Gun Dog Breeder Reviews for Calvert Kennels
Testimonials (18) | Back to Calvert Kennels
Submitted by: John Andrus on Jul 11, 2019
Superb bloodlines, purchased a female German Shorthair in 2016, one of the greatest blessings in my life. She came home with us at 8 weeks old completely house and pet door broke. At 16 weeks she pointed 10 planted chuckar shot over and retrieved them, however she thought they were hers. Respectful of our property while being free the run of the house. Was taught what NO means early. Sleeps in bed with us and a 5 lb yorkee and a chihuahua, they get along very well. She competed in NAVHDA natural ability test, receiving the highest score prize 1, 112 points. Calvert Kennels has a superb breeding program, Kathy and Mark are more than helpful after pup leaves there kennel, giving advice on training issues. Looking forward to the next hunting season with my best friend. John Andrus
Submitted by: Brent Hudson on Jun 29, 2018
Hi Kathy, I got your message and wanted to let you know I ended up naming my pup Gunner. I think you needed his name for registration on his chip.

Anyways, he is the best little guy I could ever hoped for. Not only is he smart and a quick learner, he is also great in the water. He is well on his way to becoming an all around sporting dog and a awesome companion...I Love him! Everywhere I go, I get compliments on what a good looking dog he is and how well mannered he is. At this point he already sits on command, stays, comes, retrieves, heels on his leash(which he doesn't even need), he loves my boat and all the fish he has been introduced to...he's not quite sure about crabs yet, laughing. He's great with kids and people, he even likes the vet. I havn't taken him bird hunting yet, but I am sure he will pick that up quick as well. You have done an exceptional job with your dogs and I couldn't be any more pleased with him... Thank You so much, the whole experience has been absolutely "top-notch". Needless to say, If anyone asks me about you or Calvert Kennels, you can bet "the farm" I tell them that they could consider themselves lucky to get a pup from you. If you need any more information from me, Please let me know.
Brent
Submitted by: Hoppy P. on Jan 09, 2018
Roxy, our pup from Eme and Otto is a natural bird dog! Have been hunting over her since she was 4 months! Nose is super way above the norm, has an ability to find birds that I've never seen from anyone's dogs including mine before her. Exceptional pup in the field and home, thank you for picking her out for me!
Submitted by: Mark P. on Dec 30, 2016
Having owned 8 GSP's throughout my life and searching breeders all over the NW. I only wish I had found Calvert Kennels years ago. Cannot say enough of their professionalism, knowledge of the breed, and care they put into their dogs. To add to that, the quality of their dogs and breeding program focusing on their hunting ability is outstanding! I was hunting over my pup at 5 months! She is a bird finding machine, loves the water, and has tracked wounded birds over 300 yards! At the end of the day, she is a pleasure to have in the home as well. Cannot say enough. Thank you for such a tremendous hunting partner and companion!
Submitted by: Kelly and Eric Dunlap Rio Rancho, NM on Nov 10, 2015
Our pup Finnegan is from Kathy's Oliver x Piper litter from October 2014.We are beyond pleased with him! He is the most intelligent sweet, and smart boy. Can't wait to get him on more birds in a few weeks! We can't say enough about your GSP's. They are truly special and we can't wait to get another one in a year or two!
Submitted by: Marc VanCamp on Feb 27, 2015
Just wanted to touch base and let you know how wonderfully happy I have been with Sage, the female I got from you DEC 13'. She picked up hunting so naturally and we got into a lot of birds both by her self and other dogs. She minds so well and hunts full throttle but I can still have her calmly lay on her bed all day behind me at the office. Couldn't be happier!
Submitted by: Christine Mayer on Dec 27, 2014
What can I say about Calvert Kennels? Wow, Kathy has been unbelievably amazing. I began talking to Kathy when we had settled on a puppy from another breeder. It turned out that that breeder was a flake, Kathy was there for us through that awful situation. Then she let us come visit Piper before she had the puppies. As if fate had some role in it, Piper decided to have her puppies that night, Kathy let us stay and watch the puppies being born. It was a moment we will never forget. She has stayed in contact with us since day 1. I can't tell you how absolutely wonderful this breeder is. The amount of support she shows her puppy families and the support she also shows for our troops is phenomenal. Thank you for all you do Kathy!
Submitted by: stephen on Sep 07, 2014
I have a male from Olivers first litter.. "Mac" is a wonderful pet, a stellar hunter with a great nose. He is wonderful with small dogs and children and is not in the least bit aggressive...unless you have feathers of course!

Stephen
Milford, PA
Submitted by: Jonathan & Wynter Kaiser on Oct 30, 2013
We talked with several GSP breeders after deciding to purchase a hunting dog. When we spoke with Kathy at Calvert Kennels, she took the time to walk us through the process of deposit, contract and selecting puppies. She extensively answered all our questions and even offered
to help us if we decided to breed one of her puppies ourselves. Her years of knowledge about dogs, training and hunting as well as her
readiness to offer any help in making a decision about a new puppy made it easy to choose her kennel over any of the others in Oregon.

After meeting with Kathy as well as her male and bitches in person, we immediately put in our deposit for the next litter of puppies and were
lucky to get first pick of females! After that, Kathy continued to keep us updated about heat cycles, expectant litters and when they were finally whelped. We got pictures as soon as the litters arrived and were even allowed to visit several times to meet the new pups and take our time making a selection. When we finally brought our puppy home, Kathy continued to go above and beyond with up-to-date shots, a large packet of great information and even made a house call for the microchip insertion. Even our vet was impressed with the impeccable health and sleek gait of our puppy and the professional way Kathy had docked her tail.

In the months since, Calvert Kennels has been a great resource for hunting and training clinics and as our puppy grows, it is obvious the well bred line she has come from. She is smart, quick learning with training and has the best temperament, making her not only an outstanding hunting dog, but perfect for the family, too!

We knew Calvert Kennels was the right choice to make after that first conversation with Kathy and it has been proven many times over. We could not be more pleased with our choice and look forward to many more years working with them!
Submitted by: Sally Kneuven on Apr 16, 2013
Our experience with Kathy Steele and Calvert Kennels began in 2009 when we purchased a GSP puppy from the litter of Ammo and Miley. We selected Tess from a litter of fine pups. She came to us at 71/2 weeks and has been a joy ever since. She was a quick learner from the start. She has a real desire to please. Kathy uses the word "biddable" when describing her dogs. I looked it up, and that is a perfect word for Tess because it means that she's controllable and docile. Our two previous GSPs were not so biddable.
Though we are not hunters, our lifestyle includes lots of outdoor recreation and fitness, so we are inclined towards GSPs because they're athletic. We notice that Tess is especially adept at tracking and pointing prey, even without any training. She "hunts" and points birds every time we're out with her. She's amazing at finding her ball anywhere it's thrown, in the forest, by scent. She is an exceptional swimmer and loves to go down to the Mary S. Woods Park, on the Willamette, for an hour of retrieving a float. Anyone who is a GSP enthusiast expects this of the breed, and the dog we got from Calvert Kennels is high on stamina.
Lately, I've begun looking into the NAVHDA training and testing program for Tess. Even though I'm not a hunter, I want to explore what makes my dog tick. We attended the training session in Monmouth, Oregon, last weekend, with the Willamette Valley Chapter. The kind folks in the club accepted us into the fold and allowed us to participate along with the younger dogs. I knew Tess would respond well to the training program, and she did. She has natural drive, is tremendously tractable, and will make an excellent hunter. She seems to have no fear of gunshots, fireworks or any loud noises, either.
Aside from her natural talents, both athletically and as a potential hunter, what we love most about her is her personality. She is a little lady when it comes to her demeanor. She's a lamb and has not one mean bone in her body. Our previous male was a bull in a china closet. Tess is just the opposite. . Some say that GSPs are Velcro dogs. That is the case with Tess. She makes you feel loved. She loves every member of the family equally and doesn't gravitate toward any one person. She's very smart and intuitive and seems to understand what is expected of her.

As far as Kathy Steele and Calvert Kennels, our experience has been great. Kathy treats her clients with professionalism and is adept at the educational component of running a kennel. I think of her as my resource if I have a question. She is like a good grandmother because she cares about her dogs and their puppies long after they are out of the nest. You can tell from the Calvert Kennels website the degree of pride and respect they have for their dogs. I once read a book about GSPs and the traits of a good dog breeder. Those traits are to be found in Kathy and Mark Steele, at Calvert Kennels. When we met, Kathy told me that Harley, their first purchased shorthair after helping with GSP Rescue in Virginia for several years, was the wedding gift that she and her husband gave to each other when they got married. That says it all.

I have met their most recent acquisition, Oliver, and I'm sure that Kathy and Mark will continue to develop fine litters of GSPs. They are devoted to German Shorthairs, and their puppies are outstanding examples of the breed.

Thanks, Kathy and Mark!
Submitted by: Sean Muldoon on Jan 30, 2013
I purchased Tanner (my first bird dog) from Calvert Kennels in April of 2011. From our first talk on the phone I felt comfortable with Kathy. After arriving to look at the litter I found Kathy to be extremely patient, knowledgeable, and eager to help me. I spent several hours looking at the pups before selecting Tanner. Kathy walked me through all the paces, showing me everything about the pups, and the parents. I felt very confident as I left with Tanner that I was making the perfect choice. I was right. Tanner has been a dream dog for me. His personality is the best of any dog I have ever been around. He is always happy and eager to please. He loves to curl up with my wife almost as much as he loves to hunt birds. His bird hunting instincts are superb. With my lack of knowledge about training a bird dog I was concerned about how well he would hunt. It turns out that all I had to do was direct his natural instincts and he does fantastic on his own. I just talked to Kathy and my brother put down a deposit on his first bird dog. I can’t wait to get to Calverts to help him pick out his pup. I have called Kathy for advice and she has been a great help to me. I can’t recommend Calvert Kennels strongly enough. Dealing with Kathy has been a great experience for me.
Thanks Kathy.
Sincerely,
Sean Muldoon
Submitted by: Sean Muldoon on Jan 30, 2013
I purchased Tanner (my first bird dog) from Calvert Kennels in April of 2011. From our first talk on the phone I felt comfortable with Kathy. After arriving to look at the litter I found Kathy to be extremely patient, knowledgeable, and eager to help me. I spent several hours looking at the pups before selecting Tanner. Kathy walked me through all the paces, showing me everything about the pups, and the parents. I felt very confident as I left with Tanner that I was making the perfect choice. I was right. Tanner has been a dream dog for me. His personality is the best of any dog I have ever been around. He is always happy and eager to please. He loves to curl up with my wife almost as much as he loves to hunt birds. His bird hunting instincts are superb. With my lack of knowledge about training a bird dog I was concerned about how well he would hunt. It turns out that all I had to do was direct his natural instincts and he does fantastic on his own. I just talked to Kathy and my brother put down a deposit on his first bird dog. I can’t wait to get to Calverts to help him pick out his pup. I have called Kathy for advice and she has been a great help to me. I can’t recommend Calvert Kennels strongly enough. Dealing with Kathy has been a great experience for me.
Thanks Kathy.
Sincerely,
Sean Muldoon
Submitted by: Tim Wilson on Jan 17, 2013
Hi Kathy,

I just wanted to let you know that Midge is still alive and kicking....lol...

She's done GREAT so far this year on Chukar. It all just seemed to click with her.... She actually slows down once she hits fresh scent. Watching her quarter is amazing. A few times she pointed birds that were 10 - 15' directly below her on bluffs... What a pleasure it is to be a part of her hunting experience... I was the only person in the group with a pointer and the only person to have success... I took one guys son out and introduced him to Midge's abilities. He was amazed! I don't think his dad was too happy to hear he wanted a pointer instead of a flusher...lol.

Even though the bird numbers are low this was the by far the funnest year I've had Chukar hunting. Thanks again for the great dog!
Submitted by: Mark on Jan 03, 2013
I did get a dog from Mark and Kathy, they have a dog by the name of Ammo that I had hunted behind and I loved that dogs personality and drive. I have been absolutely thrilled with the pup I got from them that came out of Ammo. Ammo was an unusual GSP, he had an amazing will to retrieve. Since that has been a characteristic weakness in many of the GSP breed I wanted to be as sure as I could be, that whatever dog I ended up with, they would have some advantage in that department. I have not been disappointed. She's two now and has been literally flawless, I did not have to force fetch her and she has no issues with bringing a bird to hand. She is and always has been an awesome house dog as well as an amazing hunter. She is tireless in her pursuit of birds, she has outperformed much older and probably better trained dogs, and she is 100% eager to please. As you can see, I’m really proud of her. If I could get here to pick up after herself I would clone her.

Submitted by: Tyler L., - Wyoming on Oct 29, 2011
Hey guys, Dixi is doing great finding birds in some of the thickest stuff I have hunted in. Birds are down but we have filled every day. Dixi is starting to retrieve more and finding down birds very well. She has been a great dog around the house and with the new kid also.Very happy with the pup.
Submitted by: Jeff & Melanie Harmon on Dec 05, 2010
Hi Kathy,



A friend took this picture of Greta this fall on an eastern Montana hunt and we thought you might like to see it. She is such a good girl and is hunting great! Both Hanna and Greta are doing well. Hanna is kind of slowing down a bit, but she is still a sweetheart and is a hunting machine. We had them out on several hunts this year and we are going on one more this weekend. They are of course extremely spoiled and are like two sisters. We don’t know what we would do without them. Thanks so much for providing them to us.


Best Regards


Jeff and Melanie Harmon

Submitted by: Mark N. on Nov 03, 2010
Hey Mark and Kathy, Just letting you know the ODFW women's pheasant hunt is Saturday, February 26th and the mentored youth hunt is Sunday, February 27th. Let folks know to sign up quickly, it will fill fast. Anybody looking for a GSP with great instincts, and amazing personalities should really look into this family run kennel. I have hunted with Mark and Kathy over their dogs throughout the years and find them to be extremely hard workers, well behaved, with personalities that make them great family members as well as tough, determined hunters. Combine all that with Mark and Kathy's sincere desire to pass on the hunting heritage to others, their knowledge about hunting in general, their philosophy in training, and you have a phenomenal resource. Thanks Mark and Kathy for all that you do.
Submitted by: Mark N. on Oct 31, 2010
Hey Mark and Kathy, Just letting you know the ODFW women's pheasant hunt is Saturday, February 26th and the mentored youth hunt is Sunday, February 27th. Let folks know to sign up quickly, it will fill fast. Anybody looking for a GSP with great instincts, and amazing personalities should really look into this family run kennel. I have hunted with Mark and Kathy over their dogs throughout the years and find them to be extremely hard workers, well behaved, with personalities that make them great family members as well as tough, determined hunters. Combine all that with Mark and Kathy's sincere desire to pass on the hunting heritage to others, their knowledge about hunting in general, their philosophy in training, and you have a phenomenal resource. Thanks Mark and Kathy for all that you do. Mark

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