RACH2 NATCH Maywood's First Shooting Star CDX GN GO JH RAE6 RM5 OA OAJ SCN DJ TKP BCAT ATT FDC CCA WC CGCA THDN VC OD TN-N TG-N WV-N "Stella"
Stella is the only female puppy from the First litter and has been one of those once-in-a-lifetime dogs. She earned her CGC at 9 months and began her obedience career by stepping into the ring 2 days before her first birthday. She qualified both days in large Novice B classes, earning 3rd and 1st placements. In three weekends, she qualified 13 times, earning three titles, and 1-3 placements 11 times (7 firsts).
At the 2014 GRCA National Specialty, she continued to wow us by winning first place in the 54-dog Rally Excellent B class. At the same trial, she finished her CDX. In 2014 alone, she earned her CDX in three straight trials with two first placements, her RAE title in ten straight trials, her JH & CCA title, and a Triathlon Award! She has qualified for the Rally National Championship every year since its inauguration and the Obedience Classic twice.
In 2015, she suffered an injury from stepping in a hole at a field test and was unable to compete. The following year, still in recovery, we decided since we were on a competition break anyway, we'd add a puppy break in. And the Dream Litter was born.
At 9 years young, in 2021, she completed her NATCH through VT runs, going from novice to champion in just under 11 months. Later that year, we attended the GRCA National Specialty and she showed us she still has what it takes as she once again won first place in a huge Rally Excellent B class! She is now semi-retired, though we continue to train and compete in obedience, field, and agility because she truly loves to show. In her free time, she works as a Therapy Dog and helped establish a Story Time hour at our local library.
In early 2022, three of Stella's kids helped her to achieve the GRCA Outstanding Dam title by excelling in performance events.
In 2024, Stella attended the GRCA National Specialty as her Retirement Event and she continued her legacy of bringing home the ribbons! Stella showed in the Veterans 12+ Conformation class and had the time of her life finally being a show dog! She was awarded fourth place in her class both in Sweeps and Veterans 12+. She also took fourth place in Rally Choice, and participated in the Hero Parade and Parade of Titleholders.
Stella is 22" tall, 54 lbs, with a correct, straight dark gold coat. She has all of her clearances, OFA Good Hips and Normal Elbows. Clearances can be viewed here. She is prcd-PRA, PRA1 & 2 clear by parentage and an ichthyosis and NCL carrier. **Stella is now spayed and retired, but please don't tell her that!!
Percy the Miracle Puppy (Mr. Gold from the "First" litter) has turned out to be quite the character. He has an excellent personality and a big sense of humor. He also earned his CGC at only 9 months, just like his sister. He earned his Rally Novice title in three straight trials, earning 2 first places and a second. He qualified for the 2014 Rally National Championship in Novice and the 2015 RNC for Advanced. At the 2014 GRCA National Specialty, Percy also earned his CCA title. For a puppy we didn't expect to make it, and with very little formal training, he certainly became quite the performance dog! Percy is 24" tall and a lean 60 lbs. Percy had a blast completing his RACH in 2022, but is now retired from competition. Though Percy has all of his clearances, which can be viewed here, Percy was never offered at stud.
Cinder was our keeper girl from our Movie Litter (Magic X Shine). We weren't planning on keeping one, but at 7 weeks old a working home backed out and as I was taking litter photos, I threw my shoe into a field to try to get the puppies to go away from me to get better shots (not my brightest moment). Little Miss Peach looked at me like she just KNEW my instant regret of doing that, trotted into the field and picked up my shoe, bringing it right back to my lap. Well, that was it. She brought me my shoe. She had to stay.
She matured into a gorgeous girl, and while she did well in the competition ring, it was clear she didn't enjoy it. So, when the perfect family approached us about adopting her, we said yes. Cinder now lives with her sister and son and is living a life full of play and cuddles.
Clarity was our keeper girl from our long anticipated "Treasure" Litter in 2018 (Sky X Shine). She is a spunky, quirky, energetic girl who is always smiling...unless you're trying to take her picture! And like her mother, she keeps us on our toes! She stands approximately 22" tall with a straight medium gold coat that repels everything. We had really hoped she would excel in competition. Unfortunately, after going through the tragedy of losing her first litter, we made the decision to retire her from the stresses of competition. She may re-enter the ring again someday, but for now she's just our buddy at home.
Clarity has all clearances, which can be viewed here: CLARITY OFA. She is genetically clear for all testable diseases. Clarity is now spayed.
Nessie was the puppy we didn't know we needed (don't you hate it when that happens!?), hence her name. Timing could not have been worse as we were in the middle of moving to a new home, but when a long shot breeding of a boy from imported lines to our foundation girl Bailey's sister turned out to be successful, we couldn't say no to a little girl from the litter. Nessie was the most adorable puppy, picking up everything we taught her super quick. However, while she was the star in her puppy classes, she was very slow to mature as far as being solid and handling stress in the competition ring. We made the mistake of pushing her aunt Bailey too quickly, so we let Nessie mature a little more before starting to seriously compete with her. Nessie has a shorter "field" coat in a deep gold that is truly wash and wear. She is on the larger side at 23.5" tall, but is still very feminine looking with finer bone. Nessie has all of her clearances, which can be viewed here, and is an ICT and PRA-2 carrier.
After raising two beautiful litters and coming out the other side of an illness, we decided it wasn't fair to ask Nessie to endure the stress of competition. She wasn't enjoying it, and we listened. She is now retired and loving life in an active family with another Maywood golden hiking, swimming, and cuddling on the couch. In 2023, the accomplishments of her kids made her a GRCA Outstanding Dam.
Bling came to us a little unexpectedly, but once she was here, it was obvious that I was supposed to have this puppy. She has taught me so much. I had been on the waiting list for her litter, but cancelled since I chose to keep a puppy from my own breeding. Then, at 8 months of age, Bling was not working well in her home. Meanwhile, I had decided to place the puppy I kept from my own litter. After some long discussions with her breeder, Bling was placed with us, and she is here to stay, though we do not plan to breed her. Bling is super smart, equally stubborn, and usually has her own agenda. Despite that, she is a joy to work with and an expert cuddler. She is laid back and very easy to live with, gets along with the girls and loves to flirt with the boys. She is mostly retired, but is looking forward to earning her Trick Dog titles and maybe some NADAC agility titles!
Bailey, my foundation girl, who taught me so much. The complete opposite of Chance in so many ways, she showed me that one size does not fit all when it comes to dog training!
Bailey is a small, agile female at 21 1/2 inches and 53 lbs with a beautiful medium gold straight correct coat that repels everything, an irresistible personality, and an intelligence and sense of humor that kept me on top of things! She loves everyone she meets in the true golden fashion and is an excellent therapy dog, easily passing the TDI test only a week after she turned 1 year. She is the daughter of OTCH High Times Wild Turkey UDX10, SH, U-UD, OGM, OBHF "Tommy" and Sunshine Token's Hot Stuff "Salsa". Tommy, his littermates, and his mother have consistently been in the Top 10 all-breed obedience dogs for the past several years, including multiple NOC wins by uncle Buoy. In 2014, Tommy himself placed fourth at the NOC in the Sporting Group. In 2015, he was in 9th place (all breed) after Day 1. Salsa's full sister, CT Sunshine Abby's Morning Ray VCD2 CDX JH OA OAJ WC was the only golden invited to the National Tracking Championship in 2010, where she qualified to earn her CT.
In 2015, Bailey was spayed and retired from motherhood. With me still struggling to finish her CD and about to go in for major surgery, I placed her with her sire's owner for the summer while I recovered. Never in a million years would I have imagined a scenario where I could give this girl up, but after a short time, it became clear that Bailey had formed an unbreakable bond with Cris and that was where she was meant to be. Cris patiently started over in her obedience training, finished her CD, CDX, and GO titles, and at 9 years young, her UD. They have collected several high scores and high in trials. In addition, Cris has re-certified her as a therapy dog and they enjoy visiting several facilities together.
We miss this sweet girl, but know she is very loved and enjoying living up to her potential. Visit Bailey's photo gallery here. Bailey's clearances can be viewed here.