About Holmecliffe

Holmecliffe Gundogs

“where the best of breeding works”

 

Hello, my name is Kate Stead, I am a 32-year-old Dog mad wife to Tom and mummy to dougie. Farmers wife and farmers daughter animals have always been at the heart of everything i have done in life.

 

My kennel name Holmecliffe was first registered with the kennel club in 2018 but the love and passion I have for dogs was long established before that.

Holmecliffe is an acronym of two important to me words put together – ‘Holme’ meaning Holme on Swale, where we live ‘cliffe’ coming from my maiden name Sutcliffe.

 

As a young girl it was apparent from a young age that I was heading for a life including dogs. I struggled with academic work at school but had memorised all 223-kennel club recognised dog breeds by around the age of 12! I was fortunate enough to grow up on my family livestock farm in the heart of North Yorkshire, my mum bred border terriers and my Dad always had working sheep dogs. Both of which I was very hands on with. At the age of 12 I was finally allowed my own dog. Along came Fliss, a beautiful snow white, show bred, chunky monkey, golden retriever puppy.

She was everything a dog mad girl needed and more. She taught me so much, she taught me about the true dog love, loyalty, companionship and always having a positive, happy outlook on life. She definitely sowed the seed for the love of golden retrievers. I tried everything with Fliss from showing to agility, she didn’t have much interest in either but was just happy to be wherever I was.Fliss lived a wonderful and fulfilled life joining in many family adventures, she sadly passed away in 2018 aged 14. Along with my lovely sister Luci, we also have had ponies/horses all our life, my mum being the type of mum that got us out of bed every morning at 6am to ride and muck out before school. I am forever grateful for the routine mum set in our lives and the importance of animals come first she drilled into us from so young. We had a wonderful childhood engaging in pony club learning how to be competitive but fair as well as being part of a great team.

 

Fast forward quite a few years and now married with a family of our own to husband Tom. Our shared love of dogs was one of the things that brought Tom and I together. Tom also shares my love and passion for dogs, he is also a farmer and his life is shared with 5 working collies and his own Cocker spaniel, minnie.

 

Through Toms support and encouragement to chase my dreams I now work at home full time running my own Park House Luxury Dog Boarding and Holmecliffe working gundogs. Park House Luxury Dog Boarding established in 2021.

I currently have a team of 10 dogs predominantly Retriever breeds but cocker spaniels as well. More about them on our MEET THE TEAM page.

 

Our kennels and facilities are set at home on our own family farm, nestled in the heart of North Yorkshires finest shooting countryside. It comes with no guessing that I absolutely love working my team of dogs, watching them do what they were bred to do fills me with so much joy and we do around 50 days every winter picking up on local shoots.

I am also interested in all kinds of other dog activities, I am currently enjoying showing my Curly Coated Retriever Bridie. I go to Obedience classes with my Flat coat and always up for learning new things. I also love nothing more than enjoying family day to day life with my dogs, they regularly join us on holiday, days at the beach, coming along to summer agricultural shows with our sheep and generally being a big part of our life. Iam lucky enough to have lots of wonderful friends who share my passion and we regularly meet up to train together. Cath from 'Sumingold golden retrievers' being one, Cath has been a huge positiive influence on my gundog training journey and someone i still turn to regularly for advice. Along with Jo, "Firecurl Curlies" Bridies breeder who has been so helpful and supportive of my CCR journery so far. I think our friendships with in our dog circles are so important and something i always strive to maintain.

I was a veterinary nurse for 10 years prior to running my own dog related businesses, this has instilled great standards into my work ethics and health, hygiene standards. I like to think I am quite an organised person and love to keep my puppy homes fully informed with lots of helpful tips and advice.  Some might say they're over loaded with information. It may come as a surprise to some but one of my favourite parts of having the dogs is the general day to day care and cleaning. I love nothing more than tidy, clean kennels and sparkling silver dinner dishes. I love a warm summers day bathing and grooming the dogs.

My husband jokes the kennels are hoovered more than our house. I run a very transparent approach to breeding, and I am always more than happy to show perspective customers around my dogs and facility’s.

I try my best to always be on the end of the phone to answer questions and be there for puppy owners. I hate to call breeding my job, its my passion first and foremost and i feel extremely fortunate to make a living off it to enable me to stay at home full time with my dogs.