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Major earned for his Versatile Championship at the NAVHDA Invitational with a maximum score of 200. This event was held in Bloomingdale, Ohio on September 15-18,2011.
Congrats to Major and Curt!

Major is an extremely talented, intelligent dog. His first exposure to hunt test competition came in 2006 when he was awarded a Natural Ability Prize 1 within the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) testing system, scoring a maximum score of 112 points. The NAVHDA Natural Ability test measure a young dogs ability to find and point birds, retrieve from the water, and track wounded game.

Major continued his training and matured into an exceptional bird dog. In 2010 and 2011 major competed in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Master Hunt Test competition and passed 6 out of 7 test to earn his Master Hunter (MH) title. The Master Hunter Title is reserved for exception dogs that demonstrate at the highest level the ability to find birds, point/retrieve and be steady to wing, shot, and fall.

Next Major competed in NAVHDA at the Utility Level. The Utility Test measures a finished bird dogs ability to hunt in the field and find and point game as well as retrieve on land and water. The dogs need to be steady to wing, shot, and fall. They are required to perform a duck search in a swamp, and track and retrieve a duck at over 100 meters. They also need to show obedience and remain by a duck blind while the handler walks out of sight and shots are fired. Lastly they have to heel through heeling stakes on their way to a duck blind. In November of 2010, Major earned a Utility Prize 1 scoring a maximum score of 204 points. By earning a Utility Prize 1, Major was qualified to run at the NAVHDA Invitational to compete for the coveted title of Versatile Champion (VC).

The NAVHDA Invitational is reported to be the toughest test in the gun dog world and is reserved for only the top performers in NAVHDA (Only Prize 1 Utility Dogs are eligible). The dogs must run in the field with a brace mate for an hour and demonstrate strong search, pointing, backing, and be steady to wing, shot and fall. They must execute a 100 yard blind retrieve across water, and honor another dog during a duck retrieve. Lastly, they must perform a double mark retrieve of two duck on the water in the reverse order in which they are thrown with a diversion shot. And, during judgment, they are off lead and must be heeled to each venue off lead. It is truly a tough test and only about 50% of the eligible dogs earn VC titles.

On September 15, 2011, Major and his trainer/handler Curt Fry of Slamming Point Kennel, arrived in Bloomingdale, OH to run in the NAVHDA Invitational. The weather was poor at best with high winds and steady rain. In the end, Major and Curt executed each phase of the Invitational Test to the highest degree of competency and scored a maximum score of 200 points and earned Major’s Versatile Champion Title (VC).

Major's hips are OFA "good" and elbows are OFA "normal". He has had a clear CERF (eyes).

Jag was a 115 lb. yellow male (chocolate factored). He was a well bred hunting retriever. Jag loved to retrieve and was an excellent water fowl dog. Jag's sire was GMHR Southland Leroy Brown. His grandfather was the renowned FC-AFC-MHR Westwind Bold mannered, very good with children and had a charismatic personality. His hips were OFA Good and elbows were OFA normal. Jag's eyes had a clear CERF. Jag was my all time favorite Lab.

It is great sadness that I must inform you that Jag passed away on 11/8/07. I will miss my "big guy". He was my best friend. As our vet said. "Jag was truly a special, noble dog, who touched so many people's lives, one of those once in a lifetime dogs." We were able to do a collection so we will be able to have 3 more litters of Jag's in the future. Dam(s) yet to be determined. Below you will see a son of Jag's Jackson, that we kept from his last litter that he sired born on 9/18/07.

Sarge, with his trainer/handler, Curt Fry, on June 10, 2007 when he received his AKC JH title.

Larke Kennels is proud to have a Sarge and Ellie son standing at stud at our kennel. Jake was owned by our good friends, Polly and Brad Shaffer of Leesburg, VA. They have so graciously given Jake back to us so he can continue our lines. Jake is a 4 year old chocolate male and weighs about 78 lbs. He has the sweetest personality. Jake is a strikingly handsome male with a deep rich chocolate coat. Jake's sire is our own SHR Southland Sarge of Larke SH WC and grandsire is GMHR Southland Leroy Brown. His great-grandfather is the renowned FC-AFC-MHR Westwind Bold Tiger. His dam is our own SHR Larke Miss Ellie Girl JH WC. His maternal grandmother has her AKC MH title and her maternal grandfather has his AKC SH title. He loves to retrieve and likes children. His OFA finals for his hips are "good" and his elbows are "normal". Jake has a current CERF (eye certification) and EIC clear. Jake now has his AKC JH title. Jake now has his AKC SH title. Many thanks to trainer, Doug Reiter. Jake will be continuing his training for his AKC MH title.

Larke Kennels is proud to announce a new chocolate male addition to their kennel. We have named this puppy Striker. He comes from Dream Myer's kennel in Minnesota. This little guy has a pretty impressive pedigree. His dam has Dreammeyer Gracie's Stellar Ryder has her AKC SH title and will continue her training for her AKC MH title. His sire is Ten Bears Road Trip QAA "Tick". Every dog in his sire 4 generation pedigree is titled. We have very high expectations of this little guy. At 3 1/2 months old he was marking 40 yard retrieves in the water. He is even bringing the bumpers back to us. Striker is co-owned by Polly Shaffer and myself. Striker is EIC and CNM clear (by birth). OFA prelims on hips are excellent, elbows normal and he has a clear CERF!! Striker earned his AKC JH title with 4 straight passes. Congratulations to Striker and trainer, Doug Reiter!

We are very fortunate to have a 3rd generation chocolate male stand here at stud at our kennel. When Sage was 7 weeks old, our granddaughters fell in love with him. After some discussion with mom and dad, they agreed the girls could have him. Sage had OFA prelims done on his hips and elbows, plus his eyes have CERF certified. Sage was sent to our trainer, Curt Fry for the initial stages of his training. He then came home after 9 weeks because our granddaughters didn't want him away too long. Pap (Larry) then continued with his field training. Sage went 4 for 4 for AKC JH title. Congrats to Curt and Pap!! He is now in training for his AKC SH title. Sage's sire is our Jake and his dam is our Meg. He is exceptionally good looking and pulled a lot of his traits from both his parents. He has a nice block head and thick otter tail.