through invisible layers of scent and sound, guided by instinct and memory, navigating a parallel world that exists beside mine, but not within it. Reading Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz opened a door into that unseen world.

1. Dogs Smell in Layers We Cannot Imagine
When my dog pauses for five minutes at a patch of grass, I used to tug the leash impatiently. Not anymore. Horowitz reveals that to a dog, every scent is a history, who was here, when, what they felt. Smell is a dog’s way of reading the world, and rushing them through it is like flipping through a novel without letting them finish the sentences. Now, I wait. Now, I watch him read.

2. They Aren’t Just Reacting, They’re Interpreting
That late-night bark wasn’t random. Dogs construct a world based on their own sensory data. They hear frequencies we cannot, feel vibrations we ignore. Horowitz describes this not as a flaw in humans, but a difference. One that demands we stop interpreting their behavior solely through our lens. What looks irrational to us is completely sensible to them.

3. Anthropomorphism Is Comforting, But It Misses the Point
We often love our dogs like small, furry people. But Horowitz gently cautions against this. Dogs are not stand-ins for humans; they are remarkable creatures in their own right, with drives and delights we’ll never fully share. She invites us to stop projecting and start observing. The gift of knowing a dog is not in making them like us, but in learning to love them for who they are.

4. To Understand a Dog, You Must Lower Yourself, Literally and Figuratively
Horowitz speaks about the “umwelt,” the unique perceptual world of an organism. To get close to understanding our dogs, we must kneel, listen, observe at their level. It’s not just about looking at them. It’s about seeing with them. Letting go of our dominance and embracing curiosity. That shift, from master to witness, is where connection deepens.

5. The Most Profound Love Begins in Respect
We think we love our dogs well. But sometimes, love is control in disguise: commands, corrections, expectations. Horowitz reminds us that the deepest affection doesn’t seek to mold or manage, it seeks to know. To respect your dog’s nature. Their rhythms. Their quirks. And in doing so, you become not their trainer, but their companion.

Inside of a Dog changed how I walk, how I speak, how I pause when my dog stops to lift his nose to the wind. It taught me to honor the unseen world that runs beside my own. Love, I learned, isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s patient. Sometimes, it smells like everything we can’t smell. Sometimes, it barks at what we cannot see. And yet, it’s no less real.

Original Art: 'Fidelity', 1869 by Briton Riviere

06/01/2026

Cannot stress this enough- please take care of your pets. It is going to be very hot hot 🔥

We have some HOT days coming up in Melbourne so it’s important to make sure our pets are staying cool and out of the heat!

Heat stroke is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately 👇

1️⃣ Remove your dog from hot environment ☀️

2️⃣ Gradually lower your dog’s temperature by wetting them down with a hose or bucket. Do NOT use ice-cold water or ice as this may worsen the problem.

A fan blowing over damp skin will help in evaporative cooling. Do NOT wrap a wet towel around them as it will trap the heat trying to escape.

3️⃣ Offer water

4️⃣ Contact your nearest vet immediately, even if your pet looks to be recovering ❤️‍🩹

If you have any concerns, please call us on (03) 9544 6979 📞

Please remember, early treatment is critical during periods of hot weather. Stay safe and keep your pets cool! 💜🐾

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