Chaleur Kennels was first established in 1969 by my parents Michael and Judy Challen in Victoria. Their first Golden, a bitch was from Victoria. A second bitch was purchased just prior to moving to Western Australia in 1971. A week after arriving here the first litter of Chaleur Goldens was born. The original bitch line was from 2 English imports of strong Westley descent and a puppy from this litter was the first Chaleur dog to win a CC at the Western Australian Golden Retriever Club Championship Show in 1977, Chaleur Gold Minerva. As my parent's life got busier the time to exhibit became less and less and it wasn?t until our dear Chaleur Gold Rossie died at 14yrs of age that the family became more active in the show scene. A male was purchased from Mrs Robyn Peirce, Ralun Qualifier. When my parents returned to Melbourne another Ralun Golden came into my life and became the top winning bitch this State has ever seen, Aust Grand Champion Ralun Stop n Stare. This beautiful girl is the base of our current bitch line.We attribute the success of our dogs today to her.Her construction and type has had such a huge influence on our dogs,undoubtedly her love of the Show ring and impeccable temperament has shone through her progeny for several generations. In her own right she has proven herself as a winner of over 1000 challenge points (65 CC?s); 4 specialty CC?s, and 2 RCC?s; 3 times runner up BEST IN SHOW and once awarded BEST IN SHOW at the Western Australian Golden Retriever Championship Show. She has also had 3 Royal Show CC?s and been the top CC winning bitch in W.A. (4 times). In 1993 she was mated to Eng Ch & Aust Ch Tasvane Charles Henry (imp UK). This lovely litter produced our record breaking dog GRAND CHAMPION CHALEUR ACCLAIM TO FAME. There is nothing this dog didn't achieve in the showring. He has did more than we could have ever dreamed of. He won an amazing 10 specialty BEST IN SHOWS all under international breed specialists. He was a multiple All Breeds BEST IN SHOW winner, and to top it all he was the winner of the All Breeds Contest of Champions in 1998, then runner up in 1996 and 2000. He was awarded RUBIS at the prestigious Perth Royal Show in 1996. In 1999 we were very lucky to have been entrusted with some of the best lines in the UK and Europe, through Henric Fryckstrand of DEWMIST KENNELS in Sweden. Through the importation of frozen semen (jointly with Robyn Peirce, of RALUN kennels) we have been able to strengthen our bloodlines. In more recent year we had the opportunity to import semen from the very famous ENG SH CH LUX CH Zampanzar say It Again Shardanell owned by Margaret Joy in the UK and bred by Paco Garcia Mendoza in Spain. "Archie's" bloodlines have been the most wonderful influence on our breeding and we are ever so grateful for the opportunity to have his progeny here. We have had some wonderful wins already with his kids and we look forward to the future with them. All of our dogs are tested for all hereditary diseases, including eyes, hips, elbows and hearts, and DNA tested for PRA1 PRA2 and Ichthyosis before they are bred from. Currently I am licensed to judge all of the Toy, Gundog, Utility and Working Dog Groups, at Championship level. My daughter, husband and I also have whippets, which we love and we have had some wonderful successes with them, please go to their own page for further details. My other passion is horses along with my daughter Georgia. In the last few years we have started to breed the German Riding Ponies which are absolutely wonderful horses. I compete in dressage with them and we have also competed in the show horse scene with them too. The horses also have their own page if you would like to read more about them.
We hope you enjoy your browse through our Website and feel free to email us at ruth@chaleurgoldens.com or find us on Facebook at "Chaleur Park"