Montana was the first golden retriever I ever owned or trained. She was what some may call a newspaper dog, in that I found her via the local newspaper. I knew nothing of heath checks or pedigrees. All I knew is that I wanted a large golden female with a dark red color. I got exactly that and a little more and a little less.
Montana turned into a large dark red golden with a great nose but with a desire to do what she wanted to do only when she wanted to do it. She loved to hunt, but didn't mind training, but drills were not her thing.
Montana also got me involved with helping create a retriever club in our area, let me meet new friends and training partners and also taught me a great deal.
I made many mistakes with Montana, but through it all, she ended up being my best friend and great hunting companion. We spent every day together and she always traveled with me.

Montana was never going to be a field champion or get too far in hunt tests mostly due to my lack of experience as a trainer at the time.
Montana was diagnosed in January 2007 with a form of mouth cancer after refusing to pick up training bumpers. She was retired from training after that and in August 2007 I made the hardest decision I've ever had to make when she let me know she wasn't herself any longer.
Being my first dog, she is and will remain my favorite and I carry her memory in my heart every day. A piece of her goes into every future dog I own and train, so her legacy will never die as long as I am alive.

K.P. McMahon Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 344-8367 Email

Muddy Waters Retriever Club Central Wisconsin