SunSage Sporting Dogs

05/01/2025

ALL of these things...not JUST health testing, not JUST a popular color, not JUST becuase it wins...

All of you speaking ill towards breeders and the purposeful procreation of canines take note:

If you walk through your local shelter, you will not find a single well bred, reputably bred dog in their kennels. You will find pit bulls and poorly bred labradors and chihuahuas and toy breeds with goggly eyes and crooked legs, but you won't find one from a reputable breeder, whose parents have been health tested, temperament and conformation and breed studied, preventative measures taken against known possible lifelong injury and infection.

Why won't you find one of our dogs there? Because our puppies are microchipped, they are registered and sold with a contract that states if the owner must rehome then the dog comes back to the place it was born.

When the well bred dogs go extinct, you will wonder why.

Here is an answer: YOU

Definition of a Reputable Breeder:
A responsible breeder breeds to the standard, including the parts that address temperament, intelligence, and working ability.

A responsible breeder breeds to improve the breed, and only to improve the breed and has no more litters than necessary to do so.

A responsible breeder keeps no more dogs than he or she can provide quality nutritional and medical care, and attention and training for.

A responsible breeder shows his or her stock in conformation and/or performance and working events to evaluate his or her dogs against others in the breed (preferably both).

A responsible breeder tests all breeding stock for known and testable genetic disorders.

A responsible breeder carefully screens prospective buyers and matches each dog or puppy to the right home.

A responsible breeder sells or places pets with spay/neuter contracts and limited registration.

A responsible breeder takes back any dog he or she has produced at any point in the dog's life should the dog for any reason need rehoming.

31/12/2024

As the Sun sets on another year, SunSage Sporting Dogs would like to thank each and every one of you for your trust, support and kind words. I look forward to working with you and your dogs in 2025.
Wishing everyone the best in the upcoming year!!

18/12/2024

Here is another fun update and picture from a repeat SunSage client and friend! All three, pictured here waiting for snacks, are SunSage Cockers and bloodlines from a number of foundation dogs from our kennel. They are full-time house dogs and couch cuddlers. One has placed in AKC Spaniel Field Trails and holds multiple Spaniel Hunt Test titles. And the newest one is showing great promise for hunting and spaniel events. Love seeing these type of homes and commitment for these amazing little dogs-hunt to hearth is real!!

17/12/2024

Update from a repeat cocker client:

Just wanted to let you know this little Barney girl, Nahla, is the true epitome of “Hunt to Hearth”.  I wish you could see her hunt.  She is giving Cletus a run for his money!  -John

When a dog leaves SunSage it isn't a "sale" it is a piece being shared. Messages like this make my heart happy and cause the challenging moments of being an ethical, responsible breeder truly feel worth it. John owns two SunSage English Cockers (both sired by Barney). They have developed quite the resume as wild birds dogs hunting for grouse and woodcock and well as becoming very well known during his days a professional wingshooting guide.

12/12/2024

Well Tweed was certainly having fun, from all reports, while hunting last weekend. She was the only dog down both days in the field and did an excellent job questing, flushing and retrieving game. Her son Briar was eager to be in the mix back at the cabin during lunch, but he has a few more months before he is ready for the field. Between Tweed hunting and Amy driving the UTV, I am not sure who had more fun!!! Thanks for the hunting update and for providing such wonderful homes for these SunSage cockers. (SunSage Tweed of Hound & Hare "Tweed"; SunSage Thornproof of Hound & Hare "Briar")
Be sure to check out the field gear from Hound & Hare!!!

09/12/2024

The SunSage cocker crew and the Gordon Lee FFA Dog Handler Team had another great weekend and Cocker Spaniel Enthusiast AKC Spaniel Hunt Test in Crawford, GA.
Both junior handlers passed with their dogs both days. I am super proud of these young men and the life skills and connections they are learning though this process. Congratulations to Bob and his SunSage cockers on their passes this weekend. It is always a pleasure to spend time with you and the dogs. To Oliver and his family-thank you for your original purchase of SunSage cocker and all the memories and fun along the way. Here is to another two lovely runs this weekend! And to my dear friend Lindsey, we had a fun day together planned, but life threw a curve ball...happy to be able to help Buffalo (1/2 a SunSage Cocker) finish his Senior title today.
Good times, good dogs, good people. Thank you to the land owners, judges, and workers for a nice weekend.
Team SunSage Weekend Stats:
Saturday 5/5; Sunday 5/6

29/11/2024

I do love a good pointer!!! Easy Friday afternoon working some young dogs.







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28/11/2024

Yesterday was one of those days that makes you remember the small, but big reasons to smile...I guided a private quail hunt for a family. There ended up being three generations in the field at one point of the hunt. "Pops," who had not shot birds in roughly 40 years, picked up a shotgun and followed the dogs to several points, and nailed it! While this moment is most special for his family, it highlights the heritage of the sporting lifestyle and why it is so important to preserve and pass it on.❤️❤️
**look closely there are three dogs in this picture**

24/11/2024

Yesterday was a good day at the ESSCA AKC Spaniel Hunt Test, held at Lime Rock Preserve.
The SunSage cocker crew did well again, with four out of four passes and four new titles!!! Woot woot-dash candy is always fun!

11/11/2024

Second day of the Wateree Spaniel Club AKC Spaniel Hunt Test at beautiful grounds in SC. The SunSage cocker crew rounded out the weekend with three more passes!! It was a great weekend with good friends as well as meeting new folks. Thanks to the club, volunteers and land owners for a well-run event.

10/11/2024

Nice day at the Wateree Spaniel Club Hunt Test. All three SunSage cockers earned passes today. Thanks to the club for a very organized event-well done! As always, so pleased with the quality and performance of my Hound & Hare Albany Vest-thanks Eric & Amy!! Now onto tomorrow!







-breeder

05/11/2024

SunSage Ardsmuir aka "Fraiser" making a retrieve for Dylan, another of the Gordon Lee FFA Dog Handler team a few weeks back at the Central Virginia ESS AKC Spaniel Hunt Test.

31/10/2024

These are just three students of the Gordon Lee FFA Dog Handler Team that competed in their very first AKC Spaniel Hunt Test. Several owners generously allowed seven students from this program handle their dogs for this event. These three English Cocker Spaniels represent three generations from the SunSage Kennel. Willow is a retired, seasoned girl who still loves to work and hunt. Her daughter Envy, is also a seasoned dog who was happy to have snuggles and time in the field. Both Willow and Envy already hold Senior Hunter titles but were great confidence boosters for new handlers. Sybil, also another Willow daughter, is just embarking on her hunt test journey, with this being weekend being only second hunt test. Fun fact, the two half-sister cockers were handled by sisters!! I am pleased to report that all three students earned passing scores with the dogs both Saturday and Sunday. It was very rewarding to watch their progress and improvement over the weekend!

31/10/2024

31/10/2024

Quality versus quantity....breeder vs greeder....