Cinnstar Tollers What's New

2014 was a years of so many highs, culminating with my trip to the Toller National Specialty. I was so proud of them doing well at the National. At the National I enjoyed seeing so many of my friends that I had not seen in YEARS! And meeting friends that I only knew from email and FB. It was fantastic! I felt like I was on a social tour. Everyone was wonderful. I’ve already started making plans for 2015 and YES 2016!

We have put much work into our ranch, home and retriever training areas. It is a labor of love as we also did almost ALL of the work ourselves. Don and I always laugh when we talk about a 70 and 56 year old putting up the 22 foot kennel roof trusses (21 of them!) in the 100 degree heat! Or the negotiating that goes on when cutting the fields so that both the Longhorns AND Retrievers benefit. We also this year had the design by Nature, the tornado that made (well the after effects) improvements by the addition of a new carport, house painting and new roof. Next year early we hope to see the digging of our first large pond, and other grounds and kennel improvements. There’s always something going on here.

This year (really our first year back into competition) was an excellent one for our personal dogs in field, obedience and rally with:

New CDX, WCX and RA titles for Jingle (CH Marshlands Jingle for Foxgrove SH CDX RA NA NAJ) including several placements in Open A, and an Open B WIN at the National, and easily passing her WCX also at the National.

New RN and RA titles for Apache (CH Red Leaf Apache at Cinnstar SH CD RA WCX) including placements in RN and RA.

CD, WC and RN titles for Turquoise (KD’s Turquoise N Sliver at Cinnstar CD RN WC) including a Win in RN and completing her CD at the National. Turquoise also did a picture perfect job on her WC at the National, and passed 3 JH tests (I got mixed up on the day of the 4th test, Yikes!) Oh well next year right before her SH tests.Plus we want to breed her in 2015!

I took home from the National Maple (CH Cinnstar’s Maple Leaf at Sagewood RN) who I bred and co own with Patty and Paul Beran and put her CD on her in straight trails after two months of training in early December. We hope to get her ready for her WC and JH before we breed her in April

Lastly, RN and one leg of her CD (where she placed 3rd at the National) for Luna (Cinnstars Comanche Moon RN) before we placed her in a wonderful competitive performance home in the Denver area.

With Luna’s RN and Apache’s RA puts their sire Flash (CH HR Cinnstar’s Cherokee Flash CDX NA WCX VCX) according to my records, while siring only four litters (20 pups) to 100 ROM points and all requirements satisfied except he needs two more individual dogs with titles!

This year with our personal dogs we plan to concentrate with HRC hunt tests, advanced/excellent rally and obedience titles. Turquoise keeps promising me that she will come into season so we can have a litter of pups. Hopefully we will have some time after Turquoise’s litter to show her in conformation and finish her CH!

We did have a few sad things happen along the way in 2014, the most upsetting was the sudden and unexpected passing of Surfer (CH Cinnstars Wind Surfer CD JH WCX) at just under 14 years of age. I do have the solstice that she came with me on the 2014 National trip, enjoying every moment of it, competing in conformation, veterans obedience and the WC.

Both Don and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year with our little red dog friends!

In June 2011, my mother passed away in a horrific home fire. I was left as Sole Trustee and this totally has consumed my time. That is why there are almost no "What's New" entries in 2012. I had to forgo any amount of intensive training of my own dogs. The trust became a full time job. I do see the light at the end of the tunnel, I closed the trust in May of 2012, but then a new (but exceedingly more joyous) task awaits.

In April we closed on a newer home and 65 acres in Sulphur Springs Texas. We are leasing and hope to purchase the adjacent 63ac. We are about an hour and a half East of Dallas off of I30. The final move of all of our stuff was the first of October. It will take a lot of hard work, and several years, but this is retriever training paradise! 4 ponds (one small one right behind the house) and two seasonal streams. The nearest neighbor is about a half mile away. It is so quite and peaceful. Hopefully by late fall I will be back to training for the Winter 2013 season!

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To My Mother Charmaine Mejdrech

It was my mother way back in 1966 that encouraged me in the sport of dogs. That chauffeured me to my many events in Southern California until I got my drivers license. We scattered my Mom's and her last dog Chucker's, (a Flash brother) ashes in Carter Lake Colorado where my Step Dad's ashes were scattered a few years prior. This was the weekend of the 2011 Toller National. My Step Dad told me as he lay dieing, that his fondest memories were of Apache as a puppy on his chest as he lay in bed.

I Love You Both, Laura White January 16 2012

Laura White Honored, Awarded the Inaugural Parklake Award! The Parklake Award is a New Award to the Breeder of the Best Stud Dog at the AKC National Toller Speciality. Stormy is also a Westminster Best of Breed Winner.