Not sure where to start with the history of Hareswith Golden Retrievers!

I guess it all started when I was about 5 years old and I used to help my mother Pat Watson

with the (then) Hareswith German Sheppards. Mum bread Shepards for many years, until in the 60’s her eye sight got too bad to continue.

The Affix “Hareswith” lapsed at the English Kennel Club, as I was more interested in boys than dogs at the time! But by the mid 80’s my husband, David and I had a couple of dogs, one a Golden Retriever called Toby. He was just lovely and I was encouraged to pursue my love for dogs by breeding Golden Retrievers.

So in 1992 I approached the English Kennel Club and was delighted to see the affix “Hareswith” had not been picked up by anyone else, so I grapped it back to our family. It all seems a long time ago, but I started with the most delightful Fern, who was to be my foundation bitch. Sadly her eyes were not up to it, so my mother bought me Heidi – without doubt, a once in a lifetime friend.

Heidi started the Hareswith Golden Retrievers off on 12th July 1997 with her first litter, of whom we kept Grace and Velvet. Thing was we couldn’t decide which of the two was the better – so we thought we’d run them both on for a bit and keep the better. Only thing is – and anyone who loves Goldens will know this – that’s a tough call, so inevitably neither ever left us!

Sadly we lost My Heidi in November 2006, but her memory lives on in her progeny, and I am forever grateful for her being in my life.

In 2003 we grasped the opportunity to move the France, when I was able to live my dream and turn a lovely hobby into a more professional basis. We spent the first 18 months or so converting the old stone cattle barn into a gorgeous set of kennels for the dogs. But of course they all join us in the evenings when watching the TV and it’s sometime difficult to make your way around the room with so many lying around the fire!

I passed my French Breeders exams in 2007 and therefore am fully registered and licensed. These days we have plenty of Goldens and I spend my days with them all. We travel all over Europe at different shows and of course enjoy the time I have with each litter of puppies. We aim for two or three litters each year, plus we have two remarkable stud dogs, Dickens and The Laird. Both of whom are available for stud to recommended bitches.

I wish my mother could be here today to see how the name Hareswith has grown since the 1950’s – I hope I’m doing her proud!