WHAT THE OWNERS OF COLD CREEK CHESSIES PUPS ARE SAYING:

 

Below are comments sent to us from owners of pups out of our breedings between Splash and Courier:

 + Ken,
I thought I would drop you a line to let you know first hand that I have been working with Jason Golenberke (through Sharon Potter at Red Branch Kennels in Wisconsin) to get semen off 'Cold Creek Crash', Jason's very fine dog from your first breeding by Splash and Curry, this to mate by AI with my american bred chessie bitch in NZ. 
The semen from 'Crash' will shortly to leave the USA through the international accredited exporters in Oregon to my vet in New Zealand, this to try a breeding with my American bred bitch, 'Indiana Irish Annie Oakely'   'Bek'.
To put this perspective, John Ackerman has also kindly allowed me to buy semen from 'Curry' and from his young dog 'Scout' to assist with getting a good chessie gene pool established down here. 
With good hunting Chessies few and far between in the downunder world, I have tried to get the best blood lines I could possibly get and that I could afford. I am an ordinary working guy like most, however I am also passionate about bird hunting and good bird dogs.
I have had tremendous support from John Ackerman and Jason.  I wanted you to know what is happening, as your kennel name and breeding will pop up on pedigree's in this part of the world. As such I thought it a matter of courtesy to let you know how this came about.    
I am almost overwhelmed by the support I have had from a number key Chessie people in the USA, so you can see from this, its become a real American-New Zealand cooperation Chessie breeding program.
Bek is rising 4yrs, she arrived at 13 months in NZ after a 25 hour flight from the time she left Wisconsin to the time she arrived in Christchurch NZ. It was long and very hard on a young dog, though I am pleased to report now she is totally acclimatized to living here now and has adapted well to our climate and glacial rivers.  
Over our just past game season, May to October, she did over 130 canada geese and 307 duck, plus a few pheasants. 
As an aside we are allowed unlimited Canada's (they are an imported pest here) and up to 50 duck per day.
You may well ask why I wanted semen from 'Crash'.. specially since I have semen from 'Curry'... it was Splash's good Northern Flight lines that interested me.  Namely 'Lad's Hunter's Gunner', that and John Ackerman's positive comments about your bitch, coupled with Sharon Potter's very glowing reports about Crash, his work ethics and his sweet temperament that I actively sought to go through the ardous process to get his semen.
I am very grateful to Jason for allowing me access to his fine dog and in an extended way for your breeding choices... and want you to know first hand from me why I chose your line.
Feel able to use my comments as reference to your web page and future breeding program/s .. By the time we get some puppies down here from Crash's semen, 'Splash's' blood lines will be truely global...
I keep contact with Jason and John Ackerman and as I have said to them, if you ever get to this part of the world feel able to call me.. we maybe able to fit in a shoot over a familair breed and blood line. 
Cheers and thanks... Roger Gould
(The email aboved arrived 10/18/07)

+Ken,

   Crash is doing very well.  He goes about 200 yards on a blind retrieve and how ever far he can see on the marks. The first picture is Crash going on a 180 yard blind retrieve.  His water handling is great, he comes out of the water, heels, and then when I get my hand under him and say drop, it's in my hand, he never moves.  He honors very well, I always throw bumpers out and let the other dogs bring them back and Crash waits his turn.   
Here are a couple of pictures of Crash I have more if you would like to see them.  I can never say enough great things about Crash.  I recommend you to everyone I ever talk to about Chessies.
Keep in touch and let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.
Thank you again for the best dog in the world!!!!
Jason 
 (Sent to us on 8/4/07.  Crash is out of the first litter of Courier and Splash)

 +"As a long time owner/trainer of Labs, Miesha, my first CBR, has been a welcome challenge.  I've spent a bit of time pondering how to describe Miesha, but it's a daunting task.  The personalities of the labs I've had over the years have been diverse, but nothing like my Chessie. She's tough as nails, yet gentle and submissive at the same time. She's got a mind of her own, yet is easily trained. She has NEVER given up on a retrieve no matter how tough. She's the best "marker" I've ever owned, bar none. She is very strong and has a powerful build, yet is not bulky or over sized (a pleasure to share a boat with). I am VERY pleased with this dog and would not hesitate to recommend Cold Creek Chessies to anyone in search of a quality CBR. Although I live a great distance away, I have personally seen Ken's operation first hand, it's everything he claims it to be."

J. Dougherty of Washington  (Meisha is out of our first litter of Splash and Courier)

+"Ken:

I think I have stayed in contact with you enough for you to know that I am absolutely pleased with Crash. He is 100% to breed standard from looks to behavior. I have never had a dog or could dream of having a dog that had such drive.  As soon as “Cr” is coming out of my mouth on release of Crash, he is running to get the bumper, and cries because he can’t get to it fast enough.  He almost sounds like a horse running. You can hear his paws hitting the dirt with thumps for about 30 – 40 yards. If he hears a duck call in the woods he’s ears perk up and he starts scanning to find where the action is. It was unbelievable on his fast learning.  Everything he was taught he picked up extremely fast.  I was actually getting worried because he didn’t know what failure was. In all Ken you know how great of a dog he has been for me. He got his Started Retriever last weekend in UKC and I am thinking about skipping JH in AKC and going straight to SH. He is handling very well and we only have to work on a few issues like walking to the line and honoring. Feel free to use me as a reference anytime. Thanks a million for the best dog of my life."

J. Golenberke of Minnesota (As of July 2006, Crash, out of our first Splash and Courier litter, is running senior level hunt tests and plans to be run in Master by this fall)

+"I'm so pleased with my dog!!!!!He is a great family pet, outstanding temperament, great focus, trainable, and has loving disposition towards everything. Kudos' to Ken Parrott and www.coldcreekchessies.com!"
M. Haith of Massechusetts(Hunter,also out of our first litter of Splash and Courier, has JAM'd or placed in almost every field trial he has entered)

+"Luther is a real champ.  In my limited experience, I’ve never seen as much drive in a dog that wasn’t a hard headed SOB.  He is a sweetheart and is all about wanting to please.  He has been very easy to teach and puts my female to shame with his obedience.  He will hold the line and wait until sent for the dummy.  He returns to heel and delivers to hand.  I do need to work on his “hold” a little more as he has a tendency to cigar the bumper.  I’m looking forward to the hunting season this fall.  He is very birdy and works at one speed – FAST.
M. Ernst of Iowa (Luther is out of the first Splash and Courier litter)

+"On a puppy note - we did some water work last night at my training group. The group is made of mostly of dogs 1 - 4 years old. Anyway, we set up 3 singles at various angles in a shallow, very weedy pond filled with logs. Moxie did each mark perfectly and fought through the weeds and over the logs like a champ. Several of the older dogs failed to perform these marks, so I was very proud of her. To top off the night, the trainer who leads my group asked me if I was interested in selling Moxie and he'd pay me twice what I paid for her (not knowing what I paid), as he has never seen drive like her's in any young pup. I thought that was a great compliment and told him where he can find you for a great pup."
M. Bard of New York  (Moxie is out of the 2006 litter and was four months old when Mike wrote this.  She has currently gone three for three this spring and is only one pass away from her first title.)

+Ken, Hunter was impressive once again. He qualified for his third leg towards his AKC senior hunt test title. He received a standing ovation on his land series.  :))))))))) On his return with the second bird, a diversion shot was fired.
The grass was so high you could barely see the dogs. When the shot goes off Hunter starts springing into the air like a bounding deer.( at least 5 feet off of the ground) He was trying to determine the direction of the shot. It was a awesome picture of him jumping into the air to look, while holding the duck in his mouth. Man I wish there was someone video taping. I missed the ribbon ceremony to watch a few dogs in master. Upon my return, I grabbed the ribbon and thank the judges. I then asked the judges for his scores. They smiled and said what for? "He was excellent, what a great dog you have". I'm still smiling about it.:))))))))) We go for the title this upcoming Saturday. I'll keep you posted!!! 

(An email received 8/14/06 from Hunter's owner M. Haith.  Hunter is out of Splash's first litter and is blew through his Junior and Senior titles this past summer.  He is now competing successfully in field trials.)