about

ROMEO (Retired 12/22/25)

Canen Gossamer Stardust Of Forest Lakes

Strengths:  carriage, squareness, chin/underjaw, eyes, head, neck, chest, rib spring, shoulder layback, topline, feet, tail set, rear angulation, coat, movement-reach and drive

Allow me to introduce Romeo, the cornerstone of our breeding program, whose journey has been a result of meticulous planning and a wonderful partnership with my first mentor, a retired breeder with over 30 years of experience in breeding and showing. Giselle, affectionately known as Gigi, is the dam, and the litter of black puppies was lovingly born and raised in our home at Forest Lakes. While all the puppies were truly exceptional, Romeo was one of two ‘keeper’ pups chosen to carry forward our legacy. 

During their first year, Romeo and his littermate Porsche, alongside me, attended Obedience I and handling classes tailored for conformation. Romeo and I continued our educational journey by participating in Obedience II, and by the end of the second obedience class, he proudly earned his Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title.

Romeo and I ventured into the world of conformation showing in December 2019 when he was just 14 months old. Remarkably, we clinched his champion title within the first month and achieved the grand champion title by the time he turned 16 months. Initially, our intention was for him to join my mentor’s AKC handler in March 2021, but the unforeseen challenges posed by COVID-19 altered those plans..  

In 2020, Romeo distinguished himself as UKC’s #6 standard poodle and received an invitation to compete in the Top Ten Invitational at UKC Premier Nationals in June 2021. At the prestigious Poodle Specialty hosted by UKC and the United Poodle Association, he secured impressive titles, including Grand Champion, National Best of Breed, and Reserve Best in Specialty Show.

His accolades continued to mount, with a total of 61 Best of Breed (BOB) awards, 3 Best in Show (BIS) victories, and 6 Reserve Best in Show (RBIS/RBISS) triumphs, culminating in a UKC National Best of Breed award (NBOB) that earned him the UKC Emerald and Ruby Gemstone Grand Champion titles. Romeo briefly reigned as the #1 Standard Poodle in the nation for a significant portion of 2021, before graciously ceding the spot to Rhett’s breeder and co-owner Wendy for her lovely brown girl. He concluded the year 2021 as UKC’s #2 Standard poodle. 

In March 2022, Romeo embarked on his AKC career with a spectacular debut, securing the Best of Winners title over 6 other dogs on both days, as well as Best of Opposite over a special! His championship journey with Ann Rairigh, AKC Professional Handler, culminated in April 2022 at his third show, where he earned a 4-point major.

We were deeply honored to have Romeo participate in Poodle Club of America’s National Specialty in April 2022, where he achieved an impressive 2nd place in the American Bred class, with photographers capturing some spectacular images of his memorable moments.

Romeo‘s personality shines brightly; he adores his people, his lady friends, and is a devoted cuddler. Despite his showy demeanor, he has a charming goofball side that can bring laughter to anyone’s day. Observing him on his back, playfully rubbing all over the couch or bed, and expressing his joy with snorts and honks is a surefire way to brighten the mood. He has an unbridled love for toys and a particular fondness for playing fetch, where his enthusiasm for the chase shines through, contributing to his success in precision coursing and FastCAT. 

In October 2022, Romeo made a triumphant return to the UKC show ring, where he achieved a Reserve Best in Show amid a lineup of exceptional dogs, marking the completion of his Sapphire Gemstone journey. Romeo’s story continues to unfold, with each chapter filled with boundless enthusiasm and achievements that reflect his exceptional nature.

Romeo completed DNA testing for genetic diseases, received excellent evaluations in both OFA cardiac and OFA eyes examinations, and showcased exceptional hip health with a remarkable PennHip score of 0.33. This score is significantly better than the breed average of 0.47, underlining Romeo’s exceptional structural soundness. With these remarkable health credentials, Romeo not only excels as a beloved member of our breeding program but also exemplifies our commitment to producing healthy, well-balanced and robust poodles.

Proven Producer of Versatile, Biddable Offspring

Romeo has consistently proven himself as a sire whose offspring demonstrate exceptional intelligence, versatility, and biddability. Across multiple homes, environments, and training contexts, his puppies and grandpuppies repeatedly show early engagement, strong problem-solving ability, and a natural desire to work with their handlers. Trainers and owners alike remark on their focus, adaptability, and willingness to learn—traits that support success in performance venues, working partnerships, and active companion homes.

The following professional trainer testimonial reflects one such outcome and speaks directly to the caliber of Romeo’s progeny:

“I promise with everything inside of me that what I saw her do today places her among the most incredible dogs I have worked with in my 11 years as a professional dog trainer.

Lovey is already approaching training with a level of focus and engagement that most dogs do not reach until days 10, 11, or 12 of a program—if at all. She is already looking at me as if to ask, ‘What do you want me to do next?’

I have truly never had a dog capable of doing what she is doing on Day 2. She is incredibly special—an absolute rockstar.

Thank you for trusting me with her. Working with Lovey feels like a gift, especially after a few very hard years. I am beyond happy, impressed, and excited to be her trainer.”*

— Shannon, Professional Dog Trainer (11 years experience)

Romeo is retired and collected but only for our own use.