I started with the Labrador retriever as most breeders do. I had that great desire to own one as a pet. As a small child, I remember growing up with many animals to my teenage years. One was a black Labrador Retriever that was given to my dad as a hunting companion. Her name was Daisy. She  was never hunted over........but for seventeen and  one half years of her life she was a great family dog and my very favorite dog.  Over the years, I've looked at her pictures that my mom has entered into photo albums and movies of her. I love the stories my mom still tells about Daisy at family holidays.  They seem so real.

I take comfort in knowing that the Labrador of today has really not changed much in style and temperament, and is still the great family dog. I can see why it is still the most popular family pet in this country and many others today.

During my first early years of marriage, I owned a yellow Labrador Retriever named Cocoa. She was classified as Red Fox in color and she was a very good dog.  She was totally mine - from the walks to the feedings. She was not very well bred and was very sick when she was young. I did spay her and had someone to teach obedience. I trained her at my pond (which is now a Brook) with bumpers and whistle but never new where to compete with her.  Cocoa was a great gardening partner, right by my side, always sleeping under a piece of equipment that came back from a job with engine still warm. My favorite picture of her is in my Dad's truck where she is in the back, cruising down my drive way. She passed on at the age of twelve from Bone Cancer.

Since her passing one year after living in my new home, I purchased two Labradors, one black and one yellow. One was from California breeding and the other one was east coast breeding. This beautiful puppy turned out to be 26 inches at the withers (just a bit over the American Standard). The second male was purchased a year later on Mothers Day. Both came out of the newspaper from back yard breeders. Both puppies where not show dogs nor quality from show lines. I am sharing this story with you so you can see how over a ten year period I did work with both dogs but also learned a lot.

At least I'm glad I had these two dogs as they are the reason I enjoyed the breed and grew to have the strong desire to breed a quality dog and to compete in conformation shows. They both earned  their Junior Hunter titles before the age of two, running four times consecutive for the legs required for the title. Both where therapy dogs, and both had their obedience title. "Stone" the yellow boy lives with my sister on her twenty acre horse farm and "Oreo" the black cutie still lives with me. He is 11. I love them both to this day as much as I did when I bought them home.

Be very strong with your emotions when purchasing a puppy and do your home work. Don't rush in and by the first cute dog you see.  The New Jersey dog federation and the The American Kennel Club are great places to start. Also contact your local specialty dog club and your Vet.  Be patience and you'll have the opportunity to get a great puppy with all the right qualities for the activities that you and your family want to be involved with. Be prepared to purchase this well breed puppy for a higher price than those listed in your local newspaper or back-yard breeder website. Hobbyist breeders charge more as they are much more involved with their dogs and have certifications guaranteeing a much healthier puppy. That's the bottom line.

Well, it's taken me these ten years and a lot of hard work but I have beautiful dogs with great health clearances. Most of the winning these past two years are with the home-bred dogs I have produced in my new generations. They are multiple champions with certified hips and eyes and bred to the standard with lovely temperaments. Yes, It costs a small fortune to show dogs sometimes, just like with any hobby. You must be willing to travel and be ready for any condition of weather. The show must go on.. and it does.. just like a football or soccer game.  It is very competitive and sometimes you promise yourself a great dinner at a new restaurant on the way home!  

The public and dog owners are all becoming better educated in purchasing a dog. Breeders are breeding a better all-round dog also. This info is shared to the public to help you become better informed about purchasing a great pet or a great show or field dog.  There is a big difference between what you want to do with a dog and from where and from whom you purchase them.  Why  would you want to do it any other way?

I have two and three titles on some of my champions now
    AM/Can/FCC CH Calabrias Blue Moon
    AM/Can/FCC CH Calabrias Black Classic is also home bred
    AM/FCC/CH Calabrias Study of Fine Art is going to Canada to get his next title.
             I would also like to try some field work with him.
    Can/FCC CH Calabrias Blyss Marcella

All our dogs are OFA hip and elbow certified, eye certified and Optigen PRA tested. Heart Testing is also becoming another tool I will be doing to my male stud dogs.  I'm well satisfied with the complimenting of the lines we have bred along with the stud dogs we have chosen for them.

This year started out very well showing for our dogs and you can follow our results on our News Page.  Please stop by from time to time for a visit and to view the News and new Pictures.  Emails are always welcomed.