About us
Mark and Karen are the Husband and Wife team who, along with their Labradors, are Gaddyrow Gundogs.
Mark – The Gopher
Karen - The Boss
Labradors have always been a passion for Karen, growing up with them, there have been very few times over the years when there has not been at least one labrador in the house! She bred, worked and competed in working tests with her first labradors when she was much younger, before life and the corporate world took over, but came full circle and found her way back to her passion later in life. Part of this passion led Karen to change direction and start up her own business. For 10 years, Karen ran a successful Puppy School, Dog Training and Behaviour business in Hertfordshire before moving to Scotland. Using the latest science-led, reward-based training techniques and having a deep understanding of canine behaviour, Karen has extensive knowledge of what puppies and dogs need to thrive, from pre-natal through to old age.
Mark’s first exposure to Labradors was growing up with Dabber, a black Labrador, as a family pet. Mark was first introduced to country sports by a neighbour in Hertfordshire and now loves nothing more than being out in the countryside with like-minded people. He has even taken to working the dogs himself now and then and has had some great days out in the field with Kallie, Mac and Piper, on his small syndicate shoot and on large commercial shoots in the local area.
Our Story
The Beginning
Our story started on a rainy May Bank Holiday when a friend sent a copy of an advert for Labrador puppies she’d seen in a local chip shop window, with just a mobile number!! So many alarm bells, but we got very lucky and came home a few weeks later with Tia. Bred at a top local Equine Stud Farm, Tia was a mix of working and show lines and had had a great start socially, meaning she was always a dog that took ALL of life in her stride. She was a very special dog who stole our hearts, and with her, we started our Gaddyrow Gundogs journey.
The Journey
Gaddyrow Gundogs was founded in 2008 when we lived in Hertfordshire, in the small hamlet of Gaddesden Row. The name stayed with us as we moved further north, eventually settling happily in Morayshire, Scotland. It has always remained a big part of our lives; training, working and breeding our labradors is a hobby pastime that has endured through many phases of our lives.
Today
We currently share our home and lives with five labradors, all home-bred descendants of Tia, the youngest three are all out working regularly during the shooting season and are having fun and shenanigans on the beaches and in the forests locally when off-duty.
Our Dogs
Willow
Willow is our Fox Red daughter from Tia’s first litter. She is now our matriarch, a gentle and kind old lady with a permanent waggy tail, who at 14 is still loving her walks, fusses and food! Willow is your stereotypical Labrador; everyone is her friend, and if you aren’t already, you are simply just waiting to be… People and dogs alike!
She was a brilliant Mum and the best Aunty and Granny, looking after Tia and Kallie’s pups as if they were her own. We have two of her daughters at home, Autumn and Kallie.
Willow has always been a very independent-minded soul whom Karen had to work hard with to find a way to train and motivate her for working in the field. Which, when it all came together, she loved. Willow was out picking up regularly at Mark’s syndicate shoots in Hertfordshire as well as on a large local Estate. She loved to work, and picking pricked birds was her favourite job, winning retriever of the year on our syndicate shoot.
Willow’s favourite thing in the whole world, other than playing with puppies… rolling in wet grass and snow!
Autumn
Autumn is another of our fox red girls, Willow’s daughter from her first litter. Autumn is just like her Mum, a kind, gentle-natured dog who wants nothing more than to simply be with you, whether you are together working, training, playing, doing jobs, or just chilling out. She has been an absolute superstar right from her early puppy days. Her enthusiasm for retrieving has never waned; she is super steady and dependable, just loves to have a job to do, working together with you.
She is a real character, a firm favourite with family and friends alike.
Autumn’s favourite thing… Autumn loves nothing more than stealing a slipper and then smooshing it in any available face on the sofa, and she gives the best hugs; her first puppy trick was a hug and a kiss, which she still readily performs to this day!
Kallie
Kallie is the last of our dogs to be born at Gaddesden Row. We decided to go back to black with Kallie’s litter and picked a stud who was black dominant to ensure we got what we were hoping for. Kallie is Willow’s daughter from her second litter. She is the sweetest dog, another kind and gentle soul, a super housemate, but also an excellent worker, steady and reliable out in the field.
She truly is one of those rare multi-talented all-rounders, despite her interrupted working ‘career’ being affected by two house moves, Covid and Karen’s two hip replacements! She was a regular picking up at Mark’s syndicate shoots and on a large local Estate in Hertfordshire. During our time in the Scottish Borders, she worked with Karen, picking up on beautiful grouse moors, as well as on a couple of local Estates. Since moving to Moray, she has been out (mainly with Mark as Karen’s hips stopped play!), working on a large commercial shoot as well as at Mark’s syndicate shoot, where she has demonstrated her flexibility and versatility, consistently contributing in the beating line and picking up. Kallie also recently stood as a peg dog for Mark, where she performed impeccably. She was steady as a rock, whilst marking with a keen eye and retrieving the game for him and his neighbouring guns when asked.
Kallie’s favourite pastime is lying as close to the fire as she can safely get; she takes after her granny Tia, taking over the ‘fire dog’ title in the Gaddyrow gang.
Mac
Mac is Kallie’s Son; he is a good-looking, well-built, strong and athletic lad who works with enthusiasm. He has a super temperament and is good with people and dogs alike. He is a very laid-back and eager-to-please character, a real softie. Mac is in his element, doing what he loves, working out in the field, where he is fast across the ground. He is a very strong swimmer, moving quickly and economically in the water and has a good nose; he has lots of natural flair with a great delivery. His favourite place to spend downtime is at the beach, where he is a true ‘salty sea dog’, jumping and surfing the waves. He loves his walks and is very relaxed at home, happy lying in front of the fire with his Mum or curled up with us on the sofa
Mac’s favourite thing is hard to pinpoint as he just loves life and everything about it, but if we had to choose… stealing Mark’s glasses off the top of his head! Jumping waves in the sea or lying around on his back, anywhere will do; airing his ‘jewels’ would all be up there.
Mac is available at Stud. Find out more: Click Here
Piper
Piper, what can we say! Piper is Kallie’s Daughter and Sister to Mac; she is so eager to please, giving 100% in everything she does. She absolutely lives life to the max, loves her walks, training, working, water, swimming, time at the beach, everything and everyone! She has been out regularly on Mark’s syndicate shoot; she has a keen nose and is incredibly quick across the ground; she is our pocket rocket! At home, once she relaxes, Piper is super helpful, always on hand to pick up anything Karen drops, which is a lot, including her walking sticks! Her favourite thing… Piper loves nothing more than a proper squishy cuddle on the sofa and her favourite trick, tree jumping!
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We are planning to take a litter from Piper in early 2027. Find out more: Click Here
Loved andLost:
Tia
12 Apr 2008 – 21 Nov 2021
Tia was simply the best (shssssh… don’t tell the others!). She was totally bomb-proof, fully embracing all that life offered her; nothing phased her at all. She had such enthusiasm and exuberance, sometimes more akin to a ‘bull in a china shop’; we often said we should have called her Tank! She worked hard, and she played hard; she was a great Mum and left a legacy of long-lived, healthy Gaddyrow dogs with super temperaments and big personalities.
She was the best pet companion, and we shared so many happy times together, including being placed at Crufts in the BASC Gamekeeper Labrador bitch class. She was the perfect dog for Karen to partner with to rekindle her love of working her labs; Tia was naturally good in the field and loved being in the beating line. She worked cover just like a spaniel! She made a good, steady picking-up dog and came with us working on Mark’s syndicate shoots and on a local Estate when we were in Hertfordshire. She was less steady as Mark’s peg dog, where her exuberance got the better of her! On more than one occasion, she was seen heading off into the distance to retrieve a bird before being sent!
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She was also a great help to Karen in her business, making a solid stooge dog for Karen when she needed a calm, steady dog to help with training and behaviour cases. She was just one of those souls who was naturally good at everything she did. She was loved by everyone, but most of all by us!
Foggy
7 May 2008 – 5 Mar 2024
Foggy was our much-loved and greatly missed Labrador in Border Terrier clothing. Foggy was as involved in Gaddyrow Gundogs as the Labradors, happily hunting, finding and retrieving dummies. He took his ‘security’ duties seriously, always on hand to keep an eye on Mum and pups. He was a great puppy exerciser, entertainer and Labrador pillow!
Foggy was a little dog with the biggest personality, loved by everyone, young and old alike, a firm favourite with all the children. For a little fella, he leaves very big paws that may be filled at some point with a non-Labrador addition to the Team, but we still aren’t quite ready for that yet.
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Foggy’s favourite thing was Christmas; he loved to open a present, no matter whose, the more the better! His favourite trick was “Bang”, but we never did master playing dead without the waggy tail!