Meet Jaffle! Future Chief Taste Tester. Son of a Dozer friend. A little bundle of golden, fluffy joy!
48 hours of instant happiness
I didn’t expect to get a new puppy so soon after saying goodbye to Dozer. To be honest, I wasn’t sure when I’d be ready. And I had it in my head that this time round I’d like to adopt. I’d submitted my application, spoken to Golden Retriever Rescue, and was waiting for the right time and the right dog.
Then I recently found out that Clem, one of Dozer’s friends, had gotten pregnant and had a litter of puppies while I was hiding from the world during the last few months. When I met them, one little fluffball stole my heart immediately. A chunky chunderbum of a boy, destined to be big and gold. Just like Dozer. 🥰
He is not the first goldie that has crossed my path since losing Dozer. But he is the first that felt right. I picked him up 48 hours ago, and he’s already managed to completely wrap me around his chunky little paw. No surprises there!
Jaffle Q&A
Where did you get him from? From Kim Handley of Giltedge Golden Retrievers, a registered NSW breeder whose dogs Dozer used to play with regularly at the beach. Unlike Dozer, Jaffle comes from championship lines and a long pedigree of award-winning golden retrievers. It all sounds very impressive on paper, though around these parts, he’ll be judged on very different criteria!
Who are his parents? Jaffle’s mother is Clem, one of the golden retrievers Dozer used to splash around with at Bayview dog beach every weekend in his younger, wilder days. His father is Linirgor Tomich (“Tommy”), who lives in Falkirk, Scotland. Tommy was the UK Champion and Top Stud Dog in 2025. 😳 I know, right??!!
What are you feeding him? I’m currently giving Jaffle dog food recommended by the breeder – Black Hawk for Large Breed Puppies (kibble) plus Lyka Fresh Lamb Dog Food. I am keen to move him onto a homemade food diet as soon as possible. But I know that puppies need the right nutrients to help them grow which I don’t have knowledge about, so I won’t be making any changes to his diet until I speak to professionals.
Dozer was on homemade food from 4 years old, after falling very ill from a bad batch of a well-respected kibble brand (not Black Hawk! :)). He thrived on it! Everyone, including vet professionals, marvelled at the silkiness of his fur and health in his senior years. I am a big believer in real food for dogs. (And humans 🙂 ). In the end, what took him was complications relating to a neurological disorder (Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy – GOLPP).
How old is he? He’s 11 weeks old! He was born on 25 March 2026. I could’ve picked him up a few weeks earlier but I was away in Japan until the weekend. I can’t believe how much he’s grown since I first met him a month ago!
Right at home in the kitchen!
It’s only been 48 hours, but he’s already right at home in the kitchen! I’m going to have to get cracking with the training. Can’t have him stealing food from the pantry or off the bench – Dozer never did that!!
And while it’s early days (ie. still a nervous new puppy owner so I’m exercising restraint on the food front!), I am very happy to report that Jaffle is showing great promise for his future role as Chief Taste Tester of RecipeTin. Proof: enthusiastic cheese acceptance…
….and kale rejection.
He gave it a good chew, then spat it out and looked at it with the same expression Dozer did, like he couldn’t believe I was trying to pass it off as food. 😂
The pitter patter of paws
The house sounds different now. Like home again. The pitter patter of paws on the floorboards, toys scattered in corners, countless little wet patches (I forgot how much puppies pee!) and a little golden shadow following me around everywhere I go.
I know many of you loved Dozer, and I hope you’ll come to love Jaffle too. He’s already brought so much happiness back into my life, in a short 48 hours.
I look forward to watching him grow up with all of you! ❤️ – Nagi x
PS A jaffle is a uniquely Australian toasted sandwich made in a special jaffle iron that seals the edges of the bread together while it cooks. The filling gets trapped inside, creating a crispy golden pocket with hot filling in the middle, and the presence of cheese is mandatory in my world. I look forward to sharing a recipe with you!!
Remembering Dozer
And with the introduction of Jaffle comes the retirement of the Dozer section that somehow became the part of every post that you all skipped straight to before even looking at the recipe. You know how much it secretly delighted me every time somebody admitted that. 🥰
I’ve been dreading this day, because stopping the Dozer section makes it seem so final, like I’m losing him all over again.
There will never be a replacement for Dozer. He wasn’t just my dog, he was my sidekick, my shadow, my best friend, and such a huge part of RecipeTin Eats for almost 14 years. So rather than replacing him, I’d much rather think of this as passing the baton to the next generation.
So while Jaffle begins his career as Chief Taste Tester, Dozer will always have a place here. ❤️ The existing Life of Dozer sections will remain, always.
You know I am hopelessly sobbing while I’m writing this post.
But I just realised something. This is my website, and if I feel like sharing a funny Dozer memory, a photo I came across, or a story that makes me smile, then I can. So don’t be surprised if Dozer pops up from time to time. He may have retired from official duties, but he can live on here as much as I want to continue sharing about him.
And honestly, I think Jaffle would be delighted to hear a few stories about the legend who came before him.
Thank you for all the years of sharing the joy that was Dozer. Rest in peace, my darling boy. I will always love you. ❤️ – Nagi x
So very happy to see you smiling again. Jaffle will bring you tons of joy but will never replace the wonderful memories of Dozer. I too, was one, who always checked out the Dozer section before the recipe section. Looking forward to reading about all your exciting, adventurous and happy times with Jaffle!
I’m grinning and crying at the same time. Knowing that you’ve found a new love makes me so happy for you, yet the void that Dozer left can never be filled. But life goes on, and I can’t wait to share all the new adventures and recipes that Jaffle will give us! In the meantime, I know that Dozer is happily looking down from heaven and watching over all of us. Love you, Dozer!
It’s not just you, we’re all hopelessly sobbing! 😭 Such a beautiful but bittersweet moment. Welcome Jaffle, you’ve got big paw prints to fill, but I’m sure you’ll make Dozer proud ❤️
Congratulations on your new addition to the family. Looking forward to hearing about the puppy antics❤️
Oh crickey Nagi. Baffle is beautiful and you’ve got me crying too with memories of Dozer. I have a Goldie too called Rocky. They are and always will be special dogs x
Teach Jaffle to ring the bell when he needs to go out to pee. I did that with my dog, and she started ringing on her own in about a week. I put one of those Bell Hop bells on the floor near the door. Then I took her paw, rang the bell and immediately opened the door to let her out.
Another beautiful tribute to Dozer. ❤️
Oh my goodness, he’s beautiful and going to be a big boy 🥰 So happy that you found each other…absolutely not replacing Dozer….passing the baton 😊
Aw rip dozer. You will be so missed. He really was the greatest and I loved you sharing his life with us. I wanted to say that my dogs are also on a homemade diet and they are thriving. The vets always say that they are the softest lol. Real food really does help pups. Also Jaffle is adorable. I’m wishing y’all many wonderful memories ♥️
I am so happy for you Nagi. I know how difficult it is to lose a best friend like Dozer but I am so happy you are ready to love another puppy again. Enjoy Jaffle and thank you for all the great recipes.
My goodness! Your new fur love is gorgeous and super cute!
The love you had for Dozer needed to be channeled onward and Jaffle is perfect!
Dozer ❤️ is certainly happy to see you have a new life companion and someone to carry on supporting you in recipe development 😋 How else could you know what actually works 😁
Lots of love!
OMG, isn’t he the cutest!!
I know Dozer is somewhere happy that you have someone looking after you as only a dog can. ❤️
Another beautiful tribute to Dozer. ❤️
Oh my goodness, he’s beautiful and going to be a big boy 🥰 So happy that you found each other…absolutely not replacing Dozer….passing the baton 😊
Jaffle is sooo cute! Look forward to seeing him around the the kitchen.
Love Jaffle. Beautiful little heartwarmer, :-).
Congratulations Nagi on your new best friend and gorgeous family member.
Dozer will always live on in the hearts of everyone who loved him, and he will never be forgotten. When Dozer passed – heartbreaking. I did not visit for a while. Found it difficult. Wasn’t the same without Dozer.
Looking forward to seeing Jaffle’s adventures. Hugs for him.
Jaffle, meet our dog, Jaffle -also named after the toastie! Nagi, the new Jaffle is fantastic, wishing you many happy years together.
Hi Nagi, how marvellous that you have a new little bundle to love. We lost our beautiful Lucy (schnoodle) about 10 days after you lost Dozer & these 2 events are forever joined in my mind. It seems to me that for all the days they were with us, lighting our lives, both Dozer & Lucy lived the dream. Jaffle has big shoes to fill, & watching him grow into them will be magic. There is endless love in our hearts, enough to go around. Fluffy yellow joy to you I say! Perhaps a recipe for yellow fairy floss?? (just joking :)) best, K
Oh Nagi, Jaffle’s is so beautiful, what a fitting new chapter, i cant wait for Jaffles taste testing on all your recipes.
As I read with excitement the news of your new floof Jaffle, I fully empathise with the memories you hold deep in your heart of Dozer. He was your goodest boi.
Whilst our family has Maggie, now 5, we still cry often when we reminisce over our dear Maisy(16 yrs old).
Hold Jaffle close, and the memories of Dozer even closer.
Excited to watch Jaffle grow alongside side you
Love from our family
Jaffle will be the perfect salve as your heart heals Nagi.
Did you realise that when Dozers spirit left this world it whispered to Jaffle, “ My Mum needs you”
So happy to see the smiles back on your face and the space in your heart filled with your new fur- baby.❤️
Jaffle will be the perfect salve as your heart heals Nagi.
Did you realise that when Dozers spirit left this world it whispered to Jaffle, “ My Mum needs you”
So happy to see the smiles back on your face and the space in your heart filled with your new fur- baby.❤️
Dozers job is done 🩷🩷🩷