Welcome to Zohar Portuguese Water Dogs. My husband John and myself, Donna Reif Sack, provide a wonderful home to our PWDs: Simon, Hollin, Carson, Marilyn, Emerson, Fenton and Westyn.
Simon came into our lives in 1995. He was our first PWD, and really got us hooked on PWDs with his trainability, trust, silliness and devotion. He earned his Companion Dog AKC title, and was the top 5 CD obedience PWD in 1999. Simon is now the “old man” of the furry bunch. He is very much spoiled and usually gets two slices of apple to the other’s one slice. His favorite food is apples. We have a few very small apple trees, and Simon was very pleased with himself when he discovered all these apples on the ground. Of course we had to pick up the rotten ones so he did not get sick. We also had to limit his excursions to the apple tree. He would have gotten quite a tummy ache left to his apple eating desires. He thought he hit pay dirt one day when to his detection he looked up and found many apples just hanging there for his picking. We had to limit that as well. Simon was diagnosed with PRA but still gets along very well. Hollin really watches out for him. To this day, Simon will make his way to the apple trees seeking those wonderful apples. (Sometimes when it’s not in season, I go out there and scatter a few apple slices for him to find.) Simon crossed over Rainbow Bridge in 2007. He is greatly missed.
Hollin came to us in 1998. I played a major roll in her whelping and socialization while assisting my breeding mentor. It was exciting to see her grow mentally and physically. Hollin became the foundation for Zohar kennels. She obtained her Championship and later whelped two litters. She has some champion pups that she is very proud of. After her spay, and because of her great temperament Hollin became a Delta Pet Partner® and a registered Reading Education Assistance Dog®. (R.E.A.D.) She very much enjoys her time listening to children read to her. Both John and I are retired Special Education teachers having worked with Learning Disabled and Emotionally Disturbed children. The R.E.A.D. program allows me to continue to provide literacy to children and have Hollin act as the reading facilitator. It works so well and is such a rewarding program that I decided to become a Licensed R.E.A.D. instructor. I also went on to become the R.E.A.D. Program Coordinator/Team Advisor for Rocky Mountain Reading Education Assistance Dogs®. We have quite a few R.E.A.D. facilities and R.E.A.D. teams in the Denver Metro Area.
Carson and Marilyn are Zohar sisters. Although very sweet, I now know why you never try to home two siblings in the same home. They feed off of each other. Sometimes it’s not the most positive behaviors that are exhibited. My husband keeps saying “at least they are cute!” Actually they are pretty well mannered. Marilyn has earned her Am/Intl Championship and Carson has her Intl. Championship. Marilyn has successfully obtained her Delta Pet Partner therapy registration as well as her R.E.A.D. registration. She has made a really good champion for children's literacy.
Emerson came into our lives in 2006. She is one of Marilyn's puppies. We are beginning to show her to gain her AKC championship. She has already earned her International Championship. Emerson is very special to us. She is very well put together, and is always surprising us with the inventive things that she comes up with.
Fenton and Westyn are the newest additions to our home. They are Emerson’s puppies and Zohar’s 4th generation. With each litter we have strived to improve our line and Fenton and Westyn have shown us that we are on the right path.
We are proud to co-own some stud dogs. Some have completed their AKC championships and some are still in the process. Keep an eye out for them to be added to the Stud Dog page.
John and I are always looking to learn and grow in ways that will improve Zohar Portuguese Water Dogs and offer the most up to date information to the caregivers of our puppies. We do this by attending seminars, reading books and articles, taking educational courses on a variety of topics. Some of which include Genetics, Canine Body Language, Nutrition, Behavior, Training and of course Breeding. I am a member of APDT, Delta Society, R.E.A.D.®, and Behavior Education Network (BEN).