About Us

We are dividing our time between our home in Celina and the farm in Moss, TN. Lots of big fields, a running creek we can work and play in, as well as being close enough to the river and lake to enjoy them several times a week. After spending some time here, we discovered lots of honeysuckle vines, two Sycamore trees with natural hives of bees and the two largest Dogwood trees my husband has ever seen. We decided every farm needs a name and so we are calling this Dogwood Farm in honor of those beautiful trees.

We are lucky enough to be located in Clay County Tennessee, near the Cumberland and Obey (pronounce Oh Bee) Rivers and Dale Hollow Lake, so we have plenty of water where we play and train. Our dogs swim a lot, in every season. The Obey River is particularly challenging with swift current as electric power is generated as the powerhouse at the Dam releases water from the lake into the river. The water temperature is usually in the low to mid 40"s in the winter months and not much warmer in summertime!

We chose the as our kennel name Ruffnreddy as a tribute to an old tugboat working the Cumberland river during the 1800's called the Rough and Ready. During the 19th and early 20th century, riverboats called "packets" were the lifeblood of small communities like Celina. These "packets" were made to navigate in shallow water and the old-timers will tell you tales of when they waded across the Cumberland River to come to "town".

Rough and Ready is also a fitting tribute for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. The tenacity, endurance and courage of the breed coupled with their intelligence makes the Chessie a unique American Breed.