Our Story

Why I Started The Golden Collie

A 14-year-old, a border collie named Butter, and a mission to do better.

My name is Daniel, and I'm 14 years old from Brisbane, Australia. This is the story of why I started The Golden Collie.

I have a golden border collie named Butter. She means everything to me. And like any dog owner, all I wanted was to give her the best — the healthiest, highest quality treats I could find.

But when I started looking, I kept running into the same problem. The treats that were actually good — single ingredient, no preservatives, real meat — were expensive. Really expensive. And the ones I could actually afford? Full of fillers, artificial additives, and ingredients I couldn't even pronounce.

Then it got personal. I watched relatives' dogs get seriously ill — and in some cases, not make it. Dogs that were loved and cared for, but being slowly let down by the low quality food in their bowl and cheap treats in their owner's hands. That broke me.

I decided I wasn't going to accept that anymore. Not for Butter. Not for anyone else's dog either.

So I taught myself how to make dehydrated treats from scratch. I researched everything — how dehydration works, what temperatures are safe, which proteins are most beneficial, how to source properly. Then I walked into my local Brisbane butcher and started building a relationship — buying fresh, human-grade chicken and making every batch by hand, at home, with nothing added.

As more dog owners came on board, the range grew beyond what one pair of hands can make. My chicken treats are still made by me, by hand at home in Bardon. For our beef and seafood, I partner with trusted Australian farms and fisheries — carefully choosing suppliers who meet the same single-ingredient, no-preservative standard I hold my own treats to.

No preservatives. No fillers. No shortcuts. Just one ingredient, chosen with genuine care.

The Golden Collie exists because every dog deserves to be treated like Butter. Quality shouldn't be a luxury — it should be the standard.

"Every bag is held to the standard I'd set for Butter." — Daniel
Illustration of Butter the border collie
The Dog Behind The Brand

Meet Butter 🐾

Butter is a golden brown and white border collie — and the reason all of this exists. She's the chief taste tester, the inspiration behind the brand, and proof that when you make something with love, dogs know the difference.

What We Stand For

Our Values

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Quality First

We never compromise on ingredients. If it's not good enough for Butter, it's not good enough for your dog.

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Honest & Transparent

Single ingredient means exactly that. You always know what's in the bag.

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Giving Back

Every sale donates to RSPCA Queensland — because every animal deserves a second chance.

The Journey

How It Started

  1. Day 1
    Researched dehydration, visited the local butcher, ordered the dehydrator.
  2. Day 3
    Dehydrator arrived. Made first ever batch of chicken liver. Butter approved.
  3. Day 4
    Made chicken necks and hearts. Designed flyers.
  4. Day 5
    Walked the neighbourhood, offered samples, collected first customer contacts.
  5. Now
    Building the website, expanding the range, growing The Golden Collie.