Our Golden Retrievers

Applied Psych

Mike & I have been involved in showing Golden Retrievers since 1991. We currently have three dogs --two Goldens and a Gordon Setter. The Gordon is Mike's "main dog" and you can see information about her by following this link.

We show in dog performance events (AKC obedience and Hunt tests). What this means is that our dogs are judged based on what they do rather than how they look. However, we try to get dogs that are attractive examples of their breeds. For more information about Golden Retrievers go to the Golden Retriever Club of America.

Below are our Goldens past and present. Enjoy!

Belvedere's Angelino D'Oro, UD, SH, WCX ("Misha").

Born Dec. 1991. Died June 2002.

Midas Belevedere Houston, MH*** ex Belevedere's Kyrie Angel, CD, JH (see pedigree here)

Misha was our first dog and our most special boy. He had a generous Golden heart and let us make a million mistakes, but still made us look good in competition. He and Mike earned their Senior Hunter without losing a single leg. He always had the highest scores in marking and trainability. He also exceled with me in the obedience ring. He went from Novice A to UD with scores above 190 on all legs. Before he retired in 1999 he earned 4 UDX legs, two high in trials (one from Open B the other from Utility B) and a handful of OTCH points. Above all he was a beloved family member.

Misha & Mike running SH.

The judge watching Misha take a jump in Open.

Misha & Ann doing articles in a demonstration of Utility in 2000.

Regina's Number One , CDX, JH, WCX, Can. CDX ("Riker").

Born October 1997. Died March 2007

Ch/OTCH Topbrass Family Clout, UDX, OS ex Regina's Good Hearted Woman, TDX, JH, MX, AXJ, WCX, OD

Pedigree here

Riker was a gorgeous and outstanding obedience dog. He completed all his titles with very high scores. He did not achieve all that he could have, because I was working toward tenure, and our children were involved in many activities. Without those interruptions he might have an OTCH.. In Summer 2005 Riker came out of semi-retirement to show our puppy, Kirk, how to run hunt tests. He had so much fun and looked so sharp I started SH training. Unfortunately, he passed away before we could begin showing.

Riker at 10 months old.

Riker in Summer 2004 at Flat Rock in Ithaca.

Riker in Spring 2005. Jealously watching Kirk training.

Coppertop's Captain Kirk, CD, MH, WCX, CCA, VC ("Kirk")

Born April 2004

Comstock's Steelcity Superman** MH, WCX, CCA, OS ex

OTCH Coppertop Celebration, UDX5, TDX, JH, WC, CCA, VCX, OBHF

Pedigree and health clearances here

Kirk is from Coppertop kennels in San Jose California. He comes from strong hunt test and obedience lines. His mom (Dixie) is descended from Misha's mom thus Kirk is related to Misha. Kirk has the same forgiving nature, strong desire to please and true Golden temperment Misha had, but adds to that confidence and style. Kirk is the first dog I have trained and shown in field work. He is an outstanding marking dog with an incredibly flashy water entry. He earned his JH and WC in Summer 2005 at about 15 months old and his WCX in July 2006 at 27 months. In April, 2007 he earned his CCA in his first attempt. In summer 2007 he earned his CD with 2 first places and in Sept. 2007 he earned his Senior Hunter in 5 attempts (the one failure was handler error). In summer 2008 we earned our 5 Master passes in 8 attempts. I have done 100% of Kirk's field training and handling. We are currently training for field trial Quals and obedience.

Kirk is the proud father of 2 litters of puppies so far. You can find out about them here and here.

Kirk loves his water entry!

Kirk at 12 months

Kirk & Ann in Fall 2008 -- new MH!

Eleven week old Kirk watching Riker swim at Flat Rock in Ithaca, NY.

Kirk in summer 2007.

Maarrk!

Gaylan's Roddenberry a la Mode ("Kira")

Born October 2007

High Times Run'n the Roost UD, MH, WCX ***, OS ex

Gaylan's Party of One SH, MX, MXJ, CCA, WCX, CGC

Pedigree and health clearances here

Kira is the newest addition to the family and the first bitch I have trained. She is the product of a very long search to find another Golden with excellent field and obedience potential that meets the breed standard in both appearance and temperament. She is proving to be a very lovely girl with great focus and intensity -- a joy to work and live with. We are training for SH now and expect to run tests in the summer of 2009.