BACK HOME. Meet Ivor: our foundation stud My affilitations: Offices held in the Curly Coated Retriever Club of America: Founding member, President, Vice-President, Division One Director, Field Chairperson, Standard Revision Chairperson, and Judges Education Chairperson for approximately 15 years. Founding member of the Chippewa Valley Pheasants Forever Chapter. Past member of Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. Currently serving on the CCRCA Judges' Education and Illustrated Standards committees.

Ptarmigan (pronounced Tar-mi-gun) is just me, my husband and our dogs who live in the Northwoods of Wisconsin on about 25 acres of land. We hunt from September to January, fish, and enjoy our dogs. We named our kennel after the Ptarmigan grouse--wild, free and beautiful. That about sums up our curlies and our relationship with curlies. We have curlies because we love the breed and the individual dogs who make up the breed. Breeding decisions are made first on temperament (which includes hunting ability), and on health. Great hunting dogs will usually have the conformation to make them good show dogs, since a great hunting curly has to have the heart, soul, mind, and physical tools to pound a cattail marsh and swim a frigid river when most dogs would give up. It is important to me to continue this breed as it was when I found it. That means breeding dogs who are steadfast and robust, with a stunning ability to never say quit. When the shadows grow long at the end of a day's hunting, a properly bred curly won't quit, won't give up, no matter the weather, the distance, and the cover. We never planned to breed dogs. In 1972, I met my first curly and vowed to own one some day. That dream was realized in 1977 when Banworth Ivurried came from Cambridge, England to my home. Ivor, he of the wagging tail, the non-quit retrieving, and the loyalty changed our lives forever. One great dog started us on a journey that hasn't ended for 21 years. Great curlies are stout of heart, physically robust, and unwavering in their loyalty. If you choose to own a Curly, you should choose for temperament.The ultimate value of a dog is how he tugs on your heart. WARNING: once a curly invades your heart, you might never be rid of the need to walk with a curly.