Top Dogs

Mindy

  • Candlewoods Yellow Flower MH
  • Candlewoods Nifty Nick QAA x
    Candlewoods Sar’N Dippity
  • DOB: June 23, 1986
  • OFA: Excellent
  • CERF: Clear
  • View Mindy’s Photo Gallery

From the beginning, Mindy was precocious beyond words, excelling at all the Field Trial game had to offer. Before she was 20 months old, Mindy was running Derbies, Qualifying Events, Opens and Amateurs. In 1988 she won 5 of the 7 Year’s End Trophies awarded by the Mid-Illinois Retriever Club.

In 1989 we turned Mindy’s talents to hunt tests and she earned her Master Hunter title without ever running a Junior or Senior. Mindy had never worn an electric collar. She rarely failed a test and received many a standing ovation from the gallery. Mindy was one of the first retrievers to be named to the Backwater Retriever Club Hall of Fame.

She was simply one of the finest gundogs we’ve ever owned or seen.

Mindy whelped 5 litters, sired by some the top Field Trial/Hunt Test stud dogs available, and she produced a number of outstanding pups.

Mindy was laid to rest on November 2, 2001 at the age of 15. We will never forget her.

JC

  • Harley’s Just Crazy To Go MH
  • FC-AFC Wilderness Harley To Go x
    Candlewoods Yellow Flower MH

JC was the last pup selected out of our first litter from Mindy. Like so many other great dogs in the history of Labrador retrievers, JC turned out to be one of the best. JC failed his first Junior hunt test during gale force winds with storm sirens sounding in the distance- then went on to pass 3 consecutive Seniors and 7 consecutive Masters, earning his Master Hunter title the day before he turned 2 years old.

Remarkably, JC was never force fetched and never wore an electronic collar. He was a great gundog and a great companion. His finest tribute came a few years ago when an elderly, experienced lab owner reminded Bill of JC and called him “the most awesome dog I’ve ever seen.”

JC died in 2000.

Molly

  • Blindfaith’s Mindy’s Miss Molly MH, MNH
  • Chelsea’s Making Hay MH x
    Candlewoods Yellow Flower MH

Molly was the first pick from Mindy’s final litter. She was purchased by Bruce Foster of Granger, Indiana after a great deal of research and a number of phone calls to Blindfaith Retrievers. As often happens, Molly’s fantastic abilities changed the course of Bruce’s life, bringing him into the competitive world of labs as both participant and club officer.

Molly was Bruce’s trusted friend and gundog. She quickly earned her Master Hunter title and was one of the first dogs to earn the title of Master National Hunter.

Tragically, Molly died giving birth to her only two pups, but she is remembered fondly at Blindfaith Retrievers where a beautiful photograph of her hunting ducks in North Dakota hangs in our living room.

Molly’s two puppies, Mindy and Charlie, happily survived to make their home with Bruce and Sandy Foster.

Boomer

Boomer was the last and smallest puppy from the first litter we had after we got married in June of 1998. He had originally been sold to a family in downstate Illinois, but his sale fell through when their circumstances changed. We decided to keep him for ourselves after noticing a number of fine qualities in the little guy.

Boomer earns his keep at Blindfaith Retrievers as a public relations specialist with his wonderful temperament, spirited retrieving abilities and his beautiful shiny black coat. Visitors to our kennels inevitably point to him and say, “I’d like to have that dog,” especially after they watch him interact with their children.

Boomer weighs 70 lbs. and he is absolutely not for sale.

Buster

  • Blindfaith’s Brushbuster MH
  • Manns Hongry Jax MH x Candlewoods Yellow Flower MH

 

Buster was raised by Blindfaith Retrievers and sold to Tim Busby as a two-year-old. Tim originally purchased Buster as a gun dog, but was quickly hooked by the hunt test game. Buster’s marking ability was nothing short of awesome. He earned his Senior Hunter title and had four out of the necessary five Master passes for his final title when Buster was hit by a truck. A six hour surgery by Dr. Brad Cooper put his hips back together. Another surgery at the University of Illinois Veterinary Clinic brought him back as good as new. Things had looked bleak for awhile, but- with a lot of care from the Busbys- Buster was able to recover sufficiently to go on to earn his Master Hunter title.

Buster was christened Brushbuster as an 8 week old pup when , without hesitation, he crashed through a thick line of willows in order to make a water retrieve. That tenacity was a trademark throughout his life.

Sadly, Buster passed away on February 27, 2007 after brightning the lives of all who knew him. Buster spent many happy days retrieving doves and pheasants near THE CRIB and mingling with the many hunters who came to enjoy the great shooting and hospitality. Mindy and Jax, along with his siblings and offspring, will be happy to welcome Buster at THE BRIDGE where he can continue to painlessly romp and play until his beloved Tim shows up to give the “Back” command again.

Buddy and Maggie Skelton

Buddy and Maggie Skelton live in Alamagordo, New Mexico at Holloman Air Force Base with Mandy and Pat Skelton. Buddy is a Blindfaith Retrievers pup who resided with us until he was 16 months old. Bill’s surgery for prostate cancer prompted us to cut down our number of dogs and Buddy went to a new home with a pair of favorite relatives. Mandy and Pat had already owned Maggie, a chocolate lab of vague pedigree, who nevertheless possesses some of the best qualities the breed has to offer.

Buddy and Maggie are superb pets and beloved companions. They keep Mandy company when Pat is overseas on temporary duty; they travel with them on vacations; and they dress up for holidays! If Pat ever has time, Buddy will make him a fine gundog.

And Maggie, will just always be Maggie, which is more than enough.