I have been in the animal training field for 20+ years. It all began with draft horses. We competed all over New England and Canada bringing home many first and second place prizes. I was invited to participate in the1976 bicentennial celebration with a pair of our draft horses putting on a demo daily for a week in our nation's capital. This took place on the lawn in the park between the Lincoln and Washington Monuments. It was filmed by the Smithsonian Institution and is on display there.

After competing at the highest level in this field, I decided to try my hand at training standard bred racehorses. I acquired a stable of 5 horses and went to the winner's circle many times. I was offered a position in Pompano, FL to continue training for the stable during the winter months. At this time it was impossible to take the position due to my growing family, two little girls and a husband who would not leave the good old State of Maine.

The rest of the story speaks for itself. I went to the dogs. My first experience was on a hunting trip with a great old Golden, named Sam. She had never been formally trained but what a great hunting buddy! With her walking the roads of the Great North Woods she flushed my first ruffed grouse. I will always hold that memory close to my heart. I was hooked. Since then I have bred several Golden Retrievers that I have trained for AKC Hunt Tests, titling 2 Senior and several Junior dogs and gained the experience to become an AKC Hunt Test Judge qualifying to Judge at the Junior and Senior Levels. I've also bred multiple Am/Can. Champions within my selective breeding program. The conformation ring has not been easy for me as it was all- new as I always trained and worked my dogs in the field. With much needed support I managed to handle our boy Max to a BISS from the Veterans class under prestigious Judge Howard Falberg at Hudson Valley Kennel Club. What a thrill. Since I have been handling my dogs more often and have been successful in my most recent endeavor.

The dogs residing in Chelsea on their 90- acre farm of fields, streams and ponds are family members going for daily runs through the fields and woods. They are fed an all-natural diet including fresh eggs, veggies, meat, and organic supplements to complete their balances diets.

All the dogs in my breeding program are free of hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, clear hearts and eye certification. The dogs bred in my program consistently have the true golden retriever temperaments and trainability required of the breed. Each and every puppy can fit nicely into any family situation being it a couch potato, hunting companion, service dog or even drug detection. My puppies have graduated from the N.E.A.D.S. Program and one is on duty as a Border Patrol Dog.

My dogs are under the expert care of Dr, Judith Hermon, DVM and a specialist in homeopathy exclusively

Currently; I'm President of the Pine Tree Golden Retriever Club, member of the Golden Retriever Club of America and the Owner Handler's Association.

-------Cookie Kelley