Memorials
This is a page dedicated to those loving dogs that made our lives whole. Devoted their time, love and attention to us, and sadly have crossed the rainbow bridge.
Diesel
Diesel - AKA "Monkey Moo"!
Diesel is an English Labrador Retriever. He has a very gentle nature and is friendly with everyone he meets. His strong lines are the backbone of our breeding program. Diesel is regularly health checked (hips, eyes, elbows) and has been given a clean bill of health; as well as the encouragement to breed. He is clear on PawPrints Labrador genetic diseases panel. He is an impressive boy and we love him dearly.
I'm proud to say that Diesel won 1st Place in the University of Guelph College Royal Dog Show in 2009. He's an obedient, happy and handsome man <3
Diesel entered retirement in 2019, but has continued to live out the best life with us. Now, in 2022, at the ripe old age of 14 - he still comes to work every day, and overall his health is quite good.
Diesel passed January 20 2023 of old age - my heart has been forever changed...he certainly took of piece of it with him when he crossed the rainbow bridge.
Hemi
Hemi - the Matriarch <3
Hemi left her paw prints on my heart on August 3 2021, and things have not been the same since. RIP to my sweet Momma Ham; forever missed by our pack. Hemi really was the alpha, so now all of the other dogs are out of sorts.
Hemi was an American Labrador Retriever. She had a very energetic personality and was the first to jump in the pool or play ball. She out runs and out swims our English Labs by far. Their running and swimming styles are completely different. American's are built for speed! Hemi has an impressive "Otter Tail" that has been known to clear coffee tables, and help us paint!
Hemi retired from breeding in September 2015, and continued to teach the other girls' pups a thing or two in her remaining years with me. Hemi was the most obedient of all of the dogs, and I am lucky to have earned her love <3
Hemi was taken away too soon in August 2021, despite every effort I made to save her. She passed doing what she loved - swimming in the pond. Since that day, it's tough going to our favorite spot - but I have managed to go a few times with my dogs (and they wear life jackets now).
I'm blessed to see photos and updates from Hemi's pups, even after she has passed. Some really resemble her, and some even bark like her. A lot of them got them love for ball from her as well.
Charger
Charger - AKA Miss. Little
This little sweetheart joined our family in Sept 2015. It took awhile to decide on a name because I like to get to know my dogs before giving them a signature "Engine Part" name. Charger really is as the name says....a Charger! She runs very quick with her floppy ears set straight back.
Sadly, in April 2016 after her first heat, Charger had pyometra (infected uterus). She was immediately spayed and will not be a part of our breeding program. Despite the fact she can't have her own pups, she is sticking around to help raise Camber, Aerial, Chrome & Fender's pups :)
(Clearly, I'm a little different than most breeders - I truly love my dogs, and they are here to stay when I bring them into my family. We don't rehome our family, ever!)
March 10 2023, Miss Little crossed the rainbow bridge due to a very rare form of cancer, which resulted in a large (cantaloupe size) mass in her abdomen which was preventing her from passing urine or stool. Surgery was not possible due to the location of the mass. Losing a dog at only 7.5 years old is a different kind of pain.
Caliper
Caliper left her paw prints on my heart and left us with many memories on Sept. 3, 2013. RIP baby girl <3 She is forever in our thoughts and hearts. Below is a slideshow of her, her memorial items, and my tattoo of her pawprint. She is dearly missed, and never forgotten.
Caliper was a very happy girl; loving to everyone & the biggest cuddle bug you could ever imagine. She was a large English Labrador female (her father was a "King Lab"). Caliper carried the yellow Dudley gene, and had 2 large healthy litters in her time with our family.
Caliper was tragically hit by a car while I was on vacation in September 2013. I miss her dearly, and we think about her every day - she truly is our Angel. I have a tattoo of her (rather large!) paw print on my side, so she is always with me. Her memory lives on in my heart, and of course with the 21 pups that she parented. I was very proud of each of those pups <3
Cali had 2 week old pups at the time she passed, and the pups were in good hands and paws despite this great loss in our family. We 'borrowed' a "Foster" mom for the puppies, and she quickly took to them as her own. Chassis has helped us in a time of need, and is quickly helped to heal my heart. She joined our family after just 3 days of helping us out, because I truly did fall in love with her. No one will replace Caliper....however Chassis made the loss a little more bearable. <3
Chassis
July 15 2010 - Feb 10 2024
Chassis was the most sophisticated "dog", truth be told, she never acted like a dog. She was a Princess, and came by her nick name Diva quite honestly. She is of banchory bolo bloodlines, and as such has "bolo pads" on the backs of her feet. Chassis has a regal appearance, and a regal attitude!
Diva joined our family when she was 4. Her name was Nestle at the time. I borrowed her from another breeder to raise Caliper's 2 week old pups when Cali had passed. She raised those pups as her own, but also healed my heart. She was a true kennel dog, but naturally I fell in love with her & had to keep her. I'm so grateful the other breeder agreed to sell her to me....and from then on she lived a life of luxury with us, and I got to have 10 amazing years with her! ♡
She was always lazy, likely why she still had decent mobility in her later years. She didn't like the outdoors, unless we were headed to the pond. She loved our pond, but loved our neighbours pond more...and would often go on self guided tours to swim there....I guess they have better water¿?
Diva didn't play very much, but her zoomies were the best! She could tuck her back feet so far up that you'd think she was walking on air! Just the other day she was prancing through the field and I thought she would be with us for a lot longer.
Diva loved everyone, but most specifically babies. If you had a baby, there was no way that baby was going without a Diva kiss! She had the most kind soul, and a regal presence. You'd often feel like she was judging you by her "snobby nose".
Over the years, Diva surprised me more and more with her activity level....and I thought she might just live forever. That was wishful thinking. She had surgery in the fall of 2023 to remove some MCTs, but I think she did have cancer throughout her body, and today her body suddenly decided it had had enough. Her passing tonight came as a surprise, but I know her old body was hanging on as long as it could, and now her memory is with my pack and I I was crying the day I got her, and I cry today because her body has left us.