Karma Clumber Spaniels

26/08/2025

Happy National Dog Day from the and us!

03/08/2025

Following up on our brag from yesterday, Mary Carr Ross reports:

As a follow up we'd like to announce both of these fabulous clumbers took 5 orange cards completing their international championships and well on their way to the next title. I learned so much from these judges who rated both as excellent in all parameters relating to the clumber standards. Plus they are the most terrific dogs I've ever had in my life❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Huge congratulations & well done to Mary & Steve, as well as Duchess & Lady, who will now be known as:

IntCH Karma's Lah Dee Dah ("Duchess") and
IntCH Karma's Constant Companion ("Lady")

03/08/2025

Duchess and Lady had a great day today at the IABCA shows in Menasha, WI! In Show 1, Lady (with Mary Carr Ross) was BOB and went on to take Sporting Group 1 and RBIS! In Show 2, Duchess (with Ross) was BOB and went on to a Sporting Group 1!

Importantly, each of the girls also earned 2 "orange cards" towards their IABCA championship titles, earning the highest rating in their critiques from both judges. They are:

Duchess - Karma's La Dee Dah (15.5 months)
Lady - Karma's Constant Companion (13 months)

We are super proud of these girls and their humans! Way to go Duchess and Lady, and good luck tomorrow!

14/07/2025

Yesterday got away from me (working on the weekend-- boo!), but I wanted to share some more great results from yesterday's scent work trial, hosted at WWCDTC by the Medallion Rottweiler Club in Ixonia, WI. Thanks again to both clubs, the fantastic volunteers, and our wonderful judges.

⭐️Sneaker added another Q to finish her Scent Work Container Novice title in her debut trial with 2 1st place ribbons and 1 2nd place! Good girl, Sneaks! Sneaker is CH Calico's Running Down a Sweet Dream for Karma FTN, SCN*. Huge thanks to Calico Field Spaniels for trusting us with this wonderful girl, and congrats also to co-owners, Becki Hirschy and Kate Anderson!

I couldn't resist adding a 3-generation photo of Sneaker with her Dad (Dozer, left) and Grampa (Rico, center), who also earned Qs this weekend. Gramma Daisy missed out on the photo op but was also working successfully at the trial this weekend. I don't remember everyone's results, but having Rico and Daisy both active with their people and looking so great well into the double digits is awesome!

⭐️ Midge debuted in excellent buried and earned her first 2 Qs. She needs only a couple of qualifications in advanced exterior to complete her advanced level title and already has qualifications at the excellent level in Containers and Buried. Midge is CH Karma's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel SWN, SCA, SIA, SBA*.

⭐️Branson continued to struggle a bit with confidence but still earned another Q in buried novice. He needs a single buried novice Q to complete both his buried novice element title and the overall novice level title. Branson is CH Karma's Driving for the Abbey FTI, SCN, SIN, SEN*.

Another huge thanks to our instructors Becki Hirschy and Lisa Schaitberger for the guidance and inspiration!

Last but not least, we all know our scent work dogs don't work for free. The Karma Dogs were fueled this weekend by Snobby Dog Biscuits peanut butter & bacon flavored trainers. Thanks Denise & Kent for helping us keep our dogs in the manner to which they prefer to be accustomed! 💝

*All new titles pending confirmation by AKC.

06/06/2025

Sneaker got mail! See her complete OFA record here:

https://ofa.org/advanced-search/?appnum=2617776

Her 2nd birthday is approaching; it will soon be time to complete the rest of her clearances!

Thanks to Calico Field Spaniels for the opportunity to add this wonderful girl to our family!

05/06/2025

05/05/2025

Happy birthday to me! Sneaker finished her championship title yesterday at the Janesville-Beloit KC shows in Jefferson, WI and is now CH Calico's Running Down a Sweet Dream for Karma FTN, ATT*.

Sneaker has been a great addition to the Karma family so far. Thank you Calico Field Spaniels and all involved with this litter! Special thanks also to Sneaker's handler extraordinaire, Katie Guse, who has handled Sneaker to most of her wins so far, and thank you also to Elizabeth Rosenow, who showed Sneaker on Saturday, and Cathy Mills, who took her back in for BOB!

*All titles subject to AKC confirmation.

27/04/2025

Sneaker, Kaylee, Zoë and I went off to the Fun Day event at Waukesha County Dog Training Club today and came home with titles!

Sneaker - new Fetch Novice (FTN) title and new ATT (temperament test) title

Kaylee - new Fetch Novice (FTN) title

Zoë - new Fetch Novice (FTN) title

Kaylee & Zoë are too young to enter the ATT test, which has a 1-year minimum age requirement.

A great day catching up with and cheering on some of our extended Calico Field Spaniels family. Thanks to the club, judges, & volunteers for a fun & well-run event.

Though Michael Finnegan was not at the event with us today, he was there in spirit, since he has been responsible for all of the training that led up to today's Fetch titles. Thanks Honey!

Please enjoy the photos: me & the baby Clumbers & a great Calico family photo (Sneaker & me on the left).

21/04/2025

We are so excited to share that, pending AKC confirmation, Cecil earned his championship on Saturday, finishing with 3 5-pt majors. Cecil just had his first birthday last week and is now CH Karma's Fiddle De Dee. Congratulations to owners Craig Leager and Leslie on their first Clumber champion and massive thanks for letting Cecil play the dog show game. As his breeders and co-owners, we are so pleased with this young dog!

It takes a village, as they say, and we also owe huge thanks to everyone who has helped Cecil along the way, most especially Cathy Mills, Kari Holcomb, and Steve Ross (who handled Cecil to his final major this weekend)!

Professional win photo forthcoming. For now, please enjoy our "pet photos," with Steve handling and me beaming (photo credit, Michael Finnegan).

06/03/2025

This post is very late as the long weekend of the Renaissance Cluster was hectic, and we've been catching up ever since, but we have to brag on the Karma Dogs and their people, and their phenomenal successes at those shows!*

Cecil - Karma's Fiddle Dee Dee was entered Sat/Sun and was BOW both days for not one but 2 5-pt majors! Cecil is owned by Craig Leager and Leslie Leager and co-owned by us. Congratulations Craig & Leslie and thank you for taking great care of Cecil and allowing him to be shown. Handled expertly by our friend Cathy Mills, who owns Cecil's sire, Red. (Thank you, Cathy!)

Lady - Karma's Constant Companion was entered Sat/Sun for her at her very first show weekend and was RWB in her very first show! Congratulations and well done to owners Steve Ross and Mary Carr Ross, and kudos to Steve for his handling as well! Thank you for doing such a great job with both Lady and Duchess (both also co-owned with us)!

The above owners are new to Clumbers, and we appreciate those in the Clumber community who, at their first few shows, have taken the time to make them feel welcome in the breed.

Sneaker - Calico's Running Down a Sweet Dream with Karma was entered all 4 days in the all-breed and specialty shows and came away with 2 more specialty majors. (plus some RWB wins, though I do not recall off the top of my head in which shows). Thanks to Becki Hirschy and Kate Anderson for co-owning Sneaker with us and to Katrina Guse for making Sneaker look like a million bucks! (Pics attached.)

On a personal note, I want to thank Michael Finnegan for everything he did for me, for the dogs, and for all of our people over the weekend of the Ren Cluster while I was called away and he was also tasked with care of all of our other dogs as well. While I handle most of the communication on this page, in this case Michael also wanted to weigh in personally:

Hello, Michael here, just a few quick words regarding the recent show weekend in Madison. As some of you are already aware Team Karma was down a player for most of the weekend. Not having Jen home for most of the weekend made for some pretty hectic moments for me, trying to keep our troops and our new puppy people informed and supported through the lengthy show weekend. Thankfully, Team Karma has the benefit of some tremendous friends and extended family and, with their support and assistance, we had a very enjoyable and productive show weekend. I am sure Jen will cover the details of team Karma's accomplishments so to close I just want to offer up my heartfelt thanks to the Clumber show community in general for being understanding and kind during a stressful time. Many people offered up assistance without me having to ask and it was very much appreciated. Some people I need to specifically recognize:

Katie Guse
Becki Hirschy
Grace Kofron
Jennifer Johnson
Chloe Gilmore

And last but without question MOST, my friend and Co-owner Cathy Mills. Simply would not have made it through without you my friend, thanks for keeping me focused and keeping me sane...and also for not laughing at me too much for my misadventures in the bred by ring. So happy to share the weekend with you and so happy to see you rack up more Owner Handled wins with Red. Looking forward to the next meetup!

*I have the major results, but this post may be light on details as I was not personally present until the tail end of Sunday due to family circumstances; please feel free to add/correct in the comments. Also, regrettably, FB is being stupid and I cannot tag everyone here. :-(

24/10/2024

This post is to let folks know that the Karma Clumber Spaniel kennel had some success this weekend at the Fox River Field Spaniel Hunt Test at Ottowa Field Trial Grounds in Eagle WI.

First acknowledgement is our boy Walter (Karma’s Breaking Bad JH) who picked up 2 more Senior Hunter Qualifications and needs just one more to Title.

The Second acknowledgement is kind of a big one for me. On Saturday 10-19 my girl Sophie earned her 5th Master Hunter qualification and subsequently her Master title so she is now:

CH Karma’s Put That on Your Plate JH SH SHA MH

It has been the joy of my handling life to work with this girl and achieve this goal, and I have had a lot of tremendous assistance along the way. Some people I need to specifically credit and thank are:

Roe and Gordie Froman, Helen Marshal and Gabe Marquart, Jade and Steve Dian

You provided us with the foundations of our breeding program and your contributions are what directly led to Sophie being in our home and our hearts today. Your Kennels all have a rich history in field work and your bloodlines continue to prove that out to this day.

Jason Givens and Zara Labrenz

I think most people consider themselves lucky if they can develop a solid working relationship with 1 quality field trainer. I have had the good fortune to be able to achieve that situation with 2 trainers of unmatched experience and dedication to their craft.

I was lucky to be directed to Lighthouse Kennels and Jason many years ago (how many is not relevant...I’m not old...YOUR old) and I have worked with him to train several pups to various AKC test titles. Sophie was something different, Jason was the one who did the initial Hunting instinct eval on Sophie’s litter and from the beginning it was clear that she could develop into something special. He took great care to make sure the challenges presented in training were tailored to her and she progressed rapidly. This was happening while we were all collectively coping with a global pandemic and wondering what calamity might befall the world next. In those troubling, anxiety filled days being able to drive out to Cambria and work in the field was a much needed touchstone to something more familiar and comforting and I am profoundly greatful for being able to work though so much of Sophie’s training at Lighthouse.

Most of the time I spent training Sophie at Lighthouse I could be confident that as I worked Sophie into flushing training birds on the field they would be reliably brought down for retrieves by the very capable gunning of Ms. Zara Labrenz. Jason had brought Zara on to his training staff, and it was clear from the start that She was a true prodigy for dogs and field work. It wasn’t long before everyone realized that Zara had become an exceptionally talented trainer in her own right and as Sophie started her final push toward all the elements of a Master hunter being able to work with Zara at Belle Fountain Kennel’s training grounds offered a seamless transition in to comprehensive training opportunities that gave Sophie and I the experience and the confidence needed to attend Tests all over the country and earn the qualifications required to achieve the Master title.

The folks listed above have all had formal roles to play in my development and Sophie’s. The following words of gratitude are for all of my informal supporters, training buddies, and hunt test co-conspirators:

Jeff Zachow and Mark A Gebert

The trio lives on...thanks for always having my back.

Supreme Allied Wing Commander (pretty good title for a retriever guy) Jay Wills
And
Bob H. (some guys don’t need titles)

If I NEED it to fall out of the sky, I want one (or both) of you shooting at it. Thanks for all the exceptional shots over the years.

Becki Jo Hirschy, Laura Reeves, Monica McGee

You 3 have forgotten more about breeding dogs than I will ever know. Thanks for always picking up when I had a newb breeder question.

Jennifer

Always for everything.

Lastly a couple words of thanks to my folks Joseph & Patricia. Sadly they both had passed before we got to this goal, but they were both around when I got my start in this and they both gave me exceptional encouragement and support while I chased down this goal. I think they both saw that I had found a true passion in this activity and they wanted nothing more than to see me have success doing a thing I loved. You are loved and missed and if there is a better place after this life, I hope you are there together and I hope you can see what your boy and his pup(s) just got done.

Peace

26/09/2024

Kaylee's first hunting trip! She was obviously excited to be learning from Mom and Auntie Sneaker.

Video credit: (c) Gordie Froman. Thanks, Gordie, for capturing this cute video of our baby girl!