SH RETRIEVERS

At Stone Hollow, we train, breed, and place amazing working retrievers. Whether you’re looking for a therapy dog, a hunting buddy, or a new pet for your family who has our blood lines and exceptional training, Stone Hollow can help. Read below to learn about two of our SH Retrievers and how they’re helping their owners and their communities.

Bo Recker, Cascade’s Favorite Pet

Ed and Darice Recker, longtime friends of Stone Hollow and civic activists in Cascade, Iowa, came to us in 2018 after losing their dear friend, Gordy. Ed and Gordy frequently traveled together to local schools and elder care centers for therapeutic visits, and it was hard on everyone when Gordy’s life came to an unexpected end.

Wanting another companion, Ed came to Stone Hollow to learn about our SH Retrievers options. Ed and Darice didn’t want to go through the “puppy stage” again of training a dog for their home and lifestyle. So we paired Ed with one of our Started Dogs, Bo.

 Started Dogs at Stone Hollow are older puppies who have already completed our Foundation and Leash-Free Training Programs and are already prepared for life with a family. Housebroken, collar-trained, and well-mannered, these pets are the perfect option for families seeking a smooth transition into life with a dog.

 Since placement, Ed and Bo have become best friends and are common sites around Cascade. Ed and Bo can be found on car rides in the Jeep and leash-less walks around town in the warmer months or visiting residents of Shady Rest Care Center and Riverbend Retirement Community and students at our local schools year-round.

 Thank you to Ed, Darice, and Bo Recker for being shining examples of our Started Dog program at SH Retrievers.

Diamond, Camp Courageous of Iowa Therapy Dog

In April of 2017, Stone Hollow placed our retriever, Diamond, for her new job as a therapy pet at Camp Courageous of Iowa.

Located just 10 miles from Stone Hollow, Camp Courageous in Monticello, IA, provides year-round recreation and respite care opportunities for individuals with special needs. Through weeklong camp sessions, respite care weekends, winter camper care, family camp sessions, outdoor education sessions, and Courageous Travels, Camp helps individuals with special needs rise above their current capabilities and explore the world with confidence.

At Camp, Diamond’s role is to offer therapeutic comfort to the campers. She can be seen offering cuddles, comfort, and companionship to individuals during their camp stay.

In order to take this position, Diamond logged lots of specialized training hours with Stone Hollow trainer Tory Topping to learn the ropes of being a therapy dog, like blocking out distractions, staying calm and comfortable around groups of people and medical equipment, and comfortably walking through many different terrains.

As you can see, Diamond has found a great home at Camp Courageous, and we at SH Retrievers are thankful for our ongoing relationship with Diamond and the Camp.