Heartland Retrievers was the joining of two individuals and their dogs back in 1994. Vito and Carrie (we) both grew up hunting and had our own kennels when we met. We both used our dogs for hunting and met field training at hunt tests in the early 90's. We started trialing in the mid 80's and many of our dogs today are the progeny from our first companions.

Vito's kennel was named "Double A" and Carrie's was "Sugar Magnolia". When we married we decided to pick out a name that suited both of us and we liked "Heartland" because we felt that we put our "hearts" into everything that dealt with our dogs...our dogs have been our heart & soul!

Vito trained retrievers professionally for about four years and was very successful with a track full of eager retrievers that performed exceptionally at the trials. He and clients also took many hunting trips in the U.S. as well as Canada, and the dogs went wherever they went and enjoyed every minute of it!

Children came into the picture & we decided that we needed "Dad" at home with us so he gave up the professional training. We no longer field trial at this point in our lives due to the financial situations that children require, but we still enjoy hunting, training, and breeding our own dogs. All of our dogs today are working dogs as well as companions to our family. We pride ourselves and our kennel on genetically sound Labrador Retrievers that have a temperament of a "lamb" but the retrieving desire of a "lion".

We invite you to visit our kennels and meet our "family" and see for yourself why we are so happy nestled in the Shenandoah Valley!

A Thank you from Heartland Retrievers... We would like to first thank God for giving to us these exceptional dogs that we have loved, shared blinds or boats with and had as members of our family. Very few animals would tolerate the constant aggravation that our children can cause as well as get along with 9 other dogs like the temperament of our Heartland Gang. We would also like to thank our families for their support and encouragement during all our trialing days, and for enjoying many, many hunting moments with us! Thanks also goes to the Linden Heights Animal Hospital staff with special thanks to Doctors Joseph & Peter Schmitt and Reba Barley for their advice, concerns, recommendations and enthusiasm for the goals we are trying to accomplish with the health of our working Labradors. Finally, we sincerely thank all of the folks who have bred to our dogs or have purchased puppies since the beginning and for the love you have given to these wonderful animals, we know what you are getting in return and there are no words that can describe the unconditional love in a Labradors eyes!

- Vito and Carrie Angelone