About Us

home of Ashridge Labradors

Ashridge Labradors is located in Lansing, NY, on the southeastern edge of Lake Cayuga, in the Finger Lakes region. Although I, Carol Baugh, am the owner of Ashridge Labradors, my husband Daniel has always been involved in the whelping and rearing of the litters, and has been an indispensable help whenever needed. I have recently retired from breeding, but I still have HR Ashridge Winchester MH RN available as stud to approved bitches. Roxanne Fleming is carrying on my lines with her bitch Ashridge Flyway Comdr in Chief, CD (see Stud Dogs and Bitches ).

My husband and I currently have 1 black and 3 yellow Labradors living with us. They share our house with us, and we love them all.

Our story began with Fredwell Bridget, our foundation bitch, whose great grandfather was English CH Ruler of Blaircourt, a dog famous for his character. She was born in November 1977 on the Ashridge estate in Buckinghamshire, England, and came to JFK International by air cargo at 14 weeks.

Bridget had uncanny intelligence and as we added to our dog population she easily outwitted them all, and outwitted us a lot too. She was yellow, compact, but small boned. She managed to produce beautiful large boned puppies. Every Ashridge Labrador goes back to her.

In selecting studs, I have always looked for temperament and intelligence along with champion physical characteristics and good health. I have also searched for a pleasing head and a good dark brown eye. Most Ashridge Labradors have been yellow, but some have been black.

The first litter was whelped in 1981 and produced 3 champions. An average of one litter a year was whelped after that until I retired from breeding following the litter whelped in December 2005. In all, Ashridge has produced eight champions. I began with an interest in conformation, and have always cared very much for a pleasing head, dark brown eyes and a sound body as well as an intelligent and gentle temperament. Over the years I have become increasingly active in obedience and hunting. In 1990 I was very fortunate to find an excellent couple, Jan and Bill McKee, who have trained and competed with many of my dogs in hunting. With them Ashridge has four Labradors with Junior Hunter titles, three with Senior Hunter titles, and one Master Hunter CH Ashridge Captain Wentworth MH .

After the pup, Ashridge Winchester (Chester), that I kept from my last litter matured, I was introduced to Beverly Millheim, a professional hunt trainer who lives in Oxford, NY. (www.renegaderetrievers.com). With Bev's great guidance and gentle handling, Chester achieved his Hunting Retriever and Master Hunter titles. He is now home living in our house and sharing our sofa.

I have also put obedience titles on seven of my dogs, and feel that it is very important to have an obedient dog. A dog that is well trained might some day be saved from a serious accident.

Many Ashridge pups have been bought by families who have trained their dogs to hunt with them as well as having them as family pets. An indispensable goal of mine has been to provide the kind of dog that most people want, and should want, in a Labrador - a loving, intelligent and handsome companion.