THE FILIGRIGOLD STORY

Welcome to the home of Filigrigold Golden Retrievers. We are a small family kennel situated on hinterland acreage south of Brisbane. Our romance with Golden Retrievers began more than 25 years ago when Rob and I were first introduced to one another by Rob’s then Golden Retriever “Solomon” — a real Golden character in a real-life love story, and the beginning of our new life together as a family. We have been owned by — and deeply involved with — Golden Retrievers ever since, mostly as our companions and much-loved members of our family.

It was on one serendipitous day in 2014 that we came upon a little fork in the road by the name of “Willow” (Bicklewood Follow Your Heart, from Dr Ian and Wendy Johnson of Bicklewood Goldens). Willow was our first ‘show girl’, and it was she who gently changed the direction of our journey. Through her, Filigrigold was born.

Willow led us into the show ring and beyond. While the increasing demands of work and family life now limit the time we can spend on the circuit, we continue to enjoy ring-craft and make a concerted effort to compete with our Goldens at several shows a year, particularly breed specialties.

Our journey with our own Goldens — learning of their 155-year heritage, meeting breeders, exhibitors and enthusiasts along the way — awakened a calling in our hearts to become faithful custodians and breeders of this truly charming, old-world breed.

The dawning of Filigrigold soon followed. With it came a deep sense of dedication to the preservation of the Golden Retriever’s nobility, its heritage, its hallmarks, and the remarkable legacy left by its founding father, Lord Tweedmouth. This is Filigrigold’s heartfelt commitment.

OUR GOLDEN FAMILY

Today we share our lives with our boys Rishi and Sherman, and our girls Betty Boop, C’Belle, Squizzy, Freya, Stella, Phoebe, and Zerelda — each of whom enrich our lives immeasurably and fill our home with both golden hair and golden joy. Several of our girls form part of our show team and select breeding program, but above all else, they are cherished members of our family. Their wellbeing, happiness, and life with us will always come first.

From this story grew our philosophy, our breeding method, and our commitment to preservation and stewardship — which we share more about in the pages that follow.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Filigrigold Kennels was founded on a deep respect for the Golden Retriever and a belief that ethical breeding must be guided by conscience, intention and long-term responsibility.

We do not breed for trends, convenience or commercial gain, but from a sense of responsibility. We breed because we feel a duty to the breed itself — to its heritage, its purpose, its nature and its future.

Inspired by the art of filigree, our name reflects our approach: fine detail, careful craftsmanship, quiet excellence. Much of our work is unseen — in the research we do, the pedigrees we study, the reflection we undertake, and the thoughtful restraint that precedes every decision.

Our philosophy is simple: Do what is right for the dog, for the breed, and for the future.

OUR CONSERVATION APPROACH

As conservation breeders, we are not simply preserving the Golden Retriever — we are actively contributing to its advancement.

This means:

• choosing pairings with purpose
• prioritising soundness, temperament and type
• considering long-term genetic health
• avoiding fashionable extremes or shortcuts
• honouring the qualities that make the Golden Retriever beloved worldwide
• strengthening those qualities for generations to come

Our decisions today are taken with a decade from now in mind. This is stewardship, not production.

OUR PROGRAM

Our breeding and raising program is guided by ethical integrity, conscientious practice, and an unwavering commitment to quality over quantity.

We breed selectively and infrequently, choosing only combinations that serve a clear, thoughtful purpose. Each litter is planned with care, reflection and discipline — never pressure or demand.

Puppies are raised in our home, not in kennels. Their early experiences are curated with intention, supporting emotional stability, confidence, resilience and a healthy sense of the world.

We believe that well-adjusted dogs are created through:

• daily, hands-on interaction
• thoughtful routines
• enriched early development
• respect for individual temperament
• quiet, consistent attention to detail

These are the foundations that shape a Filigrigold puppy.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL PRACTICE

Ethics are not a marketing phrase for us — they are the backbone of Filigrigold.

This means:

• honesty and transparency in all decisions
• responsible placement into committed homes
• adherence to best-practice health and genetic standards
• prioritising welfare over convenience
• accountability to the breed, our families and ourselves

We hold ourselves to a high standard, not because it is expected, but because it is right.

OUR DOGS & THEIR LEGACY

A Filigrigold Golden Retriever reflects the qualities we value most:

• steadiness
• clarity
• soundness
• classic type
• generosity of temperament
• emotional balance

These attributes are not produced by chance. They are the natural outcome of purposeful breeding and thoughtful early raising.

Our legacy is not measured in numbers — but in the lifelong wellbeing of the dogs we produce and the families who love them.

OUR PROMISE

We stand beside our families for the life of every Filigrigold dog.
Support is not an optional extra — it is part of our identity.

Filigrigold is more than a kennel.
It is a commitment — to the dogs we raise,
to the families who trust us, and
to the Golden Retriever we are devoted to advancing and conserving.