Here’s the way the story was told to me by Calvin's Mother

Years ago, when Calvin was a young boy he became very ill with rheumatic fever. He couldn’t go to school or play with his friends for a very long time. His doctor suggested to his parents, that it would be nice if Calvin had a dog to keep him company while in confinement to the home.

Calvin’s dad took Calvin to a news stand and bought a Dog World Magazine to help Cal make a decision as to what breed of dog he would like to own.  After going through it several times looking at pictures and reading about all the different breeds, Calvin decided he would like to own a Cocker Spaniel. They found a breeder in that magazine that lived about 90 miles from them and called to set up an appointment.

The next weekend Calvin and his family drove up to Richard and Lorrain Wyngardens, Creekwood Kennel of Chicago. The Wyngardens were very nice people and told them all about the breed.  As it turned out the Wyngardens acquired most of their cockers from what was then said to be the most famous parti-color cocker kennel in the country, the Honey Creek Kennel.

Calvin went home a very happy little boy with his first dog, a beautiful red and white cocker spaniel male by the name of Creekwood Chieftain (call name – Socko). Socko had one point, which the Wyngardens put on him as a puppy, but he grew to be one inch too tall so he couldn’t finished his championship. This was fine with the Winders because they only wanted a pet for Calvin, or so they thought.

The Wyngardens told Calvin and his family to bring Socko back when he needed to be groomed and they would teach them how to groom him.

Six weeks later Calvin and his dad drove back up to the Creekwood Kennel to learn how to groom Socko.  They came home not only with Socko, but also with Creekwoods Miss Showoff (call name – Pinky), Yes, Pinky had a fault that would keep her from showing.  A pink rim around one eye.

INTERESTING PEDIGREE:   Honey Creeks breeding program

Ch. Honey Creek Havana was bred to her litter brother Ch. Honey Creek Heirloom. The resulting litter produced Ch. Creekwood Corsage and Creekwood Chessman. Chessman bred back to his own mother produced Ch. Creekwood Mr. Big and Creekwood Miss Showoff (Pinky)

The Winders purchased (Pinky) Miss Showoff on agreement to breed her to Ch. Honey Creeks Heirloom and the Wyngardens got the first pick puppy, a bitch by the name of Ch.Creekwood Calico Lou. Calvin and his family kept a male, which they named King Richard, after Richard Wyngardens.

Calvin started working with Socko and in 1949 Calvin won his first blue ribbon with him in Junior Showmanship at the Skyline Kennel Club under Judge Norma Warner, at the age of nine.

This was the beginning of over 50 years for Calvin showing dogs.

Charlie Winders, Calvin's dad and successful businessman, learned to show cockers by showing King Richard. He put some points on him and a group 1, but didn’t finish him. King Richard was never bred.

Calvin’s mother Veda, a school teacher, selected the next breeding for Pinky. Her choice was Ch. Baliwicks Brandy, owned by Norman Austin. Two champions were finished from that breeding. Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Randy and Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Carla. Carla was considered by many to be the most beautiful bitch of her day. Carla went on to become the number one specialty bitch in the country with 16 Best of Opposites and held this record for 16 years.

This breeding to Brandy was so successful that they decided to repeat the breeding and from that litter they had Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Judy. 
Calvin's dad finished Judy with a 5 point major in seven shows and bred her to a total out-cross, Ch. Hall-Ways Hoot Mon, a very sound, good moving dog. From this litter there were two champions. Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Short’n Bread and Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Sinbad. 
Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Sinbad went on to become the Top Producing Dog (OF ALL BREEDS) of all times (at that time) with 118 champions. He also has a very impressive show record. He won the variety at the National 3 consecutive years and also won Best in Show at the National.

Calvin owned Ch.Scioto Bluff’s Fascination, a daughter of  Pinky, and bred her to Sinbad and they produce Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Sinbar. Sinbar won the Variety at the National. Calvin then bought a red bitch from Jobe Glen, out of Ch. Jobe Glen’s Bronze Falcon and Ch. Jobe Glen’s Maria. Her name was Jobe Glen Be Lovely. She was bred to Ch. Hopewood Headstrong and they produced Ch.Scioto Bluff’s Traveler a group winner. Traveler was bred to a Sinbad granddaughter and they produced Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Scrumptious and Ch Scioto Bluff’s Sirius. This brother/sister pair went on to win Winner Dog/Winners Bitch at the St. Louis Specialty after Scrumptious won the Sweepstakes at that Specialty.
Ch. Scioto Bluff’s Scrumptious went on to win a 5 point major at the American Spaniel Club (National) over 80 bitches.

Ch Scioto Bluff’s Scrumptious  

Calvin bred, owned and finished many champions in all three varieties. Outstanding in the black variety was Ch. Scioto Bluff's Blueberry and Ch. Scioto Bluff's Huckleberry. Blueberry won three classes and Best Bred By Exhibitor in Show at 9 months. From there she went on to Louisville Specialty Show at 11 months to win Best In Sweeps, a 5 point major and Best Of Opposite Sex to Best Of Breed Over 20 Champion Bitches, Owner handled.

Along with running his businesses, a photo finishing laboratory, and two retail stores, Calvin acquired his AKC handler license and handled many different breeds including the Akitas when AKC first recognized them. He was also an instructor for many conformation classes, and a Dog Show Photographer for specialty and all breed shows in the mid-west.

Showing and breeding show dogs has been a part of Calvin's life as long as he can remember.  His dogs are his life and every moment of his life is shared with his true and faithful dogs.

Calvin is semi-retired from showing our Akita's now.  The boys are simply too big for him to get around the ring with, due to arthritis in his knees.  He is still showing our girls and young boys, but we have a handler show the older boys now. 

We had been watching the Bulldogs show for several years, almost every time we went to the shows, and we fell in love with this wonderful breed.  Every time we would go over to the Bulldog ring or see one at the show, we couldn't help but to laugh or smile.  They knew we thought they were cute and most of them couldn't resist showing off for us.
So, in 2006, we decided to take the plunge and purchase some Bulldogs so Cal could keep  participating in the SPORT he loves the most, showing his dogs. 
These little guys don't move as fast as the Akita's and Cal has no problem keeping up with them. They are so darling, they love to play with their toys and like little clowns, they love to entertain everyone.  They also enjoy their nap time, and we enjoy their nap time as well.

Bulldogs Keep Us Laughing!

Calvin is still showing dogs, Our Akita’s, and now our Bulldogs.