Please see below for answers to some frequently asked questions.


How do you pronounce “Drentsche Patrijshond”?

Without a Dutch accent, it’s pretty difficult to get the pronunciation just right, but it’s something like: “d’rinse-ah puh’trice-hond”. I think of the words “rinse” and “rice”, and attempt (poorly) to roll my R’s.


Do you have any Drent puppies available?

As of this writing, we have a planned breeding to occur in the summer of 2024. Our waitlist is open – to see our puppy purchase process and submit an application, check out our Puppy Application page!


Why “Meliora”?

Meliora is a Latin word that translates to “ever better”, which is what we would strive for in our limited breeding program – thoughtfully pairing a dam and sire with the intent to produce puppies that improve on both in terms of health, conformation, temperament, and ability, as well as contribute positively to the Drent population at large.

Meliora is also the motto of the University of Rochester – the city Ellie grew up in the Western New York State. Rochester has a well-known yearly lilac festival. Ellie even specially requested lilacs be included in her wedding due to the nostalgic connection to her childhood home and hometown. Unbeknownst to us, when we picked up Iris (our foundation girl) from Two Gun Kennels/Duck Creek Drents in Spokane, Washington, the city of Spokane was also celebrating its own yearly lilac festival. So the name also connects back to where Ellie was raised and where Iris was born.


How did you learn how to train dogs?

I started out self-taught by simply observing trainers on Youtube and Instagram, but have since spent hundreds of hours involved in a local all-breed obedience club, taking numerous online and in-person classes, attending webinars, reading books, listening to podcasts, shadowing pet and sport-dog trainers, and more. I learn best by absorbing large amounts of information, finding the common grains of truth, and trial-and-error with my own dogs. While I don’t consider myself a “dog trainer”, I have and will instruct intro to Scent Work classes, and will gladly point those who ask towards resources to help with whatever they are looking to work on!


Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message!

RuffCoast & Meliora

Ever Better Drentsche Patrijshonden