About Us and Our Goal

Welcome to Dutton Retrievers,

Our breeding program is run by myself, Gretchen, and my husband, Garrett. I stay home with the dogs and run the day-to-day, breeding, training, and boarding. Garrett is invaluable in his help with whelping puppies, training, moral support, and caring for our babies while I am traveling(breeding or training related).

I am an Animal and Veterinary Science Clemson graduate who is a full-time dog trainer. I have worked as a part-time vet tech and kennel assistant, I have fostered a substantial number of dogs and kittens, and I am well-versed in dog behavior. I have experience training and titling dogs in AKC CGC testing, trick dog titles, fastCAT, coursing, obedience, rally, Schutzhund(IGP), WDA(Working Dogs of America), and agility. Garrett and I are always bouncing ideas of off each other of how we can improve our dog’s care, how to train better, and how to breed better dogs!

That brings me to my next topic, OUR GOAL! Our goal is to breed solid dogs. What I mean by a “solid dog“ is one who is environmentally stable, social with other dogs and people, and a dog who is confident! If you have a solid dog, the opportunties are endless in what you can do and accomplish. I have different goals with different litters, we do not have a “one size fits all” of what I consistently produce (besides “solid dogs”), and I believe that makes me stand out from other breeders. Some examples of litter goals I have achieved and litter goals I plan to have are; litters geared toward service work, therapy work, bird hunting, and I always aim to breed fantastic pets. I have produced dogs who are service dogs, dogs who duck hunt, dogs who show in conformation, dogs who show in dock diving, and have also produced therapy dogs. The Labrador is truly a versatile breed who, with purposeful breeding(and health testing), can do it all!

We health test to the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals CHIC standard, which is a Labrador specific genetic panel, hips, elbows, eyes, and we also test their heart(which is optional, but we like to stay ahead of all health issues!). Please ask if you would like to see our health testing proof. None of our dogs have allergies, sensitive skin, ill temperaments, object-guarding tendencies, separation anxiety, and the list could go on and on. I make sure that we are testing for everything we can and that we are doing our absolute best to make sure we are breeding happy, healthy dogs. All our dogs live together, play together, and are best friends. There is never a growl or bite from any of our dogs. If there was, that dog would be immediately removed from our program.

I take our breeding program very seriously, so make sure when you inquire you are also serious. I pour my time, finances, and energy into our dogs to make them the best they can be and I expect the same from my owners.