"DEAR HIGHTEST" What our customers, and
their dogs, have to say...
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Customer Photos & Letters
Greetings Hightest:
Just a few words to let you know how
fabulous Tule (Orvis X Visa pup from October 2009) is doing! Tule has turned out to be a big, fast, smart, and birdy retriever. I don't believe that you can teach a dog to chase cripples in huge mounds of tule's, and also "feel" for ducks hiding underwater with his front paws (and then dive under to get them).
In January of 2011 my family and I moved to central Illinois. Tule now hunts in flooded green wood forests and large tracts of thick river bottom near Springfield, IL.
He has instantly taken to his new surroundings and has quickly figured out how to work his new landscape with success. Tule does a great job of fetching ducks out of bottom tree/shrub cover so thick that a man can't even walk through it. Many times he takes a line, disappears into the thick forests for awhile and reappears with a crippled duck that would have easily escaped were it not for him and his skills. Thanks again for your great breeding program and outstanding commitment to retrievers.
Dimitrios Georges
Chatham, IL March 2012
Hi Debra, Ole and John,
It has been almost one year and we are enjoying Maggie so much. She is the sweetest dog and gets along with everyone and every thing. She is such a joy to hunt with and to be around. She can wait forever for another duck to fly over and never makes a peep.
Every hunt is another wonderful Maggie memory. Besides ducks, we did a ton of pheasant hunting this year and always got birds. Opening day took 45 minutes to get two birds. She is amazing and never tires or gives up. She knows they are out there and she will find them. She hunts great with our Brittany. So far, her best retrieve was a wounded pheasant in 15 feet high tules.
Overall, Maggie is the best dog we've owned. She is our 5th dog. She sits every time on the whistle, takes hand signals great, she will wait forever for a chance to retrieve and not make a sound and she hunts her heart out. She is a pleasure to be around, hunting or not.
Thank you for all your hard work with Maggie. She is a wonderful dog and very well trained. We couldn't have asked for more. By the way, she still weighs 53 pounds and is fast as ever. She is a perfect size. People think she is a puppy.
Thank you!
Rick and Karen Liptak
El Dorado Hills March 2012
Hightest and Ole,
We appreciate the time you spent with me and my mom when we came to Hightest. Very, very nice place and it was a pleasure to meet you and see first hand all I had heard about you and the wonders you do with the dogs! Also very excited after almost 7 years to be purchasing a dog again (fully trained!) I have two boys who love to hunt and they are excited to be getting Sonny, so thank you, a real blessing.
Thanks
John Petlansky March 2012
Dear Debra and Hightest Staff,
Bodie was born in October 2009, to "Visa" and "Orvis". At almost two-and-one-half years old now, Bodie is an amazing athlete, comedian, and true solid "citizen". He's big-hearted, with a strong work ethic, and a deep willingness to please. He's highly trainable and attentive when he's working. He's a great traveller and a wonderful companion to other dogs.
What's funny is Bodie was the last in his litter to be picked. You, Debra, told us that you had discouraged several people from choosing him prior to our visit, letting them know he was not "a pet" and he's not just for "anybody." As we walked around your facility with you and Bodie, you gently queried our sons to learn something about us, trying to determine, I think, whether or not we were the right owners for him. As it turns out, we were.
Bodie is our first purebred Labrador Retriever. Our life with him has made me aware how many people own Labradors who really shouldn't. So, I thank you for being so thoughtful in the placement of your dogs...and for "saving" Bodie for us, even though you didn't know you were doing that at the time.
Sally Olson March 2012
Dear John & Debra,
Over the past several duck seasons Cash was a great dog and we really enjoyed each other. She learned a lot about hunting when we were together. Things such as lying still at the blind, retrieving ducks that where still swimming around in the pond, and watching the sky for the arrival of new ducks.
Each time we would go out to the blind she was so full of energy and excitement that it made for a good morning. She really enjoyed her days with me and likewise I enjoyed hunting with her.
I am still good for a few more years of duck hunting, so I look forward to getting another dog from you.
Jim Flood February 2012
Andrew, Ole and Staff,
We just thought we'd give you an update on Jed. It's been almost a month since we pick him up from gun dog training and we have to say that his performance has been nothing less than perfect. We were fortunate enough to get him into some ducks and some pheasant and he is performing to our expectations. He retrieved his first two Sprig without any problems and he wasn't even bothered by the decoys! His quartering in the field was also impressive. He listens very well and the e-collar is nothing but a decoration at this this point.
We just wanted to let you all know that we appreciate the expertise and time you all put into Jed's training. Even though he is only 10 months old, he is well on his way to be a great hunting dog. His obedience skills are nothing but a bonus to his hunting skills.
Thanks again,
Fernando & family Realyvasquez February 2012
This is a photo of Hightests Vanilla the day we picked her up. She is an amazing dog and we are thrilled with our "luck." I will definitely be bringing her back for obedience training when she is six months old.
Jenifer Moore February 2012
Dear John & Debra,
Not too long ago my husband lost his beloved Pudge. The first dog he purchased from Hightest. Things were pretty rough around here, and not knowing what else to do I decided to go back to Hightest and purchase a puppy to keep him so busy it hopefully would take his mind off of Pudge. Well, the picture above is of my husband and the new pup,” Lexi Lynn”… on one of their hunts. He also uses her for the” Wounded Warier Project Hunts” and is so proud of her. It was the perfect solution to the problem. I would like to thank You, John , Debra and the staff @ Hightest for all your help. As well as Joe Justeson who helped me make the decision.
Sincerely,
Jackie Mattson
February 2012
Debra,
Now that Duck Season is over I wanted to say how thankful I have been that I pick up Rover as a puppy back in 2008 at the Hightest Kennels. Rover has gone through all of your training programs and believe me it does show the high quality of your trainers Ole and Andrew for their true passion training working hunting dogs. Plus all the pointers that Ole has given me over the years with Rover. To see Rover's enthusiasm working the rice fields retrieving ducks and geese and to get so many compliments form other hunters on Rover. I know there is no other place to train or board Rover then to drive out from San Francisco to take him the Hightest Kennels...thanks again for such a wonderful organization you have!
Thanks for your help,
Daniel Fuller February 2012
We thought we would send you a picture of our girl, Butter! She was born on April 5, 2008, but still looks like a puppy!
Thank you so much for such a great dog!
The Grahams December 2011
I just thought I would write and say how happy I am with my purchase of Hightest Texas Magnolia (Tee) . She has been everything I had wanted and more. She is fantastic at home and fantastic in the field and just loves to retrieve. Last week she passed her first junior hunt test in Suisun at the Marin Retriever Club fall event. Thank you for this wonderful dog and your commitment to quality Labrador Retrievers.
Thank You again,
Paul Carlson November 2011
Thought I would send you the photo with the new additions to our family with our two kids….
They LOVE the new puppies….who we named….Bella and Bode…
Thank you very much for all your help.
Aaron Lee October 2011
I just wanted to thank you guys for such a great dog he is the head of his class, eager to learn and sweet with everything including the family cat. The cat is not a fan of Jacks but he takes it in stride and keeps his distance. Jack is doing double and triple blind retrieves both in water and land. He's a fabulous marking dog, and has decided that he will be a pheasant hunter as well.
I could not be happier and would recommend your kennel to all I know.
Blue Skies
Ben and Jack September 2011
Lucky is a Hightest dog out of Beau's a Booger MH and Mochas Brown
Sugar who is enjoying her old age and finally slowing down a
little. She's been a wonderful dog and I want to get a puppy very
soon to raise while she's still able to take an interest.
I'm coming back to you because of the excellent temperament, intelligence, and health of your
dogs.
Rob Cohen September 2011
We just wanted to send a note and say thank you for such a wonderful addition to our family. Chaos has just been a great puppy and now just turned a year Aug 6th
and looks gorgeous and has such an amazing attitude. He really has come a long way from not being sure of the water and lack of wanting to go for the bumpers (puppy head start was a little rough) to just being nuts about them both and when he hears a gun shot he is alert and ready to go for that bird. We are looking forward to hunting with him this year and many more years to come. I have not been able to decide if he looks like his mom Trouble or dad Beau. He is a pretty great mixture of both. We are always getting complements on how great looking of a dog we have and that is thanks to great looking parents. Thanks again!
