Goldens rule at Dexter dog reunion.

Byline: Scott Maben The Register-Guard

DEXTER - They are the third most popular canine breed in Oregon and are ranked second nationally. But Saturday, golden retrievers were top dogs at Elijah Bristow State Park.

Debbie and Jim Berry, who live next to the park, hosted their third annual reunion for goldens they have bred and sold into homes across the country.

The gathering drew about 50 dogs, ranging from 4 months to 12 years old. Twinkie, Cutter and Flash were there, as were Indiana, Tashi, PeJay and Shalom. And don't forget Gizmo and Stetson.

Owners attended from as far as Arizona and Florida. Pat and Bill Endicott of Albany brought Dusty, their 4 1/2 -month-old female, hoping to expose her to other pups for play and socialization.

"This is the first time she's really been around dogs," Pat Endicott said. "Plus we want to see what ours will look like when she's older."

Brad and Carol Ann Mason of Walla Walla accompanied their golden retrievers, Dolly and her daughter Ruby. Dolly is a retired breed bitch from the Berrys' Sunshine Goldens kennel and had at least a half-dozen offspring in the crowd.

Mellow, obedient and eager to please, goldens easily demonstrate why they are so popular as show dogs or pets, surpassed nationally by only the ubiquitous Labrador retriever.

"They have a wonderful temperament," Brad Mason said. "They become part of your family. They're not a live-out-in-your-yard dog. They have outstanding personalities, and they excel at any dog sport."

Many of the dogs present Saturday have show titles in such American Kennel Club competitive events as agility, obedience and tracking. By virtue of titles earned, the Berrys were the top golden retriever breeders in the country in 1995 and regularly rank in the top 10.

Some of their dogs have gone on to work in search and rescue or to assist patients with therapy. Some have gone to homes in Ecuador, Chile, Germany, England and Japan.

But neither work nor travel was on the agenda for the dogs gathered Saturday. They mostly got to lay around in the shade, splash in some pools of cool water or the nearby Middle Fork Willamette River, and mug for their owners' cameras.

Others played games, such as the biscuit toss, musical hoops and an obstacle course. Winners were awarded bandannas and tennis balls.

"The reason I have this is to promote responsible dog ownership with the people we've supplied dogs to," Debbie Berry said. "It gives them a sense of community, a feeling of being a part of a big family, rather than being out there on their own."

Joan Oakes of Flagstaff, Ariz., attended the reunion with her dogs Buster, a Sunshine alumnus, and Phoebe.

"We're on a three-week vacation, so we stuck this in the middle of it," Oakes said.

Owners said they come to share their fondness for the dogs, swap stories and advice, and kick back with their canine companions.

"Once you get into golden retrievers, you're stuck," Brad Mason said. "They're wonderful animals."

CAPTION(S):

A moment of chaos reigns after a group photo as golden retrievers depart with their owners in tow at a dog reunion at Elijah Bristow State Park.