Litter
The Wildflower litter
Bramble × Jasper · born 18 August 2026 · 3 dogs, 4 bitches
1 of 7 still looking for the right home
Litters
Eight litters since 2013
We have one litter a year at most, and some years none. Each litter is planned around the bitch: she has to be at least two, have all her health results, be fit and well, and have had at least a year off since her last litter. No bitch of ours has had more than three litters.
Our puppies are named in a theme while they are with us, which is why there is a Wildflower, a Bird and a Hedgerow litter. Families choose the registered names, which all start with our affix, Meadowbrook.
Last updated Wednesday 7 October 2026
Now: seven weeks old
Planned
Past litters, with what became of them
Litter
The Hedgerow litter
Hazel × Sh Ch Ardleigh Summer Storm JW · born 11 January 2022 · 3 dogs, 4 bitches
Litter
Clover × Westbury
Clover × Sh Ch Westbury Gold Standard JW · born 2 April 2019 · 2 dogs, 4 bitches
Every Meadowbrook litter, and how the puppies turned out
47 puppies in seven litters from 2013 to 2024. Hip totals are BVA/RKC (0–106, lower is better; breed median 11). Most owners have their dog scored at our expense, but not all, and we don't chase people who say no.
| Litter | Puppies | Hips scored | Hip totals | Elbows | Other health we know of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013: Meg × Sh Ch Brackenhill Pilot | 7 (4 dogs, 3 bitches) | 4 of 7 | 6, 9, 11, 13 | 4 × grade 0 | Barley died at 9 (haemangiosarcoma); Tansy died at 11 (lymphoma) |
| 2015: Meg × Sh Ch Fernleigh Copper Kettle JW | 6 (2 dogs, 4 bitches) — we kept Clover | 4 of 6 | 8, 10, 14, 24 | 3 × grade 0, 1 × grade 1 | Clover and one sister hypothyroid; Bracken died at 10 (heart-base tumour) |
| 2018: Clover × Kingsmead Morning Glory | 8 (5 dogs, 3 bitches) | 5 of 8 | 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 | 5 × grade 0 | None known |
| 2 April 2019: Clover × Sh Ch Westbury Gold Standard JW | 6 (2 dogs, 4 bitches) — we kept Hazel | 5 of 6, plus 1 FCI (HD A) | 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 | 6 × grade 0 | None known |
| 2021: Clover × Thornfield Walnut | 5 (2 dogs, 3 bitches) | 3 of 5 | 9, 10, 12 | 3 × grade 0 | None known |
| 11 January 2022: Hazel × Sh Ch Ardleigh Summer Storm JW | 7 (3 dogs, 4 bitches) — we kept Bramble | 7 of 7 | 8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 15 | 7 × grade 0 | Rowan: idiopathic epilepsy, controlled |
| 20 May 2024: Hazel × Jasper | 8 (4 dogs, 4 bitches) — we kept Wren | 6 of 8 so far | 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 21 | 5 × grade 0, 1 × grade 1 | None known |
| All litters, 2013–2024 | 47 | 34 | Median 10 · range 4–24 | 32 × grade 0, 2 × grade 1 | No hereditary cataract, PRA or pigmentary uveitis reported |
Two hip totals are over 20: 24 for a 2015 dog and 21 for Kestrel (2024). The two grade-1 elbows are a 2015 dog and Linnet (2024).
Deaths we know of
We publish how and when our dogs die because it is the only honest way to talk about longevity in this breed.
| Dog | Litter | Age | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meg (Lakemere Morning Mist at Meadowbrook) | Foundation bitch (b. 2010) | 12 years 10 months | Splenic haemangiosarcoma |
| Barley | 2013 | 9 years | Haemangiosarcoma |
| Bracken | 2015 | 10 years | Heart-base tumour |
| Tansy | 2013 | 11 years | Lymphoma |
Cancer is the main cause of death in Golden Retrievers, and our dogs are no exception. Families tell us when they lose a dog. If we have missed one, we would like to know.