It is not often that an event goes exactly as planned. Often they fail to meet basic expectations.
Even more rare is when a plan goes in the opposite direction and actually exceeds expectations. I’m not just talking about a planned event going smoothly, but of something that barrels completely through the “acceptable” marker, landing somewhere between exceptional and once-in-a-lifetime. They do exist. These are infrequent, and because most are small events, they usually go unnoticed. The experience may be very personal and may affect only a handful of people, but that doesn’t mean it is not worthy of recognition. Only 60 families a year get to experience a puppy-picking weekend at Ryglen Gundogs. We believe it warrants mention.
If you’ve never purchased a dog from a breeder, it entails an exchange of some signatures and shot records, a general statement of health, and a handshake from the breeder. Usually you can schedule a mutually convenient time, and the experience is generally enjoyable. You’ve just acquired a new family member, which was essentially the equivalent of buying a new car. For Jay and Buffy at Ryglen Gundogs, this is simply unacceptable.
Jay Lowry is a dentist by training, but in reality he is a passionate and perhaps overly enthusiastic hunter and dog trainer. As a youth, Jay had aspirations of becoming a dog trainer, making signs to hang on the gates of his family’s residence that announced his trade as a dog trainer and breeder. Obviously most seven-year-olds are not quite ready to create and follow a business plan, so his dream would have to wait a few years. In 2013, Lowry purchased a small parcel of land in Brownstown, Illinois, not far from his hometown of Vandalia. This was enough to pursue his dream, and Ryglen Gundogs was born.
Jay’s passion has never waned, and he has continued to expand his knowledge, becoming a well-respected expert in the world of sporting dogs. Jay and his operations manager, Buffy, are the dynamic duo behind Ryglen Gundogs, which specializes in cocker spaniels with 100 percent British genetics. Ryglen is the only kennel in the United States that can make this claim.
While Lowry is well versed in dogs, he has a relentless commitment to his passion and unwavering discipline in his technique. He practices what he preaches and is known as the iron fist at the kennel. But we discovered he also has a huge heart.
Lowry does things a bit differently at Ryglen. Those who choose a cocker from his kennel get a lot more than just a puppy. The Ryglen team creates an experience for the owners and brings them together to multiply the happiness. Jay and Buffy host several of what they call “puppy-picking weekends” throughout the year. It entails families arriving for a group supper at the kennels at about 5:30 on a Friday night and leaving early Saturday afternoon with a gift box, a new dog, and memories of the experience that will last forever.
Travel is easy, as the kennels are only a little over an hour from the airport in St. Louis. Friday night, just as the guests arrive, the puppies are placed in pens located on the front grounds so owners and their children can interact and play with them. Meanwhile, the new owners also get to meet the parents of their pups and each other during the event. If you’ve never seen a dozen cocker spaniel puppies playing with a dozen children, you’re missing one of the more magical moments in life.
It’s interesting to listen to the stories of the owners, some of whom travel great distances to pick up their pups. Some are replacing fallen friends, while others are getting their first champion-caliber hunting dogs.
“We feel that adding a Ryglen dog to your family is quite a bit more than just a transaction or exchange, and it shouldn’t feel that way either,” says Jay.
After the playtime is done, everyone sits down to an informal meal in a group setting. All hesitation is gone, as the ice has already been broken while the children were playing with the puppies. This is perhaps fortuitous, or a well-designed way to get participants interacting. Everyone shares stories about where they are from and why they have chosen a puppy from Ryglen. As a guest and observer of the event, I am drawn into the conversations and make many solid connections with participants in just a few hours. This speaks volumes to the quality of those attending these events.
On Saturday, Jay Lowry, always passionate about his craft, gives an hour-long presentation about the basics of dog training and gives new owners some very practical information about what to do (and what not to do) in a short slide show presentation. Sounds like a bore fest, but it’s actually very well done and moves quickly enough to hold everyone’s attention.
Likely because of his training in dentistry, he cites references and theory from luminaries of the past as well as other lesser-known sources, which may not be easily researched. The presentation is a well-organized and well-researched synopsis of basic dog training, concise and without tedious detail. During the talk, veteran field trial champion George sits patiently in “place” on top of his crate for the duration without making a sound, except for his excited tail periodically beating against the crate.
At the end of the presentation, the new owners are presented with a very special gift, which is not to be revealed here so it remains a surprise for future participants. Let’s just say, it is not ordinary. The new owners are also presented with a red pin and asked to place it on a framed map on the kennel wall, which shows each puppy’s location throughout North America. They are now connected to the people who have come before them and those who will come after.
Sometimes expectations are simply met, which is fine. Kudos to those who achieve the minimum. But the Ryglen experience exceeds expectations and warrants some accolades. Hats off to Jay and Buffy for setting the standard and creating such a unique event for those acquiring a new gun dog.
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