Welcome to Excellence Caledonia Kennels

Our journey with dogs began in the 1980s, when Andy purchased his first Chesapeake Bay Retriever as a hunting companion. What started as a passion for waterfowl hunting grew into a lifelong commitment to the breed. For over 30 years, we have bred, trained, hunted with, and shown Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

As a small kennel, we place a strong emphasis on versatility. Through decades in the field and the ring, we've come to deeply value a well-rounded dog — one that can work in the duck blind, succeed in the show and obedience rings, and most importantly, be a beloved member of the family.

Since entering the world of conformation and obedience in 1997, our goal has remained the same: to produce balanced, capable, and sound Chessies who are just as comfortable curled up at a slumber party as they are retrieving in icy water or standing proudly in the ring.
In 2010, after relocating to Australia, we welcomed our first Cairn Terrier into the family from Joymont Kennels and the esteemed Cathy Scotton. Our youngest daughter was looking for a breed of her own, and the Cairn proved to be the perfect fit. That dog, Klaus, quickly became a beloved part of our lives — and marked the beginning of a whole new chapter for our kennel.

In 2013, we returned to the United States and settled in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, where our Cairn adventure truly took off. What began as a single puppy has grown into a passionate focus on the breeding, showing, and performance training of Cairn Terriers. While our roots are in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and we still keep a couple around, our primary focus today is on these spunky, intelligent little terriers who have brought so much joy and purpose to our program.

Cairn Terriers

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

Canadian Ch GCHS Caledonia's He Who Must not Be Named "Riddle"

Riddle has been an exceptional representative of our kennel and the Cairn Terrier breed. A multiple breed winner, Riddle has earned top honors at the Westminster Kennel Club, as well as at the Detroit and Denver Cairn Terrier Clubs. He’s also been recognized with numerous Awards of Merit at both the Cairn Terrier Club of America National Specialty and Roving Specialties.
Beyond his accolades in the ring, Riddle is a spunky, fun-loving companion with a fantastic temperament and outstanding trainability — everything we hope for in a Cairn Terrier.

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GCHS Caledonia's Up To No Good RN "Arial"

Arial is truly the brightest star of our breeding program. She brought incredible honor to our kennel in 2021 by winning the Cairn Terrier Club of America's National Specialty, triumphing over more than 100 Cairns in competition. Beyond her success in the ring, Arial has also proven herself as an exceptional producer — she is the dam of Riddle, continuing her legacy through the next generation.

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Canadian CH CH Caledonia's the Jokes on You

Joker is from our very first litter out of Riddle, with his dam coming from the renowned Joymont Kennel in Australia. He quickly made his mark in the show ring, earning Winners Dog at the 2024 Cairn Terrier Club of America Roving National Specialty. Following that success, Joker spent six months in Canada, where he earned his Canadian Championship and sired two litters.

Now back home with us, Joker has seamlessly transitioned into performance work. He recently earned his Rally Novice title with three consecutive qualifying scores, showing both his versatility and eager-to-please nature.

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Au CH AM CH Joymont Top Gear Rato BN RI CGC BCAT "Klaus"

Klaus was the beginning of our journey into the world of Cairn Terriers. While living in Australia, we had the privilege of meeting Cathy Scotton of the renowned Joymont Kennels. Our daughter had her heart set on a Cairn, and with Cathy’s guidance, our adventure began.

That little dog changed everything for our family — inspiring a passion that has shaped our lives ever since. When we returned to the U.S., Klaus came with us, along with two other Cairns. He excelled in everything we asked of him, both in the show ring and performance sports. But more than his achievements, Klaus was an extraordinary companion — a loyal friend and the heart of our kennel’s story.

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GCH Joymont I Dream of Jeanie

Jeanie is another wonderful Joymont Cairn we were fortunate to bring with us from Australia. In 2018, she made a memorable impact by winning Best of Opposite Sex from the classes at the Cairn Terrier Club of America National Specialty, held in conjunction with the prestigious Montgomery County Kennel Club Terrier Show. It was a truly special moment — made even more meaningful by the fact that Cathy Scotton was able to fly over from Australia to show Jeanie. Sharing that honor with Cathy was an unforgettable experience for both of us.
Jeanie has gone on to leave a lasting legacy in our breeding program, producing several champions — including Joker, who now stands at stud with us. Jeanie is now living her best life in the mountains of Colorado in her retirement home.

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GCH Caledonia's Lil House Elf "Winky"

Winky is one of our cherished foundation girls. Her dam was one of the Cairns we brought with us from Australia in 2013, and Winky carried on that legacy beautifully. She had a true love for both the show ring and performance events, excelling in everything we asked of her.

Winky is the dam of Arial, and in 2021, she was honored as Brood Bitch of the Year — the same year Arial won the CTCA National Specialty. That recognition was a proud and meaningful milestone in our breeding program.

Now retired, Winky is enjoying her well-earned retirement and living her best life with our daughter in Maryland. She remains a very special part of our family and our story.

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