Testimonials

Raezhaven Jimmi Taco

Jimmy - Owned by Jane Fournier

We became the proud owners of Raezhaven Jimmi Taco "Jimmy " 7 weeks ago. He is an absolute joy and a fun and lovable family member.

Jimmy came to us at 8 weeks and settled in extremely well, charming everyone. He took everything in his stride and we saw his little mischievous sense of fun almost instantly.

From the moment the litter arrived Rachel and Phil kept all the "puppy parents " updated with their progress with almost daily photos and videos so by the time we met little Jimmy we almost felt as though we knew him already. Rachel and Phil were and continue to be available for any questions we may have and after the pups were 3 weeks we were welcome to visit them as often as we liked.

The attention and care given to the puppies in the early weeks by Rachel and Phil is undoubtedly what gives the little guys their confidence and ease in new situations.

Jimmy has already been named our dog trainers "star pupil " and she asks to have Jimmy as her little demonstrator every week. He is so willing to learn and we are very proud of him.

We would like to thank Rachel and Phil for our little Jimmy he is an absolute treasure !

Raezhaven Domingo Siete

Jester - Owned by Kim & Ian

We had always had Golden retrievers and it had been 16 years since we had had a puppy. So the prospect of taking on an 8 week old cocker spaniel was a daunting one.

However, Rachel and Phil could not have made it easier or more pleasurable. We were made to feel welcome no matter how often we wanted to visit and living locally that was pretty often. We were never made to feel silly no matter how trivial our questions were, this was a massive change and challenge for us but we were carefully supported through each stage.

Many of the new methods of training a puppy were new to us but we were carefully introduced and ably supported in all of this.

Taking Jester home for the first time was scary and exciting in equal measures. We expected it t be hard work but were pleasantly surprised with how quickly Jester settled.

He was very well socialised and an extremely well balanced and confident puppy. We took him out in our arms as often as possible to give him new experiences, he coped with each of these admirably.

Rachel was always readily available for help and advice. When she visited us she made excellent progress in teaching Jester to lie down, something we had been struggling with. She is always there if we need help or advice with Jester.

We are thrilled with Jester, he has been everything we had hoped for and more. He has coped really well with coming to live with us, in what can be, at times, a busy and lively house. This is largely due to the wide range of experiences Phil and Rachel provided for him in those early formative weeks. Now we are able to take him out he is confident in all his new experiences, he is confident but polite when he meets new and bigger dogs.

We are thrilled with him, he has been a lot of work but an amazing amount of fun.

Raezhaven Chica Dorado

Dora - Owned by Stephanie

I have recently become the proud owner of Dora a Raezhaven pup who is first and foremost a treasured member of our family already, but who will in the future be trained for agility.

After doing my research into the breed I was very impressed with the Raezhaven website and after talking to Rach it was clear that she was passionate about her dogs and quite rightly took care in making sure her pups went to the most suitable homes for them.
From the moment the pups are born prospective owners are involved in their progress by photographs and videos so by the time you meet them you feel like you know them.I liked that they were brought up in a home environment and they had no shortage of visitors so had plenty of socialization and you were welcome to visit as often as you wanted after they were 4 weeks old.

Our puppy came to us at 8 weeks of age and settled in with no problem at all. She is a very confident lively eager little pup which is down to the brilliant start in life that Rach and Phil gave her.

Rach and Phil are a very welcoming couple (so are their dogs) who are always available for advice and they encourage continued contact with their puppy owners which I find quite reassuring.

I would thoroughly recommend a Raezhaven pup to anyone and can't thank Rach enough for allowing us to have adorable Dora in our lives.

Raezhavens Spooktacular

Kali - Owned by The Dyer Family

After loosing our beloved GSD, it took us over two years of research and thought to find the perfect breed of puppy! We are recent owners of a Raezhaven puppy and she has completely fulfilled our family. Raezhaven kennels were recommended by another breeder and from day one we knew that Rachel and Phil were the right people and breeders for us. They have been so supportive and understanding - being an extended caring family, sharing their extensive knowledge with us. Answering our many texts and phone calls and thus allowing us to choose the right puppy for our family. Raezhaven dogs are loving, confident and energetic. Kali our eleven week old puppy is no disappointment and is a credit to them! She is very loving, sociable, fun, mischievous, intelligent and just perfect...what more could you wish for.

My husband said to me that his family had owned dogs for over fifty years but our puppy is special stating; "Kali has got it all in one little package."

Raezhavens Crazy In Love

Archer - Owned by Lynn Gray

When we decided to get our second flat coat, Raezhaven were recommended to us as we were looking for another black boy who had the same breed lines as our current 3year old. We were fortunate enough to contact them not long after a litter had been born.

When we went down to visit Rachel and Phil they couldn't have been more helpful and kind. Their knowledge was endless and they made us feel completely at ease. All the pups were gorgeous and obviously really happy. But most of all well loved & well looked after. We therefore decided, almost immediately, to take the boy who was apparently Phil's favourite.

We were kept up to date with frequent pictures and updates on Facebook and did a couple of visits to play with and get to know the pup- who we called Archer.

Archer is a fantastic pup (well dog now really as they grow so fast). He has a lovely playful temperament and enormous energy and fun. We plan to use him as a gun dog and he has already shown that he is very happy to plough through hedges, water or any other obstacle to get his toy so all the indications are good. (exactly what we would expect given his excellent lineage). He has settled in well with Merlin (our 3 year old Flat Coat) and they play, walk and go to training together.

If any one asked us to recommend a breeder I would have no hesitation in recommending Rachel and Phil. If we decide to get another dog in the future we will definitely be calling Rachel and Phil! Thank you for allowing us to be part of your extended family.

Raezhavens What About Love

Jasper - Owned by Kelly & Zak

I had lost my beautiful Flatcoat and felt that a big hole was missing from our lives when I happened to come upon Rachel’s litter of Raezhaven puppies and then was delighted to discover that they shared the same bloodline.

Rachel and Phil were great keeping me up to date with their informative and fun website and Facebook page enabling me to feel a part of the puppies’ lives from day one. Rachel’s devotion to the puppies was evident throughout and I felt privileged when I was welcomed into the fold and finally picked my new pup, Jasper who a few weeks later came home.

He is a beautiful, balanced and easy going pup with just the right amount of puppy cheekiness and Rachel and Phil are still there if I need any advice, after all you don’t just gain a beautiful healthy pup but also an extended family and friends for life.

I am so lucky to have a Raezhaven pup and so happy to have Jasper who has not only filled a big hole but who would also make his great uncle Scout very proud.

Raezhavens Trick Or Treat

Linc - Owned by Tessa & Tom

We found Raezhaven Kennels through the Kennel Club and we are so grateful we did. Neither myself or my partner had owned a dog for a long time and we found Rachel and Phil to be very supportive and thorough from our initial enquiry to taking our puppy home.
Being local to us meant that we were able to visit Rachel and the litter on several occasions and Rachel was incredibly welcoming and patient on each visit.

We trusted Rachel’s judgement on which puppy would best suit our family and she gave us the perfect boy. Linc is laid-back loving and intelligent. He is very confident, takes everything in his stride and has fitted into our family beautiful. He is a complete joy and we are very pleased we found him and Raezhaven.

Rachel and Phil’s support continues long after the puppy leaves their kennels. They have recommended grooms, vets and puppy training classes and we will be taking Linc back soon for a visit and a walk in the woods.

Raezhavens Love Me Tender

Piper - Owned by Brenda

Having recently purchased a flatcoat retreiver puppy from Rachel Birt I would have no hesitation in recommending anyone buying a puppy from her in the future.

On the initial viewing I found the puppies to be in a safe clean environment in the house. In the weeks before I collected my pup, Rachel kept me up to date with pictures. On collection day the pup was bathed and all paperwork in order. This included feeding instructions, tips on care and socialisation, food, toys and a "mummy blanket".

Rachel also included a printout of the vet check. As a dog trainer for many years it was a welcome change to find such an efficient breeder.

Raezhavens Wallbanger

Harvey - Owned by Tim & Debbie

I think it would be fair to say we put more thought into bringing a puppy into our lives than we ever did having either of our children! Having grown up with gundogs, but fearing a Lab or Retriever might take over our fairly modest cottage (never mind our even more modest yacht!), we decided that a Working Cocker would be the perfect breed for us. We contacted two breeders local to us and when they both independently referred us to Rachel and Phil at Raezhaven we knew we had found a breeder we could trust. From first telephone contact to the day we finally took Harvey back to his forever home, Phil and Rachel were absolutely fantastic, both in terms of answering our never ending questions and also by being so patient and understanding with our 8 year old, Lucy, who out of the blue had decided she was scared of dogs!

Harvey is so very much one of the family now it’s difficult to imagine life without him. He is confident, spirited but seems to have an inbuilt set of manners and behaviours that must have been imprinted in his early days at Raezhaven. Phil and Rachel, thank you so much for helping bring Harvey into our family.

Raezhavens Cosmic Love

Chai - Owned by Coleen & Family

It has been an absolute pleasure dealing with Rachel through the process of getting a puppy.

It was always important to me that I find a breeder who took responsibility in making sure the puppies went to good homes and I could tell that Rachel had an emotional stake in the well-being of each and every one.

Our puppy is a healthy, confident and well mannered little guy and has adjusted to life in our busy household very well, a sure testament to his good start in life. I would recommend Rachel to anyone looking to take on a loving gun dog for life.

Raezhavens Toystory

Woody - Owned by Simon & Melissa

We feel really fortunate to have found Raezhaven breeders. We were most impressed with the website and were not disappointed when we met Rachel, Phil and their dogs. We liked how particular they were about finding the right homes for their puppies, and that we had the opportunity to meet both Poacher and Fern.

We were looking for a second working cocker and temperament was really important as we wanted both a loving family pet, and a dog who would work for us in working trials and agility. When we chose Woody from the litter Rachel spent hours with us talking things through, encouraging us to handle all the puppies. The fact that the puppies were born and raised in their home and not in kennels, meant it was hard to choose between them, as all of them were happy confident and well socialised.

We are delighted with Woody he has fitted so well into our family, Rachel and Phil were so welcoming on all of our visits and we feel we have joined the extended Raezhaven family. We have been keeping in touch via their Facebook group, which has been a great way to keep up to date on the progress of all the puppies and get support when needed. We are looking forward to meeting up again when we visit Dorset next year.

Raezhaven Capriccio

Maddie - Owned by Pat

Having lost my dear old Flatcoat of 14yrs my daughter persuaded me to look for another. We found Raezhaven Gundogs on the internet and have never looked back. Rachel is such a caring breeder and can`t do enough for the puppies so that you have a healthy and well socialised puppy to take home.She encourages you to visit the puppies as often as you like after they are 3wks old and nothing is too much trouble. We were able to follow "Mum`s" progress via the website and felt that we were part of it before the puppies were even born. Rachel goes to great lengths to keep you informed about their progress at regular intervals lncluding photos and videos on the website. By the time you collect your puppy you feel that you already know her/him!

I can strongly recommend Rachel as an excellent breeder who is always there for you to help with any little problems you may have. The fact that she likes to keep in touch with all the new owners shows how much she cares.....for always.Thankyou Rachel .

Raezhaven Joker

Smudge - Owned by Alex & Ginette

My wife and I had been talking about having a dog for a while so I looked into surprising her for her 30th birthday. We were set on one breeder we found, until we came across Rachel & Phil at Raezhaven. We popped round initially for a chat about the breed and what owning a dog would entail, all the time still thinking we would select from the other breeder. How wrong we were! Rachel was superb at talking us through most of the things to expect and, because we lived locally, allowed us to pop in to grill her even more about the pups and the breed. Her pups are always health tested for everything and the Raezhaven dogs are absolutely beautiful and full of life. Raezhaven have continued to support us in our first purchase but we did need to prove to Rachel that we were up to the job...don't expect to just walk in a take one! But if you do "pass the tests" then expect to have a beautiful puppy, with a superb personality and all the support you could ever need. Thank you so very much...

Raezhaven Concerto

Alphi - Owned by Jane & Keith

If you want a great, well bred, well socialised puppy look no further than Raezhaven. But, be prepared to answer some serious questions about yourself, your circumstances and your commitment to looking after your dog well. Not just anyone can have a Raezhaven puppy! Rachel & Phil really care for the dogs they breed and take a very responsible approach to ensuring that not only do they have the best start in life, but that they go on to good homes. New owners are expected to keep in touch, but are well supported by the friendly online forum, and advice is always available via emails or phone calls. Don't expect to just whisk your puppy away, becoming a Raezhaven owner is like joining an exclusive club. When making a Raezhaven purchase, you're not just getting a beautiful, intelligent, fun loving pup, but you're making a lifestyle choice, opting for proper responsible dog ownership! Brilliant! More people should get their pups this way.

Raezhavens Jelly Bean

Jelly - Owned by Teresa

I discovered Raezhaven Gundogs after hearing of someone who had a health tested non docked working cocker. I got in touch with Rachel and joined the list for a puppy over a year ago. From photos and hearing about the dogs I wanted a Fern/Ghillie pup. It has been a long wait, but wow it has been worth it. Jelly came home on Friday and she is wonderful. She is so confident in new situations and loves to learn. She is amusing and keeps us entertained as she plays with her toys and my other dogs. I cannot thank Rachel and Phil enough for allowing me to have one of their pups who they obviously care for and put a lot of time and effort in to in order to get such happy, confident pups. I fully intend to keep updating to let everyone know how Jelly is getting along and to keep in touch with Rachel, whom I consider a very good friend. Thank you soooo much Rachel and Phil!!

Raezhaven Donnelly

Branston - Owned by Mike & Vicki

We wanted to send this through after our first weekend with Branston. Having been fortunate enough to be referred to you from Ali, the entire process has been so reassuring and supportive from the first call.(and there probably wont be a last!!) You and Phil have been supportive, informative and caring from the start. Answering the unending list of questions we have had. Being able to meet the mum and dad, was lovely, and gives a taster of the temperaments we can expect in the coming months.. No question is too much trouble, which is reassuring when I sometimes wonder if it?s a ridiculous thing to ask, and your knowledge of the breed and the individual pups is second to none. We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Rachel and Phil as breeders, and can emphatically say that a Raezhaven puppy is a happy, contented and well cared for puppy. We're looking forward to keeping in touch regularly, and perhaps visiting again soon ..

Raezhavens Razzmattazz

Razzmattazz - Owned by Lissa

After being a Collie owner for some years but always loved the look of a WCS....I got back in touch with Rachel. Rachel and I did agility many years ago. My vet /friend advised me if I wanted a WCS to speak to Rachel & Phil. So i did and went on the waiting list for a pup. I fell in love with Ghillie and was willing to wait and have a pup of his. Then came Fern & Ghillie's litter. Razzy is the image of Ghillie and it was love at first sight.After alot of visits from me and my 3 girls Yesterday I picked Raezhavens Razzmattazz up to join my family. He has settled in so quick and is just perfect in every way. I have found the forum a lot of help and fun!. We lost a very important member of our pack a short while ago "Fenris Wolf"....but I can say Razzy is already filling that space. Thank you so much Rachel & Phil.

Raezhaven Gower

Mojo - Owned by The Thomassen Family

We have now had Mojo (Raezhaven Gower) for a month and we want to tell you what a delight he is. From the moment I picked him up from you he has shown himself as a well behaved and well socialised puppy, so your hard work has really paid off. As you know the process to get a dog has been a long one for me. I wanted the time to be right so I could look after him in a proper way. It turns out that Mojo has been well worth the wait. He is lively, lovingly, good with children, loves company, good family dog and lots of lots of fun. From the first time I contacted you on the phone you have been very helpful. As we live in Cambridge it is a long journey down to Christchurch and we only visited the puppies once before picking up Mojo. With you help we got the perfect puppy for us and it is good to know you are just a phone call away whenever I need advice. We can fully recommend Rachel and Phil at Raezhaven as they exemplify what it means to be a responsible breeder.

Raezhaven Riddler

Finlay - Owned by Stuart W

Having discovered the delights of owning a working-bred Cocker Spaniel, I was keen to add another to my pack, and this time from health-tested parents. Right from the off, Rachel and Phil were friendly, open, and honest, though of course I was under no illusions that I was being vetted by them as a suitable owner for one of their dogs. Finlay (Raezhaven Riddler) was born on 24th September 2010, and has been home 3 weeks at the time of writing. He is an absolute credit to everybody concerned with his birth and development to date; he is superbly well- adjusted, confident, outgoing, friendly, and is everything I was looking for in a Working Cocker. Many thanks to Rachel and Phil and everybody else connected with the breeding of Finlay, and heartfelt thanks for letting me bring this little star home. I can heartily recommend Raezhaven Gundogs as quality breeders, and I know that you will not be disappointed.

Raezhaven Bryce

Travis - Owned by Nat

Hi Rach and Phil, we finally have Travis (Raezhaven Bryce) home and he's a total star. Travelled beautifully, slept through in his crate all night and not fazed by any of the new sights and sounds or all his new canine companions, he's an absolute credit to you...will keep you posted with pics and updates of his progress. Can't thank you enough for letting this special little boy come to us!

Raezhaven Conall

Max - Owned by Brian & Fran

As a first time dog owner the experience of acquiring a dog from Raezhaven has been excellent. I had the pleasure of meeting both the mum and dad of my pup during the pregnancy and could see their home was very good. Rachel and Phil have been very supportive throughout the whole process and you can be assured you will get a good healthy pup to take home. Rachel runs two web sites to compliment the acquisition and ongoing health of the WCS and the forum and information on both sites are second to none. As a first time dog owner I have made good use of the forums which have a mixture of new owners and experienced WCS owners, these bring a wealth of knowledge to call upon. If you chose to acquire a dog from Raezhaven make sure you make good use of the web sites and forums, and in Rachel's words "Any problems or advice wanted, just call or email. Have fun, I know you will."

Raezhaven Farrell

Toby - Owned by Alison & Peter

We would have no hesitation in recommending Rachel and Phil at Raezhaven to anyone who seriously considers having a WCS. The puppies that Rachel and Phil breed are from very well documented dogs and bitches of whom temperament and character is known. Not only is the website very informative but Rachel's knowledge of her dogs and whom she is happy to let her puppies go to is down to years of experience. Her puppies are very well balanced and socialised before being given to the new owners and from our experience having Raezhaven Farrell (Toby) has been an amazing experience not only with the puppy but with the ongoing support which comes from this breeder.

Raezhaven Adagio

Amber - Owned by Denise (no pic)

I would thoroughly recommend Rachel and Phil as breeders of the most wonderful, healthy, well socialised pups. They obviously go that extra mile to ensure the health and well being of their pups and to make sure they have the best possible start. The forum that Rachel has set up for owners of her pups is fantastic - it keeps us all in touch and we can air any silly little worries, or big worries, and it helps us to know that we all worry about the same things! Our flatcoat puppy, Amber, has been incredible - housetrained during the day within 2 weeks and by night within 3 weeks - and no getting up in the night for me!! She has been the easiest pup I have ever owned for training - she just loves it! It is sometimes very easy to forget that she is still only four months old! I think this has a lot to do with the way Rachel trains the pups before they leave for their new homes. It really does make all the difference. I can't recommend Rachel highly enough!