Lessons in Labradors-
Life with the daughter of a Legend
By Uncle Ham
shortened for web... click here to visit the author's website for the full article
A few months ago, I published a story about Zane Hills Labradors. Ralph and Kathy Root of Zanesfield, Ohio have combined some super talent and are producing a line of Labradors with impressive credentials... Something that really caught my attention while talking to Ralph and Kathy about their dogs and their breeding program was the fact that their premier bitch, Skye, was a granddaughter of Warpath Macho, the last recorded Dual Champion in Labradors. I was fascinated by the connection to such a famous Labrador and I decided so find out more about Skye's dam...
I couldn't help but anticipate hearing about another bigger than life hero. A spectacular bitch who had whelped and reared litters of dual-titled dogs; a bitch who had taken the show ring by storm; a bitch who had probably finished in two shows and then moved on to save flood victims in the river basin - a real "super hero" of a dog.
Instead when I finally connected with Mark Eckendorf, the owner of Warpath's Onyahsa, the 9 1/2 year old black Labrador bitch, I heard a very typical Labrador story. I heard about a very unassuming dog who had connected with a very unassuming man. Together they've shared a life of fun and some adventure. Mostly, they have enjoyed the simple pleasure of each other's company. Warpath's Onyahsa, as it turns out, is simply just your typical terrific Labrador Retriever.
Mark and “Ony,” as he calls her, live in Falconer, New York. As I listened, Mark proceeded to relate some of the tales of his life since he'd bought Ony from a breeder in Cleveland... "I didn't know much about Labradors when I got Ony... but she seemed very smart and ready. I knew she was willing," Mark said.
Willing– it would seem– to show Mark the true meaning of life with a Labrador Retriever.
Lesson #1
Every Labrador needs a kid . . .
Immediately after he purchased Ony, Mark headed off to a new job as a director at a YMCA camp South of Buffalo. Ony accompanied Mark to the camp and became a “camp dog.” Labrador heaven for sure – Ony found hundreds of kids at the camp ready and willing to engage in games with a spunky Labrador Retriever.
"One of her favorite games," Mark told me, "was football..." She would wait patiently on the side lines as the kids maneuvered to-and-fro attacking their respective goal lines. When the time was right Ony would charge the field and steal the ball. Ony displayed the talents of a first-round-pick wide receiver as the wild group of NFL wannabes chased her all over the camp crying to get their ball back. "This went on all the time," Mark said. “The kids loved this game as much, if not more, than the programmed event and Ony never tired of this entertainment either.”
Mark knew that life at the camp was good for Ony and kids alike. They were a perfect combination. Ony often worked as a sort of therapy dog at camp. When new groups of campers arrived for their stay at the lake, Mark always encountered children who were interminably homesick. To remedy this situation, ...Mark would charge the homesick youngsters with the care of Ony who, as Mark told these kids, was lonely and in need of friendship. It never failed... and the only problem that Mark had after putting the kids and the dog together was when it was time to leave for home, the children had difficulty breaking their ties with Ony. Ony, too, was sad at the departure of her new friends but would quickly find a whole new group of relationships with the next scheduled campers. Of course this meant new games to play also.
Ony's life at camp was spiced with a variety of activities. Being a Labrador. she loved to make the morning rounds and make sure that all of the children were up and ready to go. If they weren't out of their beds, a little nuzzle from Ony's cold nose would activate their persons in a flash. Mark said that often times the kids would stay in their bunks just to get this extra attention from Ony.
Lesson #2
Always Expect The Unexpected
Of course Ony loved the water sports at camp. She always attended the group swims and the kids adored her for it. Mark said that she would be in the water for hours at a time towing children about with her tail.
And of course there was canoeing. Mark always enjoyed taking a jaunt in the canoe with Ony in the bow - well almost always. You see, as Mark put it, "fishing is not really a sport you want to do with your Labrador..." As most Labrador owners know, a favorite object to retrieve of the Labrador is the bumper. Those rubber cylinders we throw to train our Labradors look an awful lot like those markers we use to call out boat moorings and hazards in our waterways.
Paddling along in the canoe Mark caught sight of a marker buoy just as Ony did. He knew that she was going to jump into the water to retrieve it, so Mark quickly shifted his weight to the opposite side of the Canoe. The only problem was that Ony didn't jump in. She may have wanted to but she didn't because| Mark evidently never said "fetch."
Mark, on the other hand, did enter the water. His quick movement without Ony's counter found him leaving the canoe for the icy waters. As he surfaced, fully expecting to see a capsized canoe and a swimming dog, his first glimpse was of a puzzled Ony. Sitting upright in the bow of the canoe. As she sat starring at Mark with look of bewilderment, all Mark could think was that Ony was asking him, "Why did you do that? I would have gotten that for you."
All in all life at camp was great for Ony and everyone lucky enough to have an encounter with her. She whelped a litter of pups at camp and Chief, her Ch. Borador's Ridgeway Reflection son, stayed on with Ony and Mark. Chief also became an accomplished sail boarder, although Mark said "not quite as good as Ony...”
Lesson #3
Never put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish with your Labrador today.
Mark knew early on that he had something very special in Ony. She responded briskly to training. Mark remembers her heeling, off lead, as he walked with Ony. Even with a major distraction such as a challenging dog, Ony would not break stride with her partner. Mark decided that Ony was a good looking Labrador and he was interested in getting her into the show ring.
He put her in a few shows over the course of a summer and Ony garnered 4 quick points. Mark thought nothing of this because he knew that she was a special dog. He decided that he would take her out of the ring and breed her then would then finish her after she had whelped a litter of pups.
Unfortunately for Mark, Ony never returned to the ring in her winning form. What would appear to have been a brilliant career in the ring was abruptly brought to a premature conclusion. "It's to bad," Mark said.. "She won so easily when she was first out that I thought this was easy and I would finish it later."
This was certainly a hard lesson for Mark because as time went on, he realized what a terrific Labrador Ony was and he also realized that she would never have a Championship to show for her conformation.
Lesson #4
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Over the years, Mark, as many folks do, have tried a number of different combinations in his breeding program. His adventures have lead him in directions other than the one in which he started. As time has passed, however, Mark has had good reason to reconsider the direction of his breeding program.
Ony's qualities have only become more refined with age.
Mart went back to Zane Hills and purchased a pup out of Skye's last Logan litter. This is the same breeding that produced Ch. Zane Hills Blue Jacket CD. Mark is excited about the prospects for this pup Zane Hills Back to Onyahsa, “Becky” as she is called. As Mark said "that Johnny Logan sure can throw 'em."
With Chief, Becky and Chief's daughter Onyahsa's Frosty Girl, Mark feels he has the solid potential to reestablish the line he started back at Camp Onyahsa...
For many of us who have had the good fortune to come across a very special dog in the course of our lives what we learned in our relationships with these canines is invaluable in our training as humans... Yet these dogs in their day to day exhibition of the positive attributes of the breed, somehow redirect the lives into which they've cohabited and continue the development of their own lines.
Mark took the time to video his dogs and send it to me just before this newsletter was sent off to the printer. He showed a photo of Ony winning the points at about 2 years old.. She truly was lovely. I would be remiss in not mentioning that Sally and Bell's Borador Kennels have played a part in this story. Borador's Kristen Hannah is the dam of Ony and, as mentioned. CH. Borador's Ridgewav Reflection is Chief's Sire.
Mark also took some shots of Ony today. Maybe Mark will get Ony out in some of the veterans classes and we'll get a chance to see her in person. She certainly is worthy and I believe it would be to our benefit to see this simply great Labrador Retriever.
Reprinted with permission from
Uncle Ham's Newsletter for Labrador Retrievers
published by Uncle Ham's, Box 477.
Gloucester MA 01930. Copyright 1994.
Life with the daughter of a Legend
By Uncle Ham
shortened for web... click here to visit the author's website for the full article
A few months ago, I published a story about Zane Hills Labradors. Ralph and Kathy Root of Zanesfield, Ohio have combined some super talent and are producing a line of Labradors with impressive credentials... Something that really caught my attention while talking to Ralph and Kathy about their dogs and their breeding program was the fact that their premier bitch, Skye, was a granddaughter of Warpath Macho, the last recorded Dual Champion in Labradors. I was fascinated by the connection to such a famous Labrador and I decided so find out more about Skye's dam...
I couldn't help but anticipate hearing about another bigger than life hero. A spectacular bitch who had whelped and reared litters of dual-titled dogs; a bitch who had taken the show ring by storm; a bitch who had probably finished in two shows and then moved on to save flood victims in the river basin - a real "super hero" of a dog.
Instead when I finally connected with Mark Eckendorf, the owner of Warpath's Onyahsa, the 9 1/2 year old black Labrador bitch, I heard a very typical Labrador story. I heard about a very unassuming dog who had connected with a very unassuming man. Together they've shared a life of fun and some adventure. Mostly, they have enjoyed the simple pleasure of each other's company. Warpath's Onyahsa, as it turns out, is simply just your typical terrific Labrador Retriever.
Mark and “Ony,” as he calls her, live in Falconer, New York. As I listened, Mark proceeded to relate some of the tales of his life since he'd bought Ony from a breeder in Cleveland... "I didn't know much about Labradors when I got Ony... but she seemed very smart and ready. I knew she was willing," Mark said.
Willing– it would seem– to show Mark the true meaning of life with a Labrador Retriever.
Lesson #1
Every Labrador needs a kid . . .
Immediately after he purchased Ony, Mark headed off to a new job as a director at a YMCA camp South of Buffalo. Ony accompanied Mark to the camp and became a “camp dog.” Labrador heaven for sure – Ony found hundreds of kids at the camp ready and willing to engage in games with a spunky Labrador Retriever.
"One of her favorite games," Mark told me, "was football..." She would wait patiently on the side lines as the kids maneuvered to-and-fro attacking their respective goal lines. When the time was right Ony would charge the field and steal the ball. Ony displayed the talents of a first-round-pick wide receiver as the wild group of NFL wannabes chased her all over the camp crying to get their ball back. "This went on all the time," Mark said. “The kids loved this game as much, if not more, than the programmed event and Ony never tired of this entertainment either.”
Mark knew that life at the camp was good for Ony and kids alike. They were a perfect combination. Ony often worked as a sort of therapy dog at camp. When new groups of campers arrived for their stay at the lake, Mark always encountered children who were interminably homesick. To remedy this situation, ...Mark would charge the homesick youngsters with the care of Ony who, as Mark told these kids, was lonely and in need of friendship. It never failed... and the only problem that Mark had after putting the kids and the dog together was when it was time to leave for home, the children had difficulty breaking their ties with Ony. Ony, too, was sad at the departure of her new friends but would quickly find a whole new group of relationships with the next scheduled campers. Of course this meant new games to play also.
Ony's life at camp was spiced with a variety of activities. Being a Labrador. she loved to make the morning rounds and make sure that all of the children were up and ready to go. If they weren't out of their beds, a little nuzzle from Ony's cold nose would activate their persons in a flash. Mark said that often times the kids would stay in their bunks just to get this extra attention from Ony.
Lesson #2
Always Expect The Unexpected
Of course Ony loved the water sports at camp. She always attended the group swims and the kids adored her for it. Mark said that she would be in the water for hours at a time towing children about with her tail.
And of course there was canoeing. Mark always enjoyed taking a jaunt in the canoe with Ony in the bow - well almost always. You see, as Mark put it, "fishing is not really a sport you want to do with your Labrador..." As most Labrador owners know, a favorite object to retrieve of the Labrador is the bumper. Those rubber cylinders we throw to train our Labradors look an awful lot like those markers we use to call out boat moorings and hazards in our waterways.
Paddling along in the canoe Mark caught sight of a marker buoy just as Ony did. He knew that she was going to jump into the water to retrieve it, so Mark quickly shifted his weight to the opposite side of the Canoe. The only problem was that Ony didn't jump in. She may have wanted to but she didn't because| Mark evidently never said "fetch."
Mark, on the other hand, did enter the water. His quick movement without Ony's counter found him leaving the canoe for the icy waters. As he surfaced, fully expecting to see a capsized canoe and a swimming dog, his first glimpse was of a puzzled Ony. Sitting upright in the bow of the canoe. As she sat starring at Mark with look of bewilderment, all Mark could think was that Ony was asking him, "Why did you do that? I would have gotten that for you."
All in all life at camp was great for Ony and everyone lucky enough to have an encounter with her. She whelped a litter of pups at camp and Chief, her Ch. Borador's Ridgeway Reflection son, stayed on with Ony and Mark. Chief also became an accomplished sail boarder, although Mark said "not quite as good as Ony...”
Lesson #3
Never put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish with your Labrador today.
Mark knew early on that he had something very special in Ony. She responded briskly to training. Mark remembers her heeling, off lead, as he walked with Ony. Even with a major distraction such as a challenging dog, Ony would not break stride with her partner. Mark decided that Ony was a good looking Labrador and he was interested in getting her into the show ring.
He put her in a few shows over the course of a summer and Ony garnered 4 quick points. Mark thought nothing of this because he knew that she was a special dog. He decided that he would take her out of the ring and breed her then would then finish her after she had whelped a litter of pups.
Unfortunately for Mark, Ony never returned to the ring in her winning form. What would appear to have been a brilliant career in the ring was abruptly brought to a premature conclusion. "It's to bad," Mark said.. "She won so easily when she was first out that I thought this was easy and I would finish it later."
This was certainly a hard lesson for Mark because as time went on, he realized what a terrific Labrador Ony was and he also realized that she would never have a Championship to show for her conformation.
Lesson #4
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Over the years, Mark, as many folks do, have tried a number of different combinations in his breeding program. His adventures have lead him in directions other than the one in which he started. As time has passed, however, Mark has had good reason to reconsider the direction of his breeding program.
Ony's qualities have only become more refined with age.
Mart went back to Zane Hills and purchased a pup out of Skye's last Logan litter. This is the same breeding that produced Ch. Zane Hills Blue Jacket CD. Mark is excited about the prospects for this pup Zane Hills Back to Onyahsa, “Becky” as she is called. As Mark said "that Johnny Logan sure can throw 'em."
With Chief, Becky and Chief's daughter Onyahsa's Frosty Girl, Mark feels he has the solid potential to reestablish the line he started back at Camp Onyahsa...
For many of us who have had the good fortune to come across a very special dog in the course of our lives what we learned in our relationships with these canines is invaluable in our training as humans... Yet these dogs in their day to day exhibition of the positive attributes of the breed, somehow redirect the lives into which they've cohabited and continue the development of their own lines.
Mark took the time to video his dogs and send it to me just before this newsletter was sent off to the printer. He showed a photo of Ony winning the points at about 2 years old.. She truly was lovely. I would be remiss in not mentioning that Sally and Bell's Borador Kennels have played a part in this story. Borador's Kristen Hannah is the dam of Ony and, as mentioned. CH. Borador's Ridgewav Reflection is Chief's Sire.
Mark also took some shots of Ony today. Maybe Mark will get Ony out in some of the veterans classes and we'll get a chance to see her in person. She certainly is worthy and I believe it would be to our benefit to see this simply great Labrador Retriever.
Reprinted with permission from
Uncle Ham's Newsletter for Labrador Retrievers
published by Uncle Ham's, Box 477.
Gloucester MA 01930. Copyright 1994.