Breeding Quality Retrievers For Beauty, Brains, And Temperament For Over 20 Years

NAFC FC Ebonstar Lean Mac x FC AFC CNFC Free Trade

DOB 3-28-1995 – present

Mac (Big Mac of Ebonstar MH), also known to us as “Smack-a-doo”, is out of one of the first Lean Mac (FC NAFC CNAFC Ebonstar’s Lean Mac) breedings.  His dam is CFC CNAFC Free Trade.  Mac was bred by Jane Schmidt.  Randy Sanders is a friend of ours in the Middle TN Amateur Retriever Club and had purchased Mac from Jane as a field trial prospect.  Mac went to John Bassett for his early training where John had to work with a tennis ball to develop Mac’s desire to retrieve.  Once Mac’s desire for retrieving had greatly improved, and it was noted that he had some nice, raw, field talent, he was sent to Richard McDonald.  Richard indeed saw that Mac was very talented, and recommended Randy send him to Ed Forry so as to train for field trials.  At some point in time and soon thereafter, Ed decided that Mac was not going to cut it as a field trial dog, and consequently sent him back to Randy.  Being that Randy had bought Mac specifically to run field trials, he asked us if we would be interested in purchasing him to run in hunt tests.  The thought of getting a started dog (and especially a Labrador) was very attractive to us and we thought we could learn a lot from the dog, which we did. 

Mac gave us both confidence at the line, in that he was a marking machine and very rarely made mistakes.  He has qualified for several Master National events and we have run him in two of them.  He is a great hunting companion (nice to have something you don’t have to worry about beggars lice, stickers, or cockle burrs with) and has picked up his fair share of wild birds. 

Mac is getting up in age now and his sight and hearing is not what it used to be.  He is currently retired from field events, but still enjoys duck hunting.  He is co-owned and resides with Jack Overholser and his family in Lebanon, TN.  Mac also taught Jack “the ropes” in that Jack ran his first Master test ever, with Mac passing in great style.  Jack also ran his first qualifying test with Mac.  That one was not quite as successful. Oh well.  We collected Mac so that someday we might continue his great lineage.  Maybe Bristol will be up for that challenge?

Landsend Great American Race (Daytona) Co-owned with Lauren Bullock

CH Nipntuck Hyspire Unforgettable x CH Lands End Whatever She Wants CDX MH

DOB 1-10-2008 – present

Sherie flew to California to pick up our newest labrador bundle of joy.  Daytona, aka "Tona", was the pick male out of a special breeding between Lola and Nat.  So far, Lola is one of eight labrador retriever bitches that have earned both the AKC Champion and Master Hunter title.  Sherie had the pleasure of judging Lola at a master hunt test and loved her temperament and work ethic. Consequently, we are both very thrilled to have one of her offspring.  As a puppy, "Tona" has demonstrated a great attitude towards field work as well as great aptitude to excel in conformation.  He is an ideal house dog, as he always shows good manners and is a real pleasure to have out in the house.  He is equally at home on the sofa, on the bed, or at your feet while you are at the computer, chewing at his bone.  He is a true water dog, from his Air Jordan water entry to his playful jaunts in the horse water trough (see inset photo).  He is a wonderful addition to the Bear Country family.

Labrador Bitches ( Females )

Carronade's Thunder Valley (Bristol)

FC AFC Skybusters Rapid Fire x Carronade’s Born To Win MH

DOB 8-4-2005 - present

Thanks to Sally Koepke and Rosalind Pentecost for allowing little Bristol to come live with us this fall.  It is kind of intimidating to see all the “big dogs” in her pedigree; we only hope that we can do her proud and live up to her full potential.  It was so nice to be able to see both of Bristol’s parents when we were in Ohio to pick her up.  Mom, Carronade’s Born to Win MH is out of two National Winners, NFTCH AFTCH FC/AFC Ebonstar’s Lean Mac. and NFTCH AFTCH Dippomarsh Kerensa O'Carronade; Dad is also an FC/AFC, Skybuster’s Rapid Fire. 

Sally had these puppies so well socialized and coming to their food dish on a come in whistle.  I am surprised that with all the time she spent with them that they weren’t sitting on the whistle as well J 

Bristol has already started going on some of our road trips and learning what it is like traveling on the “dog truck”.   She loves running through cover and has to “do her business” as far away and in the deepest cover that she can.  She loves tearing into running water because she can get where she is going fast and is awestruck when she catches sight of any type of bird in the air. 

We have very high hopes for this hellion, if we can just live through the next few months until we can get into spring and start her real training.

Truline's Jam Packed (Jam)

Truline's Braveheart MH x Whisky Creek Pams Deviation MH

DOB 6-18-2001 - present

The third musketeer residing here in our Labrador grouping is our Jam.  She was graciously offered to us by Darrell and Kathy Pack of Quincy, Florida.  Jam is out of a litter of 14 pups (both black and yellow) and was bred by Davis Arthur.  Jam's father, Freedom, was sired by Truline's Rampage MH QAA (derby points and open placement) out of a fox red dam, Marathon's Spirit of Rockhill, MH. Jam's mother, Deva, was sired by NAFC FC MDs Cotton Pickin' Cropper out of JB Charlie, MH.

As you can see, Jam's pedigree is loaded with talented parents known for their fantastic retrieving desire and style and have the titles to back it up. 

Jam has fit in to our household very nicely and probably thinks she has died and gone to heaven, having all of the property to explore.  She loves the group walks and has recently discovered ice, something she did not have exposure to in Florida.  We are looking forward to starting Jam's field career and are hoping she follows in those mighty big footsteps created by her parents and grandparents.