The Hunts bought their first Labrador in 1975, a fox-red bitch puppy, Gemini's Anna (Ch. Halsinger's Laddie x Ch. Wimberway's The Treasured Tam). Their first champion, Ch. & O.T. Ch. Windanna's Dolly Daydream, WCX, Am. CDX, WC (Ch. Halsinger's Laddie x Gemini's Anna, CD), really got them interested in all phases of the Labrador, even though "Dolly" didn't turn out to be the brood bitch they had hoped for.
An Interview With Charles & Judith Hunt
In 1977 they registered their kennel name, Windanna, which was permanently registered in 1984. Anna's second litter, sired by Ch. Ghillie's Jeep produced a very nice yellow bitch, BPIS Ch. Windanna's Snow Queen CD, (Jaye), who was to become the foundation of their current line. Jaye produced seven champions in two litters and was second top producing Labrador bitch in 1985. Her daughter BPIS Ch. Windanna's Betsy Paramore (Am. Ch. Raintree Braemar Bailiff, CDX x Ch. Windanna's Snow Queen CD), a group placing bitch, produced four champions, including a third generation BPIS Ch. Windanna's Lord Poseidon. Ch. Windanna's Midas Gold, CDX, WC, a litter mate was Best of Opposite Sex at the Canadian National Specialty in 1987. A daughter, Windanna's Pallas Athena, CD (Am.Can. Ch. Finchingfield Ivan of Oaklea x Ch. Windanna's Betsy Paramore) produced eight champions in two litters, including their fourth generation BPISS, BPIS Ch. Windanna's Molly Melody (Am. Can. Ch. Braemar Oakmead Magnum Force x Windanna's Pallas Athena, CD). "Molly", a group placing, Award of Merit Bitch produced eight champions from two litters including a fifth generation BPIS Ch. Windanna's Pippin O'Bucklebury, CD, WC, who was also a Group First winner. Windanna believes in breeding their bitches to the best possible stud dogs who are compatible with their lines and only using breeding stock certified clear for hip, eye and blood problems, with the desired Labrador temperament and trainability. They feel the Labrador is in a slightly precarious position as it is again the most popular breed in Canada and breeders must be most conscientious, diligent and honest.
Ch. & O.T. Ch. Windanna's Dolly Daydream,
WCX, Am. CDX, WC
Gemini's Anna
Entering dogs in the conformation ring is one way for interested people to evaluate breeding stock. If ribbons are awarded by the judges so much the better. To date Windanna Kennels has produced over 60 breeder or owner handled home-bred champions, 37 Companion dogs, 12 Companion Dogs Excellent and 2 O.T. champions. On the field side, 14 W.C.'s, 1 W.C.I. and 2 W.C.X., plus 7 NAHRA Started dogs, l Working Retriever and 1 Master Hunter. Both Charlie and Judy feel very strongly that Labradors should be proficient in all fields for which they were originally bred and always encourage new puppy owners along these lines.
They believe "Labs" are truly all-around dogs and as proof, Judy handled Dolly during her road to becoming Ch. O.T. Ch. Windanna's Dolly Daydream, WCX, TT, Am. CDX, WC. Dolly was also "flower-dog" at their youngest daughter's wedding, holding a bouquet of flowers right through the ceremony!
During their years in the "Fancy" Judy has been Secretary-Treasurer and Newsletter Editor for the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada; Secretary, Newsletter Editor, past Treasurer for Westwind Sporting Dog Club, Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Membership Chairperson for the Alberta Kennel Club and Secretary for Calgary Associated Dog Fanciers, Field training director for Westwind Sporting Dog Club an instructor for Open and Utility Obedience, Puppy classes and handling classes for the same club.
Ch. Windanna's Midas Gold, CDX, WC
Best of Opposite Sex at the Canadian National Specialty in 1987
Judy has also been show secretary and chief ring steward for various breed specialties, Obedience chairperson for the Alberta Kennel Club and Show Chairperson for the majority of the Westwind Sporting Dog Club Group One Specialties, Secretary for the Evelyn Kenny Kennel & Obedience Club and Alberta Director for the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada; Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Specialty Chairperson and Show Secretary for Westwind Sporting dog Club, Secretary-Treasurer for the Southern Alberta Judges Study Group, Treasurer for the Canadian Dog Judges' Association. Judy is past Secretary-Treasurer and Newsletter Editor for the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada; and past Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Membership Chair for the Alberta Kennel Club. She has contributed on many occasions to the International Labrador Newsletter (England). She collected and contributed the Canadian portion of "The Official Book of the Labrador Retriever". Judy chaired the committee which produced the Illustrated Standard for the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada. Charlie was Chairman of the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada, is at the moment President of Westwind Sporting Dog Club. He is past president of the Alberta Kennel Club, past treasurer for the Evelyn Kenny Kennel & Obedience Club.
Charlie going for a walk with Yarrow pulling the sled!
Charlie has also been both Show and Obedience Chairman for the Alberta Kennel Club. Both Charlie and Judy instruct obedience and handling classes for Westwind Sporting Dog Club. Charlie and Judy were NAHRA (North American Hunting Retriever Association) judges and were instrumental in getting the NAHRA program active in Alberta. They volunteer to ring steward regularly at all the local shows. In 2000 Charlie and Judy orchestrated the first Sporting Dog Weekend in Alberta covering all aspects of the Sporting Dog.. In 2004 Judy chaired the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada National Specialty which was held just out of Calgary, Alberta.
Charlie and Judy are retired and as they have been involved in all phases of the "Fancy" now are enjoying the other side, which is judging. Both Charlie and Judy are Canadian Kennel Club All Breed Judges and are approved to judge in the United States. Judy was honoured to be asked to judge the first regional Labrador specialty in British Columbia, where they had an entry of 129, their largest to date. She also judged the Labrador Breeders of Ontario Specialty in June of 2000. They have judged in Australia (3 times), New Zealand, Hong Kong and in Venezuela. They have attended many breed seminars including the American Kennel Club Judges Institute, a week long conference in Burbank, California and one of the first Canadian Kennel Club Judges Seminars in Vancouver, BC. They feel judging is an on-going learning process.
Both are charter members of the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada, members of the Labrador Owners' Club, Canadian Kennel Club, Canadian Dog Judges Association, Southern Alberta Canine Judges Association, Alberta Kennel Club, Westwind Sporting Dog Club, Evelyn Kenny Kennel and Obedience Club and Calgary Associated Dog Fanciers.
They are very proud of their Canadian Kennel Club Top Labrador Retriever Breeder Award which they received in 1991. The Hunts are very gratified on winning the prestigious Labrador Owners' Club Neville Trophy for top all around dog three times; in 1988 with Ch. Windanna's Burgundy Bertie, CDX, WCI, ( Ch.Windanna's Midas Gold, CDX, WC x Ch. Windanna's Scintillating Sarah) in 1993 with Ch. Windanna's Pippin O'Bucklebury, CD, WC, (Windanna's Inachos x Ch. Windanna's Molly Melody) at the age of ten months. In 1995, Ch. Windanna's Prairie Blizzard, CDX, WC, (Ch. Windanna's National Dream x Ch. Windanna's Scarlet Paintbrush) "Marlowe" won the Neville Trophy, completing all titles in three months. Marlowe is Molly's grandson and nephew to MHR, WR, O.T.Ch. Windanna's Wild Hollyhock, WCX (Am. Ch. Sailin' Cajun's Casanova, CD, WC x Windanna's Pallas Athena, CD) "Holly". Holly, handled by her owner Sharon van der Lee qualified at the NAHRA Invitational, open only to Master Hunters. From an entry of 97, 55 qualified, Holly was one of only two conformation breeding entered.
Ch. Windanna's Burgundy Bertie, CDX, WCI
Charlie and Judy do very limited breeding and showing now as they feel it conflicts with judging, although they occasionally show a puppy or young dog to its championship. Both have enjoyed their past "fancy" activities and look forward with enthusiasm to the future and judging.
