Welcome to our website. We hope you enjoy our Goldens as much as our family, friends and other Golden clients do. I'm Dorothy Gilreath and have been an animal lover all my life.

I was born and raised in Fayetteville NC. I have always had dogs in my home and my life. I helped my mom breed, whelp and wean a few litters of Standard Poodles and Cockers when I was young. I started riding ponies before I could walk and finally acquired a 7/8ths Arabian Thoroughbred when I was 14. “Schabalt’s Beauty” and I went on to successfully show regionally in the English Pleasure class.

My competitive spirit was further honed on the basketball court. My 6’ 5” brother, Joe Genter, was the star power forward for Douglas Byrd High School. He taught me to play point guard and I went on to Pembroke State University on a full athletic scholarship.

I met my husband in 1982 in Fayetteville where he was playing in a rock band. We settled down in John’s hometown, Charlotte NC, and bought our first Golden, Taren, as a pet the year John and I were married.

Our love of the breed led us to acquire show quality dogs. Craig Westergaard sold us a show pup that our kids named Simba, from the Lion King movie. We campaigned Simba to a championship title. We took the pick puppy from Simba’s first litter as the stud fee and Mariah became our foundation bitch. Claridge is our kennel name which comes from the first apartment I had in Charlotte NC and also my middle name (Clare).

We are blessed with two children Jenna Michelle (’89) and John IV (’90). They grew up in the dog world and to this day love and help with our wonderful dogs. Jenna showed a great deal of interest in Junior Showmanship.

Jenna also led us into a second breed. After several years she finally convinced Santa to bring her a Pug. She began showing and breeding under the kennel name Emerald, after her birthstone.

Home schooling allowed Jenna to travel extensively and show consistently. In 2003 she was the # 5 Junior Handler in the country, and #1 in Toys. She has been in every one of the 48 states, except Kansas. Jenna is now in her sophomore year at CCBC in Essex, MD planning to transfer to one of the UMD campuses.

John has a variety of interests which still include caring for, training and showing the dogs. He is a senior at Towson High School and enjoys soccer, track, archery and marksmanship. He also has the high honor to be the Captain, starting kicker and on special teams in varsity football. John hopes to earn an appointment to the Naval Academy and go into Naval Aviation.  Please click on the link below to visit our other website which is dedicated to the Junior Handlers and Pugs.

We have been very successful and to this day strive to show as much as we can. We still breed to promote the best temperament and the most beautiful Goldens. We have many Champions in Conformation, Agility Titles, Certified Therapy and Obedience. Most of all we love the home life we have with our dogs.

We don't raise our dogs in a kennel; they are a part of our family. We have a great selection of pedigrees and occasionally have puppies for sale. We live north of Baltimore, MD now and also have Goldens in the Lake Wylie, SC area in the country and will hopefully retire there. I'm so lucky to have been able to stay home with our children and our dogs. Now with teenagers we are quite busy but have no intentions of leaving the Golden world. Go Generals!!!

Welcome to Claridge Goldens!