Home of the First Curly AKC NA, OA and AX. Home of the First curly USDAA AD. Breeder of the first AKC Master Hunter with an AKC Championship
We have bred dogs that compete in agility, obedience, tracking, dock jumping, rally, conformation and field. We have been active with our curlies at Therapy dogs. We participate in 4-H, school and scouting demonstrations. I personally have shown several dogs to the CD level, a couple to the CDX level, and one to the UD level. I have won an all breed High in Trial. Multiple Match HIT's. Match Group wins. I have shown many dogs to their CGC title before I became a CGC evaluator for the AKC. Now I don't do as many of my own dogs to the CGC, since I tend to always be doing the tests for others! I have shown 7 dogs to their Championships. (and helped put points and majors on many others) Put a CKC Ch on one of my dogs, as well as 2 CKC CDs and 2 CKC CDX titles. I have done tracking, been a Track layer for the NECC. I put the first AKC agility title on a CCR. The First NA, the first OA, and the first AX. As well as the first curly to earn a USDAA agility title. I have put TDI's on a couple of my dogs, as well as ST (Stability Test title) Mark does personal hunting with our dogs, but does not do any field trials. (although he did put a CD on his Curly gal before she was a year old!) I don't show as much as I did, due to job and time constraints. And usually when I go to a national specialty, I don't take any of my own dogs, since as a fancier of the breed, I like to be free to observe what other breeders have been producing over the last year. Bringing a string of dogs to show... you just don't have the time to do that all important research.
I started in the dog world with Irish Setters. I had an All Breed High In Trial winning Utility Dog when I was a teenager. I was always looking for a breed that was more versatile than my Irish. A dog who would be a constant companion, a partner in obedience and agility. A dog I could take from the field to the show ring. I found a true gem in the dog world. The Curly Coated Retriever. I waited a long time for my first Curly, Am And Can CH Karakul Blazing Autumn CD, CDX, NA, OA, AX, CGC, USDAA AD, Can CD, CDX. From the moment she entered our lives I was hooked on the breed! Some recent SoftMaple Show, Field, Obedience and Agility news	Originally bred to retrieve ducks on English seaboard marshes, the Curly-Coated Retriever is a black or liver-colored dog easily recognized by his coat, which is one mass of crisp curls that covers his entire body. The coat is easy to care for, as the curls stay in place with little or no attention. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a strong, smart, active dog who exhibits intelligence and endurance. He will practically live in the water. Temperamentally easy to train, he is a charming and faithful companion, and an excellent guard dog. His curious nature may lead him into many amusing escapades that call for an owner with a sense of humor. The Curly is a hunting dog for the person who likes variety: ducks, pheasant, grouse and a dog who can also be a companion to children and a family friend. Though he is designated as a retriever, the Curly is also an outstanding upland game dog on pheasant, grouse, quail, etc. Curlies are currently being hunted throughout North America, and are used extensively for hunting in New Zealand (where they are the hunting dog of choice) and Australia. Many, if not most, of the people hunting Curlies are family oriented who just want a dog that hunts and can be a companion so hunting Curlies is rather a silent revolution.
I enjoy having fun with my dogs. I also enjoy letting them just lay around doing nothing. Laying around doing nothing, often leads to a dog occupying himself. Sometimes they become destructive! Curlies are an active, intelligent breed. Giving them a "job" to do makes them better members of the family. Having a dog sport you and your curly can do together strengthens the bond between you. The Curly Coated Retriever is a dog that can excel at many jobs. A Curly that lives in the house, has regular exercise and work, including any type of work that takes advantage of the breed's innate intelligence, and is a part of the family, is a happy Curly. The most important care and training of a Curly is involving him in the family's day to day activities. Include your Curly in your every day life and he will repay you with years of friendship. The AKC Standard states that "outline, carriage and attitude all combine for a grace and elegance somewhat uncommon among the other retriever breeds." The grace and elegance is combined with a sturdy structure and hardworking, persevering temperament to create an excellent working retriever.	Curlies and agility go hand in hand. I have trained the first AKC agility titled CCR, with many others close on my heels! These dogs love the sport. Basic obstacles comprising an agility course might include: high jumps, bar jumps, broad jumps, tire and hoop jumps, water, platform, sway bridge, A-frame, teeter-totter and dogwalk. Other obstacles are weave poles, weave hoops, open and pipe tunnels, collapsed tunnel, crawl tunnel, tables and boxes. Dogs must, of course, clear the jumps on the course, and they must touch the "contact zones" on obstacles that include that requirement. In competition, the dog must touch at least one foot in the contact zone or faults are accumulated. The reason for this is to ensure that dogs negotiate certain obstacles safely. The natural agility of the curly makes them super at this sport. They can be clowns in the obedience ring, but their speed, intelligence and natural athleticism gives them and edge in Agility competition. Its great fun for both you and your curly. There have been several very successful curly and owner teams in the US and Canada. Training can improve your relationship with your Curly. While obedience is a competitive sport there is also practical obedience which is not much different than teaching basic manners and communication. If you are uncomfortable with the formality and, yes, rigidity, of formal obedience you can still become a happy team in practical obedience. I recommend obedience to any Curly owner. It will make your dog a better member of your family.
The Curly Coat is possessed of an imperturbable temperament. Even tempered, this dog is intensely loyal and will be protective of the family while maintaining unfailingly good manners to humans likewise mannered. Curlies tend to be reserved rather than extroverted with strangers. However, this reserve can be shed rather dramatically when someone the dog knows and loves approaches! Curly Coats are very slow to mature and this should be taken into account when training them. They are always quick and intelligent, however, so tailoring your training into multiple, short, and interesting sessions will yield the best results over time. Of course, not all Curlies are paragons of virtue. Most Curlies cannot be kept out of the water and are great natural swimmers. You should exercise due sensibility when introducing a puppy to water. Never throw the pup into the water: allow him to approach the water himself on a gently sloping entry with plenty of shallow water with little or no current. As he gains confidence, he will be splashing about in no time. If an adult dog is around to encourage the pup, he will probably be swimming before you (or he) know it! Some Field Titled SoftMaple Dogs: CH SoftMaple's O'Dark Thirty JH, SH, MH WCQ CD CGC, HOF, TT, RN, CHIC (Jet is only the third MH CCR, and the first AKC CH Master Hunter) Jet is winner of the 2003 CCRCA annual Field Trophy (The Sarona Jacob of Marvadel & Sarona Sam of Marvadel Memorial Field Trophy) And was co-winner of the CCRCA annual Field Trophy for 2002 CH Soft Maple Crossing Delancy WC JH CH Soft Maple Black Teddy WC, JH Soft Maple Velvet Elvis JH, WC, CHIC SR, U-CH, UAG1, CH Soft Maple Kyrabean Queen, CD, U-CD, OAJ, OA, NA, NAJ, NAP, NJP, OAP, RN, JH, WCX, WC (WCI, WC), TT, TDI, CGC Gunflint's Highland Hunter CGC, WC, CD Soft Maples Northern Star JH CH SoftMaple's Pheasant Dreams CGC, WC, RN, JH, RA Soft Maple Fosters Lager WC HR CH SoftMaple's Ma Belle Bouclee CGC, WC, WCX, JH, SH CH SoftMaple's Dark Star WC, JH, CGC, CD SoftMaple Curlies with an obedience/agility title or CGC SR, U-CH, UAG1, CH Soft Maple Kyrabean Queen, CD, U-CD, OAJ, OA, NA, NAJ, NAP, NJP, OAP, RN, JH, WCX, WC (WCI, WC), TT, TDI, CGC, ROM, HOF Soft Maple Darcy CGC, TDI, CD CH SoftMaple's Comin' To America CGC, CD, CHIC CH SoftMaple's O'Dark Thirty JH, SH, MH WCQ CD CGC,TT, HOF, CHIC Ch Fairway's Softmaple Finnheir, CGC, CD, NA, NAJ, RN, RA Gunflint's Highland Hunter CGC, WC, CD Am/Can CH Karakul Blazing Autumn CDX, AX, CGC, ST, USDAA AD, Can CDX SoftMaple's MoonShadow CGC CH SoftMaple's Pheasant Dreams CGC WC RN, RA, JH CH Softmaple Paramount All That CGC CH SoftMaple Fairway Explorer CGC CH SoftMaple Dese's Int'l D'Lite CGC CH Soft Maple Water Works CGC, CHIC CH SoftMaple N HunterBay NY Wknd CGC, TT, CHIC CH SoftMaple International Fling CGC, CHIC Ch Avanti's Best Bet CGC CD ROM ROMX CH Avanti SM Fair Trade CGC TDI U-CH, UAG1, CH Ptarmigan Huron's Soft Echo CGC Soft Maple Wind on Water ADC, VAADC, VMGDC, CGN Timmy was the top Curly Coated Retriever in the AAC for 2003 and 2004 HR, SHR, CH SoftMaple's Ma Belle Bouclee CGC, WC, WCX, JH, SH Soft Maple's Beachcomber CGC SoftMaple's American Dreamer CGC, CD, TDI AG2 Softmaple Frolic In The Wind RN NAJ NF NAC NJC TG-N TN-O, NCC CH SoftMaple's Dark Star WC, JH, CGC, CD	Shown is Jet CH SoftMaple's O'Dark Thirty JH, SH, MH, RN, WCQ CD CGC TT HOF CHIC , who is the third curly in history to earn an AKC Master Hunter title. He is the first CCR with an AKC Championship to earn a MH hunting title. The Curly is A large, hardy, athletic retriever with a distinctive crisp curly coat. The thick, black or liver-colored coat of tight curls protects the dog from brambles and icy water. Even the small ears, back of the head, neck and tapering tail are covered with little curls. Only the face, hocks and front of the legs are smooth. The ideal Curly should be agile and graceful, strong yet elegant. Curlies are intelligent and smart. They are easily trained, but do not generally tolerate repetitious training well. Their streak of independence can make some types of training a little more difficult, as the dog will start making his own decisions. Because they mature slowly, training frequently takes longer than in some of the more popular retrievers. Curly is an erect, alert, self-confident dog. In motion, all parts blend into a smooth, powerful, harmonious symmetry. A correctly built and tempered Curly will work as long as there is work to be done, retrieving both fur and feather in the heaviest of cover and the iciest of waters. To work all day a Curly must be balanced and sound, strong and robust, and quick and agile. SoftMaple Owned or bred Champions: SR U-CH CH Soft Maple Kyrabean Queen CD, JH, OA, OAJ, NA, NAJ, WCX, WC, (WCI, WC), TDI, CGC, TT, RN HOF ROM, Sep 23 1996 CR-556 CR-622G60F-PI CH SoftMaple's O'Dark Thirty JH, SH, MH WCQ CD CGC, TT HOF, CHIC (2 legs CDX) CH Softmaple Paramount All That CGC CH SoftMaple Fairway Explorer CGC U- CH CH Ptarmigan Huron's Soft Echo CGC CH SoftMaple Dese's Int'l D'Lite CGC CR-624G24F-PI CH Soft Maple Water Works CGC CHIC CH SoftMaple N HunterBay NY Wknd CGC TT CHIC CH SoftMaple International Fling CGC CHIC Ch Avanti's Best Bet CGC CD ROM ROMX CH Avanti SM Fair Trade CGC TDI Ch Fairway's Softmaple Finnheir, CGC, CD, NA, NAJ, RN, RA Am/Can CH Karakul Blazing Autumn CDX, AX, CGC, ST, USDAA AD, Can CDX CH Soft Maple Crossing Delancy WC JH CH Soft Maple Black Teddy WC JH CH SoftMaple Boyerie Int'l Affair CH Soft Maple Natural Finish ROM ROMX CH Fairway Pizzazz Rendezvous CH SoftMaple Avanti Mileage Plus CH Soft Maple's Turning Leaf CH Soft Maple's Warrior Princess ST CH SoftMaple's Pheasant Dreams CGC WC, RN (1 leg JH, 1 leg RA) CH SoftMaple's Dr Kananga CH SoftMaple's Comin' To America CGC, CD, CHIC CH Softmaple Sziok Seven Stars CH SoftMaple Gunflint's Beauty CGC, CHIC Ch Softmaple Boot Scoot'N Dese SHR CH SoftMaple's Ma Belle Bouclee CGC, WCX, JH, SH CH SoftMaple's Dark Star WC, JH, CGC Pointed Dogs: Soft Maple Velvet Elvis JH, WC, CHIC CH SoftMaple's Rufus Soft Maple Fosters Lager WC SoftMaple's Avanti Anti Up SoftMaple's Avanti Windfall Soft Maple Her-She-Ma Backcast SM Flying Circus Aus CH SoftMaple BackCast Traveler

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