Life is full of changes, and we welcome the new arrivals and treasure the time we had,  and the memories we will always have with the departures.  Kennels, even small home based operations where all the dogs are part or full time housedogs, have changes that must occur. These happen when dogs are not able to join a breeding program, or when it is determined they would be much happier with no canine competition for the human attention.  Some of our Goldens believe they deserve their own human family! Those voluntary changes are hard to make and are never done without tremendous thought, and very careful attention to where the dogs are placed. They may become someone else's dog, but they will always be our puppy. Changes related to the inevitable fact that canines don't live as long as humans are much harder for us to accept.

We were so blessed and consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have shared our lives with Tahn. Tahn, aka NZ Champion Fantango GunsNRoses was born in Australia, spent his first few years in New Zealand, then atached himselves to us at Darrowby.  He was a true gentleman, a wonderful Golden, and one of our best friends.  He outgrew the time nature would support his body and we said a very sweet and sad goodbye in January of 2004.

Tahn was lovely--the epitome of a Golden.  We will always be grateful for the time we were able to spend with him, and for the legacies he left us. His movement, expression and character are part of our lives here at Darrowby in his offspring and grandchildren.

Our wonderful Chad died suddenly in 2000. He was a grand old man with so many nicknames we needed to stop and think about his real name at times. Dude, Chadder, the Wick, Chadwick, the list goes on and on. There is a big empty spot on Sallie's side of the bed, but he left us with wonderful memories of both his show career and most importantly, his place in our home. His canine and human friends miss him more than we can say. The first snow of every year will never bel the same without Chad making snow angels on his back for as long as we would watch.

CHAD

Chad is now living in the Arrivals and Departures section of this website.

Am Can Ch Gosling BridgeHHO Chad JJJJ joined Darrowby in the late 1980s . He was bred by Kaye Gosling, and was sired by Tristan, the great Ch Asterling GoGetMGangbuster GRCA SDHF, GRCA OS. Chad's dam was the lovely Daystar's Gosling's Sara, a Killer daughter (Ch Beaumaris Pekay Kilowatt) out of Synergold Daystar Shiner CD. Chad was OFA good, CERF and cardiac clear. He won in the show ring under judges from the states, Canada, New Zealand, South America and England. He was a top ten Golden during a year of limited showing, and his moderate 23 1/2 inches with 73 pounds of cobby, muscled body seemed to have a universal appeal to judges. One judge held Chad's head in her hands and just gazed at him for nearly a minute in the ring - we aren't sure if the Group One was a relief or delight after that, but it wasn't a huge surprise!

Chad had a favorite pastime  of rolling on his back either in the grass or when making snow angels. Chad had ownership of the bedroom and most any of the other 18 rooms at Darrowby that he wanted. He showed off at home his last year or two, although he made his mark in the veteran's shows in 1999! Here are just a few of our favorite shots of Chad!

pedigree-Chad

BREAKER

Breaker was a real ambassador at the nursing homes. During an extensive search for a brood bitch, we contacted Ranchosierra Goldens and learned of the planned litter which produced Disco. We received a picture of a gorgeous male sired by Rachenco Ben's Legacy CDX - an import owned by Anne and John Bissette of Beaumaris. His dam was Ranchosierra Dickens Xmas, " Melba"- a beautiful puppy group winning bitch imported from Australia. Breaker left us far too soon and very peacefully in September of 2001, after nearly eleven years of hogging the pillow and the middle of the bed on Jessica's room every single night. He is left with clouds for pillows now, but the rain in upstate NY  his last fall wuth us was not tears.

Breaker was shown for a limited time, but it was the same time we were specialing Chad, so he probably got short shrift. Breaker had a lovely topline and very nice angles with a beautiful head that he stamped on his puppies.

Breaker went to the Canadian National when Nancy Morabito flew in through a hurricane to meet us. She was to show Breaker to Judge Ray Curry who has a kennel of very similar type. Sallie watched the judging, and at the last minute switched dogs and armbands with a protesting handler, and gave her Chad. Nancy got over her ire when Chad took Winner's Dog! One of those flukes. When Sallie went to thank the judge, he was very effusive about Breaker's qualities, and said Breaker needed maturity (he was only two.) The judge didn't understand why we thought he had done such a good job until he realized Chad was ours as well. (Chad finished his Championship that week-owner handled for two more five point wins!)

This was our Ranchosierra Breaker Morant. We took one look at the puppy pictures and called to see if he was available. His head was as gorgeous as ever,when he left us.  He had a serious job of spending each night in Jessica's bedroom, keeping track of his winning grandchildren, and running to the top of the stairs to hang his head and paws down to watch for anyone coming up to the bedrooms. When Dennis went to sing for the residents of various nursing homes, Breaker accompanied him on therapy dog missions. He seemed to instinctively know who wanted to pet a wonderful fellow, and they got a knee or lap full of Breaker head. These were pictures taken in 1999.

Breaker Morant  left us suddenly on September 3rd, 2001. He gave every bit of his love to Jessica for almost eleven years and went peacefully. The only things he never shared were the pillow or the middle of Jessica's bed. The top of the stairs is so empty without that big head and wonderful paws hanging over , waiting for someone to tuck him into bed.

DISCO

Disco left us in the spring of 2001. We really can't talk about the emptiness that is left--all we can do is make sure we remember and share all the fullness she brought to ours lives. She was the light of every day for Dennis, and the best thing that has ever happened to him.

Ranchosierra Disco Volante is the matron of Darrowby. She will always be Dennis' favorite dog in the entire world. She could do no wrong. Pancreatitus stole her from us in the spring of 2001. Dennis often said she loved him unconditionally, and Sallie loved him anyway. Disco will always live at Darrowby in our hearts and minds and her wonderful legacy of great great great... grandpups.  Her name means "Flying Saucer"-a tribute to Sallie's first female Golden, Shagbark's Copper Frisbee. In spite of this, people continually gave her puppies names associated with music! Disco was the mother of one New Zealand and three Canadian Champions,AN Argentine Grand Champion and she had an obedience wiz daughter, Darrowby Ja Rasta Marley CDX, who has a HIT (owned by Alex Orens.) Disco was OFA good, CERF and cardiac clear.

Disco started a show career and actually looks gorgeous on the move. Disco thought baiting was dumb, and she wanted her belly rubbed instead of showing off for the judges. All of her puppies and the next generation are such hams and have such wonderful ring presence, that I believe the fact her overindulgent owner felt she should never do anything she didn't want to kept her home, playing with puppies. She was a unique dog since her sire was a Cruft's Junior warrant winner and her dam an Australian Champion. This pedigree is a lovely mix from both countries. It has proven an excellent foundation for Champions and titleholder in three countries.

Disco's first litter was sired by a Breaker son-Gosling Jeeves of Darrowby, OFA good, CERF and cardiac clear. This produced Darrowby's Honoria Glossup-a bitch that has produced lovely puppies for Denis Saumure in Canada. Her first grandpups shown include a Canadian champion specialty winner and an obedience dog, Darrowby Phebus Major CD owned by Mark Posteraro. Major is working on his CDX and hikes with his owner nonstop.

The next two litters were sired by Am Can Ch Pebwin Excel AmCan CD Dog World Award Winner, GRCA outstanding sire, OFA Excellent, eye and heart clear and probably other things I've left out. Excel is owned by Berna Hart-Welsh. This liaison produced the lovely puppies with super working ability. The two Marleys (NZ Ch Darrowby Ranchosierra Reggae and Darrowby Ja Rasta Marley CD HIT are with very dedicated owners that are showing the versatility of this particular litter. Can Ch Darrowby Counselor Troi, Can Ch Darrowby Xtragalactic Flight and Can Ch Darrowby Archie Dill have lost no time showing how pretty this group is! Grandpups of Breaker are doing quite well. Can Ch Ranchosierra Hot Gospel (imp NZ) owned by MAD Vinall, Ranchosierra Goldens, Can Ch Ranchosierra Darrowby I Fein (owned by MAD Vinall, Ranchosierra Goldens) and Darrowby R-Sierra High Flyer (owned by MAD Vinall, Ranchosierra Goldens) to name a few. These are found in the Junior Members section. Cindy Williamson of Lycinian Goldens has finished Breaker grandchildren in the states as well.

Disco was not impressed by her winning offspring. She loved to play with puppies, and she and Dennis had a mutual admiration society that will always be special, even though Disco left us. At nine, her topline was still beautifully level, her coat was full (tail feathers were 16 inches long!) and she had barely started to gray. We thank Michelle of Ranchosierra Goldens for sharing this lovely bitch with us!

pedigree-Disco

Tinker decided that he hated the show ring (actually, he decided that a long time ago. He thought running around in circles and acting excited about a piece of dry liver coated in garlic was really dumb.) He found that a couple in New Jersey had a big beautiful fenced yard and a couch with his name on it. He loves having two people to himself, and enjoys resting on his laurels. We keep in touch, and miss him but realize he really wanted to have his own home, and our others would not leave to make that happen.Check his page to see how he has dominated two people and a neighborhood.

Data went to Argentina to spend time with our friend Karin. He, unlike Tink, LOVED the show ring and has finished his International and Argentine Championships and is working on several other titles there. His pups there are gorgeous--one recently went to live in California, one to Israel and another to New York City. We love to follow his antics, and look forward to having his pups here in the future.

Cessna returned to home, and he will be starting shows with Pam and Mark in the states and shows in Canada this year. He finished his Canadian Championship--one more  title holder for Darrowby!! He is a total sweetheart, and is maturing nicely.

Delta, a daughter of Disco and Excel, was in a home that was not showing her, so she returned to Darrowby  She had a spring litter , and is now living with her nrother Tink in Golden paradise on earth.

Bing moved to a new home, and we know he is a happy camper with a family to boss around all on his own. He is beautiful and one of our favorite imports ever. We have high hopes that his half sister Nicely will have success in the show ring, and eventually join the ranks of the dogs adding new Goldens to our Darrowby crew. We kept a piece of Bing with his daughter Bloomers who is lovely.

Troi, Can Champion Darrowby's Counselor Troi, is another Darrowby Champion. We gave her to a Junior Handler who had success while showing her. She is another sweet puppy and success story from our Disco. She resides in Maine, with swimming and daily trips to a therapeutic riding center on her busy schedule.

Planned Liaisons
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