Dams
SLK’s Little Miss Reckoning SH
“Belle”
Belle is a sweetheart and more than proven in the field. She has her AKC SH title and has trained on AKC MH set-ups with no problems. Hunting, she is a solid, hard-driving, totally under control gun dog, and a joy at hunting camp. At about 58lbs, she is of strong build and can handle larger game like geese easily.
She lives with Justin Brock of Madison, MS. Justin and Belle have plans to achieve her Senior Hunter title in 2018.
“Carolina”
According to Carolina’s owner Will Beckum, Carolina is perfect. We tend to agree. At 45 lbs she is all go in the field. She is a very stylish working dog and has perfect line manners. When working, she is intense, yet she is under control and quiet.
Her Sire HRCH Taylor’s Suttle Hilton MH has thrown some of the best puppies we have trained and her dam’s Sire is FTCH Leadburn Mist. We feel like the combo has really proven itself with Carolina. She has been a joy to train and according to Will, is a fierce hunter. Yet she is a calm companion at home.
HR Sporting Life’s Evening Song
“Cricket”
Cricket is out of our Henry and Swift. She has a small frame and build at 45-50 pounds and is very fast! She is always sitting on “go!” but is very steady when working in the field. She is quick to learn and does what she needs to do to get the job done.
In the home she relaxes and settles in with the family. She is the most affectionate dog.
Cricket is owned and loved by Ryan Barrett and his family.
Sporting Life's Big Sky Country
“Sky”
When we think of Sky, these come to mind, “Drive,” “Style,” “Beauty,” and “Personality.” We are very excited to have Sky in or program. In her first season hunting at 5 Oaks Lodge in Stuttgart, Arkansas, she picked up over 900 birds. At home she is the perfect companion. Sky lives with Daniel Duke. Daniel is very well known in the duck hunting world.
Sporting Life's Spring Is Coming
“Daisy”
Daisy is simply beautiful! She has a very strong pedigree and is a solid working dog. Daisy has a sweetness about her and Bert and Ashley Robinson of Memphis, Tn., cannot say enough about the way she fits into their home. Bert is a passionate water fowler and has some of the best land to hunt in the Mid-South. Daisy is very fortunate to have such great places to hunt.
Sporting Life's Prairie Grass
“Sage”
Sage is Sky’s sister and other than Sky being a little darker red, they are twins. Sage hits the water like a freight train and is a very passionate and stylish working dog. Sage has a lot of “go” in the field but has the perfect off-switch in the home. We are excited to see her run in some Seasoned level hunt tests this spring and summer!
Sporting Life's Spring Flower
“Lily”
Lily, “Little Fireball” describes Lily perfectly. Lily is small, but she doesn’t know it. Lily weighs right around 39 - 40 lbs. She is such a fast stylish retriever that she is almost a black streak running across the field. We will say that although she does have an Off Switch at home, she is a very busy girl and doesn’t settle as easily as most. What she does have though is a personality and passion for hunting. She is calm while hunting but explodes off the stand when sent. She would be the perfect “boat dog” as hunters call them - Small and easy to transport and get back into the boat as needed – Lily is a special girl. Lily lives with John Thigpen of Athens, Georgia.
SLK’s Bayou Meto Sunshine
“Copper”
Copper: “Style” is the word to describe Copper. This girl loves to work. Copper is very lucky to live with Ken and Gatlin Jones of Atlanta, Ga. The Jones are two of the most serious hunters we know of and they are “Dog People.” She goes everywhere with them. Copper is an intense worker, yet, she is very steady to shot and honors other dogs beautifully while hunting. Copper is very calm at home. What more would you want?
Sanctuary Sprig
“Sprig”
Pedigree isn’t always everything; we look at the overall dog and build an amazing pedigree from there! Sprig is a beautiful girl with an ideal build and structure for what we like to see in British labs. She is an excellent companion, calm, steady and stable. In the field, she goes hard with lots of style when she is working. Sprig is a talented marker and is deadly on downed game. Sprig belongs to Sam Roberts, who is one of our trainers. They are inseparable and it is enjoyable watching them together.
SLK’S Black River Runner
“Granger”
We love Granger! She is one of Marty’s favorite dogs to train. Granger is small (44 lbs). She is fast and he is stylish. Her intensity for working is contagious as she is always ready. However, at home, she does have an off switch. It is a nice combination. We will also say that she is a very steady dog when working and honors others dogs extremely well.
Her Sire is Henry and her Dam is Black River Brook and that has proven itself to be an excellent combination as Granger’s brothers and sisters have also been outstanding. Granger lives in Memphis with Ryan and Lexie Johnston and Ryan hunts her throughout waterfowl season. Granger is one lucky girl to have Ryan and Lexie as they live an adventurous lifestyle and take her everywhere.
We are excited to have Granger as an SLK Dam because she holds so much of what we strive for in working Labrador. Style, Speed, Intensity, Size, intelligence, and with nice off switch describe Granger to a tee.
Sporting Life’s Red Runner
“Shayna”
Shayna is a very smart, fast and stylish girl. She is an excellent hunter yet is a perfect companion for Lee and Libby Shaw. She is the sister of my personal dog - Slk's Black Oak Arkansas "Oak." And in my opinion, that litter was superb for what we are breeding for. Shayna is small and agile and very athletic. Shayna is approximately 40 lbs.
Sugar Magnolia’s Truly Scrumptious
“True”
“True, in a word is “Awesomeness”. I ask, she gives. This girl at 4 years old has accomplished so much. True has been trained in HRC field work and going for our first trial this fall. Her obedience is outstanding, she has her CGC, BN, and her CD. We are ready for the ring once we are done with puppies, for her CDX and she is now training for her Utility title. Agility- She loves it! She has her Novice JWW, Novice Standard, Open JWW and in the excellent class now. Dock Diving, she rocks it and has her Junior Dock Title, To have some fun we played Trick Dog a few times with absolutely no training and she got her Novice Trick dog and her intermediate Trick Dog titles. She also has her Rally Obedience title.
She is an awesome working dog, has a work ethic that I have never seen before out of the many, many labradors that I have had in my lifetime. She has an off switch that is incredible. I can tell her “place" and she will “place” for hours, even while I am teaching classes! Although, I do use her often as a demo dog and she is always on her place when I ask her to come work.
True Lives in Ballground, Ga with her family of 5 Labradors, a pool that she lives for, a couple of cats too. She travels with me EVERYWHERE that I go! She travels beautifully in the RV. “
- Jeanne Kemper owner of True
RETIRED DAMS
Thornlemoor Sorrell
“Lottie”
Lottie came to us in 2016. She is a beautiful yellow female that is an excellent worker. At 50 pounds she can really move. Lottie has a very nice soft mouth when handling birds and an excellent drive when sent for a retrieve. She loves working in water especially. Lottie is a very affectionate companion for Walter and Anna Moses in Jackson Mississippi. Anna is a very good dog handler he was worked with dogs for many years.
Sporting Life’s Red’s Delight
“Essa”
Essa is a sweet gal. She is a very loyal companion and huntress. Essa is a trainers' dream. She listens well and does every task at 110%. Essa lives and hunts with Murray Shows.
Here is what Murray had to say about Essa:
"Essa is a little 42 pound red fireball that is two dogs in one. She’s steady on the stand and always gives 110% effort on the retrieve. After the hunt, she switches to family mode and lays around just waiting for affection. I couldn’t ask for a better dog to be around my kids. She’s definitely
a people pleaser.”
Avery
Avery is out of some of the best imported dog lines we have seen. Her mother Aspen, “retired,” produced solid dogs for several years and Avery is very much like her Mom. Avery is a very nice size weighing just around 48 Lbs. Aspen is a fast worker and has an incredible nose and in the words of Randy Mynatt, whom she lives with, “Avery will not give up on finding a downed bird even in the thickest brush.” Avery lives with Randy and Linda Mynatt of Memphis, Tennessee.
Sporting Life's The Big Easy
“Easy”
Easy has what it takes! She has the wonderful combination of Drive and gentleness. She is sister to Scout and half-sister to Sioux. These three girls make up what I consider to be almost perfect for a duck hunter who also wants a family dog. Easy loves water and hits it hard. And is very stylish to watch in the field. She lives with Clark Jacobs of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and spends everyday of the hunting season in the public timber of Arkansas.
Delfleet Neon's Spring Fever
“Ivy”
Ivy is beautiful to look at. She has a masculine head and a strong body. She loves the water and birds and everything about it. She comes from two Field Trial Champions, FTCH Defleet Neon of Fendawood and FTCH Kilmona Jodi (Belle), both of which ran in their countries championships and proved themselves with awards. Ivy is approx 50lbs.
Sporting Life's High Plains Drifter
“Scout”
Scout thinks she is 10 feet tall. She is fast. She loves to jump out as far as she can off the dog stand. Scout lives and hunts with Daniel Brummit. She is his baby and he is proud to take her anywhere and everywhere. Scout has become an excellent hunter and in time will be world-class. At home she loves her dog bed and will hang out on it for hours. If you want a driven yet controllable and loving puppy you should consider Scout as your Dam.
Scout served as a pick up dog for Tallahatchie Hunts the 2017-2018 season. She had the opportunity to pick up hundreds of birds, serving Daniel well.
Sporting Life's Summer Storm
"Storm"
Storm is best described as - small and stylish with excellent drive and a sweetheart at home. She is so fun to train as she is very fast and passionate about retrieving. Storm is the Ultimate "Boat Dog." She is easy to get around with and her love of water is second to none. Her water entry is beautiful to watch. She also has a tender spirit and loves to be loved on. We love Storm's bloodline. It's been proven to produce time and again. At SLK we love fast stylish working dogs and Storm fits this to a "T". Jason Sandlin and his family spoil Storm at home and that's just how we like it.
Team Wildwings Indian Outlaw
“Sioux”
Sioux is possibly the most stylish female retriever I have ever seen. I love to watch her work. She loves to go go go. She runs back as hard as she runs out. Sioux spends her duck seasons with hunting guide.
Garrett Williams of Stuttgart working out of the famed 5 Oaks Lodge. Sioux also lives with Garrett year round and is a great companion in the home . She’s everything you would want in a hunting retriever. She has no quit. Sioux is 50 pounds and most of it is heart. You cannot go wrong with the puppy out of Sioux.
SLK’s Where the Red Fern Fetches
“Fern”
Fern is an elegant lady who has style. She is FAST and makes quick work with every task she is given. Fern is confident, which is something that we want in our females. When she isn't hunting, you can find Fern with Jeremy Dembinski of Memphis, TN. Fern has proven herself as an excellent hunter and a wonderful companion.
Sporting Life's Morning Flight
“Sally”
Sally is one of the most well bred females in the country. Both parents are Field trial champions in have run in their countries national championship. Sally has a nice build and can really move. Sally is a real sweetheart and loves to hunt. She weighs about 55lb. Sally lives with the Hagwood family in Jackson, MS.
Glenanne Martini
“Mindy”
Mindy came to us from Ireland in the Summer of 2017. She has style that brings a smile to your face, from her keen nose for fowl to her robust water entry, Mindy is the type of dog you would want to sit back and watch work. She is calm and collected, but always ready to retrieve when called upon. Mindy is always willing to go the extra mile to please her handler.
Mindy is currently hunting/guiding with Ken and Gatilin Jones. Here is what they had to say after hunting her first season here in the States: “Hey Marty, I just wanted to tell you that Mindy is absolutely phenomenal!! She is hands down the best dog that I've ever hunted. She caught on really quick and is already acting like a seasoned pro."
Rockenhart’s Got your Small Change
“Penny”
Penny has been a joy to watch grow up. As a member of our Care Program she has enjoyed the company of her best friend Alec “Big O” Ossorio.
Penny is a fast and hard charging retriever. While at home or waiting for the next volley, her wonderful off switch comes in handy when it is time to be still in the blind or when it is time to relax at home. Just shy of 3 years of age, she has already made 440 retrieves and Big O is looking forward to her making many more.
Penny loves to hunt and should pass down her wonderful character and abilities to her puppies. Penny is a light Fox red color and weighs about 50 pounds.
HR King’s Sure Shot Remi
“Remi”
Remi is a small compact dog at 45-50lbs. SHe has an unbelievable, strong work ethic mtched with a calm, collected demeanor at the line. Remi is a fireball in the field and has drive but has the desired “off-switch” in the home. She advanced at a rapid rate in the hunt test world in less than a year, going 4/4 in seasoned, obtaining 2 finished passes.
Remi is owned and loved by Lendon King and his family.
HR Rocky Brook’s Run by the River Jordan (Deceased)
“Swift”
Swift is just that..SWIFT. we named her that as a puppy because of her speed. She has matured into a very nicely balanced hunter with a wonderful controlled nature. She is a beauty to watch in the field, and has given us many wonderful puppies as well. Swift lives with SLK Trainer David Spaulding.