| Mentmore Spaniels Home Of AKC & UKC English Springer Spaniels & Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Located In Springboro, Ohio Near Dayton, Cincinnati, & Columbus Areas The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be ~Konrad Lorenz~ |
| Denice grew up with a father who loved to hunt whatever was in season, as a result many breeds of scent hounds and sporting dogs lived out their lives with her family while she was growing up. The love of dogs was passed on to her by her father, uncles and cousins who taught her not only about dogs and raising them to be all you want, but never to give up on one, that in time they can turn out to be all you desire with the proper time and training. For some the process is easier than others, but all have possibilities. Denice's father purchased her first bench bred English Springer Spaniel in 1976 when she was 14 after their family moved to the country. Keeper was a very special girl who was easily taught anything a young girl could think of. Keeper was all a bored teenager could have ever hoped for and just beautiful with her blue black coat and blinding white running gear. This lovely girl and Denice's next black & white, Tanner, who was from field lines, were the foundation for her love and devotion to this versatile breed. Over the years Denice has either bred or owned the sire of several dogs that have gone on to be AKC & UKC Conformation Champions, Obedience, Rally and Agility Titled. Some of these have been awarded all levels of Canine Good Citizenship from AKC. She has placed a few dogs who participated in 4H with children as well. Denice has finished her first AKC Champion English Springer Spaniel, AKC CH. Lord Rosebery Of Mentmore, C.G.C. (a.k.a. Archie), just like all those beautiful Champions she has read and followed in books since she was a teenager. Today Denice is more focused on Cavaliers but will always have Springers in her life. Denice is currently working with her companions in both conformation and performance fields. In this pursuit she was supported by her friends and mentors, Wendy Rollins-Evans of World Renown Venetian English Springer Spaniels; who lent a big helping hand to Denice in the showmanship/conformation rings. Other of Denice's mentors include an AKC Judges Frank Farrar and Mary Wuest. Her Cavalier mentor Frank Farrar of the world renown Sedeki Salukis has judged all around the world and given her much wise advice. Denice has spent much time working with the Obedeince Director of her training club Darlene Rak, along with Corky Andrews, a long time well respected member of the same club. Denice is a dedicated hard working member of Ft. St. Clair Kennel Club & Dayton Dog Training Club. She has held seats on the Board of Directors & Recording Secretary for clubs in past years and served as the Chief Ring Stewart (both in conformation, obedience and rally) for several years at annual shows. Denice works very hard with her clubs to promote Responsible Pet Ownership in her area! She works with friends and associates devoted to producing sound and gorgeous companions. Always keeping in mind that a puppy becomes part of the family first and foremost in their lives making sound temperament a must have trait. While always keeping an eye to the AKC breed standard for a well built and balanced puppy with looks to die for making the whole package, as all purebred dogs should be. Mentmore Spaniels is dedicated to their family of companions and is focused with each new addition, to strive for the betterment of their breeds. |
| Denice Ray - Springboro, Ohio Dayton/Cincinnati Area Springboro, Ohio (937) 307-6552 Cell mentmores@yahoo.com Photo To Left - Denice with AKC CH Archie and Pearl - Both are Therapy Dog Certified Photo To Right - Archie Daughter Chloe winning BIM Adult at a CCKC Puppy/Fun Match |
| Site Update May 24, 2019 |
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| with them I simply would not be... And Make No Mistake - The Dogs ALWAYS COME FIRST! I Am A Breeder Page I am a breeder..... My food receipts for a family of 7 and my dog food bills match My water bill has doubled My electric has tripled It is I, a breeder, who when my fridge quit, saved the dog meds and let the food go bad. My feet find the way to the kennel before I have even grabbed a cup of coffee in the morning and the kennel is my last stop before bed. While my friends are on a cruise to the Bahamas and my family meets for Christmas I am home delivering puppies I haven't had a real vacation in 7 years, but maybe soon. All plans are made around heat dates, whelp dates and vet dates. I shower and 10 minutes later my grand kids say I smell like a dog My clothes are all stained with fecal matter, urine, afterbirth or bleach I have to remember to clean my shoes before church Most of my friends breed dogs who else can you call at 3 am for support? Who else has the experience I sometimes need, the med I sometimes need, or just an uplifting word I sometimes need ? Who else would understand how it feels to have invested hours and hours and hours in a weak puppy to lose it? Or the joy in investing hours in one that lives? I have slept on the floor beside a litter until the crucial 2 weeks have passed. I have bottle fed a litter of 12..feeding every 2 hours and it taking 90 minutes to do for weeks at a time. I have learned to be proficient at micro chipping, vaccinations, sub q fluids, bottle feeding and tube feeding. my vet knows me by first name the vet knows my children the vet now knows my grand children my vet knows it was I who added on the wing to the vet clinic I am a breeder It is to me that 63 days takes on new meaning still excited by every new life it is I who delivers all my pups, towels and heat lamps on ready happiness and sadness sometimes intermingled Even though it increases my work load, I look forward to the 10 day stage when eyes open, and puppies begin to emerge from the helplessness of newborns. Puppy breath, a first bark. and a heart of exploration. I am not uneducated, unemployable, illiterate or lazy as some Animal Rights folks would imply of breeders. I am a conscientious lover of animals and I have found my niche. I am a breeder. And although I feel no shame there is a part of me that feels the need to hide from powers that could come to invade my home and take my dogs ...maybe for finding a mild infraction, a leaf in the water dish? A kennel not yet cleaned for the day? A rash I am home treating? I tell my children and grand children to hush, do not tell others we are dog breeders, and I wonder when did breeding puppies go into the same secret place as criminal activity? I am a breeder and I am not cruel, dumb, uncaring or criminal. I am not raking in money while sitting on my butt. Every penny I make I earn through blood, sweat and tears. My greatest joy is a healthy puppy and a wonderful home. The cards of thanks and the pictures of my puppy with its new family is the fringe benefits of my efforts. I am an animal lover, nurse, midwife, heavy laborer, customer service representative, and marketer. AND I am a breeder. Lori Hallfrisch of Southernstyle kennel Forwarded with permission of the author for use by anyone for the benefit of our fight against the AR movement. |
| Mentmore Spaniels Owners: Denice Ray & Beth Watts - Springboro, Ohio Family Partners & Associates 20+ Years QUALITY NOT QUANTITY IS WHAT WE STRIVE FOR! EXCELLENCE IN NOT ONLY LOOKS BUT BRAINS! EVER HEARD YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR? WELL THAT DOES FOLLOW TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO WELL BRED PURE BREED DOGS. AKC BREEDER OF MERIT WITH 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WELL ESTABLISHED HEALTH TESTED LINES AND ADULTS AN AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN EVALUATOR FOR TEMPERAMENT WHO PARTICIPATES IN NOT ONLY CONFORMATION SHOWMANSHIP BUT PERFORMANCE SPORTS LIKE OBEDIENCE AND RALLY WITH OUR DOGS. |
| AKC INSPECTED IN COMPLIANCE 8/18/2016 |
| UPDATED May 24, 2019 WE HAVE CAVALIER PUPPIES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS UPDATED May 24, 2019 WE ARE EXPECTING BLACK & WHITE AND LIVER & WHITE ESS PUPPIES MID TO LATE JUNE Check back later for future details |
