We are back! Up and running! Sorry for the loch on the web site. Back in November, my computer crashed and our web site was hacked and the lock was applied. We know the date and time but not the who. Finally, we got a new computer and thanks to some great friends all info was saved and we are now able to up date as before.

So much has happened since the "crash". We decided to keep a male and female out of Lauren's litter but we need a great home for the other gorgeous female who looks just like mom. Infact all the pups looked like Lauren. How lucky can you get!

We also has 2 new litters a day apart! The goldens came first on Dec. 21, then 9 hours later, Freya started having her pups. What an interesting 2 days. So now we have 10 beautiful golden pups and 9 chessie pups of various colors. Go to "Dogs for Sale" for more info and pictures. A third litter, Indy and Cutter, were born 1/26/12; 3 males and 3 females, all fat and sassy. There may be dead grass in the males.

Look in "Services" to see our studs. All are Champions and have their clearances.

Flash... Lauren finished her Grand Championship in just 3 weekend, all in TX; Dallas, San Antonio and Houston. She is now the 5th Grand Champion in Chessies in the state. 

New Champion: CH Xanadu Hot Shot, finished at the Houston show with a 5 point major. "Zambia is co-owned by Kelli Corcoran and the Van Duzers!

Champions and young dogs for sale. We have one 6 year old female champion that would make an excellent companion dog; Daphne is crate trained and house broken, great with kids. Call 281-794-7878 for more information.

Candy is assistant chair for the 2012 American Chesapeake Club specialty to be held in San Antonio, TX. We are very please we were given this privilege by the parent club. If you have any questions about the national specialty, give me a call. All the fun starts September 22, 2012, at the gun club off 1604, north of San Antonio. We'll do it up big; Texas style. With lots of fun, good food and great competition. There will be lots of vendors and amazing sites to see all within minutes of the site.

FLASH

We are now offering breeding services, including artificial insemination, whelping and raising litters, basic obedience training, hunt training and boarding for healthy happy dogs.

We also offer inoculations, except rabies, worming, treating minor skin irritations and much more. We have 27 years experience with sporting dogs and working dogs. Kelli is an added plus; she has 9 years experience in obedience and hunt training plus breeding. This is a talented girl.

Welcome to Xanadu Kennels

Breeders of champion Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and Golden Retrievers

We are proud to announce that we have been accepted into the AKC's "BREEDER OF MERIT" Program. Xanadu kennels have bred more than 20 conformation champions since 1996 and have more conformation champions, Chessies that is, than any other breeder in Texas, maybe even in the South (I'll have to check on that) and have more on the road to their championships. I always say we don't breed ugly dogs; take a look, I think you'll agree.

About Xanadu Kennels

Chuck and Candy Van Duzer started Xanadu Kennels in 1992 after breeding Golden Retrievers for a dozen years.

When our foundation Golden bitch,  was put down as a result of cancer, we decided to look into a different breed without the potential cancer and other health problems many Goldens may have. We knew how wonderful Chesapeakes were and acquired Shelby, 'our founder.' We are now one of the largest breeders of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers in the South.

Shelby begat Ruby who in turn begot six champions, several excellent hunting dogs and all told, a total of thirty-nine magnificent companions. Ruby's offsprings have in turn had our 3rd generation of puppies. We now have 6 generations of chessies; 12 years to new born. All our dogs spend their time having fun, training, swimming and enjoying life.

Our fourth generation arrived in the fall of 2002. Out of fifteen puppies, nine have confirmation points. Six of the offsprings have become confirmation champions. The first of our fifth generation arrived in the spring of 2006. and more in 2007. We had two litters June, 2008 and 4 more late 2008. We out breed as much as possible; trying for that "perfect chessie". Marylu is now pregnant with our 6th generation pups. Indy produce our 1st 6th generation offspring  spring, 2/11. Mariah will produce another 6th generation litter in spring, 2012. Our breeding program has surpassed our expectations.

Sound dogs, proper in all respects with great temperaments; those are the straightforward breeding guidelines we have employed with success. We breed for the original colors: shades of brown, sedge and an occasional dead grass. Candy is an official "mentor" for the AKC and will also be a mentor for the parent club, American Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club. A mentor must qualify by having at least 10 years of breeding and showing the breed, making champions, etc. A mentor schools prospective judges for the AKC at dog shows and discusses the breed with these people as the dogs are showing. A mentor points out different things about the dogs in the ring; both positive and negative. This way they have an idea what the AKC is looking for in a champion.

Pictures of all of our champions are available elsewhere in the site.

For those of you new to Chessies, we encourage you to read "Is a Chessie for me?" If still interested we suggest The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever, by Janet and Dr. Daniel Horn as an excellent reference book on the breed. It has been out of publication for years but may be available on Amazon; mostly used.

We have between four to six high, sometimes more, quality litters every year and have shipped puppies (over 8 weeks old,) across the US and Europe.

Our kennel holds 20 large dogs. It is heated and air conditioned with inside and outside runs. We have 5 exercise yards ranging is 3/4 to 1/4 acres. All the fencing around the dog facilities are 6 foot commercial chain link set in cement; no digging out. We live on 25 heavily wooded acres with lots of wild life. Our home is about 100 yards from the kennel and directly east with cameras and clear views of everything. With space available, we will board our own dogs with proper vet records.

We welcome inquiries about upcoming breedings, and accept deposits anytime for future litters. The deposits are good until you find the right dog for your needs..

Frequently we have older dogs available.

Stud service is available, subject to our review of the bitch's bloodline, OFA, CERF, PRA, DM, EIC, cardiac and thyroid status. Sometimes not all tests are required, but preferred.

We have a special whelping room in our home where all our pups stay for at least until they are weaned. After that, they stay in the house until after they have their first inoculations, then they will have some outside play time, weather permitting. Our pups stay in the house until they go to their new homes. This way our pups are protected and we have never had a incidence of Parvo, kennel cough or any other threatening condition.

Pups are socialized from the very beginning and after their eyes open our 5 grandchildren are allowed to play with them after they have been "disinfected" (the kids)!

Pups that are kept for our observation longer are then crate trained, get basic obedience and start housebreaking. Some we send for hunt training, others go in the conformation ring and others are sold as young trained house dogs.

We sell our pups with hips, heart and eye guarantees and sell with a contract. We look for the best possible homes available for our pups and like to meet the entire family before we decide if they are the right people for this breed. Many of our sales come from repeat clients and referrals. Most of our pups go to homes as companion/hunt dogs and many of these people have young children. Chessies love kids; at least ours do.

Call us anytime for questions or make an appointment to visit us. We always have time for those interested in this wonderful breed.

Pictures of our kennel and pool. Yes, they get to swim, jump off the waterfall and some go down the slide!

Contact Information: Candy Van Duzer