“It is my fixed conviction that if a parent can give his children a passionate and wholesome devotion to the outdoors, the fact that he cannot leave each of them a fortune does not really matter so much.” Archibald Rutledge
Archibald Rutledge was the first poet laureate of South Carolina and one of her most distinguished native scholars. Having spent our childhood in the beloved low country of South Carolina, my brother (Woody Thurman) and I wholeheartedly agree with his sentiments in the quote mentioned above. Being reared in our family produced certain knowledge that did not need to be put into words. We ‘came to know’ by being involved in the lives of our parents. HOME was literally where our story began, and that story’s color and character influences our lives as much today as then.Inherent truths gleaned from our “living” the life of the low country are:
As pre-schoolers, my brother and I went with our Daddy to “work” the dogs and to watch them run and retrieve dummies. My daddy told me that I loved going and that even though I was a “feminine” little girl, I never wanted to be left behind. I learned very young not to ask questions when the dogs were looking for a covey of quail. I also knew not to throw anything when Daddy was working with their retrieving skills. My brother had his own gun when he was 5 or 6 years old and learned from my father the importance of knowing that the gun was NOT a toy and, when hunting, not to play with the dogs but to see them as part of the hunt.
People in our small town, Georgetown, SC, used to come over in the early evening to watch my father feed the dogs. Even their mealtime was a learning opportunity for our dogs. None of them were allowed to eat until Daddy gave the command. To people who didn’t understand hunting and the importance of the dog’s work, it was just entertainment to see the popular Southern Preacher work with his dogs, but we knew, even then, that the dogs needed to see Daddy as the leader–or the authority.
When I think about the way we lived our lives, I see more clearly why my brother is so good with animals. He learned from his father the right way to do things. He has added many years of study and practice to his vast body of knowledge, but those early years of seeing attitudes and behaviors modeled have had a huge impact on making a successful career from breeding and training dogs. Our father participated in the process for recreation and relaxation; My brother enjoys that aspect also, but he earns his livelihood from it as well.
Some of the joys of the outdoors in the low country are:
Differences in light are a major source of wonder. First daylight is when those first rays of light start to make the area where one is standing take on shape and form and substance. Big daylight is when all the brightness of the new day is there and the refreshing beauty of the early morn is there before one’s eyes with the rays of the sun sparkling on the dew drops like diamonds scattered over the tall grasses of the marsh.
Smells are another component of the low country experience. The salt water marshes have a smell that is experienced no place else on earth. The fog rising in the distance lending its eerie mystery to the setting soon dissipates as the sun climbs higher into the sky.
One learns the differences in silence. When the sounds aren’t right, even children know that something is amiss. The sounds of insects and animals, croaking of frogs, splashing of a few brave fish breaking the calm of the glass-like surface of the water.
Oh,h,h, there’s never existed a hunger like that after a morning out exploring the land and deciding how the next few days’ hunting is going to be spent. Sometimes Daddy would stop on the way back to the campsite at a little store and let us have a grape or orange Crush and a pack of Nabs to take the edge off the hunger. A drink is never as cold as when it’s pulled up out of a cooler full of ice and water and scores of soda pop bottles.
Trusting one’s world amidst the beauty of nature and the honesty and honor of just plain good folks wove an incredible background for the tapestry of our young lives.
As pre-schoolers, my brother and I went with our Daddy to “work” the dogs and to watch them run and retrieve dummies. My daddy told me that I loved going and that even though I was a “feminine” little girl, I never wanted to be left behind. I learned very young not to ask questions when the dogs were looking for a covey of quail. I also knew not to throw anything when Daddy was working with their retrieving skills. My brother had his own gun when he was 5 or 6 years old and learned from my father the importance of knowing that the gun was NOT a toy and, when hunting, not to play with the dogs but to see them as part of the hunt.
People in our small town, Georgetown, SC, used to come over in the early evening to watch my father feed the dogs. Even their mealtime was a learning opportunity for our dogs. None of them were allowed to eat until Daddy gave the command. To people who didn’t understand hunting and the importance of the dog’s work, it was just entertainment to see the popular Southern Preacher work with his dogs, but we knew, even then, that the dogs needed to see Daddy as the leader–or the authority.
Limited litters available – reserve your future hunting partner or family friend today!
Limited litters available – reserve your future hunting partner or family friend today!
Interested in Labrador Retriever training services or stud service? Perfect for clients who lack time or patience to raise a puppy—we offer a superior selection of trained adult retrievers.
“I have known Woody and Judy for over 20 years. There are no finer folks. They have my total trust with any dog sent to Twin Lakes for training. The dogs that go to Twin Lakes are worked in drills. Don't expect your dog to come home fat. Working dogs need to be in top physical condition. The most powerful thing about Woody is that his dog work to their...
-Nat lambeth
Woody and Judi Thurman of Twin Lakes Kennel have been breeding and training world class Labrador Retrievers for more than 35 years. Twin Lakes Kennel is the number #1 resource for Labrador Retriever puppies. We select from the most dominant American field bloodlines and breed for natural hunting instinct and tractability. Our Labs, both puppies and adults, are out of the top working Labrador Retriever bloodlines in the country. The end results are the most talented, well rounded Labrador Retrievers possible, making them a most desirable family pet. More than eight thousand (8,000) Labrador Retrievers have been bred and trained during those thirty-five years. During this time, Woody has titled more than 200 AKC Master Hunter Labrador Retrievers. Woody has also qualified 47 retrievers at AKC Master Nationals. He has won the Ducks Unlimited Open Championships twice.
In addition, two of his Labs, Drake and Rondy, bred and trained at Twin Lakes Kennel, are in the Master National Hall of Fame. Our Labrador Retriever puppies are the culmination of a 30 year search for the most talented, well rounded Labrador Retriever possible. We select from the most dominant American field bloodlines and breed for natural hunting instinct and tractability.
Our puppies begin a structured socialization program in the litter box and are introduced to birds at six weeks. All our Labrador Retriever Puppies carry a guarantee against hereditary defects and to have basic retrieving instincts. Parents of all our Labrador Retriever puppies are physically sound with certified hips and eyes.
They are out of the top working Labrador Retriever bloodlines in the country. We guarantee all our Labrador Retriever puppies to be free from hereditary defects. Call Woody and Judi at (910) 462-3246 for more information.
