Mallow is a one-of-a-kind girl. At 60 pounds with a lean, athletic build, light low-maintenance coat, and excellent endurance, she’s built for adventure—happily hiking difficult terrain all day, swimming long distances, and working hard in the field with strong hunt drive and natural independence. She is deeply affectionate and cuddly without being clingy, able to settle beautifully in the home or relax on her own. Temperament-wise, Mallow is calm, reliable, and environmentally stable, taking airports, hospitals, breweries, and busy agility trials in stride, with only occasional mild nervousness that she quickly recovers from by checking in with her person. She is sensitive and thoughtful, which means she thrives with fair, clear training and can become frustrated by confusion or repeated mistakes. This same sensitivity contributes to her lovely emotional intelligence and responsiveness. While not an over-the-top “fetch maniac” or flashy retriever, she is extremely birdy and could hunt all day long in any conditions. She was flushing chukar and looking up to the sky for ducks since the day we brought her home. She has natural hunting instincts, excellent body awareness, a fantastic off-switch, and the kind of sweet, easy-to-live-with temperament we want for life outside of training. Loved deeply for her kindness, athleticism, and stable nature, Mallow represents the type of versatile, low-drama dog that can hike mountains, train in multiple venues, cuddle on the couch, and fit seamlessly into an active family.

Ruse is the kind of dog who brings intensity, athleticism, and joy to everything he does. At 70 pounds, he has a lean, muscular build with more bone and substance while still maintaining an athletic, functional frame built for performance. He is highly driven, exceptionally handler-oriented, and deeply biddable—a true “point and shoot” dog who wants clear direction, loves being right, and approaches work with enthusiasm and precision. Ruse is naturally gifted in the field, showing excellent marking ability, innate steadiness, and a strong desire to work, train, and play all day long. Whether the reward is a toy, tug session, fetch, or even simple kibble, he is highly motivated and consistently engaged. Temperament-wise, Ruse is social, happy, and easy to enjoy. He adores people, is wonderful with children, and is trustworthy around small animals, making him both an accomplished working partner and an easy dog to integrate into family life. He has a cheerful, optimistic outlook where everything is fun, exciting, and worth participating in. Around other dogs, he is socially intelligent and reads canine interactions well, though he can occasionally show some sensitivity or caution around other males. This awareness tends to come from discernment rather than instability. Athletically, he is a talented jumper with a particularly beautiful jumping style, though he naturally relies heavily on his front end, so developing rear strength and muscle has been an important focus in conditioning. Overall, Ruse offers an exciting combination of work ethic, trainability, athleticism, and an upbeat, people-loving personality—exactly the kind of dog that appeals to handlers looking for a versatile partner who is as enjoyable to live with as he is to train and compete with.