Mochavulin Golden Retrievers
Preserve, Protect, Perfect with Love, Dedication and Commitment

ABOUT US


Mochavulin Golden Retrievers was founded in 2009, when Irene and Arnel imported a male Golden Retriever named "Max" from the famous "Naragold Golden Retrievers" in Australia.  

Arnel got her first Golden Retriever "Sasha" - "Ch Zillenberg Queenie of Goldenzauer" in 2003 and started her "career" in Goldens by showing in breed conformation shows and first learning as much as possible about the breed, before deciding to breed with Golden Retrievers.  My second Golden Retriever named "Wesley" - "Ch Barleywood Autumn Lad of Goldenzauer" was born in 2004 and achieved great success in the showring from a very young age - winning multiple Best Puppy and Best Puppy in Group awards.  In 2006, I imported "Tina" from "Giltedge Golden Retrievers" in Australia - "Ch Giltedge Martina for Goldenzauer".  

We are dedicated to responsible, reputable and ethical breeding.  We do not breed / produce puppies for the pet market to supply the demand.  

Our main purpose for breeding is to Protect and Preserve the Golden Retriever as a breed - as per the Breed Standard for both conformation and temperament.  We aim to always breed healthy, well-adjusted puppies and we carefully select all our puppy homes.  

When you get a Mochavulin Golden Retriever, you become part of our "Mochavulin Family" as we insist that we receive regular updates on all our puppies, throughout their lives.  We follow ethical breeding practices, we do not "kennel breed" as all our dogs and puppies are born and raised inside our home.  We follow all the required health protocols with regards to health testing before breeding and we always aim to breed with healthy dogs.  



Pioneering ICH Testing in South Africa and Championing Ethical Breeding Through Genetic Innovation

At Mochavulin, our commitment to ethical breeding goes beyond best practices—it drives innovation. Recognizing the importance of early detection and transparency, we were instrumental in introducing Ichthyosis (ICH) genetic testing for Golden Retrievers in South Africa. By partnering with Zoomics / Inqaba Biotechnical Industries and providing DNA samples from a known Carrier dog, we helped facilitate the development of locally accessible ICH testing.  This initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to safeguarding the health, wellbeing, and genetic integrity of the breed. We believe that responsible breeding begins with knowledge—and we’re proud to have helped make that knowledge more widely available. Mochavulin has played a key role in advancing canine health standards by initiating the introduction of Ichthyosis (ICH) genetic testing for Golden Retrievers in South Africa. This milestone has empowered breeders and owners to make informed, responsible decisions—supporting healthier litters and long-term breed integrity.  We do not breed with Affected dogs and we have, through selective breeding never had an affected Mochavulin puppy.  We continue to strive to eradicate ICH from our breeding lines entirely.

Prioritizing Vision Health with PRA Screening
As part of our ethical breeding programme, Mochavulin includes Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) genetic testing as a non-negotiable standard. PRA is a degenerative eye condition that can lead to blindness, and while carriers may remain asymptomatic, they can pass the condition to offspring.  We rigorously screen all breeding dogs and never breed with carriers or affected individuals. This proactive approach ensures that our puppies are not only healthy but also free from inheritable vision disorders—upholding our promise of transparency, responsibility, and long-term breed welfare.

Health Testing & Ethical Breeding: Our Gold Standard

At Mochavulin, ethical breeding is not just a philosophy—it’s a disciplined practice rooted in science, transparency, and compassion. We believe that every Golden Retriever deserves the best possible start in life, and that begins with rigorous genetic screening. - In addition to ICH and PRA, we test for all known genetic conditions that affect Golden Retrievers. Our breeding decisions are guided by the latest scientific insights and international best practices—ensuring that every litter reflects our commitment to health, integrity, and breed preservation.  By combining advanced genetic testing with ethical decision-making, Mochavulin continues to set a high standard for responsible breeding in South Africa and beyond.  By combining advanced genetic testing with ethical decision-making, Mochavulin continues to set a high standard for responsible breeding in South Africa and beyond.

Uplifting the Breeding Community

Mochavulin has proudly supported numerous breeders—both seasoned and new—by sharing our breeding standards and offering hands-on guidance, rooted in ethical and scientific excellence. Through mentorship and collaboration, we’ve helped uplift others to the high standards we set for ourselves, fostering a stronger, healthier future for the breed.  We’ve helped others elevate their programmes through:

  • Education on the Golden Retriever breed standard
  • Implementation of robust health testing protocols
  • Selection of suitable breeding dogs based on temperament, structure, and genetic compatibility
  • Pedigree analysis to ensure responsible lineage planning
  • And much more—always with a focus on ethical integrity and long-term breed welfare
  • We assist with campaigning/showing numerous dogs of other breeders to championship status and we have shared our breeding lines with select few breeders - that has culminated in enhancing and improving their breeding lines, both in conformation, health and temperament.

Breeding is definitely not for the faint hearted - we have had incredible success with our breeding, but we have also suffered terrible loss and tragedies.  When you put so much effort into planning a litter - from the start with the parents (showing, training, health checks) and then ultimately deciding on a perfect combination - it is not without difficulty and disappointments.  There have been times, when you sit with a 2-day old little puppy in your lap...after you have spent the past 48 hrs, non-stop supporting and helping the puppy to nurse and thrive ....when the universe has other plans and no matter what you do, you lose the puppy.  It is one of the most heart wrenching things that can happen - all your hopes and dreams combined in the smallest bundle of gold-coloured fluff - and you have no other option but to say goodbye.  And then there are the times when you let a piece of your heart go, after 8+ weeks of 24/7 care, dedication and commitment ....hoping that you have made the right decision with the family placement and when you see them drive away with your "little golden-heart-piece" ....your heart skips a beat and you fight back the tears - and then you see the update photos of a "golden-floofball" having the time of their lives....playing, swimming, hugging, kissing (eating stuff they should not eat)....you see photos of them on holiday with their family (riding in boats, swimming in the ocean, running on the beach or in open fields and forests), or you see them next to you in the showring (winning!) ....there is nothing better on this earth!




 
 
 
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