Getting to Know Us

A Love Affair with Black Labs

“My first dog,” relates Anne Schlosser, a long time Lab owner and handler, “was a black Cocker Spaniel named Jerome or ‘Jerry.’  He was a good dog and I liked him enough that I named our fourth dog Sagewood’s Caleb Jerome in honor him.”

      Schlosser says that her family had two Cocker Spaniels when she was growing up, “I guess they were popular way back then.”

      After she married Gary (also a member of HDOC) they asked the vet what breed he recommended.  The vet recommended Labs and they got their first dog Jason, a black Lab and became involved with HDOC.  “We met the late Dean Wolfson, then the club trainer, at an open house for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  She strongly suggested we join HDOC and take a training class with Jason,” remembers Schlosser.

      Now, after six dogs, they are still raising and training black Labs.  “I went from obedience to tracking to field work (hunt tests). Target, our fifth Lab, was a fantastic retriever.  He only had one serious fault – he would yowl when the marks were thrown in training and hunt tests.  Needless to say, the judges did not look favorably on this habit, despite the fact that he could ‘pin’ any mark thrown at any distance.  His nickname became ‘Howling Harry,’” she recalls. Target got his Junior Hunter in four straight tests.  Sadly enough, Target went no further.  He ate a poisoned mushroom.

      “Finally we have Steamer, who is also trained for field work and is currently working on his Master Hunter title,” Schlosser says.  “He also ‘walks on water’ as you can see at the HDOC website photo page.”