About Our Philosophy

When we first began breeding Cocker Spaniels in 2005, it was our primary goal to produce champion Cocker Spaniels. We had planned to be active in the conformation ring and champion all of our sires and dams prior to breeding.

After competing in the show circuit for only a year, we decided that showing dogs was no longer where our priorities were. Although we loved the look of our dogs when they were in full show coat, and loved even more when they accumulated points towards their championship title, we did not like having to keep them confined in the house or a crate, as our handler had advised, in order to keep their coats in top show condition. They wanted nothing more than to be outside, playing with the other dogs, running through the woods chasing gophers and magpies, and retrieving sticks from the lake.

It also proved to be upsetting on our dogs, not to mention us, when our dogs were sent away to be with their handler, sometimes for months at a time. It broke our hearts to hear them crying for us as we drove away and left them in a strange environment, with people not known to them, and with dozens of other dogs also competing in the show ring.

After going to watch one of our most cherished dogs at a local show, we were horrified to find her alone in her crate, terrified, and covered in her own feces. We took her home that day and made the difficult decision to no longer exhibit our dogs in the conformation ring.

Although competing in the conformation ring is not where our priorities and interests are, we feel it important to acknowledge those breeders who are active in the conformation ring and show our support by donating prizes, sponsoring conformation events, and volunteering our help at the dog shows.

The focus of our breeding program has made a shift from producing dogs that will win in the show ring, to producing dogs with exceptional health and temperament. Early socialization is also a top priority and one that we take very seriously. Our puppies are raised in our home, not in an outdoor kennel or separate facility with limited human contact and dozens of other dogs.

From the third to sixteenth day of life, our puppies participate in five neurological stimulating exercises that are proven to give them the best possible start in life. They are handled several times each day and treated as cherished members of our family, right from the start.

At four weeks of age the puppies begin accompanying Carla to work at the school. They spend time in the classrooms and are handled by dozens of children each day. Although there is the risk of contracting disease and infection by taking the puppies out at such a young age, we believe that the benefits of early socialization outweigh the risks of contracting disease.

We have only eight dogs, something that sets us apart from many other breeders. We produce only a few litters per year and strive to produce quality dogs, not large quantities of dogs. Our dogs do not live in a kennel environment, something we are proud of. They have one acre of fenced, densely wooded forest to frolic in and even enjoy the luxury of being able run endlessly and swim in the lake during the summer months.

Apart from having a fabulous area to play outdoors, we also have a special room in our new house that we call the puppy nursery. This room is complete with a commercial grade air purifier, a temperature control system, laminate flooring, a stainless steel grooming tub, hygienic stainless steel puppy pens, and an array of professional grooming supplies and products. Our home and yard is also monitored by 24 hour video surveillance to ensure the safety and well being of our dogs.

We are a proud member of the Canadian Kennel Club, the Red Deer Kennel Club, the Northern Alberta Pet Therapy Society, and the Red Deer SPCA. In fact, each year we make a generous donation to the Red Deer SPCA to help less fortunate animals.