Susan Follansbee and I first met back in 2004 when she contacted me about getting a puppy. She has had some very nice Labradors in the past and was interested in possibly showing/breeding. At the time I had a litter on the ground and I was holding back the two pick females of which I was going to keep one. When she arrived to see the pups questions were bouncing back and forth between us. I am sure we were interviewing each other! Well, I immediately liked Susan. She asked the right questions, had the right answers and I could see she had a very good eye for structure and movement. …..not surprising as she has an extensive background in horses! Because the two girls were like bookends I truly couldn’t decide which girl to keep. I remember throwing up my hand and telling Susan, “You decide!” As it turned out, Susan chose Missy and I kept Laci Woodloch’s Anniversary Special. Missy was lame on and off so she was never shown or bred. Then about 2-3 yrs. later she adopted a young adult from me that was later diagnosed with PRA. Today she is completely blind but living a wonderful life with Susan and her husband, Peter. Now fast forward to 2009….I bred Laci to Robbie (Camelot’s Jelly Bean Bandit) and there was a beautiful boy in the litter that just stole my heart. Susan was interested in a yellow boy to add to her clan. I didn’t have a yellow boy but suggested she come see this black boy. She did and the rest is history. We named him Woodloch’s Heavy Artillery (call name “Sherman”). Susan started showing him and did a great job from the very first time she stepped into the ring. She finished him entirely owner/handled with three majors. I couldn’t be more proud of her and our boy, Sherman! We continue to breed and co-own dogs together and I am so happy to have Susan share the Woodloch Retrievers name with me.
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