I contacted nearly a dozen breeders (only three or four of Spinone Italiano) prior to bringing home one of Maria’s puppies on July 31st, 2021. Aside from Maria, none of them were as scrutinizing of me as I’d hoped; Maria was the only person who wanted to get to know me and the home to which her puppy would be going. Her level of care reassured me she would pair me with the right dog — this was very important to me as I lived alone in a Manhattan studio apartment until very recently — and would be available if I ever had concerns or questions.

All of Maria’s dogs are enviable. They are calm, sweet, sensitive, and noticeably healthy/sturdy. In turn my puppy Ernestine, daughter of India-Jane & Henry, is much the same. No health problems whatsoever, has never once soiled her large crate, and is a sound sleeper. As far as puppies go, Ernestine has been incredibly easy. That said, do not underestimate the value of a breeder who teaches ‘No’ in the first 8 weeks. It’s saved us both tremendous frustration.

I waited 18 months for one of Maria’s puppies and would encourage anyone who might find themselves waiting longer than they’d hoped to hold out anyway. The knowledge Maria has to offer, her dogs’ temperaments, and the health of her litters are worth any wait.

We cannot overstate how thoroughly wonderful our experience has been with Maria and how extraordinary our sweet Harry is. He is from her August 2021 litter - progeny of Master Henry Padfoot and the dear Millicent Bumble. Maria perfectly matched his temperament to the needs of our family.

When you get a puppy from Maria, you are not purchasing a puppy - you are being invited into a family. There is nothing transactional about the experience. She shares with you her extensive knowledge of the breed, puppy raising and - informational that has been indispensable to a family that has always had dogs. All of the information Maria provides is so valuable and is shared with her unique and glorious sense of humor. She truly takes you along on a journey - she shares so many photos, hilarious emails, recommendations from food to beds to a foolproof way to actually get a puppy to sleep through the night and invitations to puppy parties where you have an opportunity to be welcomed into her extended hairy family.

Once you have a Spinone as part of your family, you will forever need a Spinone as part of your family. And once you have one of Maria’s Spinone, you will never look to another breeder.

We have had three Spinone, our oldest is 11 years old & our 3-month-old puppy is the third Spinone from Pook’s Rise. Maria is a very conscientious breeder who works with the new puppy buyer in all aspects of owning, training & caring for her pups. Maria raises the puppies in her home & treats them like family.
There will be a couple of “Puppy Parties” where the new owners meet their puppies at Maria’s, so the pups are socialized & introduced to new people & situations. The parties are also where you meet other Spinone owners, both new & experienced. There are many Spinoni there since most people realize that Spinoni are like M&M’s, you can’t have just one, and they bring their other dog(s) to the party. Amazing to see 20 or so dogs, most off leash and all happily playing with each other.
Maria sends an incredible amount of info on taking care of and raising your new puppy to be healthy & happy. She is always there to answer questions & to help the new owner with caring for & training their new puppy. It goes without saying that the technical parts, testing, vet visits, shots, etc. are very well taken care of. The record keeping on each puppy is excellent.
If this will be your first Spinone, you are in for a real treat. The Spinone is a remarkable dog. They have great personalities, are very intelligent, and even have a sense of humor. Ours have been very easy to train and want to be with you. They are family dogs who work to please their humans. We don’t hunt but you can tell they have the instinct, as they are very aware of their surroundings while outside. We also have a cat who loves his Spinoni. You will not be disappointed with a Pook’s Rise pup.
Ken & Sandy Priestley

We am delighted to recommend Pook’s Rise Spinones! We have got two dogs from Maria, one is now 10 and one is still a pup. We couldn’t be more delighted! Our 10 year old is intelligent, biddable, and incredibly gentle to both people and other animals. The puppy is learning fast also. We do not hunt, but from the length of time they spend each morning in the yard with their noses to the ground, it is obvious they know exactly what and where everything has set foot on the property during the night. In the woods they are hard working and stoic. Maria Holt is an exceptional breeder! She raises the pups in her home as part of her family. She provides information, updates, and support at every turn. It is obvious she cares deeply for each of her brood. I can’t recommend this breeder enough!

My partner and I welcomed our first Spinone from Maria at Pook's Rise in April of 2021. Our dear Porter - gentle, loving, and goofy - quickly became the cornerstone of our household. We not only gained a wonderful pup, but a very dear friend out of Maria. The knowledge she garners regarding the Spinoni breed, and the time she takes to educate all those that get a puppy from her is truly remarkable. The Spinoni breed is one of somewhat rarity here in the states, and with that, comes limited knowledge when compared to other breeds. Maria is the source of truth when it comes to setting her families up for success to have a deep understanding of this beautiful breed. The relationship she develops with the individuals and families that are lucky to receive a puppy from her is true and organic, not at all transactional. Fast forward 8 months, and we welcomed our second puppy, Finn, from Maria. It's not at all a coincidence that both of our dogs have even temperament, are easy to train, are loving and kind, and have the goofiness that the breed is known and admired for. It's a true testament to Maria's care that she provides her adult dogs and their puppies. I hope you and your family are lucky enough to experience the love and joy that it is to receive a puppy from Pook's Rise Spinoni.

I am fortunate enough to live with 2 of Maria’s Spinone dogs. My first, Riley is now 10 and I have just recently added a new puppy, Jax. These boys are such a delight. Sweet, smart and so friendly! I couldn’t recommend more highly Maria and her dogs. Maria has provided support and so much great information about our babies. She is so knowledgeable about the breed and especially her dogs.

We got out first Spinone puppy, Arlo, from Maria back in March and he is now 9 months old. We could not have imagined a better dog. Arlo is smart, sweet, loving, comical and loyal. He is absolutely perfect! Whenever we have him out for walks people always take time to ask about him, where we got him, and tell us how beautiful he is. People often even stop in their cars to compliment him! Maria was incredible to work with. She sent us lots of updates, before and after the puppies were born, and it was clear to us that she is incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated to the breed. She also has a great sense of humour which she seems to pass along to her puppies. We cannot thank Maria enough for providing us with such a perfect family member.

Maria Holt has extraordinary dogs. We have had 2 other Spinoni from 2 other breeders many years ago and before them we had Hungarian sheepdogs and Bearded Collies. Maria is by far the best breeder we have encountered. informed Once you have a Spinone there is no going back and once you have a Pook’s Rise pup you will go no where else. Maria is passionate about her dogs and cares for them accordingly. We have never met a breeder who is more thoughtful, informative and enthusiastic about her dogs.
These are highly intelligent, biddable, loving, creatures with a humorous stubborn streak. They are also tireless workers if you are in the field. Ours is definitely a family dog but still tries to impressive us with her “pointing “ skills.
Maria is thoroughly engaged with her pups and their prospective owners. She helps you every step of the way if needed and knows more about these dogs than most vets ever will. Listen to her.
I give Maria Holt a 5 on every count.
And I give her dogs the same.
A very

I came upon Gun Dog Breeders not knowing much about where to find our first Spinone Italiano. Pooks Rise Spinone caught my attention immediately. We had not had a puppy in 25 years. My first conversation with Maria was lengthy. She was willing to share her thoughts and experience without hesitation. She made us feel very comfortable and more confident in our decision. We are now the proud and enthusiastic owners of a health, well-built, handsome guy, the offspring of Lou Lou and Henry. Our pup is now almost 8 months old and is loved by all! Maria is great. One hundred percent dedicated and passionate about raising and placing her pups. Always available and willing to impart her knowledge and recommendations. The tips she provided well in advance covered more than we would have thought to consider. Direction on food, sleeping, training, socialization, traveling and so much more, made for a smooth transition and much preparedness. I would not hesitate recommending Maria. She is simply the best!

We have nothing but praise for Maria Holt and her hairy Italian housemates. Her informative emails arrive periodically in advance of whelping and prepare you for your new puppy, and then continue as the pups come home. She cuts through all of the internet puppy-industrial complex noise and gives you information that is both factually accurate and actually works with Spinoni - including her incredible puppy-that-sleeps-through-the-night technique (which worked on our pup's 2nd night).
Friends and colleagues (and our Vet) with pups of other breeds from other breeders consistently have been impressed with everything Maria sent that we've shared with them.
Of course all of this is a bonus to our healthy, well-mannered puppy who has impressed in early obedience and NAVHDA Natural Ability training. "That's his first time tracking a pheasant? Wow." Or, "He's only 10 months old? He's so well-behaved! Wow!"
Wow indeed.
We're delighted to recommend Maria as a breeder if you're looking for a slightly drool-y walking mop muppet luck dragon who will gladly sniff out a bird for you while giving you skeptical side-eye with whom to share your life and home. We were, and we couldn't be happier.

Our first visit with Maria and her "hairy Italians" was on a summer day, and our 7 hour round trip car ride was well worth it. She and they are fantastic! They are all very sweet, and we now have an India Jane /Henry pup...and we loved Lou-Lou too... she could sell ice to eskimos! Maria has a vast knowledge of the breed and is always helpful, and also has the best sense of humor. Mabel is super smart and couldn't be more loved by us.

Maria started communication to prepare us prior to the whelping of our pup. She wanted to share her knowledge as her concern for her babies goes far beyond the 8 weeks. I have reached out to her on several occasions and have always received a response. Her knowledge of the breed has been spot on and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a puppy. She has a witty personality and her emails are informative and entertaining. It’s evident she wants all her owners to succeed and enjoy the breed as much as she does.

Maria is incredibly knowledgeable, providing tons of information about the breed and raising puppies in general. An excellent communicator, Maria is always a phone call or quick email away. We visited the Pook's Rise homestead twice; once during a reunion gathering with many of her happy clients and again to pick up our pup. It is evident that the dogs are loved, well cared for, and expertly raised. Maria's dogs are her top priority, even after they have gone to their forever homes. Our Willa was born in June and is a calm, gentle, loving dog. She is sweet with our young daughter and absolutely loves meeting new people and playing with other dogs. We've had several people who grew up in Italy exclaim, "A Spinone! I haven't seen one in ages!"

My family is the lucky recipient of an affectionate, smart, and beautiful Pook's Rise Spinone pup, Juno, who was born in the spring of 2019. When I first called Maria to inquire about her breeding program, she spent nearly an hour on the phone with me discussing the characteristics of the Spinone breed, my own family's previous experience with dogs, and what we might expect if we were to bring home a Spinone. Maria's knowledge, sense of humor, and obvious passion for her dogs won me over instantly: I knew we had found our breeder! What I didn't realize was just how much we were getting when we decided to work with Maria. From weekly emails full of useful information about what to expect when you are expecting a Spinone, to puppy parties and on-call advice and help, Maria is more than you might ever hope to find in a typical breeder. I understand why so many of her pup owners return to her when they're ready to add another Spinone to their family. As far as Maria's puppies go, they are just wonderful. Juno is now a seven-month old who has stolen the hearts of everybody in the family and the neighborhood, especially our previously dog-shy eight-year-old twins. She's a healthy, happy, and rambunctious extrovert who loves socializing with every dog and human that she meets, and this despite the fact that she was one of the smallest and most timid puppies in her litter of eight. She's got boundless energy outdoors but is also happy to sleep and laze about inside. She's everything we had hoped for when we decided to acquire a Spinone, and we have Maria and her excellent breeding program to thank.

We had never owned a dog before getting our Spinone pup from Maria. She was so helpful, from recommending puppy parenting books to emailing us step-by-step guides to raising our Spinone. I cannot recommend Maria and her dogs enough. Her love for the breed and for the puppies she sells is clear. She's always available to give advice and hosts visits when we're out in the Berkshires. Having a true expert to lean on when raising your first puppy is priceless.

Not only that but since getting our puppy, we've met a few other Spinoni in our area. Our puppy from Maria is much stronger and looks healthier than many others we've come across from other breeders.

Stop your research. This is the best spinone breeder you can find! Maria has the most beautiful Spinoni you can find. She is attentive and helpful; always available to offer great dog owner and spinone advice. She’s protective of the puppies and thoughtful in how she places them. An important sign: Maria’s dogs live in her Berkshire home which makes them both well trained, loving and socialized: a key value of hers.
Because Maria has had many litters over the years (she has several champion lineage parents) her operation is run efficiently, effectively and with great care. Oh and while not a requirement in breeders, Maria is a fantastic cook and hostess with wit. A huge bonus.

I've always had Labrador retrievers. I still duck hunt, but not like before, so we began looking at the Versatile hunting breeds. The more we learned about Spinoni, the more they seemed perfectly suited to our style. We met breeder Maria Holt in July 2017. Very attentive, cares a great deal about her dogs and with whom they are placed. They all live in-house with her and are well cared for; she truly dotes over them.

We picked up our Annie in September 2017 and she is everything we could have hoped for in a versatile gun dog! Spinoni are known for their intelligence, and Annie exhibited a desire to learn right away. Very birdy, she showed an immediate interest in wings and willingly, albeit awkwardly, dragged/carried a duck at about 4 months. Annie has the right amount of confidence one needs in a hunting dog, while remaining extremely biddable, and is capable of figuring situations out on her own when needed.

At 14 months, Annie aced her North American Versatile Hunting Dog (NAVHDA) "Natural Ability" test, earning a perfect score "Prize 1," the highest level attainable. To make us even more proud, the judges were still talking about her when I arrived to volunteer the following day. We could not be more pleased with maria and her wonderful Spinoni!

We picked up our pup in September of 2017 and he has been a welcome member to our family. Maria is in a League of her own in the breeding of Spinones and you will be amazed on how much information she will provide to you. She also sent us many amusing pictures chronologizing each of the puppies. All of this makes the introduction of the pup to your home that much easier. She is always available for questions down the road and after a year and a half we still share stories and pictures of our pup Gunner. He is a head turner where ever we take him. Every challenge we’ve given him he comes out shining including off leash walking, agility training, and the minding of our invisible fence. Of course, he loves to have fun but mostly running in the woods and playing with other dogs.

Maria is amazing. She has given us the gift of our Bodhi - the most beautiful, gentle and kindhearted Spinone. Maria has nothing but love to give for her dogs from the day they are born until well after they have left to be with their respective designated humans. She steadyhandedly provides for them until they can leave the nest (and keeps future owners diligently in touch with that experience), provides counseling and coaching during the pre-adoption and the early puppy stage and is always there for her babies even after they have left her care. Maria has remained one of our Bodhi’s favorite humans and he loves nothing more than reuniting with his original mum and his extended Spinone family.

This was our first experience with a Spinone. We have a puppy from Coco and Henry's Spring 2017 litter who has been a great addition to the family. Working with Maria was a pleasure. She made the entire process smooth and seamless. We particularly like the fact that her puppies are raised in her home. Maria is a very knowledgable breeder and eager to share her knowledge, experience, advice, pictures, etc with new owners. We would highly recommend Pook's Rise Spinoni.

Both my wife and I can heartily recommend getting your next puppy from Maria Holt. We were heart-broken and devastated after we lost one of our dogs. We would have traveled anywhere to get the perfect dog. Upon meeting Maria, we knew we wanted our next puppy from her. You can see that she pours her heart, love, experience, insights, and instincts into developing an extraordinary line of beautiful Spinoni. // Being an avid outdoorsman, I wanted a joyful and lively dog who could backpack, hike the high peaks of the Adirondacks, and fish with me. My wife is an artist and preferred a dog with a calm, sweet, loving disposition who would be at ease resting peacefully in her art studio as she worked. And of course, both of us wanted a Spinone who would get along with our 7 year-old cat and our other 4 year-old Spinone. Maria met all our expectations and then some. She was a marvel and pure joy to communicate with. After the litter of puppies was born, Maria sent us regular updates and photos so we could see what was taking place. She also sent us helpful information on how to raise a healthy and well-adjusted puppy after we brought him home. And get this: two weeks before we officially "adopted" our puppy, she even had a puppy party so we could meet our new addition. Best and most important of all, Maria provided us with a puppy who is special and has a wonderful wow factor. Simply put, our experience with Maria and Pook's Rise Spinoni has been absolutely positive and magnificent!

We had always had mixed breed dogs, but after one of our beloved mutts died we decided that we would like to have a puppy, and because we had a young baby, we wanted to have some sense of the personality we would be inviting to join our family. Neither my husband or I are hunters, but during research of other breeds were encouraged consider a Spinoni, as a gentle, trainable family dog (and so cute!). I contacted Maria and felt like we were being welcomed into a family> she was very forthcoming about the breed, and talked about her dogs with love and respect. It was clear that she was interested in making sure that her pups went to a good home as we were interested in working with a good breeder. Maria shared knowledge as the puppies were still with her, and also photos and stories so we felt like we knew our little fellow even before he came home. He has been a wonderful addition to our family, and Maria has encouraged a community among the families who got from the same litter to share photos and advice. Would highly recommend a Spinoni, and would very highly recommend one of Maria's beautiful Spinonis.

After 30 plus years of giant schnauzers we made the switch to Pook's Rise Spinoni . We did the research, liked what we read and made the move. Whatever Maria said about her puppies were spot on. Lovable, friendly(especially with kids),smart and loyal and great to have around. A very laid back dog. Just what we wanted.
If you are interested in a Spinoni, I have no hesitation in recommending her dogs to you.
You could not ask for a better breeder than Maria.
She will guide you through all aspects of having a spinoni.

Our search for the perfect puppy took us here, where we found the perfect breeder. Maria's love for her dogs shows through and if it's not contagious you couldn't prove it by us. Our happy girl Gabriella is lovely, loving and lots of laughs. She is a great farm dog, maybe even approaching perfect.

Maria's love of the Spinoni definitely shows. At the time I was looking into the Spinone breed one of her pups became available and we now have a beautiful Spinone Italiano. I cant say enough about what a wonderful breeder Maria is. Her Spinoni are beautiful. She is so informative, stays in contact with you and offers much advice about her pups. We love our Sofia so much. She is the happiest dog we have ever had!!

I cannot say enough about Maria and her beautiful Spinone pups! Maria is devoted to her dogs and is an exceptional breeder. She will give you so much info on the breed and helpful hints on raising your pup. She wants to know you as a person and to make sure that her puppies will be loved and cared for. She knows her puppies and places them on personality and to make a good match for everyone. We have a 10 month old puppy from Maria. Stella is gorgeous and has a wonderful personality. She has such a sweet temperament and loves people of all ages and has completed our family!

Maria Holt is an exceptional breeder. Maria picked the puppy that was the most suitable for our family with 5 children. Violet loves being around the kids. From the weekly pics of Violet's first 8 weeks to the puppy parties. I can't say enough. Violet has weekly play dates with her half sister and uncle who also have exceptional personalities. I would recommend Maria to anyone looking for a spinoni.

We picked up our wonderful puppy this March from Maria. I can not say enough about what a positive experience it was dealing with a breeder like Maria Holt. She was so full of useful information and helpful tips throughout the entire process, as well as completely willing to give advice after we picked Lola up. She is also has a fantastic sense of humor!! We have an 11 year old Spinone and are familiar with the breed, but a lot of years have passed since we had a puppy, I am not sure we would have had such an easy transition without all of the great conversations with Maria. I would not go anywhere else for a spinone!

This is our first Spinone and Maria Holt was the best. She is a person who brings you in as part of her family, getting a puppy from her was nothing like we have experienced. We have owned dogs before, but never had a "puppy party" before. But I will tell you Maria has the best. You get to meet the puppies for the first time as well as potential puppy parents what a great idea. She is so knowledgeable of the breed, Everything she does she does for her dogs that she owns and all of her pups. She is great with emails before, during and after the puppy process. From the time they are born until you pick up your puppy and after Maria is there for you.No question is to big or small. She encourages puppy parents to keep in touch ,she loves getting updates and pictures of her pups.She is the most dedicated breeder I have come across. Would absolutely recommend Maria Holts spinone's

Maria is a person who brings you in as part of her family. Getting a puppy from Maria is a rewarding experience. We have owned dogs before, but never the way Maria does it. She has a "puppy party" which I have never been to one before, but I will tell you it was the best. You get one on one time with Maria and potential puppy parents as well as interacting with the the puppies.She is the most compasionate person about her dogs that she owns and all of her puppies. She is there for you the puppy parents from the time they are born until they leave and after.She encourages parents to keep her up to date with emails and loves getting pics of her puppies. She also will send some really funny emails to you ,they are great. Highly recommend Maria Holt's Italian Spinone as your breeder.

Maria Holt is a one of a kind breeder. Her love of the breed and her pups is unshakeable. The pups are raised in her home from whelping and are well socialized when picked up. Her guidance through the process is great and a huge help. Her willingness help only begins when you leave with your new puppy. If you should have any issues with your dog she is a great resource and if she doesn't have an answer for you she will find one. I would recommend Pook's Rise to anyone looking for a Spinoni pup. They are smart, well socialized, and beautiful dogs.

Maria is a wonderful and caring breeder. This was our first experience with a pure bred and first puppy, and from the very first phone call, it was clear the deep respect and affection Maria has for her dogs and their puppies. Our puppy gets many compliments on her calm demeanor with strangers and other dogs. Maria keeps you well informed (and entertained!) with email updates along the way, making the transition very easy.

The entire process and time of working with Maria could not have gone better or easier. She is a fountain of knowledge and helpful ideas and guidance. My puppy has been wonderful and is the star of wherever she goes. If you are considering a Spinone, Maria is the breeder to work with!

To say that Maria is the most outstanding breeder ever would be an understatement. The care and love that she gives her puppies is truly amazing to observe. The education and guidance that she provides the new owners along the way is above and beyond anything that we'd ever experienced (and we thought that we knew all about raising a puppy).
The second day we had our Luca, we took him out to begin socializing him. He ended up meeting many people of varying ages and each and every person commented on how calm he was and of course how handsome!
And last but not least her emails are Hysterical!

My wife and I lost our first Spinone in January 2015 and six months later found our way to Maria and her litter of pups. As a veterinarian I have dealt with many breeders over the past 45 years. I have found Maria and her dogs to be exceptional. Her own dogs are well socialized, well behaved, and live in her house. She is very committed to socializing and medically caring for her puppies properly before they leave for their new home. Through emails and phone calls she has been very supportive and helpful to every person that has purchased a pup from her. She cares very much about where every pup is going and vets out her potential puppy owners to be sure they are a good fit for a Spinone. Maria provides all her puppy owners practical and useful information to help them get the right start while not being pushy or judgmental. Her love for all her dogs and puppies and well as the breed is obvious. I would recommend her highly to anyone looking for a Spinone.

What a wonderful experience and puppy from a truly wonderful person! Maria treats theses pups as her own and is a wealth of knowledge and information. Mum Holt is like your puppies grandmother.

This is my second Spinoni from Maria Holt. My first is Cosmo, now 4 years old and the most gentle giant in the whole world. Wanting a second Spinoni for companionship for Cosmo I did not even hesitate or look for another breeder, Maria is the most compassionate caring person for her dogs in the whole world. She pampers mom from the very beginning and pampers all the little ones from the day they are born to the day they leave for their new homes. My little Scarlett is the sweetest little girl, fiesty and torments Cosmo to no end but he is very gentle but firm with her when she needs it, no biting private parts allowed! Maria is always giving suggestion and will help you with any questions that you have no matter how old your dog is, and she loves to be constantly updated on the growth of the pups. As she always state they may be our new dogs but they are always her little babies. I highly recommend anyone who is interested in a Spinoni, she will answer any questions regarding the breed so that you can make an informed decision if a Spinoni is right for you, and if you are right for one of her Spinonies.

I am a previous Spinone owner(Luigi passed May 2015). I happened to just be looking around for a breeder and came across Maria Holt and her Pooks Rise Spinoni. My sister lives in Massachusetts(I am in the south)so I thought that I would give her a call. Maria is a one of a kind breeder and I bonded with her love of the spinoni. Her thoughtfulness to me in my loss and the excitement of a future pup of hers certainly helped me in my grief. She is a thorough, careful and loving breeder. It is obvious in her continued contact throughout the process with prospective owners. My vet has paid several compliments to the breeder and the quality of my pup (Romeo). My experience with her has been so positive and fun that I am on the list for another puppy spring 2016. The mere fact that I am pursuing another puppy from a future litter should tell you that Maria Holt and her standards are top quality.

Mum Holt has made the experience of gaining a new family member amazing! Her dedication to finding the perfect home and caring for her puppies is to be commended. If only all breeders showed such integrity. Frequent updates and photos of the puppies as they matured made bonding upon receiving them a truly wonderful experience. Thank you Maria!

10 weeks and 25 pounds later, Nico is becoming a joy in my life. If I wanted a puppy this fall, I had only a few days from the time I began reading about the breed until the time came to make a decision. Maria was more than understanding of my situation, having lost my 15 year old best girl several months earlier.
Maria truly understands the breed and gave Nico an excellent start in life (even having to breathe life into his tiny body at birth). She shares her experience in terms of pet gear and feeding which made the transition for Nico practically seamless. Although some problems at my office, Nico has a solid start on his training from Maria (and I am sure his mom, dad, and assorted uncles and friends did not stand for much misbehavior).
Maria obviously loves each and every one of her adult dogs and shares an enormous amount of that love with her puppies. My fifth puppy and by far the easiest to train. We do a lot of hiking and his natural tracking ability a joy to behold as he learns to respond to those strong natural instincts.

Maria Holt of Pook's Rise Spinonis is obviously extremely dedicated to her Spinoni breed and her dogs. She took great care in providing information, health updates and photos of the tiny litter mates as they grew. As well as suggestions on making the transition from whelping box to our home a smooth one and also training advice.

Our pup, at 12 weeks is adjusting very nicely and is an absolute joy ! I would highly recommend Maria !

Maria Holt is quite simply the best of the best. My wife and I have dealt with a variety of dog breeders and I can honestly say I have never run into someone who handles everything so professionally, and yet is clearly in business from a purely personal perspective. Maria's puppies are part of her family from day 1. They are nurtured and cared for to the point that you can be certain when you get your puppy that you will know everything you need to know about it, and that it will have been raised exactly as any loving owner would expect. Maria works with all her clients to ensure she understands what they are looking for in a dog, and that their puppy is a match for the family. Our Sadie is exactly what we wanted, and has been the most fantastic addition to the family. Maria is also wonderful at providing advice to new owners, and tips to anyone who needs help. I can honestly say we would most definitely recommend that anyone who is interested in a Spinnone should start with Pook's Rise.

Maria is knowledgeable, caring, and provides great guidance at each step of the way - all of it with a great sense of humor. This is our second Spinone, but our first from Maria. Her level of communication was wonderful from the first phone call through puppy delivery. It's a long process, but well worth the wait. Our pup from her June 2015 litter is amazing - the star of our obedience classes! I didn't think it was possible to find a better Spinone than our first, but this guy is on his way to being a great companion dog!

From wanting a dog to finally getting one is a fairly long road. And it better be. It does take time to prepare yourselves to welcome the new member of the family. And we were very lucky to find Maria to prep our family for such wonderful event. First, she made sure we were serious and committed about wanting a dog, and mostly she made sure we would be ready to welcome one of her puppies. Second, she made sure that one of her puppies would be the right fit for our family. We were very fortunate to receive her "green light.” Today, we are the proud “parents’ of Dante, a wonderful Spinone from Serafina’s and Toby’s 2013 litter. That little bundle stole our hearts from the first moment we saw him and his brother and sisters 4 weeks from birth. And from that moment we could not wait to welcome Dante into our home. Now, in a few days Dante will be 1 year old. The past year has been magnificent, and we owe much to the precious guidance from Maria. You must remember that one of her puppies might become your dog, but they will ALWAYS be her puppies. Through Maria , we share stories and experiences with fellow owners of Spinone offspring from her litters. We exchange emails with observations or questions. We relay stories of goofy behaviors or antics, complete with photos and sometimes a video. You become part of her expanded family. What a priviledge. We could not thank her enough for her guidance, and for how serious she is about the well-being of her puppies, and the purity of the breed. And all of this with an unique wit. Thank you Maria!!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the experience of acquiring a gorgeous and delightful female spinoni from Pook's Rise. Before, during and after obtaining my puppy, Maria Holt was both informative and accessible to answer all my questions. She allowed me to visit her to get to know more about the breed, and her dogs before I made my final decision to enter the wonderful world of spinonis. Maria takes incredible care of her adult dogs, as well as her puppies. They are raised under clean and loving conditions. It all pays off. My puppy is a bright, healthy and happy girl. She is terrific with people of all ages, there have been no surprises. I am planning on training her to work alongside me as an assistant in my mental health practice. Maria and the families who obtain her dogs continue to be a network of shared fun and information. I can't imagine a better experience.

We are the proud adopted parents of Juno, from Pook's Rise 2012 litter between Serafina and Toby. We also have another Spinone who is 7 years old. Juno displays wonderful characteristics of the breed. Her composition is only bested by her disposition. She is beautifully sweet and affectionate with our children, who are ages 21 months and 3 years, and has never been timid with other dogs. I highly recommend Pook's Rise Spinone. Maria is as knowledgable as any Spinone advocate I have encountered and she breeds exclusively to produce outstanding examples of the breed. If you are fortunate enough to make Maria's list, you will be in for many joyful years of Spinone companionship.

Donna and I first became interested in Spinoni Italiano about three years ago. We had an aging Old English Sheepdog at the time, and were thinking of bringing a new puppy into the family. I was interested in a dog with the personality and demeanor of the OES; with a hairy face and expressive eyes, like the OES; but with less maintenance required and good health ratings.

After much research into many different breeds, the Spinoni kept coming up at the top of our list. The next task was to locate a breeder within a reasonable distance from where we live in the greater NYC area. We found that there are just a few breeders nationwide, but were pleasantly surprised to find that Maria lives just down the street from Donna’s best friend, Jill in Massachusetts. So on a subsequent visit to Jill’s house, we called Maria and went over to her house to meet her and her brood of adult Spinoni.

Maria was very hospitable, friendly, outgoing and kind to our band of marauding strangers. She told us all about the breed in general, and in depth information on the members of her pack, Sire Toby, Dame Serafina, and companion Gus. The dogs were everything we had hoped they would be, and more. They were friendly, playful, affectionate, and intelligent. And not too excitable, which is a huge bonus. They are very relaxed and laidback. Maria went into great detail about the health of her dogs, and the screening process for congenital diseases and conditions. She goes to great lengths to insure that her bloodline stays true and disease-free.

That sealed the deal for us. We were completely sold on a Spinone from Maria as the next member of our family. But timing is everything, and our timing just wasn’t right. We missed that year’s batch of puppies by a few months. Maria breeds just one litter a year, and she explained that the puppies should be socialized with people and other dogs while they are still young, and the best way to insure that they get that socialization is to plan the breeding for an early Spring birthing so that the puppies will be ready to go to their new homes in late Spring/early Summer when the weather is more conducive for getting the puppies out of the house to go meet and greet other dogs and people.

Our timing was off the following year, as we would not be back from an extended trip in time to take delivery of a puppy. But, finally, this last Spring, everything fell into place and we got on the list for one of Maria’s puppies. That puppy, Isabella, is now six months old, and the light of our lives. The reason she is such a joy is partly due to the general disposition of the breed, but mostly by how she was raised by Maria from birth to eight weeks-old. Unlike some other breeders that whelp and raise their puppies in outdoor kennels with a minimum of human contact, Maria’s puppies are born and raised in her home with constant human attention, caring, and love. I think that makes all the difference in the world.

Chuck Park
Cortlandt Manor, NY

After raising and breeding Brittany’s for many years as companions and hunting dogs we decided we wanted to research a different breed with hunting abilities and as my husband would say, I wanted a big fluffy dog. With research and many months of looking we found Pook's Rise Spinoni and Maria. From this point on Maria was extremely knowledgeable about the breed as well as personable and just a lovely individual. We set up a visit when her female Spinoni, (Serafina) was pregnant. As we approached her home and up the drive way four Spinoni’s greeted us at our car. That was it; these dogs are just magnificent in every way. Well, it is hard to believe in a little over a week Maizy will be a year old. Time has gone by fast and everyday has been a joy with Maizy. She is a kind and loving soul, wants to please and a joy to have around whether she is lying by your feet or playing catch outside. She was great most the time in obedience’s school other then she would decide when she just wanted to lay down and still get the treat. As a puppy Jim spent time everyday working with Maizy playing fetch, teaching her to come, going for long walks and introducing her to the field to bring out the hunting instincts. At every stage Maizy wanted to please and when hunting season came that was no exception. At seven months she proved to be a natural hunter in the field, both pointing birds and retrieving. She will only improve with time, and Jim can’t wait until the season begins again, and I am sure Maizy feels the same.

We purchased Roman from Maria's 2012 litter and he is absolutely the love of our household. He is a very affectionate, intelligent dog who would if possible, rather lay on you than next to you. He infatuates almost everyone that comes in contact with him either through his almost regal looks or the comical things that he seems to do. He is developing already into a very athletic hunting dog locking up on either Chucker or Pheasant and would even honor the other two Shorthairs points at probably 6 months. I have been a duck hunter with Labs for some 35 years so Roman and others are teaching me alot about upland bird hunting but he will alredy heal unleashed as we jump ducks off the creek and amuse everyone with his ability to walk in the creek with his head below the water searching for whatever. He is an absolute joy to have in our lives so whatever you have been doing with these dogs Maria, just keep doing it.

We have an excellent male from Maria's newest litter. She provided an ideal experience. We met the parents prior to the breeding and got a real chance to see what we were in for. Toby and Serafina are very strong examples of the standard with distinctly enjoyable personalities we absolutely loved. The puppies held true to form when whelped and Maria really went the extra mile to raise them with excellent socialization and fine veterinary care. The puppy we bought home is beautiful and healthy. He enjoys a little pseudo-birding around the property, but mostly likes romping with us in the yard and brisk hikes over and through the rolling hills of the surrounding area that have easy access to grassy meadows. Indoors, he's playful for a while, then loves settling in for a nap. He's really a wonderful companion. We highly recommend Maria and her spinonis if you are looking for truly home-raised puppies with great pedigrees and wonderful temperaments.

Ms. Holt is a very knowledgeable and caring breeder of Spinonis. She has continued to be an excellent resource to us long after having picked up our puppy. Her puppies come from great breeding lines and are healthy both physically and emotionally. Great "Spins" from an exceptional breeder. I would highly recommend calling Pook's Rise first when looking for a Spinone!

After many years of research (reading about, meeting with Spinoni owners and their dogs, going to the Westminster Dog Show and talking with breeders there, etc.), we purchased a Spinone pup from Maria Holt 6 months ago, and he has lived up to all our expectations of the breed. Sweet-natured, smart, clownish, he loves our 14 yr. old son, (and would love to play with our 14 yr. old cat if the cat would allow it). He has low indoor energy, and he loves playing outside, he's goofy, and yes, he sorts and eats laundry too, and we love him!
Our experience with Maria has gone beyond our expectations. She truly cares about her pups, and about them having great homes too. She has been a valuable resource for us, answering any questions we've had and a few we hadn't thought of yet. Whether it's a reading suggestion or a place to stay nearby, she's been very helpful, and she's a lot of fun, too. She still stays in touch with Spinone updates or stories, and we look forward to hearing from her. We feel very fortunate to have found her, and highly recommend her and her pups.

Maria is always there for you; upon first contacting her about the spinone breed, thru the time the pups are born and in selecting the right pup for you. She is intensely interested in how your pup is doing. She is also tons of fun; it is quite an experience to go to her lovely home in the Berkshires and "meet the parents" and members of her spinone family. Our dog Nellie, is an absolute goof ball, she is sweet, silly, naughty but is a lot of fun to take to pup school and beyond for more advanced training. She learns quickly and doesnt have a mean bone in her body.

Our pup is the kindest, most gentle, laid-back doggy soul you would ever want to meet. He is wonderful with my children. He is very willing to please and truly wants to be your companion. Fantastic and classic Spinone temperament.

This is our first experience with a Spinone and we are in love. She is the most beautiful, gentle, happy, goofy dog you could wish for. She loves to run free in the woods where she is sure footed and courageous under all conditions. She loves everyone and everything (except squirrels!). She is great with children, loves to play, but knows how to be gentle. She even does laundry - well at least she sorts and eats it.
Maria Holt is an exceptional breeder. She has been more like family than someone who sold us a dog. She is always concerned and informed, with a great sense of humor that I'll swear our dog inherited. I could not recommend the breed or the breeder more highly.

Nellie is our second spinone and our experience with Maria Holt has been beyond comparison. We have a wonderful 75 lb female spinone that is truly part of the family. She is a delight to be with and is the perfect non-aggressive "puppy" as all the neighborhood kids will attest to. Maria has continued to inquire as to her well being and continues to show the caring she showed throughout the entire process of her matching the right puppy to the right family.

We have a dog from Maria's last litter. He is a beautiful, happy, healthy Spinone, who looks like his father Toby. Maria does a wonderful job of socializing the pups from the day they are born. She is a very caring breeder, spending a tremendous amount of time and effort caring for the puppies. Although I am not a hunter, Enzo shows great instincts in pointing & flushing the birds in our back yard. We also have another Spinone, who is a year older, from Toby and a different female. The Spinone Italiano is a wonderful breed, they have very sweet dispositions, and everyone who meets ours are very impressed, both by their looks and their personalities.

My Spinone puppy will be turning 1 on March 7, 2012 (last year's litter from Toby and Serafina) and he is such a delight. He's gorgeous, sweet and everyone who meets him falls immediately in love. My experience with his breeder, Maria Holt was terrific. She's very knowledgeable about the breed and raises all her dogs in a truly loving atmosphere. Maria was wonderfully generous with her time and I enjoyed many visits with the pups and their parents before I brought Reilly home.

Our puppy Watson is the most amazing "little" (90 lbs at 10 months) puppy I've ever been around. He is the kindest most gentle giant. He plays so sweetly with out 10 year old Wheaton and has NEVER been aggressive to anything or anyone (well except a dining room chair:) He is a perfect blend of his mom and dad and everyone who sees him says what a handsome boy he is...
Maria is an amazing breeder and once you meet her you can see why her puppies are so wonderful. My partner and I could not have more pleased with our puppy and will definitely refer anyone we meet who is in the market for a puppy to get Spinone from Maria!

Ms Holt is a very caring loving breeder of her Spinoni's. My puppy looks just like his sire but has his mother's eye color. He is sweet, calm, even tempered yet a bit stubborn. He is healthy and happy and gets along with all the other dogs and cats he has met and people he has met as well. Ms. Holt cares deeply about her pups and follows up with all the new dog owners.

Most wonderful dog ever with a very noble bearing- sire is Tobias from Pook's Rise - and my dog looks just like him.