From my husband’s question to a shared journey
In 2019, I celebrated a milestone birthday.
Since jewellery isn’t something that really excites me, the classic question came up:
“What would make you happiest in the world?”
My answer was immediate—and honestly, to this day, I don’t even know where it came from.
A dog.
We both had experience with dogs from childhood. We knew what such a commitment entailed, and perhaps that’s why my husband was a little hesitant at first. In the end, however, he agreed – on one condition. The breed had to be medium-sized at most.
When the breed finds you
Our daughter was actively involved in finding the right breed. And then one day we stumbled upon it completely by accident – in a calendar.
Its name was Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
I admit, I had never heard of this breed before and had never seen one in real life. We started reading about it, getting to know it, and were delighted to find out that a dog show was coming up in Bratislava. We went to see “our” dog.
And if you believe in love at first sight, you can imagine what happened next.
We fell in love. Instantly.
Patience as the first test
Getting a Toller puppy was not easy.
Of all the breeding stations in the surrounding countries, we liked the one near Zlín (CZ) the most. In the breeding world, puppies are not given away “here and there,” so I started communicating—first in writing, then by phone.
This was followed by a personal meeting. Pleasant, open, sincere.
And then the news that the puppies would probably not be available for another year.
Of course, it was disappointing, because when you want something, you want it right away. But the desire was stronger. We decided to wait.
When intuition decided
In the summer of 2020, the news we had been waiting for arrived.
We could look forward to a puppy.
From the very first days, we followed the puppies on Instagram, and after about five weeks, we paid our first visit. I admit – at that moment, I wanted to take them all home with me. Probably a new syndrome.
After the visit, we had to choose and send a list of the three females we liked best.
The puppy with the pink bow kept cuddling up to us. And maybe that’s why – and maybe because of that strange, calm feeling of certainty – we chose her first. We hoped she would find her way to us. And she did.
Our Kaisey.
Learning together changed us
The first days and weeks were about getting to know each other. Then came training — and with it, two basic priorities: bonding & reliable recall.
Kaisey is a full-fledged member of our family. She loves closeness and likes to cuddle on the couch, but she also likes her own space.
Day by day, we saw her grow – and we changed along with her.
She pulled us outside. She learned, and we learned too.
And this shared learning gradually became our shared hobby.
Why was our kennel founded
We did not originally intend to breed dogs at all.
The decision came naturally – thanks to Kaisey, her character, her enthusiasm for work, her health results, and also the low awareness of this breed in our country.
We wanted to help the Toller become established in Slovakia in the right way – in families who understand them and want to live with them, not just own them.
The name Cherubic Soul is derived from her full name, Cherubic Kaisey Targaryen Fire.
Because to us, she really is an angel with four paws.
This is us
We are a family breeding station and we want to remain that way.
We do not want to breed puppies “on a conveyor belt.” We care about the health, pedigree, character, and working disposition of our dogs.
Our goal is to ensure that this exceptional breed develops in the right way in Slovakia.
With respect.
And with heart.
Viktória a Martin
