Montana was the first Golden that ever owned me. All I knew is that I wanted a large field golden female with a dark red color. I got everything I asked for.
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 training drills were not her thing. She really enjoyed meeting people too.
Montana got me involved with helping to create a retriever club with others in the 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 was my best friend and a 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.
After refusing to pick up training bumpers one day, Montana was diagnosed in January 2007 with a form of mouth cancer. 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

QUAKE'S TUCKIN FOR COVER - "TUCK"
01/24/04 - 09/28/05

Our last hunt together

Tuck came to me purely by accident. A good friend had a litter of golden puppies and had one remaining...his male pick of the litter which apparently nobody else picked. He asked me to take the pup and we worked out an arrangement.

I took Tuck into my home and we bonded almost immediately. He was the largest pup out of the litter, but not too big. He was very easy to train as he just wanted to do whatever it took to please me. He chewed up darn near everything I owned as a pup, but that was my own fault.

I never got around to running Tuck in any hunt tests as I wanted to wait until he could slam them before we ran. He was going to be my "Champion" dog...I thought he showed that much promise.

Tragically, Tucks life was cut way too short after a hunting trip. Between my turning my back for a second and his friendly nature, he decided to cross the road and say hi to the other hunter packing his gear and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. That was a very sad moment in my life and a mistake I'll never make again. Tuck was truly a one of a kind companion, and I miss him still today.

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

Muddy Waters Retriever Club Central Wisconsin