The First Time I Met A Curly - Stories - page 2
John Heyn [email protected]
The first curly I ever saw was as a liver dog down the road from my house in Sheboygan. I didn't know it was a curly and our dog book did not mention that curlies existed so I had to conclude at the time that it was a chessie.
Years later I took a teaching job in Oakfield (1975) replacing Ann Brenner at Oakfield High School and so got a chance to at least see a real curly and recalled that first one back in Sheboygan as being the same kind of dog.
We didn't look for our first curly until 1993 after I retired as football and baseball coach and had the time to hunt and properly keep a field dog. We eventually found Magee.
Now here's the thing: That first dog lived on Sauk Trail. I've asked Doris and others who bred under the name Sauk Trail (she used Sauk Trail Krieghof), but have never gotten an answer. I know there are Sauk Trails elsewhere in Wisconsin and northern Illinois and Indiana.
So I guess I'll use this as an excuse to again try to find out who that breeder was/is.
The first curly I ever saw was as a liver dog down the road from my house in Sheboygan. I didn't know it was a curly and our dog book did not mention that curlies existed so I had to conclude at the time that it was a chessie.
Years later I took a teaching job in Oakfield (1975) replacing Ann Brenner at Oakfield High School and so got a chance to at least see a real curly and recalled that first one back in Sheboygan as being the same kind of dog.
We didn't look for our first curly until 1993 after I retired as football and baseball coach and had the time to hunt and properly keep a field dog. We eventually found Magee.
Now here's the thing: That first dog lived on Sauk Trail. I've asked Doris and others who bred under the name Sauk Trail (she used Sauk Trail Krieghof), but have never gotten an answer. I know there are Sauk Trails elsewhere in Wisconsin and northern Illinois and Indiana.
So I guess I'll use this as an excuse to again try to find out who that breeder was/is.
Doris Hodges-Summerwind [email protected] In 1968 I moved to New Lenox, Illinois where I had a neighbor with a kennel. Jeannie Schwartz (Romcroft) raised chessies, labs and curlies. Our children became friends and my boys kept telling me about the dogs they would see in Jeannie's kennel. Next door to Jeannie was a stable where our children kept their horses. My kids were always over there; they helped around the barn and helped exercise the horses for the owner. Jeannie had 3 girls; I had two boys, which also might explain why my boys liked to visit at the kennel. First I bought a chessie from the Schwartz's(Topaz) next a little black smooth coated pup came home with the boys, (Misty). Then I started to visit the Schwartz's also. I spotted my first curly in a kennel run. It was love at first sight. It was a big liver boy with a white chest, I can't remember his name maybe had Astro in it somewhere. I think he was an English import. Yep, you read it right, a BIG white chest. Very pretty. Jeannie also imported a black male curly and a liver bitch from New Zealand. (Ch. Waitoki Hikopango and Ch. Romcroft Gamble). I bought my first curly from Jeannie from the last mating of these two curlies. The year was 1976. It was a liver bitch I named Romcroft Gamble Ditto. The first dog show I attended was the Chicago International Benched show in April 1977. My little liver girl was six months old and my youngest son showed her in the puppy class. I still have the 8x10 photo of her from that show, with the blue ribbon tucked into her collar. I feel like ending with -- it was all such a long, long time ago.
FOOT NOTE TO HODGES from Viki Knowles Australia [email protected]
The big liver with the white chest in Jean Schwartz Kennel was Banworth Astrologer. I visited Romcroft in 71 and still have photos and movie 8 film of Astrologer, Hikopango and Gamble
FOOT NOTE TO HODGES from Viki Knowles Australia [email protected]
The big liver with the white chest in Jean Schwartz Kennel was Banworth Astrologer. I visited Romcroft in 71 and still have photos and movie 8 film of Astrologer, Hikopango and Gamble
Christie Johnstone [email protected]
In 1971 I met my first Curly who was a Birthday gift for my Grandfathers 71st BD. He was to be a surprise as my Grandfather was raised with a Curly but hadn't seen one since he was 12yrs old. My first glimpse was of this beautiful liver 4 month old pup bouncing through the snow on his was to the Chalet. My Mother was a ski instructor so we where at the ski hill waiting for this pup to arrive( she worked 7days/wk) and I spent the morning watching for this pup rather than on the hills. I was in love before he even reached the building .as was everyone else at the hill that day! To make a very long story short I spent every moment I could at my Grandparents farm with this beautiful boy. His name was Bayard Jack of Windpatch. My Grandmother became ill and Grandfather didn't have the time to spend with BillyJack (also known as Billy) so he asked me if I wanted to take him home! Silly question...... I was out that door before he could change his mind! Billy was my best friend for almost 15yrs .
In 1971 I met my first Curly who was a Birthday gift for my Grandfathers 71st BD. He was to be a surprise as my Grandfather was raised with a Curly but hadn't seen one since he was 12yrs old. My first glimpse was of this beautiful liver 4 month old pup bouncing through the snow on his was to the Chalet. My Mother was a ski instructor so we where at the ski hill waiting for this pup to arrive( she worked 7days/wk) and I spent the morning watching for this pup rather than on the hills. I was in love before he even reached the building .as was everyone else at the hill that day! To make a very long story short I spent every moment I could at my Grandparents farm with this beautiful boy. His name was Bayard Jack of Windpatch. My Grandmother became ill and Grandfather didn't have the time to spend with BillyJack (also known as Billy) so he asked me if I wanted to take him home! Silly question...... I was out that door before he could change his mind! Billy was my best friend for almost 15yrs .
Jen Kofron [email protected]
When I worked for the University of Wisconsin Cancer Center, back in 1986, I worked a lot with rats and mice in the animal center. The lady that had primary responsibility for my rats and mice daily care was a lady name Lori Ledebor. We became fast friends, seeing each other every day. Well, her and her hubby Peter asked me to house sit for them for a week while they went on vacation. I had to take care of their two cats and two dogs. Ok. Sounds fun, a mini vacation for me from my cramped studio apartment. Well, their two dogs were two Curly Coats, Ebony and Mahogony. Mahogony, a liver I cannot remember where she came from. Ebony, a black, was from Janean, out of Michael. Well, a week with these two clowns and I was hooked. When Jim and I were ready for our first dog, we knew it was to be a curly. We asked Lori about breeders, she gave us Janeans number. We called her, then went for a visit. Spending a weekend up at Janeans, with all of her dogs, and seeing Ithaca, who was to be the dam of Janeans litter.. well.. its all history after that. We absolutely fell in love with Ithaca, and the curlies in general. I remember walking through Janeans woods with all the dogs in a snowstorm. Ithaca was her typical self, composed, beautiful, elegant and always with something in her mouth!!
Months later, I picked up my John.. . Ptarmigan Sun Devil...and I remember Janean crying as she let him go. WOW!! He had been the most incredible first dog anyone could ask for. After that, we had to have more, and more and more. LOL
When I worked for the University of Wisconsin Cancer Center, back in 1986, I worked a lot with rats and mice in the animal center. The lady that had primary responsibility for my rats and mice daily care was a lady name Lori Ledebor. We became fast friends, seeing each other every day. Well, her and her hubby Peter asked me to house sit for them for a week while they went on vacation. I had to take care of their two cats and two dogs. Ok. Sounds fun, a mini vacation for me from my cramped studio apartment. Well, their two dogs were two Curly Coats, Ebony and Mahogony. Mahogony, a liver I cannot remember where she came from. Ebony, a black, was from Janean, out of Michael. Well, a week with these two clowns and I was hooked. When Jim and I were ready for our first dog, we knew it was to be a curly. We asked Lori about breeders, she gave us Janeans number. We called her, then went for a visit. Spending a weekend up at Janeans, with all of her dogs, and seeing Ithaca, who was to be the dam of Janeans litter.. well.. its all history after that. We absolutely fell in love with Ithaca, and the curlies in general. I remember walking through Janeans woods with all the dogs in a snowstorm. Ithaca was her typical self, composed, beautiful, elegant and always with something in her mouth!!
Months later, I picked up my John.. . Ptarmigan Sun Devil...and I remember Janean crying as she let him go. WOW!! He had been the most incredible first dog anyone could ask for. After that, we had to have more, and more and more. LOL
Debbie Knowles [email protected]
I met my first Curly in the late 1980s, via Nat and Peach Horn who are Chesapeake folks. Peach had one Curly, a little black bitch, Jane, who was Charlie's sister.
What I remember most about her now is how agile and catlike she was, and how she wiggled her whole body when trying to wag her tail, and how smart Nat and Peach always said she was. Jane was a cutie once you got to know her!!
I began to bond with curly-ness when taking care of the Horns' dogs while they were moving from Maryland to Chicago. One little Curly amongst a flock o' Chessies... :-)
When I was considering my next dog and saw a Curly litter in Delaware advertised in the &"newspaper " :-) I thought I'd go see the Mom and Dad and babies. I immediately LOVED the whole Curly family, so the only remaining question was which puplet to pick (which I did the next weekend).
So I ended up with my first Curly, Huntley's Alpha Pandora, oddly enough by dyed-in-the-wool Chessie people!!!
I met my first Curly in the late 1980s, via Nat and Peach Horn who are Chesapeake folks. Peach had one Curly, a little black bitch, Jane, who was Charlie's sister.
What I remember most about her now is how agile and catlike she was, and how she wiggled her whole body when trying to wag her tail, and how smart Nat and Peach always said she was. Jane was a cutie once you got to know her!!
I began to bond with curly-ness when taking care of the Horns' dogs while they were moving from Maryland to Chicago. One little Curly amongst a flock o' Chessies... :-)
When I was considering my next dog and saw a Curly litter in Delaware advertised in the &"newspaper " :-) I thought I'd go see the Mom and Dad and babies. I immediately LOVED the whole Curly family, so the only remaining question was which puplet to pick (which I did the next weekend).
So I ended up with my first Curly, Huntley's Alpha Pandora, oddly enough by dyed-in-the-wool Chessie people!!!
Bill Lydon [email protected]
I had lost my German Shepherd to cancer 6 months prior to seeing my first CURLY.I swore I wouldn't have another dog and go through the pain of loosing it again. Anyway after 6 months I had to get another dog. I didn't know what kind of dog I wanted I just kept looking in the paper and one Saturday morning I read C.C.R. puppies 4 sale about an hour and a half drive from my place.I rang my son to have a look as he lived 10 min; away.I went out to do the gardening.The phone rang my son said you have to come and see them so I left all the tools in the yard & off I went. Well I loved them all but I chose Paddy because he kept coming to he and me loved sticking his head in my handbag.I got Paddy for a pet having never shown dogs.When he was 12 months old the breeder came to visit & asked me to show Paddy.After a few months of having everyone else show him I began the process of showing myself.I really enjoy it we have made some wonderful friends my husband said he wasn't going to dog shows and now you can't keep him away.We now have one of Paddys sons Ringlord Namajira (CLANCY) we love them dearly.Yes they do have selective hearing and Clancy loves to go mining and remove all the underwear from the dirty clothes basket but I wouldn't be without my CURLIES. Viki Knowles and Mario & Christina Dolfin have given me great advice and encouragement and shared their wealth of information with us and now we have two wonderful boys and really a new way of life.
I had lost my German Shepherd to cancer 6 months prior to seeing my first CURLY.I swore I wouldn't have another dog and go through the pain of loosing it again. Anyway after 6 months I had to get another dog. I didn't know what kind of dog I wanted I just kept looking in the paper and one Saturday morning I read C.C.R. puppies 4 sale about an hour and a half drive from my place.I rang my son to have a look as he lived 10 min; away.I went out to do the gardening.The phone rang my son said you have to come and see them so I left all the tools in the yard & off I went. Well I loved them all but I chose Paddy because he kept coming to he and me loved sticking his head in my handbag.I got Paddy for a pet having never shown dogs.When he was 12 months old the breeder came to visit & asked me to show Paddy.After a few months of having everyone else show him I began the process of showing myself.I really enjoy it we have made some wonderful friends my husband said he wasn't going to dog shows and now you can't keep him away.We now have one of Paddys sons Ringlord Namajira (CLANCY) we love them dearly.Yes they do have selective hearing and Clancy loves to go mining and remove all the underwear from the dirty clothes basket but I wouldn't be without my CURLIES. Viki Knowles and Mario & Christina Dolfin have given me great advice and encouragement and shared their wealth of information with us and now we have two wonderful boys and really a new way of life.
Cathy Lewandowski, SoftMaple Curlies [email protected]
Ahhh.... now dates I'm going to be bad at. I know it was back when I was showing an Irish Setter in Jr showmanship.
I didn't even know that there was such a thing as a curly, but I saw one across the showground, and had to ask what breed it was. I have no idea who the dog was. It was up in a show in Rochester NY back in the early 80's.
The next curly sighting was Charlie (CH Summerwind's Charles Dickens) I again was showing an Irish Setter, and I thought he was a chessie from the retriever shape and liver coloring. I stayed for group, since I wanted to see him again. I was quite surprised to see the plain old Chessie (sorry chessie lovers!) and this other liver retriever in group. I was very impressed with the breed, and knew I wanted to find out more...someday!
I saved the catalog, and stuffed it in a box in my parents attic. Years later I took it out to find out who this dog was.
My next curly sighting was after I had carried a picture of Titan (CH Karakul Titan) around for a few years that I had torn out of a Showsites magazine. I finally tracked down his breeder, Sheila Anderson, and called her up to find out more about this unique breed.
The first time I got to touch an actual curly in the flesh was when Fat Sally (AKA Am/Can CH Karakul Blazing Autumn Am/Can CDX, AX, AD, CGC, ST) barreled out of her crate at the airport hollering to the world about the bumpy ride in cargo, bad airline food....who were we standing there gawking at her?...glad to meet ya (lick! lick!)...when do we eat!!... and she hasn't shut up since! Sally taught me all about eye boogers, split toenails, tumbleweeds in the kitchen, and just how creative a curly could be in obedience!
Ahhh.... now dates I'm going to be bad at. I know it was back when I was showing an Irish Setter in Jr showmanship.
I didn't even know that there was such a thing as a curly, but I saw one across the showground, and had to ask what breed it was. I have no idea who the dog was. It was up in a show in Rochester NY back in the early 80's.
The next curly sighting was Charlie (CH Summerwind's Charles Dickens) I again was showing an Irish Setter, and I thought he was a chessie from the retriever shape and liver coloring. I stayed for group, since I wanted to see him again. I was quite surprised to see the plain old Chessie (sorry chessie lovers!) and this other liver retriever in group. I was very impressed with the breed, and knew I wanted to find out more...someday!
I saved the catalog, and stuffed it in a box in my parents attic. Years later I took it out to find out who this dog was.
My next curly sighting was after I had carried a picture of Titan (CH Karakul Titan) around for a few years that I had torn out of a Showsites magazine. I finally tracked down his breeder, Sheila Anderson, and called her up to find out more about this unique breed.
The first time I got to touch an actual curly in the flesh was when Fat Sally (AKA Am/Can CH Karakul Blazing Autumn Am/Can CDX, AX, AD, CGC, ST) barreled out of her crate at the airport hollering to the world about the bumpy ride in cargo, bad airline food....who were we standing there gawking at her?...glad to meet ya (lick! lick!)...when do we eat!!... and she hasn't shut up since! Sally taught me all about eye boogers, split toenails, tumbleweeds in the kitchen, and just how creative a curly could be in obedience!
Gary & Mary Meek [email protected]
Well, here is our story. I met Gary at an obedience class and we became friends. He was interested in finding a hunting dog as he was tired of losing birds in the field. Being the responsible dog person I was, I told him to get some books and research hunting breeds. When he had a list of about 4 breeds he was really interested in, we would then go out and talk to breeders and see some dogs. Eventually he came down to the CCR, flat coat, Irish Setter, and another one I don't remember. I pointed out that I was not going to be the one to deburr the dog after a hunt, and if he wanted to show the dog too, he would have to keep it in coat ( I was showing Afghan Hounds at the time).
About that time, a 6 month curly coated retriever came to me to be groomed and I was in love! I called Gary and he came over to meet Buddy (Ch. Ptarmigan Jollybodies Boom) and we befriended his owner Kevin Antvelink and got in touch with Janean for the first time. Kevin and Buddy hunted with us, and he decided to show him a little and we finished him and eventually because of a health problem he came to live with us. We had our name on Janeans puppy list for 2 years before we were blessed with Tempest, and in between then we acquired Covey (Elmack Coventry Riverwatch CDX, WC, TT, CGC) and Ty (Ch. Cape Ann Ebtyde Riverwatch). The rest is history, we have found a breed that we love to live with and hunt over and just for the fun of it show.
Well, here is our story. I met Gary at an obedience class and we became friends. He was interested in finding a hunting dog as he was tired of losing birds in the field. Being the responsible dog person I was, I told him to get some books and research hunting breeds. When he had a list of about 4 breeds he was really interested in, we would then go out and talk to breeders and see some dogs. Eventually he came down to the CCR, flat coat, Irish Setter, and another one I don't remember. I pointed out that I was not going to be the one to deburr the dog after a hunt, and if he wanted to show the dog too, he would have to keep it in coat ( I was showing Afghan Hounds at the time).
About that time, a 6 month curly coated retriever came to me to be groomed and I was in love! I called Gary and he came over to meet Buddy (Ch. Ptarmigan Jollybodies Boom) and we befriended his owner Kevin Antvelink and got in touch with Janean for the first time. Kevin and Buddy hunted with us, and he decided to show him a little and we finished him and eventually because of a health problem he came to live with us. We had our name on Janeans puppy list for 2 years before we were blessed with Tempest, and in between then we acquired Covey (Elmack Coventry Riverwatch CDX, WC, TT, CGC) and Ty (Ch. Cape Ann Ebtyde Riverwatch). The rest is history, we have found a breed that we love to live with and hunt over and just for the fun of it show.
Lloyd & Helen Mayer [email protected]
Fate works in strange ways Tracia. I remember that day well when I took Mitch and Sam out to meet you.. It reminds me of how I got my first "real Curly Coat". I grew up with "Murray River Curlies". My father and his friends were keen duck shooters. When Helen and I were married we took on a rescue Murray River that became my constant companion on my many fishing excursions. (He was a very good retriever of trout). As he got older he lost an eye gradually became blind and died from a tumor behind his eye. His death affected us both and we thought we could never own another dog again
Then one of the teachers on my staff said, "I taught some children at Newham a few years ago, their mother breeds Curly Coated Retrievers. Why not give her a call?"
To our luck she had a litter a few Weeks old and invited us to have a look.( We weren't buying only looking.) When we arrived we were met by a "sea of curly coats", black and brown and so much larger than I expected. We met the mother.(Gunmajor Sweet Chimes) and when we saw the father (Ladybrow Bolshan - Saxon) we became the proud owners of Kelly a liver bitch. (We even ate the dreadful microwave cake Viki's two boys cooked for us to make sure we got the pup.)
Fate changed our lives! We know own many curly coats. Have met many wonderful "Curly & other dog people" around the world and had our lives enriched. The only regret: I don't fish as much as I used to when I only had one dog to tag along.
Fate works in strange ways Tracia. I remember that day well when I took Mitch and Sam out to meet you.. It reminds me of how I got my first "real Curly Coat". I grew up with "Murray River Curlies". My father and his friends were keen duck shooters. When Helen and I were married we took on a rescue Murray River that became my constant companion on my many fishing excursions. (He was a very good retriever of trout). As he got older he lost an eye gradually became blind and died from a tumor behind his eye. His death affected us both and we thought we could never own another dog again
Then one of the teachers on my staff said, "I taught some children at Newham a few years ago, their mother breeds Curly Coated Retrievers. Why not give her a call?"
To our luck she had a litter a few Weeks old and invited us to have a look.( We weren't buying only looking.) When we arrived we were met by a "sea of curly coats", black and brown and so much larger than I expected. We met the mother.(Gunmajor Sweet Chimes) and when we saw the father (Ladybrow Bolshan - Saxon) we became the proud owners of Kelly a liver bitch. (We even ate the dreadful microwave cake Viki's two boys cooked for us to make sure we got the pup.)
Fate changed our lives! We know own many curly coats. Have met many wonderful "Curly & other dog people" around the world and had our lives enriched. The only regret: I don't fish as much as I used to when I only had one dog to tag along.
Debra McCarthy [email protected],p> The first curlies I saw were yours, living in Connecticut. I researched dog breeds including a great book on aspects of dog character and curlies ended up on my short list. Their appeal was low dominance, low indoor activity, high outdoor activity and minimal grooming. Plus of course, was the desire for an uncommon breed (Rikki is still the start of many conversations).
I contacted AKC who provided information on officers of the curly dog breed club. Sue ? (then the Secretariat) provided me the names of two breeders with soon-to-be litters. You recommended that I actually see a curly before buying one (you were in Florida), and the closest ones were two males with a couple previously in Manhattan but then living in Connecticut.
The boys were huge! I had an American Water Spaniel at the time (nasty dog) and was looking for a little larger breed, about 19" at the shoulder. These two curly dogs took up the entire living room of the people we visited. The dogs were friendly, but overwhelming. I very much received the impression that I was being interviewed as a potential curly owner, and that the couple would call you with their impressions of me. The concern with which you placed your dogs, and the appeal of a small (hence nonpolitical, naive me) breed club clinched it. You thought Rory would be small (bad prediction) so I took a chance.
Now I think of curlies as medium-sized dogs and really love the breed. The two comments Rikki always gets are: looks like a sheep/lamb, or poodle/retriever mix. Rikki's still a little too dependent on me since Rory died, but she is getting better. The only thing I have against curlies is their shedding!!!
I contacted AKC who provided information on officers of the curly dog breed club. Sue ? (then the Secretariat) provided me the names of two breeders with soon-to-be litters. You recommended that I actually see a curly before buying one (you were in Florida), and the closest ones were two males with a couple previously in Manhattan but then living in Connecticut.
The boys were huge! I had an American Water Spaniel at the time (nasty dog) and was looking for a little larger breed, about 19" at the shoulder. These two curly dogs took up the entire living room of the people we visited. The dogs were friendly, but overwhelming. I very much received the impression that I was being interviewed as a potential curly owner, and that the couple would call you with their impressions of me. The concern with which you placed your dogs, and the appeal of a small (hence nonpolitical, naive me) breed club clinched it. You thought Rory would be small (bad prediction) so I took a chance.
Now I think of curlies as medium-sized dogs and really love the breed. The two comments Rikki always gets are: looks like a sheep/lamb, or poodle/retriever mix. Rikki's still a little too dependent on me since Rory died, but she is getting better. The only thing I have against curlies is their shedding!!!
Dale Myers [email protected]
I was at a Computer Show at the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg Pa. in 1997. As it happened there was a dog show in another part of the Arena. As I was leaving the building and walking through the parking lot I saw numerous dogs being led through the parking lot by their owners. What caught my eye was a man walking two beautiful black dogs that from a distance looked like they had sheep's wool for a coat. I, by nature, am not one to approach strangers since I don't want to impose on anyone. However, I did approach this gentleman and asked what kind of dogs he had. Instead of being inconvenienced he seemed genuinely happy to tell me about his Curly Coated Retrievers. From that conversation I decided I wanted to learn more about Curlys. I got on the internet and began looking for information. I wrote (both letters and email) to a number of breeders and owners all of whom seemed honest and interested in helping me decide if I might be suited for a Curly. I must say I enjoyed the idea that all of them were interested in me, my family, and my living arrangements as well as some past history about the dogs I've owned and what happened to them. I realize that we were all pretty much on the honor system but knowing that they cared about not just their animals but the breed itself made me look at ownership in a bit more serious light. As life would have it I developed a herniated disk in my neck and began losing the use of my left arm. My curly plans were put on hold until after surgery and a recuperation period. After I was back to work I picked up my plans and again contacted the owners and breeders with whom I previously had contact. One of the owners, Ann Shinkle, was planning on breeding her Curly, Bliss, and we began discussions on the possibility of my getting one of the pups. I had instructions from my wife that I was to get a "brown female". Now, manly man that I am, I can speak for myself and am not afraid to assert myself. However, I am not a stupid man and although I at first thought this was simply a plot to try to make my quest an impossible one I did not argue. I simply complied and narrowed my search. Ann was agreeable to see what was available after the litter was born. In a somewhat remarkable (for this day and age) showing of the best of humankind Ann sent me some email and told me that although the information she was about to give me might cause her to lose me as a prospective "customer" she wanted to let me know that Doris Hodges, in AZ, had recently received a brown female about 18 months old and was looking for a home for her (the dog, not Doris). I got in touch with Doris who was kind and gracious enough to put up with all of my dumb "don't know anything about pure bred dogs - especially Curlys - questions." The rest is as they say "history". Kenish is now 26 months old and is part of our family. As a side note I have developed some scar tissue and have some residual pain that will probably stay with me for the rest of my life. The best pain reliever I could have is that "brown female" who follows me around, waits patiently for me each day and is always glad to see me no matter what.
I was at a Computer Show at the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg Pa. in 1997. As it happened there was a dog show in another part of the Arena. As I was leaving the building and walking through the parking lot I saw numerous dogs being led through the parking lot by their owners. What caught my eye was a man walking two beautiful black dogs that from a distance looked like they had sheep's wool for a coat. I, by nature, am not one to approach strangers since I don't want to impose on anyone. However, I did approach this gentleman and asked what kind of dogs he had. Instead of being inconvenienced he seemed genuinely happy to tell me about his Curly Coated Retrievers. From that conversation I decided I wanted to learn more about Curlys. I got on the internet and began looking for information. I wrote (both letters and email) to a number of breeders and owners all of whom seemed honest and interested in helping me decide if I might be suited for a Curly. I must say I enjoyed the idea that all of them were interested in me, my family, and my living arrangements as well as some past history about the dogs I've owned and what happened to them. I realize that we were all pretty much on the honor system but knowing that they cared about not just their animals but the breed itself made me look at ownership in a bit more serious light. As life would have it I developed a herniated disk in my neck and began losing the use of my left arm. My curly plans were put on hold until after surgery and a recuperation period. After I was back to work I picked up my plans and again contacted the owners and breeders with whom I previously had contact. One of the owners, Ann Shinkle, was planning on breeding her Curly, Bliss, and we began discussions on the possibility of my getting one of the pups. I had instructions from my wife that I was to get a "brown female". Now, manly man that I am, I can speak for myself and am not afraid to assert myself. However, I am not a stupid man and although I at first thought this was simply a plot to try to make my quest an impossible one I did not argue. I simply complied and narrowed my search. Ann was agreeable to see what was available after the litter was born. In a somewhat remarkable (for this day and age) showing of the best of humankind Ann sent me some email and told me that although the information she was about to give me might cause her to lose me as a prospective "customer" she wanted to let me know that Doris Hodges, in AZ, had recently received a brown female about 18 months old and was looking for a home for her (the dog, not Doris). I got in touch with Doris who was kind and gracious enough to put up with all of my dumb "don't know anything about pure bred dogs - especially Curlys - questions." The rest is as they say "history". Kenish is now 26 months old and is part of our family. As a side note I have developed some scar tissue and have some residual pain that will probably stay with me for the rest of my life. The best pain reliever I could have is that "brown female" who follows me around, waits patiently for me each day and is always glad to see me no matter what.
Katherine Phillips [email protected]
In the late 50's and early 60's, Roger's Uncle Glenn did his duck and goose hunting at a lodge on an island in the Currituck Sound. The lodge owned a string of dogs, kept a trainer on staff, and hired local men to serve as guides during hunting season. Glenn had been going there for several years when they hired a new trainer from England, who brought with him two of the oddest looking dogs anyone had ever seen. They were "brown" and covered with curls.... and became favorites among the guides and guests. Glenn's regular guide hunted one of them and Glenn was deeply impressed with her strength and stamina, will to hunt, intelligence, and so on. But when he had inquired about purchasing one or both of the dogs, he was told they were NOT for sale, not for ANY price. Glenn, who doesn't do frustration gracefully, expressed his great interest in puppies, if they were ever bred.
A couple of years later, the lodge was sold. Someone thought to call Glenn, who immediately asked about the curlies. He was told that the kennel had been dispersed. All the dogs, including the curly ones, were given to the guides who had hunted with them. The curlies had been bred before the bitch was given to Glenn's regular guide and if he wanted a puppy, he needed to "get there right quick". The guide didn't have a phone, so Glenn got directions to the guide's home and drove six hours out to the Sound.
In a shed behind the house, he found the bitch and last two of the five puppies she'd whelped. The only thing he could recall of that visit, when I asked some years later, was that the guide warned him he better have a "stout pen" that the bitch had driven him crazy getting out of every place he'd tried to keep her -- including going through a window, high in the wall of the shed... and that he'd paid the man $100 for both puppies.
So Glenn brought two liver curlies home. He kept the bitch, "Brownie" (hoping he could find a male somewhere and breed her -- he never did) and gave the dog to Daddy Routh. It was Tomboy who taught Roger (who was 12 when Glenn brought the puppies home to Bonlee) what a hunting dog should be. Daddy Routh's health was uneven. He could do yard training with Tomboy and, with Roger along, hunted the fields nearest the house for doves, quail, and rabbits. The puddle ducks on the pond were off-limits, according to Mama Routh. Of course, that didn't stop Tomboy from stalking them, sometimes swimming under water to catch them, and retrieving most of them to her back door. She forgave him only because it was useless to try to stop him and he also kept the varmints out of her barn and chicken coop and shooed the blackbirds off the grape arbor. As Daddy Routh's vision failed and he could no longer shoot well enough "to do the dog justice" it fell more and more to Roger to provide Tomboy with a gun to work for, and someone to ramble with through the woods and fields in off-season. Tomboy lived with the Rouths... but he and Roger were together -- and usually afield -- every weekend and whenever possible during the week.
In addition to being Roger's hunting companion, the bane of Mama Routh's existence (though he was the ONLY dog she allowed in her house through 70 years of marriage to a confirmed hunter and dog lover!), Daddy Routh's favorite-ever dog, whose name graced the premium dog food produced by Routh Mills for 20 years, he was a prime source of the stories Daddy Routh filled years of Sunday afternoon visits with. One of those was that Roger brought other girls to meet Tomboy, but I was the only one the curly accepted... so he deferred to Tomboy's judgement and married me. "Since Tomboy was smarter than most people" he was fond of saying, "Roger could've gotten lots worse advice on the matter."
So when did I meet the curly that decided my fate? The Sunday before or after August 18, 1967 -- Daddy Routh's 80th birthday. Roger and I had been dating for almost two years and I was invited to attend the party so I could meet his family for the first time --- not only his grandparents, but ALL the aunts, uncles, cousins "in-laws, out-laws and others". I was as nervous as a 17 year old girl can get. (I'd met Roger while he was in military school; his parents six months later at a Parade Day and again at his graduation. They assumed his interest in me would fade when he left The Ridge. It hadn't. They were strictly reserving judgement about this "city girl" so meeting the family and making the right impression was a BIG deal. I was a basket case.)
The only thing I remember about this momentous occasion.....? The big, brown dog who came bounding around the corner of the house toward us and after VERY enthusiastically greeting Roger, moved to sit politely in front of me while Roger introduced us, gazing up into my face. It felt as though those deep hazel eyes were measuring my character and reading my soul. I was completely transfixed, stunned. My nervousness vanished in a fog of fascination with this magnificent dog.
I must have sleep-walked through the rest of the day, as it's a complete blur. The faces and names all run together. I can't tell you which of the cousins I met or missed, liked or found less than appealing, or if that was the time I got drastically sick from Aunt Mildred's infamous coconut chess pie. But I can recall, as though it were yesterday, the love so freely expressed between a reticent, reserved young man and his grandfather's dog; catching glimpses of him through the kitchen window as he played with the young cousins, and sneaking away from the party -- out to the yard to spend a few minutes more with that compelling dog; the big paw placed gently on my knee when I crouched to scratch his ears and that the smudge it left on my so-carefully-chosen and painfully-purchased dress didn't matter at all; how the coarse springiness of those sun-faded liver curls tickled my hands; the insistent nudge of a muzzle asking for more scratch, please. But most of all, what rises to the surface in a sea of curly memories stretching over 30 years is that breathtaking hazel gaze..... and how it feels when a curly touches your soul.
In the late 50's and early 60's, Roger's Uncle Glenn did his duck and goose hunting at a lodge on an island in the Currituck Sound. The lodge owned a string of dogs, kept a trainer on staff, and hired local men to serve as guides during hunting season. Glenn had been going there for several years when they hired a new trainer from England, who brought with him two of the oddest looking dogs anyone had ever seen. They were "brown" and covered with curls.... and became favorites among the guides and guests. Glenn's regular guide hunted one of them and Glenn was deeply impressed with her strength and stamina, will to hunt, intelligence, and so on. But when he had inquired about purchasing one or both of the dogs, he was told they were NOT for sale, not for ANY price. Glenn, who doesn't do frustration gracefully, expressed his great interest in puppies, if they were ever bred.
A couple of years later, the lodge was sold. Someone thought to call Glenn, who immediately asked about the curlies. He was told that the kennel had been dispersed. All the dogs, including the curly ones, were given to the guides who had hunted with them. The curlies had been bred before the bitch was given to Glenn's regular guide and if he wanted a puppy, he needed to "get there right quick". The guide didn't have a phone, so Glenn got directions to the guide's home and drove six hours out to the Sound.
In a shed behind the house, he found the bitch and last two of the five puppies she'd whelped. The only thing he could recall of that visit, when I asked some years later, was that the guide warned him he better have a "stout pen" that the bitch had driven him crazy getting out of every place he'd tried to keep her -- including going through a window, high in the wall of the shed... and that he'd paid the man $100 for both puppies.
So Glenn brought two liver curlies home. He kept the bitch, "Brownie" (hoping he could find a male somewhere and breed her -- he never did) and gave the dog to Daddy Routh. It was Tomboy who taught Roger (who was 12 when Glenn brought the puppies home to Bonlee) what a hunting dog should be. Daddy Routh's health was uneven. He could do yard training with Tomboy and, with Roger along, hunted the fields nearest the house for doves, quail, and rabbits. The puddle ducks on the pond were off-limits, according to Mama Routh. Of course, that didn't stop Tomboy from stalking them, sometimes swimming under water to catch them, and retrieving most of them to her back door. She forgave him only because it was useless to try to stop him and he also kept the varmints out of her barn and chicken coop and shooed the blackbirds off the grape arbor. As Daddy Routh's vision failed and he could no longer shoot well enough "to do the dog justice" it fell more and more to Roger to provide Tomboy with a gun to work for, and someone to ramble with through the woods and fields in off-season. Tomboy lived with the Rouths... but he and Roger were together -- and usually afield -- every weekend and whenever possible during the week.
In addition to being Roger's hunting companion, the bane of Mama Routh's existence (though he was the ONLY dog she allowed in her house through 70 years of marriage to a confirmed hunter and dog lover!), Daddy Routh's favorite-ever dog, whose name graced the premium dog food produced by Routh Mills for 20 years, he was a prime source of the stories Daddy Routh filled years of Sunday afternoon visits with. One of those was that Roger brought other girls to meet Tomboy, but I was the only one the curly accepted... so he deferred to Tomboy's judgement and married me. "Since Tomboy was smarter than most people" he was fond of saying, "Roger could've gotten lots worse advice on the matter."
So when did I meet the curly that decided my fate? The Sunday before or after August 18, 1967 -- Daddy Routh's 80th birthday. Roger and I had been dating for almost two years and I was invited to attend the party so I could meet his family for the first time --- not only his grandparents, but ALL the aunts, uncles, cousins "in-laws, out-laws and others". I was as nervous as a 17 year old girl can get. (I'd met Roger while he was in military school; his parents six months later at a Parade Day and again at his graduation. They assumed his interest in me would fade when he left The Ridge. It hadn't. They were strictly reserving judgement about this "city girl" so meeting the family and making the right impression was a BIG deal. I was a basket case.)
The only thing I remember about this momentous occasion.....? The big, brown dog who came bounding around the corner of the house toward us and after VERY enthusiastically greeting Roger, moved to sit politely in front of me while Roger introduced us, gazing up into my face. It felt as though those deep hazel eyes were measuring my character and reading my soul. I was completely transfixed, stunned. My nervousness vanished in a fog of fascination with this magnificent dog.
I must have sleep-walked through the rest of the day, as it's a complete blur. The faces and names all run together. I can't tell you which of the cousins I met or missed, liked or found less than appealing, or if that was the time I got drastically sick from Aunt Mildred's infamous coconut chess pie. But I can recall, as though it were yesterday, the love so freely expressed between a reticent, reserved young man and his grandfather's dog; catching glimpses of him through the kitchen window as he played with the young cousins, and sneaking away from the party -- out to the yard to spend a few minutes more with that compelling dog; the big paw placed gently on my knee when I crouched to scratch his ears and that the smudge it left on my so-carefully-chosen and painfully-purchased dress didn't matter at all; how the coarse springiness of those sun-faded liver curls tickled my hands; the insistent nudge of a muzzle asking for more scratch, please. But most of all, what rises to the surface in a sea of curly memories stretching over 30 years is that breathtaking hazel gaze..... and how it feels when a curly touches your soul.
Winnie Reed [email protected]
I first saw a curly in the AKC 1949 Dog book. That would have been in the early 50's. I was showing my golden. I was getting then what curly people hear today " What kind of dog" Also " Why's the kid taking a mutt into the ring" People began to recognize goldens in the next 10 yrs. Mine went on to become the first UDT golden in the mid-atlantic states.. A curly was nowhere to be found nor a flatcoat. Life long friends John and Jane Harry had a new dog a curly. As I got to know Peter he reminded me of my old golden. I soon knew how I could get back into retrievers. We went to Westminster with the Harry's in 1997. As plans were discussed for the trip I learned of a rescue curly.... a champion. Marci Iler had people who wanted this dog but we fit the bill. We were home all the time... This dog could not be left alone for the 1st 6 mths. we had him. I took him back in the ring after we got some weight on him { he was 68lbs. when we got him}. I took him back so curly people in the area could see he was happy and getting healthy.. When we got to the show his whole demeanor changed. He was up! We beat Party that day and my whole life changed. I've come back to the show world with a wonderful, happy dog and I'm having a ball.
I first saw a curly in the AKC 1949 Dog book. That would have been in the early 50's. I was showing my golden. I was getting then what curly people hear today " What kind of dog" Also " Why's the kid taking a mutt into the ring" People began to recognize goldens in the next 10 yrs. Mine went on to become the first UDT golden in the mid-atlantic states.. A curly was nowhere to be found nor a flatcoat. Life long friends John and Jane Harry had a new dog a curly. As I got to know Peter he reminded me of my old golden. I soon knew how I could get back into retrievers. We went to Westminster with the Harry's in 1997. As plans were discussed for the trip I learned of a rescue curly.... a champion. Marci Iler had people who wanted this dog but we fit the bill. We were home all the time... This dog could not be left alone for the 1st 6 mths. we had him. I took him back in the ring after we got some weight on him { he was 68lbs. when we got him}. I took him back so curly people in the area could see he was happy and getting healthy.. When we got to the show his whole demeanor changed. He was up! We beat Party that day and my whole life changed. I've come back to the show world with a wonderful, happy dog and I'm having a ball.
Ann Shinkle [email protected]
Our youngest child was seven and we wanted a dog. I knew, from owning dogs in the past, that many of the breeds had become too popular, so decided to research the less popular breeds. I read many books in the library and came across a wonderful old book called "Dog Breeds of the World"----I think. On one of the pages was a photo of two lovely CCR's with the Honeybrey prefix. They were Australian and were breathtaking to look at and very interesting read about. Of course, this was 1976 or 77 when I started to delve into all of this. Somehow, I found Mr. Detweler's name and called him about pups. He was of Windpatch fame and brought over the well known English Curly, Limey (CH Siccawei Black Rod). He had a pup available and my question was "how were Curlies with children and did he know of anyone who owned them in FL?" He referred me to Yvonne Dormany, who was kind enough to fill me in during a long conversation over the telephone.
We decided to buy the pup, sight unseen, and, to be perfectly frank, she was NOT a bit as I had anticipated. She was very small; hyperactive; and did not have any curls(the curls did come in later on). However, she was ours and I took her to puppy classes, obedience, and she came along very nicely. It was a full year, as I recall, or a bit more, before I ever laid eyes on another Curly. I flew over to Tampa and met some Curlies at a dog show there. That was the start of really learning about the breed and, I must say, that between the Army sending me all over the place; Ray' s traveling all over the place with me, at times, tagging along, and now the two of us traveling, I have seen hundreds of Curlies. I would look at my list of Curly owners and call anyone anywhere in the world to look at any Curlies owned by them. I never showed a Curly until the 80's, but I have been very fortunate to meet many owners and their wonderful dogs.
Interestingly, two of my bitches, Flirt and Star, my first one, were sisters of two of our well known foundation bitches in the U.S. Star was the litter sister of Meg, who was the start of El Mack Curlies and Flirt was the sister of Brillo, the start Addidas Curlies. And, yes, both of my present bitches are similar in type to those first two that I saw in the book many years ago.
Our youngest child was seven and we wanted a dog. I knew, from owning dogs in the past, that many of the breeds had become too popular, so decided to research the less popular breeds. I read many books in the library and came across a wonderful old book called "Dog Breeds of the World"----I think. On one of the pages was a photo of two lovely CCR's with the Honeybrey prefix. They were Australian and were breathtaking to look at and very interesting read about. Of course, this was 1976 or 77 when I started to delve into all of this. Somehow, I found Mr. Detweler's name and called him about pups. He was of Windpatch fame and brought over the well known English Curly, Limey (CH Siccawei Black Rod). He had a pup available and my question was "how were Curlies with children and did he know of anyone who owned them in FL?" He referred me to Yvonne Dormany, who was kind enough to fill me in during a long conversation over the telephone.
We decided to buy the pup, sight unseen, and, to be perfectly frank, she was NOT a bit as I had anticipated. She was very small; hyperactive; and did not have any curls(the curls did come in later on). However, she was ours and I took her to puppy classes, obedience, and she came along very nicely. It was a full year, as I recall, or a bit more, before I ever laid eyes on another Curly. I flew over to Tampa and met some Curlies at a dog show there. That was the start of really learning about the breed and, I must say, that between the Army sending me all over the place; Ray' s traveling all over the place with me, at times, tagging along, and now the two of us traveling, I have seen hundreds of Curlies. I would look at my list of Curly owners and call anyone anywhere in the world to look at any Curlies owned by them. I never showed a Curly until the 80's, but I have been very fortunate to meet many owners and their wonderful dogs.
Interestingly, two of my bitches, Flirt and Star, my first one, were sisters of two of our well known foundation bitches in the U.S. Star was the litter sister of Meg, who was the start of El Mack Curlies and Flirt was the sister of Brillo, the start Addidas Curlies. And, yes, both of my present bitches are similar in type to those first two that I saw in the book many years ago.