Bam! There's the trophy: DRC Breeder of the Year 2025 Curly Coated Retriever - we are incredibly proud!

Jonne (Ode to Joy) is a particular joy; he truly lives up to his name. He has developed into a magnificent and impressive dog.

He received his breeding license this summer – simply a beautiful, intelligent, and eager-to-please dog! Congratulations to Team Günter/Jonne/Claudia!

We are delighted with this successful collage!

That's what can happen when you're being chased by Sister Bö. Bosco (Bönnsche Seele) – even though he's incredibly fast – has no chance against Bö; she's just always a little bit faster :)

The first of the Bönn edition to be entitled to call himself a German Youth Champion (VDH).

Little Jasper, also known as Ode to Joy, the Bönn Prince, lives up to his name and achieves this success at 13 months.

Congratulations to Team Jasper/Anette! He's also shining and impressing everyone on his way to the companion dog test – accordingly, he appears completely relaxed in the large exhibition halls of Karlsruhe and Kassel – a fantastic dog, just like his siblings!

From "children" to "people"... Impressions from the Bonn edition! They're already 13 months old!

In 2025, we traveled 7,500 km by car and plane to visit the Bonn Edition in their respective homes. From Vienna to Berlin, from Munich to Basel, and so on, it was a joy to see how happy everyone – both human and canine – was together. Everyone got the Curly that suited them best. This, of course, makes us especially happy that we made the right decisions. We're already looking forward to our first annual meeting in April 2026!

Another highlight: 10-month-old Bosco (Ode an die Freude Bönnsche Seele) is participating in the DRC's Hunting Aptitude Test (JAS) with his owner, happily retrieving ducks and rabbits. He is the second puppy from the B-litter to successfully complete the test, following Falk (Ode an die Freude Bönnsche Jeck), who also passed at 9 months old. We are very proud of these wonderful dog-human teams and the amazing noses of these black curly-haired pups! (Photos above of Bosco: Jan Joseph)

The siblings had a lovely get-together over the weekend, when the little brother raced his big brother and big sister under the watchful eye of their mother.

The highlights just keep coming: Jonne and Günter passed their exams and are now certified area search dogs and officially rescue dogs. We're so incredibly proud of them both, what a fantastic team!

And then a cheer went up, accompanied by the Ode to Joy: Jonne rocks the DRC special exhibition in Marpingen/Urexweiler and becomes: BEST IN SHOW - a Curly! Beats all other retriever breeds and champions - wow, so proud!

The show season is making our hearts beat faster: our little princess will become a German Champion (DRC), a German Champion (VDH), and a Luxembourg Champion this year – Bö's smile says it all. She's absolutely adorable, our little princess: a true princess through and through!

The beautiful Jonne aka Ode to Joy, born April 5, 2023, has obtained breeding approval from the DRC.

Fantastic health results: A-hips, elbows: 0, EIC: Clear, GSD IIIa: Clear, Pra-Cord: Clear – all tested, rounding off his beauty, wonderful nature and intelligence – a great dog – we are very proud of him!

After the wonderful second annual reunion of the A-litter, we traveled across the country – from Berlin to Vienna – to visit the puppies of the B-litter with their families and see how the gang is developing. And what can we say? Every single dog fits their family perfectly. Strong, trusting bonds have been formed, and they are all thriving. A striking characteristic they all share is their incredibly good noses, which they use with great enthusiasm in their search for treats, dummies, and toys. They all keep their families on their toes and master big cities and their various environmental stimuli with flying colors. Whether it's the subway, the bus, the car, or even the cable car, they are all completely relaxed. And true to their Curly-type coats, they have grown nicely and gained weight accordingly – just as it should be. We are delighted with the positive connections we've made with the human-dog teams. The first male dog passed the German Retriever Club's Hunting Aptitude Test (JAS) with flying colors at just 9 months old. Others are already shining on their way to the companion dog test, impressing everyone with their intelligence and beauty!

After the holiday, we started planning the 2-year reunion of the A-litter. Everyone came from near and far; only one male was unable to attend due to an exam! It's so incredibly wonderful to be able to witness the dogs' development – they have simply grown so splendidly, and it's always so touching for us when the dogs show that they remember and dance around us with pure joy. After a long, harmonious walk and a stop at the welcoming forest inn, we went to our garden in the evening. The dogs moved around our home with such ease and got along so well – simply wonderful!

The biggest challenge – much to the amusement of passersby – was taking the group photo! We had a lot of good laughs together, and not just because of that!

After the puppies left for their new homes, Momo and Bö naturally became the focus again, and the focus shifted back to what brings the dogs joy and fun. Besides long walks, dummy training, and a first weekend seminar in the beautiful Sauerland region, they also simply enjoyed life on the stunning sandy beach on the Zeeland coast.

Momo gave birth to 10 beautiful puppies on Boxing Day, all are healthy and Momo did a fantastic job!

Three beautiful little curly-haired puppies are still looking for a wonderful forever home!

A unique opportunity from this fantastic pairing! If you are looking for a reliable companion for all of life's situations, now is the perfect opportunity!

BREAKING NEWS: PUPPIES BORN ON DECEMBER 26, 2024!!!

ODE TO JOY CHRISTMAS CURLIES 2024 ARE HERE!

November 18, 2024: In a few days we will know if the trip to Wales was successful!

After 27 hours of driving and 1,899.6 km, plus a 4-hour ferry crossing, we are back from Wales!

October 2024: Welsh impressions!

The first test results for HD/ED are in:

A2 and ED are free, Bö and Jonne, we are very happy about these great results! One more reason for our decision to travel to Wales!

On August 24th/25th, 2024, we attended the nationwide German Curly Coated Retriever meeting organized by the DRC in Stadtoldendorf.

It was a wonderful and varied weekend with many Curlys and friends from Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.

There was a lot on offer, and we tried our hand at an unofficial working test.

Momo finished in 2nd place out of 8 retrievers of all retriever breeds. Bö also got in on the action and solved quite a few tricky tasks. It was especially nice that we were represented by 3 siblings named Ode to Joy.

On Sunday, Duke (Ode to Joy On Lightness) and Jonne (Ode to Joy On the Best) passed the DRC temperament test with flying colors.

The highlight and culmination of the weekend was the show, where Jonne and Duke in particular received excellent ratings. But we were especially pleased that, led by Momo, followed by Duke, Jonne, and Bö, we won the progeny group at the show and took first place in Best Progeny Group.

UPDATE 7.7.2024: We are overwhelmed by the interest in little Elli and are very happy that, despite the many inquiries, we have found a beautiful new forever home for Elli, into which she moved today.

For everyone who dreams of a Curly like Elli, our puppy waiting list is open and inquiries are welcome!

Club Diploma Dag 2024 De Waltakke- Lochem

After the training day, we felt very well prepared and set off for Lochem in high spirits. Registration of the dogs began at 7:45 a.m., and we were treated to coffee, tea, and cake. Sixty-one retrievers were registered, including twelve Curly-Coated Retrievers, six of whom had traveled from Germany—it was a great joy to see so many familiar and unfamiliar faces. Bö competed for the C Diploma, and Momo for the B Diploma.

Equipped with our starting numbers and a program booklet, we headed into the course.
We were greeted at the respective tasks by very patient, friendly and approachable judges Nelli Stevens, Ria de Jong, Sytze des Jong and Henk Toonk with their helpers Dinie Vermeer, Hans Pardijs, Stefan te Veldhuis and Cees Vermeer.
Clever organization ensured that the different groups didn't get in each other's way and that there were hardly any waiting times. Even if teams are competing for the B or A diploma, they still have to complete all the tasks for the C diploma as well.
My diploma exam started with parts of the B-level test. After the excellent Lost Retrieve (F) with 9 points, we moved on to the Blind Retrieve over Deep Water (H), where the dog had to swim to the small island opposite, find a dummy, and retrieve it.

Oh dear, how was I going to get Momo to do that? After my command: Forward! Momo ran excitedly back and forth along the bank, looking at me questioningly again and again: What am I supposed to do and why? There's nothing there, she seemed to be saying to me. Unfortunately, I didn't have a convincing answer for her, so we only got 0 points here, and it was already clear that we could no longer achieve the B diploma – because all components have to be scored with at least 6 points.

But no matter – the goal was to get the C Diploma! Next up were the on-leash and off-leash sequences (A) and the send-away and recall (B) – both of which Momo completed satisfactorily, scoring 17 points. Then came the 2-minute down-stay (C) and the retrieve on land (D), scoring 19 points. This was followed by the marker retrieve on land with a gunshot (G). I decided to go for 8 points, as I wasn't 100% sure Momo wouldn't react to the shot – but she was so composed that it wasn't really necessary, scoring 8 points. Finally, there was the retrieve from deep water (E). My heart was pounding in my chest again – would Momo actually go into the water? Yes, she did, and she was a bit silly, scoring 7 points – but with that, the C Diploma was achieved with 43 points!!!

And what did little Bö do? - she did brilliantly at just 14 months old, bravely passing all parts of the exam and earning a respectable 35 points for the C diploma!!!

Then it was quickly time to watch the A test – only one participant managed to direct his dog as prescribed (I) and then also solved the last part of the test J.

Momo and Bö were already fast asleep in the camper van!

We humans then celebrated the awarding of the various diplomas with great applause! What particularly struck me was the incredibly pleasant atmosphere; all participants were very relaxed, in good spirits, and above all, friendly and attentive to their dogs – just as it should be.

Our thanks go to the Curly Coated Retriever Club Netherlands and all its hardworking, volunteer helpers who make such a day possible!

An appeal to Curly Dog owners: show off your dogs – dare to participate in the Club Diploma Day –
The Curly deserves to be shown off! It's such a great breed – sure, they work differently than other retriever breeds, but no less successfully! We'll definitely be back! Happy and proud with two C Diplomas, we headed home again on Sunday!

Despite the joy over their successes at the shows, the greatest and most enjoyable aspect is working together. Momo loves dummy work, and her daughter Bö is highly focused during training.

The Curly Coated Retriever Club Netherlands hosted a fantastic training day with the empathetic trainer Nellie Stevens. It was so much fun – many thanks to photographer Aad Witteveen!

The training day

On Saturday, June 1st, we met at the 't Meulenbrugge campsite near Vorden. The training began with a convivial welcome coffee before we headed out into the beautiful grounds surrounding the campsite. Six Curly-Coated Retrievers and their owners were fully focused and listened attentively to trainer Nellie Stevens. Each task in the CDD (Curly German Shepherd Dog Association) examination catalog was explained in detail, and each team received valuable tips. We were all made especially aware that the dog needs clarity and unambiguity from its owner, and no questions. It's quite amusing to think about how we communicate with our dogs; the phrase of the day was quickly found: "Don't ask, just say!" We then worked through each individual task of Part C, and at times our hearts were racing as we wondered, "Will my dog do this?" One particular challenge for us was whether Momo and Bö would let us send them ahead without any stimulus. The answer was yes - and it's such a wonderful feeling when your own dog trusts you so much.

2024 is off to a wonderful start! We are delighted with the great show results and the next champion title for our Momo (Fiere Ysaud van Elegast).

We are especially pleased with the wonderful first successes of our little Bö; at 9 months old she has received her first qualifications for the Junior Champion title.

And another piece of news: We are planning our B-litter with our Momo! More details under Litter Planning!

What a year 2023 was:

First the wonderful A-litter, and then we return to the show ring and Momo is in

2023 German Champion VDH!!!

She also becomes Alpine Winner, Baden-Württemberg Winner and Belgian Winner.

She will be awarded Best Bitch and Best of Breed in Karlsruhe and Brussels, as well as the qualifications for the International Beauty Champion title.

At Crufts 2023, Brightmeadow Never Say Die won Best of Breed! We are so happy for Maggie and Jerry Stephens, what a dog!

March 1st: Visit to the gynecological veterinarian:

The ultrasound confirmed what we hoped for: Momo is pregnant! We are so happy and excited! You can find more information under Litters/Litter Planning!

February 2023 "our wedding couple":

Finally, finally, Momo went into heat in January 2023!

On January 28th, we set off for Wales. An exciting journey in every respect – we had never driven in Great Britain before, and driving on the left definitely takes some getting used to :) !

The two met for the first time on Sunday, and Momo immediately put Tarzan (Brightmeadow Never Say Die) in his place.

Over the next few days, we met up for walks together, and it was immediately clear that the two liked each other. They played together, chased each other, and encouraged each other.

On February 1st, the time had come and the first mating between the two took place, and on February 2nd they had another mating.

Now we have to keep our fingers crossed!

We'll know at the beginning of March whether it worked.

November 2022

We've had a wonderful summer. Momo worked hard with me, and we've grown even closer as a team. Now we're waiting for her to come into heat so we can make the long journey to Wales. Everyone is eagerly anticipating what's to come, and we're all very excited for the near future. Now it's a matter of being patient and keeping our fingers crossed!

July 2022

After more than 7 months, I went to a show with Momo for the first time.

Our journey took us to Luxembourg for the 31st Retriever Club Show Luxembourg. In the beautiful Parc de Mertert, the trees provided us with the necessary shade to get through the day comfortably in temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius.

After many hours of waiting, the moment finally arrived, and Momo and I were allowed into the ring in the sweltering heat. Momo was simply wonderful; she moved confidently and with focus as if her last show had only been yesterday, and we were both rewarded accordingly.

1 place Excellent, CACL, Best Female, BOS (Best opposite of sex)

In the photo: Gera Toeters with the male dog NILO (BOB), the judge Claudia Berchtold, MOMO (BOS)

(Photographer: Horst Balter)

Thank you to Judge Claudia Berchtold!

June 2022

In June, Momo and I were lucky enough to win a place in the Dummy A test at the Aachen district group of the German Retriever Club through a lottery system.

It turned out to be a long and exciting day in a beautiful area near Blankenheim.

Under the supervision of Judge Thorsten Helmrath and the organization of Special Director Silvia Bieder, the examination tasks were carried out according to the Examination regulations The DRC provided the training. Momo handled my nervousness well and showed me how joyfully, well, calmly, and determinedly she works. The training sessions with Momo over the past few months have been rewarded with a wonderful result! A very special thank you goes to Elga—without her support, kind advice, and training sessions, we wouldn't have reached this point so quickly!

A dream has come true for us! After our initial written contact, we finally had the pleasure of meeting at Crufts in Birmingham. And what can we say? Brightmeadow Never Say Die, aka Tarzan, is not only a beautiful dog to look at, but his personality is also a dream. He is gentle, friendly, funny, and always perfectly focused. We are impressed by the team of Tarzan and Maggie; as soon as they enter the ring, he gives 100 percent. He runs with such joy, as if there's nothing better in the world. His collection of titles is unique, and he absolutely deserves them. We are so happy that Maggie and Jerry have agreed to the pairing and can hardly wait!

Brightmeadow Never Say Die

Great Britain Show Champion

born August 28, 2016

Breeding facility: Brightmeadow

Breeders: Maggie & Jerry Stephens

32 CCs, 31 BOBs. UK Top CCR 2018 and Top Retriever 2019, winner of 3 all breed champion stakes classes, group place 8 times, BIS UK CCR Club 2018/2019, BPIS 2017, RBIS United Retriever Club 2018, 2019 and Runner-up Vulnerable Breeds Crufts 2019. This list is incomplete; there are even more top placings and achievements!