Sometimes being a trainer is no fun at all. A very nice young woman approached me recently and asked for some help with her young Lab mix (if I had to guess LabxHusky). Just said she wanted him to be trained to be more obedient.
So today was his first day of daycare and train. He’s a big dog and he came in with over the top frenetic energy. I put him outside to hang around in the pen hoping a little outdoor time might calm him a bit.
When he came back in (LOTS of treats!) he went right into his crate (more treats!). I reached into the crate to remove his lead (all new dogs go out trailing a lead until I am confident they will be ok).
As I put my hands on his collar he drew back and growled and I pulled my hand back and closed the door. I had no doubt he would have bitten me if I persisted.
So here’s a puzzle-no mention of any aggressive issues but it was definitely a growl.
As the day went on I had him out many times and eventually he trusted me enough to go outside and to kennel up when I asked him to.
When his mom came for him I reported his behavior and she seemed unsurprised about the growl. In fact she said that he had growled a the vet and at her children.
I was going to be the definitive evaluator as to his safety in her home. Although I was not happy about her not reporting the previous growls I did understand it was her way of not prejudicing my call.
So, not all dogs consider using their teeth. My breed, Golden Retrievers, understand their teeth are meant for eating and chewing on fun things, preferably yucky fun things. It woud be very hard to get a Golden to bite.
This dog was not against biting if he had to. Thankfully he had a growl as a warning sign so I could back off. Small children in the home, not so much. So I had to tell the mom this was not the dog for her. He could be a very nice dog for a home with no children. Especially a home with owners who would train him and exercise him. Nothing I could do was going to make him safe in her home and in fact if he did bite one of her kids his chance for placement would be gone.
She was disappointed but not surprised. I asked her to let me know what happened to him and she said she would. I am sorry I could not have helped more but secure that my feedback had perhaps saved his life.
Babe X Sammy-this is a breeding of 2 active, spirited dogs-still will be wonderful house dogs but need an active life. Hunting, agility, obedience, hiking etc. 1 Boy 4 Girls. https://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=1114296
We are very proud to announce a very special litter! We have 4 females and one male. Handsome vigorous pups with lovely heads and sturdy bodies. I have been watching Sammy for a while and have been impressed by his proven working ability combined with his good looks. He has proven to be a terrific working dog and is major pointed in the breed ring. An unusual and valuable combination of looks and talent. Babe is my young up-and-coming female- she is in field training and doing well and has become a wonderful mom to her litter. Her line is strongly influenced by the wonderful Yogi (an OTCH CH Master Agility dog). I believe these pups will be outstanding family companions and working dogs. I am looking for committed owners who want a well-bred, handsome pup with the talent and ability to excel in field, agility, breed, tracking and any other venue.
It has been quiet here- business essentially shut since March. Now it’s June time to get going again. Starting a small free-of-charge class for young folks 7-17 to train their dogs. In Hillsdale FMI norahayes3@aol.com
October 2019
New litter on the ground. Six boys and four girls. Healthy and vigorous. Here is link to breeding : http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=984688 Both sire and dam are gentle laid back Goldens with outstanding temperaments. The dam is my Blue’s daughter, the sire is owned by Jennifer Lawton, Cabochon Goldens, and he is a lovely older gent. September 2019
Cara is 12 and doing well, Blue is 9 and sired a beautiful litter last year. Gwen is three and her daughter Babe is one. I lost Pinky, Gwen’s mother in August and it is still really difficult to talk about the loss. We fought her Lymphoma diagnosis for a year and a half and I am grateful for the time I had with her. She was a unique, quirky, spunky girl with a big personality. I see much of her carried on in Gwen and Babe.
October 2018
Wonderful news- All the kids are doing well, Cara is 11 Blue is 8, Pinky is 6 and Gwen is 2. Gwen is expecting her first litter in November. This is my first completely home based breeding. The sire is Blue and the strongest genetic influence behind the pups is Cara who just sailed through her senior panel at almost 12 (and went on a pheasant hunt yesterday and flushed and retrieved her bird). Here is the link to the breeding: http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=787443 Stay tuned for more news.
September 2018
Pinky is done with a very aggressive course of chemotherapy and now I can focus on getting her well again. She is a bit frail but her blood work is good and she is eating well. So now we return her to good health and pray to God for time for her.
May 2018
Just a really tough month-Pinky at 6 diagnosed with Lymphoma-Finding the right treatment and making sure she gets it is my total focus.
May 2017
Quick update. All is well. Sully went to a new home when she turned 2. She was not getting along with her mom Pink. So now Cara is 10, Blue is 7 and Pink is 5. Baby Gwen is 9 months. More to come but I have been busy and productive but my website is sure neglected!
January 29, 2015
Cara is rehabbing from a shoulder injury and we are back doing therapy work. We presented at a local psychiatric facility yesterday and received this lovely note: “The event yesterday was so appreciated by all who attended. I will give you a call in the next week, but wanted you to know how much you and Kara uplifted the day of 10 patients.” Many many thanks!
Time marches on, my puppy Sully from Pink’s first litter is now almost 1 1/2! Pink has a new litter and is being a very good Mom. She got her WC (working certificate title) last fall picking up her Pheasant on land and her ducks on water. Her Mom, Cara is spayed after her last pup last year and we are full out competing in masters agility and having fun! Blue has his novice agility titles his JH and his WC, working on more titles with my adult dogs, we have fun training then testing out our skills. Meanwhile pups require a lot of time and energy!
March 4, 2013
How time flies–the pups are 4 weeks old and they have become a horde–Yikes–active, healthy and seeking new adventures at all times!! More info on puppy page
February 12, 2013
Puppies!! we have beaurtiful puppies! Seven gorgeous girls and one boy.One week old-healthy active and happy!!
December 5, 2012
My how time flies. The puppies from the last litter are 11 months old. Handsome healthy and VERY smart. I kept Pinkie who has won breed matches (she’s pretty!) and brought back all of her Pheasants to win Puppy Stakes at the Southern Berkshire Golden Retriever Club Fall Fun Trial (she’s smart and knows how to work!). I love this litter and I am repeating the breeding. Cara will be bred one last time to Sutton, the sire. Pedigree information:
Cara’s puppies are here! We are lucky to have 5 beautiful babies-4 gals and one boy. All healthy and vigorous. November 2011So much good news! Cara is confirmed pregnant today–at least 5 puppies!! Due in December–ready to go home in February. We are expecting a lovely litter. Reservations and deposits being accepted now.
October 2011
BLUE did it–he is a Junior Hunter. Mommie is very proud!!
September 8, 2011
Baby Blue has 3 Junior hunter legs–one more and he is a Junior Hunter! This Sunday 9/11, Finn and I are going down to NYC to participate in a special ceremony honoring the dogs who served after the 9/11 attacks. it is a great honor. Please see Finn’s page
July 20, 2011
Since April things have looked up. Cara has finished her Open agility Titles with placements! And baby Blue has 2 Junior Hunter Ribbons!! YAY Mom and son! I love these kids of mine, handsome to look at and they can knuckle down and do the job!
April 19 2011
The news is not good–the breeding did not take and we will not have spring puppies–everyone is pretty bummed out. We are getting back to getting on with things but it is a big disappointment.
March 7th 2011
Back from the specialty, Blue showed well, no ribbons this time, but his time will come! Finn, my old guy, did well, raced around the ring like a puppy and took Best Opposite Sex Veteran. GO FINN! BIG NEWS—Cara is bred and we are hoping and praying for a litter. Here is the breeding announcement: CARA,Comstock Honora’s Anam Cara RN JH NA NAJ OF WC CCA TDI http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=246239was bred to CONOR Goldtrak Steelecreek Classic VC,CD,WC, AX, OAJ, NF, TDI http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=65263 Handsome, hard working puppies expected the first week of MAY. Both parents CHIC. (all clearances) Cara re-cerfed Dr Jurk 2/11/2011. (eye clearance) This will be a very special litter. Cara’s first litter is one year old now, nine handsome and healthy puppies. This breeding is to my wonderful Conor, lost over a year ago. Due to the terrific reproductive services available now, Cara was surgically inseminated with Conor’s frozen sperm on Saturday. So a chance to bring offspring into the world with Conor’s looks and personality mixed with Cara’s–these puppies should be stunning.
February 14, 2011
Blue (11 months) and Finn (12 1/2 years) are entered in the Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club Specialty on February 25th, we have high hopes for my promising youngster and my still feisty and animated veteran. Blue and his mom, Cara, went to the specialist eye doctor last Friday and both passed their eye exam! One of the very important clearances necessary to have a healthy and breedable dog. Mom is getting close to being bred for the second time and we are all on pins and needles. This is a very special breeding to my wonderful boy Conor. He is no longer alive but we have enough frozen sperm for one breeding. So, this is it, if it takes we should have terrific pups from beautiful multi-titled, exceptional parents. If not, we have nothing left of him, to carry on his legacy, and I will be pretty sad I did not breed him earlier in his life.
December 21, 2010
We wish all our customers and friends a happy and healthy holiday and a wonderful New Year! Blue entered his first big show with his Mom handling on December 11th in Providence RI and took second place! We were in the ring with pro handlers and he still almost took the Blue Ribbon–he is a stunning young dog and we are very proud of him!
November 9, 2010
What a great summer! Blue: is 8 months old now-good natured, handsome and strong. He continues to do well at puppy matches but we are really concentrating on his field work and obedience. He tried for his first working field title (WC) at 6 months and failed in great style! (The very considerate judges set up the double with a water filled ditch in the middle so the dogs would not switch on the land double-guess who jumped into the ditch?! BLUE!)We are continuing to train over the Winter and I feel confident he will be ready in the spring-he is birdy, fast, focused and fearless! Cara:Finished her JH (Junior Hunter) in grand style–going 4 for 4. She finished her Open FAST agility title the same way, qualifying in every run and placing, including 2 Blue Ribbons! She is a very special gal-smart, funny, athletic, very fanatical about her retrieving (less so about giving what she picks up to Mom!). We are also closing in on her Open agility and Rally titles and we hope to have them soon as she will be bred in February to my Conor (lost a year ago to cancer, still missed terribly and we are lucky to have 2 breedings collected to use for this very special litter).
Not to be outdone his Mom trialed three days this July and won three ribbons:
A third her first time in Open FAST agility
Her first Junior Hunter Pass (her first time)
And, she won the Blue Ribbon for her first Novice Rally leg at the Big E July 9th (again the first time in the obedience ring ever!)
Cara was also awarded the Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club’s entry level agility trophy(MACH2 Cross Creek Swatch of Pebwin ADHF) for her ribbons in agility in 2009!I am very proud of my wonderful talented dogs!
I will never win awards for updating my web site! I have a new litter on the ground. 10 healthy vigorous puppies-very blessed. Mom is Dusty (my Blue’s daughter), who lives with Heather and Rodric. She comes back to me for whelping her pups. Here is link to the breeding–sire and dam have all clearances
Gwen is expecting her first litter in November. This is my first completely home based breeding. The sire is Blue and the strongest genetic influence behind the pups is Cara who just sailed through her senior panel at almost 12 (and went on a pheasant hunt yesterday and flushed and retrieved her bird). Here is the link to the breeding: http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=787443Stay tuned for more news.
February 2018
Oh my, time flies, Gwen has her eye clearance and goes for her heart next weekend. Finally hips and elbows in August and we’re good to go for a September breeding. She also picked up her first award ribbon at the Southern Berkshire GRC annual banquet (her Canine Good Citizen and Novice Trick title). She is smart, pretty and we are having fun! Pinky’s beautiful puppy Gwen from her 2016 litter is growing up smart and full of mischief. She is a hoot! Her pedigree listed below. If she passes her clearances she will be bred to Blue this fall. Here is test breeding: http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=787443.I am expecting lovely, spirited pups with outstanding temperaments.
PUPPIES!! Finally a litter, 10 puppies, healthy, vigorous, beautiful pups. Born August 3, 2016 Here is K9 data link to Sire and dam, Scout and Pinky. This is Pinky’s final litter and she is leaving a wonderful legacy.
Lots of time went by between now and last posting. New litter on the ground 11 days old today, one girl two boys. Pink’s litter PLANNED this time! (see below for her first ooops litter) Breeding is listed on K9 data:
Wow time goes by! My pup from the litter, Sullivan, is now 6 months old. Happy and healthy and picking up Pheasants and Ducks already! The rest are with wonderful families-spirited and handsome pups!
3/4/2013
Puppy update-we are very lucky to have healthy beautiful puppies-2 litters 2 moms. Cara my 6 year old, had her singleton pup on Thursday, February 7th A planned breeding and a lovely female puppy. Here is the link to the breeding info:http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=446335
5 days before Cara’s pup arrived her daughter Pink, not to be outdone by Mom, produced a litter of 7 pups–one male and 6 females. Definitely NOT a planned breeding and a big worry to me based on Pink’s young age. As the litter grew up (and by the way, we shared pups, Cara’s single pup was soon joined by several of Pink’s litter-a fact that did NOT please Pink who was very sure all of the pups belonged only to her!) I was delighted to see that the puppies were terrific-active healthy growing by leaps and bounds and Pink in spite of her age settled into being a wonderful Mom. Big relief. Now, at 4 weeks, the puppies are developing nicely and are beautiful. Pedigree for this litter, a mating of Pink with her half brother Blue (same Mom different fathers):http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=526891 Deposits and reservations on the pups are coming in and we will be fully reserved soon. (The little gal with the brown collar in Pink’s litter will be staying with me).
February 12, 2013
We got our puppies!! SEVEN beautiful girls and one lonely boy
December 2012
Cara will be bred this weekend (December 9th) one last time to the sire of her last litter, Sutton. To see pedigree please see “News” page on this web site. The repeat breeding will hopefully produce puppies as smart and handsome as the “Fab 5”. Those puppies are 11 months old now-my Pinkie has won or placed in a number of breed matches and Puppy stakes(she LOVES her birdies) and her brother in W VA Cooper has his Rally Novice title and 3 legs towards his Junior Hunter. VERY smart and accomplished pups so we’re hoping for more of the same!Puppies will be born in February, ready to go home in April.
We went down to Sandy Hook the Monday after the tragedy and Cara, my 6 year old registered therapy dog worked long and hard. It was difficult to assess who was who as the crowds of onlookers and reporters and some? local residents were so thick. We are going back again next Saturday to try to help out again.It feels a lot like the time just after the terrorist attacks of 9/11-lots of feeling (fear and sorrow) and confusion and well meaning with out a lot of order–just what will happen after such an awful event!It will sort itself out over time and this little town will begin the long and painful process of moving on. In my exprience dogs contribute immensely to this process. Their loving and loyal spirit brings a solid and wordless feeling of sanity and goodness to a world suddenly clouded by evil.
Boy has it been busy here. All puppies gone except my “Pink”. Her mother’s daughter, for sure. Pretty, sassy, ready to rule the world.Next litter–planned breeding December 2012, puppies ready to go home April 2013. Will update again soon (summer has been for trialing-agility, field, obedience-lots of fun but no time to sit at computer!)
January 23, 2012
My how time flies. The puppies are almost 6 weeks. All are spoken for except for one girl.Here’s what we have been up to:
Nutrition: The puppies were started on raw food last week at 5 weeks and are tolerating the diet well. We are giving a very sore Mom a break from nursing them all the time.
Socialization: The puppies receive visitors almost daily. They also made a big splash at the nursing home last week and will do the Senior Center this week. Lots of time attention and stimulation make for well socialized confident pups.
House breaking: We’re doing ok. They’re still somewhat erratic in their habits-sometimes going on the paper and sometimes letting it fly wherever they are. It’s a work in progress for sure!
Cara’s puppies are here! 5 beautiful vigorous pups–4 gals and one boy.Mom and pups are doing well.
November 2011
We are going to have puppies!! Cara is Ready!!!
Puppies confirmed by ultrasound today!! Yahooo!!! Due date December 14th–ready to go home mid February. We feel very blessed to be given a chance to have another litter. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and to get ready! Cara’s first litter was exceptional, bright beautiful puppies. The girls are a bossy bunch, just like their mother! These pups are for active loving households with the time and commitment to train them and raise them right. NOT for couch potatoes!
April 2011
Very sad news–no puppies–our hearts are broken but it must be for a reason, just not meant to be. Time will have to pass before we feel better about this, a very big disappointment
March 7th 2011
Wonderful news, Cara is bred!The surgical insemination was done Saturday-we used the saved sperm from our wonderful boy Conor, lost too young. Technology is a wonderful thing! If all goes well we will have confirmation of viable puppies in utero by end of this month. Puppies on the ground first week of May.We are hoping and praying-it will mean a lot to us to have this litter.
It doesn’t seem possible but almost a year has gone by!The puppies will be one February 28th!My Blue from the litter is a stunning young male-handsome, well put together and eager to learn.
Cara will be bred again soon. Puppies are expected in April, will be ready to go home in June. She is a good mother and a strong foundation bitch for Honora Goldens. Her first litter of 9 puppies are are all healthy and handsome.
“The Divine Nine” All Pups and Mom are doing well. The puppies are 2 weeks old. This is a vigorous and healthy litter. Mom takes very good care of them.Some new Pix:http://pbckt.com/sz.3Gd (hint click on pix to enlarge then click on slideshow)
Cara’s puppies are HERE!! We are very excited. The puppies came Sunday, March 28th. NINE of them! 6 girls and 3 boys. Mom and pups are all doing fine. These should be terrific puppies- Mom is already proven as a working girl who can do the job in the field and in the agility ring and passed her therapy dog test with flying colors! She’s beautiful, she can work and she’s got a lovely temperament, the whole package. The sire is a lovely English-looking blond boy bred by a well-known and very successful breeder. Both Dad and Mom have all their clearances Outstanding Pedigree Below Cara X SquirePedigree:
Hayes HappyDog 