Top Hat Golden Retrievers

30/06/2024

24/03/2024

I left the house at 7 am this morning with 3 of the girls for a beautiful Sunday drive to attend the GRCCO (golden retriever club of Columbus) annual health clinic.

Vanna and Gypsy went for their yearly eye exams and Sunni got her Advanced Cardiac Echo and eye exam. All passed and are good for another year! Every year the cardiologist tells me how calm my dogs are. The vet doing the echo last year for Gypsy, and again this year for Sunni, commented they both had the lowest heart rates of the day.

Thank you GRCCO. You did a great job keeping things moving today!

Next are hip and elbow x-rays for Gypsy and Sunni.
Gypsy is the older sister and Sunni turns two in 2 weeks.

14/02/2024

Happy Valentine's Day!!

28/07/2023

I’ve been saying this for at least 10 years now. Hopefully owners start paying attention.

More than 30 veterinary surgeon have signed a letter in the current issue of 'Veterinary Record' drawing attention to the health risks involved with routine neutering of dogs, a procedure that until recently was considered fairly harmless. Now we know better. It turns out that neutering a healthy dog can increase the risk of him or her developing cancer, allergies, thyroid disease, arthritis, ligament disease and a long list of other serious health problems.

10/07/2023

I received this AKC article in my email. It is dated July 5 highlights the latest DCM update. There is still no definitive answer, but it's good to know the FDA is still accepting documented cases to continue their research.

Since diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy was identified in 2018, researchers have linked it to diets with peas, lentils and possibly potatoes.

21/01/2023

http://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/when-23-and-me-has-gone-to-the-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR1Gd_mI5cIG7O5f-OYDbxnQk0mXRTTuquk7eRUZJDpZs-gzB8iEV2ZMVx0&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Has he been tested for DM?” Degenerative Myleopathy testing is the newest “gotta-have” DNA test in the dog world. And it’s the perfect example of genetic testing gone wrong.

15/01/2023

Finally some factual results being shared on the grain free hot topic.

READ THE CHARTER ISSUE of the GOLDEN RETRIEVER FOUNDATION REVIEW here! It's in flip book format and includes information about current research projects, rescue, and more!

We've attached an updated status report on GRAIN FREE DOG FOOD below.

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/1eba911e33.html /1

14/01/2023

You've made a short list of reputable breeders, now it's time to contact them. Here are tips for getting on "The List" and getting the puppy of your dreams.

14/01/2023

You made the cut! Now, you wait. In this post, you'll find tips on making the wait easier. This is the final post in the Reputable Breeders series... For now.

28/12/2022

This Interview of Karin Klouman, a golden breeder in Canada, is in the latest issue of the GR News magazine. Those of you with Top Hat goldens from our early years might recognize some of the dogs she mentions, in your Top Hat pedigrees. CH Dewmist Davenport is one of several dogs found in my Pedigrees. Karin is a well-respected breeder of British style golden retrievers.

FROM KARIN'S PAGE-
For those of you who are interested in how KYON Golden Retrievers came to be, please click on the link below to view the flip book and read this full interview.

I mention many golden Retrievers that I have admired of yesteryears - plus KYON dogs that I think have been influential - and also just a few of the many, many people who have played an important part in my life/ breeding career, before I finally handed the torch over to my son Sean Barr-Klouman in 2015.

I was deeply honoured to be asked these in-depth questions by Michele Gawenka for the fabulous magazine GrNews (Thank you Sylvia for the lovely lay-out and edit ❤ ) .

Some few snippets here :

Q : DO YOU CONSIDER EARLY ONSET CANCERS TO BE A STRONG GENETIC RISK AND HOW DOES THIS INFLUENCE YOUR BREEDING DECISIONS?
A: I consider early onset cancers to be one of the most significant health risks that our breed faces.... This is not a simple recessive or dominant trait but a polygenetic one that is also influenced by environmental factors....
I have always advocated for not doubling on the same cancers, especially up front, in the same pedigree....... I have always considered longevity a primary goal when breeding. In general, therefore, our KYON Goldens do live into their teens – even often into mid and later teens. I do not think this statistic is a coincidence, but rather a result of careful pedigree research and some hard decisions .....

Q: CREAM_COLOURED GOLDENS DO WELL IN THE CANADIAN CONFORMATION RING BUT HAVE A TOUGHER TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY UNDER ALL BREED JUDGES. HAS THAT INFLUENCED YOUR BREEDING CHOICES ?
No, never has colour played any role in my breeding decisions.
However, that might be easy for me to say since I have lived and bred in Canada where the cream colour is now fully accepted in our Golden Retriever breed standard. This was finally done to bring us in line with the rest of the world (except for the U.S.).......
To me, it’s a pity that the U.S. now stands all alone in the
whole world upon insisting that only the “golden” colouring is fully acceptable.
My advice to British-style Golden Retriever breeders in the U.S. is to just persist. Keep breeding the best Golden Retrievers that you can and please do not let colour limit your breeding decisions. Please do not hesitate to show your outstanding cream dogs in the AKC ring, too.... Only then will you eventually (and hopefully) affect change. And please do not let the colour of any dog decide how you will breed it...............

I send out that very same call to those who persist in only breeding the lightest cream Golden Retrievers and who have arrived at the bizarre notion that these light-coloured dogs are rare – or more valuable – and who go so far as to call their dogs some new exotic breed named “English Cream Golden Retrievers.”...........

I cannot repeat this often enough: British-style Golden Retrievers have never ever been defined by colour, and if you limit yourself to breeding for only one shade in either direction you will further narrow the gene pool, which would be a most dangerous trend.

Read the 8-page interview with Karin Klouman (previously excerpted) from the GRNews in a flip book HERE!

https://www.britishstylegoldenretrievers.com/interview-klouman.html?fbclid=IwAR0pmWBjHot7wUOUCP--pGMv85OCKumcVYj09qqQtsPYBd9QtJ8nP2PG-Gw

BRITISH-STYLE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS IN NORTH AMERICA

11/12/2022

Credit to John Rasmussen for his talent on this perfect drawing for the season.

We have a 10 year old in the GRLS Morris Lifetime Study and John is a huge advocate and supporter.

I don’t know our golden heroes dream of a cure, but I all golden and other dogs lovers, do!

Thank you, John, for letting us share this message!

12/07/2022

09/07/2022

https://blog.adoredbeast.com/the-age-old-question-why-do-dogs-eat-grass/?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Why+Do+Dogs+Eat+Grass%3F

Lots of dogs do it, and while many of us think of one specific reason, there are actually several different ones… so, why do dogs eat grass?

20/05/2022

As the "English Cream" craze goes on-

The Truth About ”English Cream” Golden Retrievers - "English Cream" is a food, not a dog breed. All Golden Retrievers are special, regardless of the shade of gold.

06/02/2022

Do you have ODD?

If you do, you are not alone!

04/02/2022

https://grca.org/about-the-breed/articles/british-style-golden-retrievers-today/?fbclid=IwAR3VqBRaCtomOSICWKd_ySIQxIj1DC9Z57H5d-dflYbienxBLoDS92NF3gM

  Download Article

27/12/2021

WORDS OF WISDOM about Golden Retriever dogs,
WRITTEN by Nathan Mccreery!

I see numerous posts of distress over the behavior of their new puppy. I becomes redundant to try to respond to them because they seem to follow a uniform pattern. So, here are some thoughts about this marvelous breed of dog.

1) An 8 week old puppy is a lovable and cuddly savage. They just are. They don't know human rules, and will never know human rules unless you train them. An 8 week old puppy is a baby, and a nearly newborn at that. Figure it out. Nine weeks ago she was in her mothers belly. Now she's in a very strange world; that of humans.

2) It is completely natural or an 8 week old puppy to chew on everything they can get in their mouth, including your hand! They are not being bad dogs, and they certainly are not bad puppies! They are just puppies, and they do puppy stuff.

3) The Goldies you see on tv that are so elegant looking and well behaved have had literally hundreds of hours of training. Your new 8 week old puppy can be like that, exactly, but it will take time and most times it will be a couple of years before you get to that place. You can get there if you train your dog.

4) Any training regimen that involves violence toward the dog or the puppy is not training, it is abuse. Most Goldies have a very sweet and trusting temperament. If you teach her to not trust you by using methods that are violent, she will not trust you. And she must trust you if you are going to have the dog of your dreams. Violence, such as swatting the dog so hard that it causes pain, or yelling at your dog, teaches her that you may be slightly demented. Trust can be regained but it takes time. Better to not use those methods in the first place. Renowned dog behaviorist Dr Jay Rapp devised what he called the American Method of Dog Training. It works and it works well. Training sessions should feel like fun for your dog. They understand affection, play and food. They do not understand the English language; or French for that matter.

5) These dogs will eat everything in sight so after about 9 months of age or so figure out a healthy weight for your dog and feed them to maintain that weight. A good judge is to feel along the ribs, if you can easily feel the ribs the dog's weight is probably good. If you have to press in to feel the ribs the dog is heavy (it's diet time) and if you have to press hard, or can't find the ribs the dog is fat, unhealthy fat, and needs to diet.

6) Goldens are sporting dogs. It doesn't matter if the are a so called "English Cream" or a red Golden. The basic premise is that these are sporting dogs and as such need exercise everyday. Some dogs are more adaptable to a sedentary life style, but that is not ideal for a Golden. The more active they are, the healthier they are - and the healthier you will be too, BTW.

7) Goldens are, perhaps, the most loyal of all breeds. They are loyal to a fault. More loyal than most people deserve, to be honest with you. Show them the same loyalty, they deserve it.

😎 End of life issues are always very hard, but you owe it to your dog to be there with them when they leave this planet. Because they are so loyal the only thing they will be looking for in those last seconds of their life on this Earth is your presence. You are the one they trust, you are the one they love. You are their security. At that most chaotic and confusing time she will be looking for you. She won't look for the vet, or his staff. She will be looking for you, and your presence will make it all okay.

9) All dogs go to Heaven. It is true. Heaven is an actual place and your dog, Golden or not, goes there the instant their soul leaves their body. You need to make plans to meet them there.

Rant over. We now return you to regularly scheduled programming... BTW, about dogs going to Heaven. I can't prove that to be true, but you can't show it isn't. So, as for me, I trust that it is.

22/12/2021

Susan has some wonderful tips and tricks to help your pet stay safe during the holiday.

Holiday celebrations are a great time for all of us, but they can be very stressful for our dogs. There are many things you can do to help reduce the stress ...

15/12/2021

This is why breeders don’t sell “Christmas Puppies”

If someone asks for a puppy as a gift, or for Christmas, they will not get one from me.

It happens every year. Well meaning people get a puppy for Christmas and become overwhelmed by the responsibility.
🎁First, a dog isn’t a gift, it’s an addition to your family and should be taken seriously.
🎁Secondly, if you plan on getting a puppy, you need to be prepared for a 15 year commitment! if you’re getting a pup for your kids, they might not even be living with you then!
🎁Thirdly, you need to be prepared to spend several thousand dollars a year for routine vet care and other needs.
🎁And Lastly, if you or someone you know can no longer care for a dog, PLEASE REACH OUT TO A RESCUE GROUP. We won’t judge you and that’s why we’re here.

DO NOT try to sell your pet on Craigslist, and going to a rescue instead of a shelter will help keep spots open for strays at your local shelter.

15/12/2021

Reputable breeders don’t breed for the money, they breed to protect, preserve, and prolong the life of their breed.- The Canine Chasm

24/10/2021

What people don't understand is that it's a LIFESTYLE 👏👏

21/10/2021

“Are these ethical breeders?” In this post, I discuss different types of breeders and how to know if they are ethical… or not. - The Canine Chasm

19/10/2021

Responsible dog ownership means having the FREEDOM to CHOOSE what's best for you 🐾🐾🐾

17/08/2021

Congrats to Carolyn Allen and Rayna, who not only placed first in Novice Obedience, but also qualified for the AKC Obedience classic to be held in Florida in December 2021.

Carolyn is a great trainer who works hard to attain titles on her dogs.

Rayna is officially known as Top Hat's A Date With Royalty CD BN RAE CCA THDN CGCA CGCU TKA.

Congrats on your invitation to this event Carolyn. We wish you lots of luck!!

16/08/2021

You DON'T need to visit a breeder’s home to know if they’re responsible 🚨🚨🚨

15/08/2021

This is something everyone who loves or depends on any type of purpose-bred dog, should take seriously.

Whether it is a companion who gives you comfort, a police dog, arson detection, therapy dog, search and rescue, assistance dog etc., they will all be impacted by the the increased legislation aimed at limiting, or eliminating, the breeding of purebred dogs.

15/08/2021

https://www.axios.com/the-great-american-dog-shortage-63218738-4472-47be-9428-76b1d9299a77.html?fbclid=IwAR2iIZyDKgh8npQUAX2x61QPhx2i0l-NU04dnyAT6ki7kRsMjevtrt_GeSg

While the U.S. imports more than 1 million dogs a year, the annual demand is 8 million.

03/08/2021

https://thecaninechasm.com/why-reputable-breeders-are-the-best-source-for-puppies/

Reputable breeders don’t breed for the money, they breed to protect, preserve, and prolong the life of their breed.- The Canine Chasm

03/08/2021

https://thecaninechasm.com/how-to-make-the-cut-reputable-breeders-part-5/?fbclid=IwAR3uLqA1SeXME22nOUMtfsfM7ZQDxy2400AeMeKPhvuhFFaKD1-aHBmINWE

So contacted some reputable breeders. Awesome! In this post, you'll learn how to increase your chances of bringing home a puppy. - The Canine Chasm