Not for Mario Chong, the owner of The Home of Golden Retrievers Malaysia, a corner lot house in a neighbourhood in Puchong, that is no ordinary home as it houses over 10 gorgeous golden retrievers.
FMT visited Chong recently to talk about the ‘special occupants’ of his home, a breed he confessed to loving all his life.
“I have been fascinated by the breed since I was young and dreamed of owning my own golden retriever,” Chong said, adding that his dream came true soon enough.
His fascination with the breed was so strong that in 2021, Chong opened The Home of Golden Retrievers Malaysia to share his love for the breed with everyone.
“We started this home with one goal in mind, and that is to share our knowledge about golden retrievers with those who are interested,” Chong explained.
He is ever ready to advise new owners or those thinking about getting a golden retriever, about what to expect from the breed. “We hope that by them visiting the home they are able to familiarise themselves with the breed and prepare themselves better,” he said.
“We have one slot every Sunday where we can accommodate up to 15 people to come and meet, play and take pictures with the dogs.”
He said the time slots are limited but only because the dogs get really tired from the excitement of meeting new people, running around and playing in the garden. “We do not want to put any stress on them,” Chong shared.
He said that a typical visit included meeting the dogs first, taking pictures with them and finally playing with them outside in the garden.
These dogs are dear to Chong’s heart, and he ensures that they are given the most luxurious life – right down to their names! Each dog is named after a luxury brand like Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Burberry.
“Our oldest dog is Chanel, and she is the mother of the group and then comes her ‘boyfriend’ Hermes.
“Hermes is actually our biggest dog and weighs up to 55kgs. Many people get scared of him as he looks like a big lion, but he is completely harmless,” Chong said, laughing.
The dogs roam freely throughout the house and retire for the night in their own fully air-conditioned bedroom that ensures they stay cool and comfortable.
Golden retrievers require a lot of love and attention and Chong is more than happy to give them just that. He is extremely hands on with the dogs from their training to their grooming.
“Each dog is different and when training them I get to learn more about the dog,” Chong said.
The dogs are so well trained that they even know how to stop and pose for pictures! This of course is followed by a reward in the form of their favourite treats.
The Home of Golden Retrievers used to serve snacks and drinks to their guests as well as hold small events at their premises. However due to the high demand and shortage of staff, they have had to put a pause on these activities for the time being.
“We hope that in the near future we will be able to expand our business and organise events once again.”
The Home of Golden Retrievers Malaysia
2, Jalan Tasik Prima 3/1C
Taman Tasik Prima
41750 Puchong
Selangor
Want to meet these lovely dogs? Book your slots with The Home of Golden Retrievers Malaysia on Instagram. Or find out about what they’ve been up to on Facebook.