Curly Coated Retriever Dog Names

Some people may think the Curly Coated Retriever a bit odd because of their tight, curly coat. However, there are loyalists to this breed that are quick to argue that they are noble and intelligent dogs that make excellent companions. One such loyalist is Catherine Lewandowski of Soft Maple Curly Coated Retrievers in Croghan, New York. Lewandowski was seen during the 2018 Westminster Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden in New York City with her Curly named Dana, or more formally Soft Maple’s Sexy and I Know It. Dana looked fantastic in the breed ring and the judge took notice, awarding Dana Best of Opposite Sex. Lewandowski was thrilled with Dana’s win, especially since Dana was only entered in a small handful of shows in 2017. Despite the lack of showing, Dana still earned an invitation to the 2018 Westminster Dog Show. Dana has been invited to the Westminster Kennel Club’s annual show every year since 2014. Throughout these four years, she has earned Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Bitch, and Award of Merit. Aside from Westminster, Dana also earned a Best of Opposite Sex at the Royal Canin shows in Orlando, Florida. Dana’s half brother was also invited to the 2018 Westminster Dog Show. Lodi, or SoftMaple Green River, was given the Award of Merit. Lodi was bred by Lewandowski but is owned by Natalie Donnaly. Dana is also heading the Curly Coat Retriever National Specialty. The National Specialty is the largest gathering of Curly Coated Retrievers in North America. Lewandowski has plans to enter Dana in conformation, obedience, rally obedience, barn hunts, and field trials.

Lewandowski and her husband, Mark, founded Soft Maple Kennels in 1979; in 1993 they discovered a passion for the Curly Coated Retrievers. Since then, they have been dedicated to improving the breed’s popularity within the United States and have become a Breeder of Merit through the American Kennel Club (AKC). When they discovered the Curly, they were searching for a breed that was versatile and easy to maintain. They also wanted a breed that was adept at hunting and could do well in performance events as well as conformation. Lewandowski’s first dog, Scarlet, was actually a 4-H project. After Scarlet’s training was complete through 4-H, Lewandowski entered her in AKC obedience trials. Eventually, Scarlet earned the AKC Utility Dog (UD) title. She then moved on and entered obedience trials through the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). She earned her Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title. Lewandowski was hooked and loved being a part of the dog show world, prompting her to continue building a solid kennel of performance and conformation champions.