Hi my name is Tam and with my family we are Citsejam Golden Retrievers. If your wondering why Citsejam; Citsejam is Majestic backwards and well I call my girls (the puppies lol) my Majestic Polar Bears.
We went on a journey back just before the Pandemic to add a New addition to the family. Found a breeder put a deposit down and it was a SCAM. Heart Broken I continued my search but by this time I had been in every Golden Retriever group page there was and I started noticing a common theme of People buy dogs and being Scammed, or dogs arriving home with something wrong with them and no support, there temperament wasn’t what you would expect a Golden to be and then the most devastating part. Families finding out that there dog had Hip Dysplasia or other conditions as there dogs grew.
Whilst I thought i had researched and I was informed. I WASN’T and it seemed I was not the only one. Finding out about Puppy Farms (of course I had heard of them but didn’t understand the extent or impact they can negatively have) and then there are your backyard breeders after a quick buck. You don’t know till you know so my aim is to educate and then people can make there own informed choice. This is where Ethical Breeding Programs come into play.
BE INFORMED AND EDUCATED BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DECISION
So this is where my Journey really began. Being introduced to an Ethical Breeder who answered all of my questions. All of them and it was never an issue. Whilst like you I added my name to a wait list and the wait began. In that period of waiting I was introduced to the GRCQ (Golden Retriever Club QLD) who’s primary focus is;
1.To ENCOURAGE the general improvement of the quality, breeding, exhibiting and working of Golden Retrievers.
2. To EDUCATE members, breeders and exhibitors to EMPOWER them in all matters concerning Golden Retrievers.
https://grcq.org.au/
I became educated by what questions I should ask when looking for a Puppy and about how important Health Testing is to better the breed and give Families the best possible chances at receiving a Puppy that is Healthy and temperament matched to your family and circumstances. I was encouraged and given resources to really be informed about the Breed and be as prepared as possible for the impending arrival.
A great book that I had found and most of the Breeders I know actually supply in your puppy pack or when you visit the puppies at around the 6 week mark is:
A Practical Guide to Buying and Raising a Healthy Golden Retriever. by Jane Hodges. This is jam packed with so much information it isn’t funny.
Then in 2022 the day arrived when I got to pickup Lala (meaning Tulip in Slavic) and was given the opportunity to be Mentored (by the most supporting two Ladies I have met, one of which has 50 years experience with Golden Retrievers. So to say I feel Blessed in an understatement) and be part of a Golden Retriever Breeding Program here in North Queensland. Aus.(Pending all the health testing to ensure she would be a perfect candidate)
Then in 2023 we decided on another Girl to join our Family and we were Blessed to bring River into our Fold. You know what, the Breeder has supported me from day dot and will continue to do so and that’s what you should expect.
Our Mission is to Strive to Breed Healthy Dogs with Wonderful Sound Temperaments to bring Joy and Love into your life. We are a small Family Kennel who exclusively Breed English /European bloodlines. Each dog brings it's own Character to the table and we are so excited to be part of your journey bringing a Golden or 2nd or 3rd into your world. So to do this with the aim of Freedom of hereditary defects we do all the health checks - We test hips and elbows, heart, eyes, Ict-A and Pra 1 & 2 DNA tests. All of these must be well and truly within our very strict standards before we consider using one of our dogs in the breeding program.
Lastly, we need our dogs to be beautiful on the outside as well as the inside. The show-ring, whilst not our primary goal, is a great way for us to know we have a great dog that meets Breed Standards and are Prized by Judges not just from Aus but around the would, so we do compete from time to time in Conformation Shows.
We only breed occasionally and only allow our puppies to go to wonderful loving homes where they will be cherished as family members.
All enquiries are welcomed to Join the Citsejam Community.
