MFSDA SPOTLIGHT on member:
Meet Darlene Craze and her Labrador Retrievers!
I grew up in Virginia riding and showing horses: hunter and jumpers. In 1977, I moved to Florida to work on a horse farm. There, I also started working with dogs. After moving to Cocoa Beach in 1987, I no longer had horses and just focused on my dogs. My husband had Labradors and that is where I started my passion with the Labrador breed. I started training & showing dogs in Obedience and Conformation, mostly conformation. I had a few nice dogs, but as life happens, I became a single parent and did not show for a few years but did continue to train and teach.
In 2004, I was fortunate to leave my "day job" and started working at Barkingham Place Pet Center in Rockledge, owned by Candi Pearce and the late Richard Pearce of ~ Gemini Goldens~. I became the lead instructor teaching Obedience and Agility. I also trained their puppies for the Breed Ring. During this time, I was still showing in the Obedience Trials and Conformation Shows handling my own dogs.
In September of 2010, I moved to my dream property in Rockledge, where my house sits on 2.5 acres with a pond. I began training here at my home with some long-time clients as well as some board and train dogs.
In 2011, I started teaching classes at K9Kampus in Melbourne, a wonderful indoor facility. Going full time in 2014, I became their Training Coordinator/ Trainer.
In March of 2020, I divorced and changed my name back to my family name, Craze. At this time, I decided to change my kennel name to Windy Hill Labradors. Windy Hill is very special to my family as it was the name of the farm in Virginia where I grew up. I feel I am starting a new chapter in my life and returning to my roots all at the same time. Windy Hill is very special to me and simply perfect for my kennel name because my dogs are my life.
After 30 years of training, teaching and handling my dogs I am now working from my home, having just completed construction of a small training facility. My official business name is Darlene’s Obedience Group Training LLC – D.O.G. Training. I offer private and semi-private training, Canine Good Citizen preparation classes, handling classes and Board-Training.
This dog hobby is my passion, whether I’m in the whelping box, in a ring or watching and cheering on my friends. Breeding Labrador Retrievers for 30 years, I typically have 1 or 2 litters a year. I only breed a litter to keep a puppy or two to show in the breed ring and continue my lines. Researching pedigrees, each litter is lovingly, well thought out before breeding. I have finished several dogs to their championship as well as putting performance titles (obedience, rally, dock diving and field work) on not only my dogs but others’ as well.
I love my dogs and the connection I have with them. I love working with owners and their dogs and watching the relationship grow between owner and dog. I also find that not only do I love to show/handle my dogs, but I especially enjoy watching and supporting my clients and their dogs compete whether it be the breed ring or performance such as obedience and rally. It’s a wonderful community of dog lovers and I have wonderful relationships with this community.
In 2004, I was fortunate to leave my "day job" and started working at Barkingham Place Pet Center in Rockledge, owned by Candi Pearce and the late Richard Pearce of ~ Gemini Goldens~. I became the lead instructor teaching Obedience and Agility. I also trained their puppies for the Breed Ring. During this time, I was still showing in the Obedience Trials and Conformation Shows handling my own dogs.
In September of 2010, I moved to my dream property in Rockledge, where my house sits on 2.5 acres with a pond. I began training here at my home with some long-time clients as well as some board and train dogs.
In 2011, I started teaching classes at K9Kampus in Melbourne, a wonderful indoor facility. Going full time in 2014, I became their Training Coordinator/ Trainer.
In March of 2020, I divorced and changed my name back to my family name, Craze. At this time, I decided to change my kennel name to Windy Hill Labradors. Windy Hill is very special to my family as it was the name of the farm in Virginia where I grew up. I feel I am starting a new chapter in my life and returning to my roots all at the same time. Windy Hill is very special to me and simply perfect for my kennel name because my dogs are my life.
After 30 years of training, teaching and handling my dogs I am now working from my home, having just completed construction of a small training facility. My official business name is Darlene’s Obedience Group Training LLC – D.O.G. Training. I offer private and semi-private training, Canine Good Citizen preparation classes, handling classes and Board-Training.
This dog hobby is my passion, whether I’m in the whelping box, in a ring or watching and cheering on my friends. Breeding Labrador Retrievers for 30 years, I typically have 1 or 2 litters a year. I only breed a litter to keep a puppy or two to show in the breed ring and continue my lines. Researching pedigrees, each litter is lovingly, well thought out before breeding. I have finished several dogs to their championship as well as putting performance titles (obedience, rally, dock diving and field work) on not only my dogs but others’ as well.
I love my dogs and the connection I have with them. I love working with owners and their dogs and watching the relationship grow between owner and dog. I also find that not only do I love to show/handle my dogs, but I especially enjoy watching and supporting my clients and their dogs compete whether it be the breed ring or performance such as obedience and rally. It’s a wonderful community of dog lovers and I have wonderful relationships with this community.
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