Meet Mafa the Water-Loving Golden Retriever with Energy to Spare
Welcome to Meet the Pack, our series introducing the real dogs behind Chewpions.
First up is Mafa, an 18-month-old Golden Retriever living with her family in Thailand.
She is active, affectionate and beautifully trained. She loves swimming, wearing her bandana, joining the family on car journeys and making sure that no game of snooker proceeds without her involvement.
Mafa may look calm and sensible, but behind those gentle Golden Retriever eyes is a dog with a big personality - and a daily commitment to joyful chaos.
Meet Mafa in 30 Seconds
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age: 18 months at the time of writing
Home: Thailand
Personality: Active, affectionate, sociable and well trained
Favourite activity: Swimming
Favourite toy: Anything that squeaks
Favourite accessory: Her bandana
Favourite outing: Going in the car with her family
Special talent: Attempting to rearrange the snooker balls
Daily ritual: Morning and bedtime zoomies
How Mafa Joined Her Family
Mafa spent the first six months of her life living in a shop.
Her current family visited the shop regularly and had already become familiar faces to her. When the shop owner could no longer keep Mafa, they asked the family whether they would be able to give her a home.
Thankfully, they said yes.
Mafa left the shop and became part of a loving family. Her life soon became filled with outings, toys, swimming, training and plenty of attention.
She now loves accompanying the family in the car and being included in whatever they are doing. For Mafa, the journey is not simply a way of getting somewhere. It is part of the adventure.
An Active and Well-Trained Young Dog
At 18 months old, Mafa is still a young dog with plenty of energy and curiosity.
She is very well trained, but good manners have certainly not removed her playful side. She enjoys being active, spending time with the family and finding ways to join in with everyday life.
That balance is one of the things her family loves most about her. Mafa can listen carefully and behave beautifully—and then suddenly race through the house as though she has been personally selected for the Golden Retriever Grand Prix.
Mafa’s Daily Zoomies
Mafa enjoys zoomies at least once a day.
One of her favourite times to race around is when she sees someone for the first time in the morning. A calm greeting is apparently not expressive enough when several high-speed laps can demonstrate exactly how pleased she is to see them.
She is also known for getting the zoomies at bedtime.
Just as everyone else is preparing to settle down, Mafa may decide that one final burst of activity is essential. Only after completing her evening circuit is she ready to call it a day.
Mafa’s daily sprints make her the perfect example of the behaviour explored in our guide to why dogs get the zoomies.
A Golden Retriever Who Loves to Swim
One of Mafa’s greatest loves is the swimming pool.
Living in Thailand means dealing with warm weather for much of the year, and Mafa is happiest when she can splash, swim and cool down in the water.
Unfortunately, she recently developed a skin infection and had to take a temporary break from swimming.
Mafa has a long, thick coat. Her family believes that Thailand’s heat, moisture trapped close to her skin and traces of chlorinated pool water may have contributed to the irritation, even though she was hosed down after swimming.
Because skin infections can have several possible causes, any redness, itching, soreness or unusual smell should be assessed by a vet rather than diagnosed at home.
What Mafa’s Swimming Experience Taught Us
Mafa’s experience reminded her family that rinsing a long-coated dog may not always be the end of the post-swim routine.
PDSA advises washing dogs after swimming to remove chlorine or anything else collected from the water. It also recommends washing dogs after they have been in a swimming pool specifically to remove chlorine from their fur.
For a dog with a long or dense coat, a sensible post-swim routine may include:
- Rinsing the coat thoroughly with clean water
- Drying the coat carefully, including close to the skin
- Checking beneath thick fur rather than looking only at the surface
- Watching for persistent scratching, licking or rubbing
- Checking for redness, sore areas, moisture, discharge or an unusual smell
- Contacting a vet when irritation develops or does not settle
PDSA recommends parting a pet’s fur in several places during routine checks. Skin should be free from rashes, bald patches, wounds, discharge and infection, and veterinary advice should be sought for sore, itchy, unusually wet or otherwise concerning skin.
These steps cannot guarantee that a skin problem will not develop, but they can help owners notice changes earlier.
Staying Active in Thailand’s Heat
Mafa is naturally energetic, but living in a hot country means her activity also needs to be managed around the temperature.
Dogs can overheat during energetic exercise, particularly during the hottest part of the day. Blue Cross recommends access to fresh water, avoiding strenuous activity in strong midday heat and watching for signs such as excessive panting, lethargy, vomiting, loss of coordination or collapse. Suspected heatstroke requires immediate cooling and urgent veterinary attention.
For Mafa, staying active safely means balancing:
- Exercise with rest
- Swimming with careful coat care
- Outdoor activity with cooler times of day
- Excitement with opportunities to settle
- Plenty of fresh drinking water
- Close attention to changes in her normal behaviour
You can read more in our guide to keeping your dog cool in summer.
Squeaky Toys, Bandanas and Family Adventures
Like many dogs, Mafa has very clear opinions about what makes a good day.
A squeaky toy is always welcome - particularly when everyone else can hear it too. However, squeaky toys need to be chosen carefully and used under supervision. If a toy becomes damaged, the squeaker or small pieces may be pulled out and swallowed, creating a choking risk or internal blockage. Blue Cross recommends choosing a toy suited to the dog’s size and play style and supervising play so the squeaker cannot be swallowed.
For Mafa, this means checking her toys regularly and removing them as soon as they become torn, split or loose. PDSA also recommends selecting appropriately sized toys and supervising dogs during play to reduce the risk of choking.
She also loves wearing her bandana. Some dogs merely tolerate accessories, but Mafa appears to understand that a good bandana completes the entire look.
Car journeys are another favourite. She loves going out with the family and being involved in their plans, whether the destination is exciting or the journey itself is the main event.
A Note About Mafa’s Favourite Butcher’s Bones
Bones from the butcher have been one of Mafa’s favourite treats. However, this is a personal detail about Mafa rather than a recommendation for other dogs.
Veterinary organisations warn that bones can damage teeth, cause choking, injure the digestive tract or create a blockage. PDSA advises against feeding dogs bones, while the RSPCA recommends seeking veterinary advice and close supervision because both raw and cooked bones carry risks.
Owners should ask their own vet about an appropriate chew based on their dog’s size, age, dental health and chewing style.
Mafa’s Favourite Party Trick
Every member of the Chewpions pack needs a special talent, and Mafa’s involves the snooker table.
When the family is playing, she likes to join in by attempting to reach the balls and move them around the table.
Whether she believes she is helping, inventing a more exciting version of the game or objecting to an activity that does not revolve around her remains unclear.
What is certain is that playing a serious frame of snooker becomes considerably more difficult when an enthusiastic Golden Retriever is trying to rearrange the table.
What Everyday Wellness Looks Like for Mafa
Mafa represents an important part of the Chewpions philosophy: wellbeing is not reserved for older dogs or dogs that already have visible difficulties.
Young, active dogs also benefit from a consistent routine built around:
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Suitable physical activity
- Mental stimulation and play
- Rest and quality sleep
- Regular grooming and skin checks
- Routine veterinary care
- Adjustments when their needs or circumstances change
Chewpions’ 12-in-1 daily chew is designed to provide simple everyday nutritional support as one part of a wider wellbeing routine. It does not replace a complete diet, veterinary advice or treatment.
For Mafa, wellness currently means protecting her skin, enjoying appropriate activity, managing Thailand’s heat and hopefully returning safely to the swimming pool she loves.
Three Things Mafa’s Story Reminds Us
1. Know what is normal for your dog
Mafa’s family knows when she usually has her zoomies, what excites her and how she normally behaves. That familiarity makes it easier to notice when something changes.
The RSPCA advises monitoring behaviour because changes can sometimes be an early indication of pain or illness.
2. Look beneath the coat
A beautiful long coat can conceal irritation close to the skin. Regular hands-on checks are just as important as looking at the surface.
3. Adjust the routine when necessary
Temporarily keeping Mafa away from the pool was disappointing, but recovery had to come before her favourite activity. Supporting a dog sometimes means changing the routine they love until it is safe to return.
Life Is Better with Mafa
Mafa’s life has changed considerably since she spent her first six months in a shop.
She now has a loving family, car journeys, squeaky toys, stylish bandanas, swimming adventures and regular opportunities to disrupt a game of snooker.
Whether she is greeting the family at full speed, wearing her favourite bandana or completing one final bedtime zoomie, Mafa brings enormous joy - and exactly the right amount of mischief - to the Chewpions pack.
We cannot wait to share more of her adventures.
Does your dog have an unusual party trick or a bedtime routine as energetic as Mafa’s? Share it with the Chewpions pack on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mafa
How old is Mafa?
Mafa is 18 months old at the time of writing.
What breed is Mafa?
She is a Golden Retriever.
Where does Mafa live?
Mafa lives with her family in Thailand.
What does Mafa enjoy most?
She loves swimming, squeaky toys, wearing her bandana, travelling in the car and being involved in family life.
When does Mafa get the zoomies?
Her zoomies usually appear when she sees someone for the first time in the morning or just before bedtime.
Why is Mafa taking a break from swimming?
Mafa recently developed a skin infection. Her family is giving her skin time to recover before she returns to the pool.
