Breeding plans - Icy

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When planning a breeding, my goal is to produce a dog that I'd like to live with but is also a joy to train.  I want a dog that is healthy, fits the standard as written, and has the natural instinct to excel in field in the hands of amateurs.   

I'm still waiting on Icy to have her second heat cycle.  Once she has that and I have an idea of her spacing between cycles I will have a better idea on breeding.  There is a small chance I could plan the litter for spring 2026, but it's likely to be summer 2027.  I will not have a litter in the winter, so any cycles that happen during that timeframe will be skipped.   

There are no perfect dogs, so the ability to critically evaluate your own dogs is a necessary skill that good breeders develop.  Icy is a very smart dog, this has pros and cons.  It means she can learn things very quickly, but when paired with her natural independence, she has the tendency to be calculating and attempt to challenge her handler.  In terms of natural ability, she's the best marking and water dog I've had.  I wanted to make sure I kept those traits.  Even from a young age she's always been extremely confident, she's very people neutral and dog social.  

Even though I don't show my dogs, I do want to make sure I'm producing dogs that look like goldens.  Icy is a stunning female, there's very little that needs improvement and most of it is aesthetic vs structural.  She is a very balanced dog, a little long in the loin, but she is an effortless mover.  She does need improvement on her tail set.  Next up is evaluating faults in the pedigree that she doesn't exhibit herself.  Dogs in her pedigree have light eyes, large ears, and weak pasterns.

While Icy is my first breeding female, I've been putting in a lot of work to get ready for this.  Researching pedigrees has consumed so many hours while I learn what style of golden I like and what combinations of pedigrees has produced that.  

• Health - Since health is of primary importance to me, using frozen semen of a dog that lived a long time (with excellent quality of life) has always been the plan.  
• Pedigree - Field bred goldens have a much smaller gene pool than a lot of people realize.  While titles are important, they weren't of primary importance.  We don't have enough successful field dogs to limit myself to trial dogs.  I want the best dog for mine, not just something that looks pretty on paper based on titles.   
• Training - My goal is produce a dog that I love to train.  I like a smart stylish dog, that isn't sensitive to pressure, has confidence/grit, is a teamplayer and has an endless work ethic.  

I will prioritize amateur trainers that enjoy competing and training their own dogs.   I will not sell to brood bitch homes.  I don't think the dogs I produce would do well in the average pet home.  But an active pet home and hunting homes are always welcome.  I won't take deposits until a litter is confirmed, but I'm happy to keep a list of interested buyers that I will keep updated of litter plans.  I do NOT place puppies based on color.  If you aren't comfortable getting a puppy that is any shade of golden, then I'm not the breeder for you.