About Us

The Holly’s

We are the Holly family, consisting of Rick and Lisa Holly, and our three young children still living at home. Our older children have grown and started their own families. Rick has been a dedicated waterfowl hunter for over 35 years and has always owned Labrador Retrievers. In his experience, Labs make the best hunting dogs and family companions.

Initially, Rick started with American Labs, which excelled in the field but exhibited destructive behaviors in the home. He then switched to English Labs, which were much better behaved indoors, but lacked the drive he desired for hunting. Seeking a balance, Rick acquired an American-English cross, which improved the experience but still came short of expectations.

Through a friendship with a man who owned a British Lab, Rick saw firsthand the exceptional qualities of these dogs in the field. After hunting together for a season, Rick was so impressed by the British Lab that he and Lisa began researching the breed. By the end of the season, they had placed an order for a black female British Lab, though she wouldn’t be born for another year. During the waiting period, Lisa decided she also wanted a yellow female as a strictly family pet. Though new to owning a yellow Lab, they ordered one as well. Shortly after, they were offered an opportunity to adopt a yellow female imported from Ireland. The original family that had purchased her had to back out due to unforeseen circumstances, and the Holly family eagerly welcomed Ivy into their home.

Ivy became Lisa’s dog, and Lisa trained her entirely on her own. While Ivy was initially intended to be a house pet, it soon became clear she had exceptional waterfowl hunting potential. Rick quickly realized that these British Labs had a unique combination of energy, drive, and ability to relax, all in one dog. Ivy’s remarkable abilities confirmed they had found the breed they had been seeking for years.

However, Rick was not initially impressed with the high cost of British Labs. Having bred a few of his own Labs in the past to find the perfect puppy, many people who had met Ivy expressed interest in puppies from her line. Inspired by their enthusiasm, the Holly family decided to pursue breeding British Labs to offer these exceptional dogs at a more affordable price for families.

The experience of raising these puppies in a family environment, alongside their children, solidified the Holly family’s long-term commitment to breeding British Labs.

Every litter has been raised in a home where children are actively involved in their care. The children play with the puppies, assist with their daily needs, and provide loving attention. The Holly family believes this hands-on experience not only produces better puppies but helps nurture better children as well.

In the spring of 2023, the Holly family imported their first stud “Bo” from Ireland, who now serves as their in-house stud dog. He has seamlessly adjusted to their family and American hunting environments.