Performance & Working Accomplishments

Whiskey has earned titles across an unusually broad range of conformation and performance sports. Rather than specializing in one activity, he has repeatedly demonstrated that he can step into something different, understand what is being asked of him, and work with me to accomplish it.

Conformation

• INT Hnr CH — International Honor Champion

• GRCH — UKC Grand Champion

Rally /Obedience

• URO2 — UKC Rally Obedience 2

• PN — Pre-Novice Obedience

Coursing, Racing & Speed Sports

• CA — Coursing Ability

• RUSH — Precision Coursing RUSH

• RACEN — Precision Coursing Novice

• BCAT — Fast CA

Scent, Search & Hunting Sports

• SWN — Scent Work Novice

• RATO — Barn Hunt Open

• UL-I — NASDA Urban Locating I

• FTI — Fetch Intermediate

• Currently working toward Shed Hunt titles

Temperament & Companion Titles

• ATT — AKC Temperament Test

• CGC — Canine Good Citizen

• SPOT — UKC SPOT-ON

Whiskey's performance career is far from finished. He is currently continuing to compete in Rally Obedience, Obedience, Barn Hunt, NASDA Urban Locating, and Trailing, while also working toward his Shed Hunt titles.

The number of titles Whiskey has earned is impressive, but how he has earned them tells us more about him than the letters themselves. Many were approached with relatively little preparation. His natural response when I ask him to do something is to engage with me, assess the problem, and begin figuring it out.

That is the working ability we value. It isn't simply enthusiasm or drive. It is the ability to go through everyday life as a naturally settled dog and then, when asked, turn on, think, persevere, and work in partnership with his person.

Temperament Contribution

Whiskey's temperament is perhaps best understood through that on switch.

When nothing is expected of him, he is comfortable simply being part of everyday life. He doesn't need constant stimulation and isn't continually looking for his next activity. Settled is his default.

Then ask him to do something.

Whiskey can go from completely relaxed to fully engaged almost immediately. He doesn't require a lengthy warm-up or weeks of rehearsing a new activity before he understands that we're working together. I can bring him into a new environment, introduce a task, and rely heavily on his willingness to work with me and his ability to figure out what I am asking.

That doesn't mean Whiskey magically knows every exercise. What makes him special is how he approaches not knowing. He stays engaged. He thinks. He tries. If one answer doesn't work, he looks for another one. There is persistence to his problem solving without franticness or unnecessary intensity.

That combination is tremendously valuable to us as breeders: a dog who is naturally settled when there is nothing to do, immediately available when asked to work, highly connected to his handler, and capable of thinking through a problem without needing everything rehearsed for him first.

The Dog Behind the Titles

For all of Whiskey's accomplishments, living with him is anything but serious. He is funny, expressive, opinionated, and extraordinarily good at communicating exactly what he thinks about a situation. Whiskey is very vocal—not necessarily barking, but talking, huffing, grumbling, and sighing his way through conversations. His body language is equally expressive, and I'm fairly certain I've received an eye roll or two when my answer wasn't the one he wanted.

Whiskey respects boundaries, but there is sometimes an amusing undertone of, “I'm doing this because I choose to.” That's an important distinction when you're living with a dog who can jump a six-foot fence and figure out how to open crates, windows, and doors. He is an exceptional problem solver even when I would prefer he weren't solving that particular problem. Living with Whiskey is entertaining and, occasionally, a challenge that keeps me on my toes.

Fortunately, he is also naturally settled and very capable of entertaining himself. He loves tiny Chihuahua-sized balls that squeak and will happily run around shaking a giggle ball simply because he enjoys the noise. When he was younger, he even went through a phase of somersaulting onto the sofa to join us.

He loves a car ride, but really, he just loves to go with me. Whether we're heading to a competition, running an errand, or going somewhere completely ordinary, Whiskey is happy to come along.

And he loves an audience. Even as a young dog, Whiskey would strut down the aisle of the hardware store as though he knew people were admiring him. It's no surprise that he loves the show ring. He thrives on being cheered for and applauded, and praise is often the only payment he really needs. Treats are certainly appreciated when offered, but they aren't necessary to convince Whiskey that performing is worthwhile.

That love of being noticed once found him outside the show ring. While we were in Texas for the Southern Classic, a photo shoot for Double D Ranch was taking place. Whiskey caught their attention, the team tracked us down and asked him to participate, and his photograph was later published.

Whiskey is a dog who makes you laugh, makes you think, occasionally makes you wonder how on earth he figured that out, and then happily settles back down beside you until the next adventure. That personality is every bit as much a part of who he is as the championships and performance titles that follow his name.

Structure & Physical Contribution

Whiskey's UKC Grand Champion title provides outside evaluation of his quality as a representative of the Standard Poodle breed.

At approximately 26 inches and 65 pounds, Whiskey is a substantial Standard Poodle with the size and athleticism we value for our larger dogs. He contributes balanced Standard Poodle structure, functional movement, athletic construction, and substantial size and presence.

For us, structure isn't simply about appearance. A dog expected to hike, compete, hunt, train, work, or remain active throughout life needs a body capable of supporting that lifestyle. Whiskey gives us the opportunity to combine proven conformation with demonstrated athletic and working ability.

Coat, Color & Genetic Traits

Whiskey is a blue Standard Poodle whose coat has progressively changed throughout his life. He was very dark as a young dog and has lightened considerably with maturity. His sire was a silver phantom, and Whiskey's photographs throughout this page show some of that progression from his younger coat into his mature blue coloring.

Whiskey carries brown, recessive red/cream, and parti, giving him the ability to produce a broad range of colors and patterns when paired with a genetically compatible female.

We have also seen variation in how color develops among his offspring. Some have progressively silvered as they matured, while others have remained solid black. While DNA testing allows us to identify many of the genes responsible for base color and pattern, we do not currently have a genetic test that reliably tells us which of Whiskey's dark puppies will progressively lighten and which will remain dark. Mature color therefore cannot always be predicted from a puppy's appearance or standard color-panel results.

Furnishings

Whiskey is single furnished, carrying one copy of furnishings and one copy of the non-furnishings allele. This is particularly important for breeders considering Whiskey for a Goldendoodle pairing.

Because Whiskey can pass either allele, he can produce flat-coated/non-furnished puppies when bred to a female who can also contribute non-furnishings. The actual percentage expected in a litter depends on the female's furnishings genetics.

For our program, this isn't inherently a negative trait. It is information we use intentionally when planning a pairing. Furnishings genetics have a significant effect on the appearance and coat characteristics of Goldendoodles, so we believe breeders should understand what a stud carries rather than selecting him based on appearance alone.

Whiskey's Legacy

Whiskey isn't simply accomplished himself. His offspring are proving their abilities in their own right, earning conformation championships and performance titles, working as service dogs and hunting dogs, and being retained to influence future generations of our program.

Across these very different dogs and roles, we continue to see qualities that characterize Whiskey's line particularly well: excellent problem-solving ability, perseverance, trainability, confidence, and willingness to work.

Ivy — Oregon's Act Like a Lady

BA Nat Int Hnr CH • UCH • URO1

Co-owned and developed in partnership, Ivy has demonstrated her structural quality in the show ring while also showing her versatility through rally obedience.

Dapper — Oregon's Puttin' on the Ritz

UCH • TKI • RATN • URO1 • CGC • AKC Puppy STAR • SPOT-ON

Dapper demonstrates the breadth we value in Whiskey's offspring, earning accomplishments across conformation, tricks, Barn Hunt, rally obedience, and companion-dog work.

Edna — Oregon's Bless Your Heart

BA Nat Int Hnr CH • UCH • RBPIS

Edna has demonstrated quality in the conformation ring, including earning Reserve Best Puppy in Show.

Ronald — Oregon's It Is What It Is

BA Nat Int Hnr CH • RBPIS

Ronald has also distinguished himself in conformation, earning Reserve Best Puppy in Show.

Manhattan — Oregon's Painting the Night's Sky

RATI • DASH • HOP • RACEN

Manhattan was retained within our Goldendoodle program and has followed Whiskey into performance work herself. She carries forward many of the qualities we particularly value in his line, including trainability, problem-solving ability, perseverance, and a willingness to engage and work with her person.

Beyond the Titles

Some of Whiskey's most important offspring won't have a long string of letters behind their names. He has also produced working service dogs and hunting dogs, where intelligence, perseverance, environmental confidence, trainability, and problem-solving ability have practical jobs to do.

Service work and hunting ask very different things of a dog, which is precisely why we value seeing Whiskey's offspring succeed in both. His legacy isn't one exceptional puppy or one particular type of working dog. We are seeing his influence expressed across conformation, performance, service work, hunting, breeding programs, and family homes.

That depth is what makes Whiskey a proven producer.

Stud Inquiries

Whiskey is available to approved breeding programs that share our commitment to health, temperament, structure, and thoughtful breeding decisions.

He may be particularly valuable for programs looking to add proven Standard Poodle structure, a naturally settled temperament, problem-solving ability, perseverance, athleticism, trainability, and demonstrated working versatility.

We are happy to discuss pairing goals, pedigrees, health testing, previous offspring, and whether Whiskey is an appropriate match for your female.

Contact us to discuss breeding with Whiskey.