Lucy

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In 2021, we reached out to Allan to learn all about his breeding program. It was very important to our family that if we were going to buy a dog (instead of rescue), we did so from an ethical breeder. 

After finding him on the CKC website, reviewing all of the health checks on OFA, and learning about Allan’s success with breeding service, therapy and sport dogs we decided to reserve a spot on his Stella x Major litter. 

Every week Allan would send picture and video updates. It was so sweet to see the litter grow and develop personalities. One thing that stands out about Allan is his attention to temperament and ability to place each of his dogs in homes that are perfect for them. When deciding between two puppies, Allan guided us towards one that had a temperament that aligned with what we wanted. Many breeders will assign owners to puppies at birth and without any thought to fit. But, Allan would not let us go through the selection period till after he had done thorough temperament testing at 7 weeks. I believe this is why dogs from almost all his litters go into service dog training programs. 

When I reached out to other Haven owners (prior to getting Lucy) each one had such similar stories of working with Allan and what it was like raising a Haven puppy. When Lucy was finally home she was an absolute dream. She was fully house trained by day 4, and has slept in her crate through the night without any crying or bathroom breaks since the night we got her. She has always had the signature golden retriever “soft mouth” and has never destroyed anything in our home- including toys. Lucy very quickly showed us how smart she is and how willing she is to work with us. She often gets confused for being much older than she is because of her maturity. She has an amazing personality- goofy, sensitive, loyal and unconditionally loving. 

Overall, we could not be happier with our sweet Lucy. 

From the day we reached out to Allan till today, he has been so engaged in our life. He is so responsive when we have questions and frequently checks in on Lucy and her progress. Allan has welcomed us into his Haven family and we feel so lucky to have a dog who is a reflection of Allan’s hard work and dedication to this beautiful breed.