Ailsa & Ryman Fall 2026
Litter Information
Litter Goals:
From the Scottish Highlands, our breeding goal for this litter is to enhance the genetic diversity and functional integrity of our genetic diversity initiative by bridging the breed’s storied past with its modern athletic competition. A genetic test of Athollridge Gael and Oakley produced the most genetically diverse litter to date. This strategic outcross aims to broaden the gene pool while producing versatile companions that possess both the sturdy health of their heritage and the high-level performance talent required for modern sport.
Genetic Diversity:
COI and AVK 10 generations:
Coefficient Of Inbreeding (COI): 1%
Ancestor Loss Coefficient (AVK): 33.04%
(10 generations: 100% complete)
Physical:
Predicted size: 50-70 pounds
Coats: Flat, dark field coats
Head: Boxy with attractive muzzle, stop and length
Fern Hill Sunrise at the Ryman MH WCX OS, known by the call name "Ryman," was a distinguished Golden Retriever with an extensive career in high-level field and hunt test competitions.
A 2009-born male bred by Karen Edwards and James W. Pearce, Ryman earned his Master Hunter (MH) title. His talent was further evidenced by his qualification for the Master National (MN) and Master Amateur (MA) events multiple times between 2014 and 2020.
In addition to his performance in the field, Ryman was recognized as an Outstanding Sire (OS) by the Golden Retriever Club of America, a title bestowed upon dogs that have produced a significant number of offspring with advanced working or show titles. This designation highlights his impact on the breed's lineage, contributing to the development of talented and versatile working dogs. He also held the Working Certificate Excellent (WCX) title. Ryman spent his life in California before passing away in May 2022.
The VGL haplotype results for Ailsa represent heterozygosity at DLA I & II. 1006 & 2007 each occur 2% while 1062 & 2021 occur only 8% of the time N=1006. In Golden Retrievers, heterozygosity at the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) markers is a direct measure of genetic diversity, which is essential for maintaining breed health and longevity. High levels of heterozygosity are associated with increased lifespan, larger litter sizes, and overall better fecundity. These VGL haplotypes specifically control and regulate the following: Immune System Regulation , Inbreeding Depression and Genetic Health Buffering.
In Golden Retriever pedigree analysis, the Kinship (or mean kinship, mK) results on K9Data provide a critical shift from looking only at an individual's inbreeding to evaluating its genetic value to the entire breed population. While the traditional Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) measures how related a dog's parents are, the kinship coefficient quantifies the genetic similarity between any two individuals, effectively predicting the average COI of their potential offspring. By ranking dogs by their mean kinship—the average of their kinship with all other dogs in the database—breeders can identify "genetically important" individuals that carry uncommon alleles.
In my experience, litters resulting from a Scottish-born working female and a US-born performance field male typically produces puppies with an exceptional blend of high intelligence, prey drive, and athletic versatility. While the Scottish lineage may contribute a slightly more focused and calmer mental maturity early on, the American influence produces a high-energy "engine" that thrives when given a demanding job, such as hunt tests or competitive agility. The litter results are generally characterized by a "happy" work ethic and an eagerness to please, making them great candidates for a variety of usages.