I always loved dogs and always wanted to have several dogs to share my time with.  I saw my first Golden Retriever when I was young and lived in England, and I immediately knew that was the type of dog I wanted…friendly, lively and intelligent…a good companion for the field as well as for home.

In 2000 I bought my first Golden Retriever in Austria. Duncan was bred by a hunter to work as a shooting companion but as I was no hunter at that time, he became my playing mate and our family pet.  Duncan is a very strong-willed dog, a powerful male with a very good temperament, but also a very intelligent dog who “doesn’t suffer fools too gladly”!!  He proved to be a real challenge when it came to dummy training: he always chose to trust his great nose rather than his handler!  When he was young his favourite pastime was chasing ducks down the river and I often thought the chance of going out shooting with him one day would be very small…   

Nevertheless, now that he is a bit more mature and easier to handle, Duncan has proved to be a great shooting companion: steady and attentive, though not very fast, he always comes back with game in his mouth, no matter how hard the grounds are or how thick the cover is! 

With the time I learnt to appreciate his qualities and accept his limitations. 

Now Michael is mostly handling Duncan in working tests and field trials and I had to accept that they make a much better team, though I still go picking up with him whenever possible.   

Some years ago I had the opportunity and the honour to meet and spend some time in England with June Atkinson. I saw her work with her Holway Goldens and I knew I was ready for one.  Their extreme  will to please, their nose and hunting ability combined with their kind temperament fascinated me…Seeing several Holways working at Merryfields with June and her son Robert was a joy and I wanted to be part of it.  In 2004 June had a litter from Holway Reema and Holway Banjo and  she offered me a puppy she had called Roger.  

Roger came into my life like a storm and he was “my dog” from day one…totally devoted to me and always at my side, just waiting to do something for me.  

He developed into a kind, friendly dog with character and with one only desire: to retrieve!  A stylish, very fast dog with excellent marking and nose, he is a real specimen of the Holway breed!

My love for hunting dogs and for sharing a long day in the field with them led me to become a passionate hunter and Michael soon followed.  Now we both enjoy picking up whenever possible and go out shooting. 

Therefore, our dogs are not just lazy members of the family but shooting companions and lifelong working friends!
 

Duncan and Michael - the perfect team