• Winter was born in a litter of seven on May 17, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was given the name "Hoku."

• She originated from Goldrush Labradors and comes from a long line of grand champion show dogs and hunting dogs.

• Her father is grand champion "Cedarwood Signature's Otter By Design," also known as Otter. 

• Her mother is "Goldrush Luck of the River," also known as River.

• Winter was selected out of her entire litter of seven to join Freedom Service Dog's assistance dog program in Colorado.

• She came to the FSD facility where she was named "Winter" to fit the wintery theme of the other puppies in her cohort.

• She spent a few weeks in FSD's nursery where she started practicing her basic cues such as sit, down, stay, and heel. 

• At about 8-weeks-old, Winter went to a prison program in Colorado where she was partnered with a prisoner who helped enforce her basic training and house manners until she was 6-months-old.

• Winter was partnered with me (Kendle) as her volunteer puppy raiser in November 2020. 

• I helped her work on her advanced service dog skills and basic obedience, enforce her house manners, and socialize in public. 

• We went on all kinds of outings, such as stores, restaurants, movie theaters, a horse barn, and even the Denver Butterfly Pavilion! 

• After 8 months together, our time in the puppy raising program was over and it was time to return Winter to FSD's formal training program. 

• Winter entered "FSD service dog college," also known as IFT (in for formal training), in July 2021 where she was partnered with one of FSD's professional trainers.

• Together, they worked on more advanced service dog skills. 

• Although Winter would have made a fantastic assistance dog, she was selected for FSD's in-house purpose breeding program due to her perfect health, great genes, and fantastic temperament. 

• She had her first litter of puppies in February 2022, where she had a total of seven, all chocolate puppies. One became a grand champion show dog, two were placed as skilled companion dogs, two were placed as pets, and two passed away as neonates.

• Her second litter was born in November 2022, where she had a total of nine, all black puppies. Five were placed as pets, three were placed as skilled companion dogs, and two went through Guide Dogs of Texas' guide dog program. 

• Her third and final litter was born in July 2023, where she a had a total of ten, all black puppies. 

• Winter was a great mother and did a fantastic job caring for her babies. 

• I was able to visit her and her litters once a week until the puppies went to the prison program. At about 7 or 8 weeks, Winter would return home to recover. 

• Winter gave birth to her first litter, named after famous artists, on February 2, 2022! 

• Those puppies were named Picasso, Freeda, Munch, Monet, Mozart, Beethoven, and Matisse.

• Here are their outcomes:

Picasso: Placed as a pet 

Freeda: Became a grand champion show dog 

Munch: Neo-natal death 

Monet: Placed as an FSD Skilled Companion with a veteran

Mozart: Placed as a pet 

Beethoven: Placed as an FSD Skilled Companion with a veteran

Matisse: Neo-natal death

See the "Puppies" page for more! 

• She gave birth to her second litter, named after airplanes, on November 5, 2022!

• Those puppies were named Hawk, Amelia, Dart, Spirit, Zero, Piper, Bolt, Mooney, and Delta. 

• Here are their outcomes:

Hawk: Placed as a pet 

Amelia: Allocated to Guide Dogs of Texas

Dart: Placed as a pet 

Spirit: Placed as a pet 

Zero: Placed as an FSD Skilled Companion Dog with 

Piper: Placed as a pet 

Bolt: Placed as a pet 

Mooney: Placed as an FSD Skilled Companion with a veteran

Delta: Allocated to Guide Dogs of Texas 

See the "Puppies" page for more! 

• Winter gave birth to her third and final litter, named after weather, on July 28, 2023! 

• Those puppies were named Thunder, Hurricane, Flurry, Foggy, Cirrus, Monsoon, Hazy, Rainbow, and Storm

• Here are their outcomes:

Thunder: Currently in FSD service dog program

Hurricane: Neo-natal death 

Flurry: Currently in FSD service dog program

Foggy: Currently in FSD service dog program

Cirrus: Currently in FSD service dog program

Monsoon: Currently in FSD service dog program

Hazy: Currently in FSD service dog program

Rainbow: Currently in FSD service dog program

Storm: Currently in FSD service dog program

See the "Puppies" page for more! 

• After having three litters, she was retired from FSD's breeding program. 

• I FINALLY adopted her on December 7, 2023. 

• Winter lives her days as a very spoiled and loved pet.

• We still work on training and learning new skills everyday. She is also enrolled in advanced obedience classes! 

• She typically goes to work with me. 

• She enjoys doing enrichment activities, playing with toys, going for walks, learning new things, and cuddling! 

• In March, 2024, she earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen title.

• In May,  2024, she earned her AKC Novice Trick Dog title. 

• In May, 2024, I entered Winter in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show "Best at Home contest" and she WON! 

• In August, 2024, Winter earned her AKC Intermediate Trick Dog title. 

• In September, 2024, she earned her AKC Advanced Trick Dog title. 

• In May 2025, Winter's first litter of grandchildren were born... she's a grandma!