Essayons Gundogs – HRCH Levenghyl Apollo “Rio” x SHR Greatstortun Little Ness JH “Skylark”
Whelped: June 11, 2026 |
Location: Prosper, Texas
Breeder: Essayons Gundogs – veteran-owned British & Irish Labrador program specializing in health-tested hunting dogs for field, family, and fun
This is a repeatable British cross built for the duck blind first, and the house second — biddable temperaments, strong natural retrieve, and the off-switch to live inside.
About the Sire: HRCH Levenghyl Apollo Rio
Rio is a big, powerful British Labrador with more motor than frame. Around the yard he’s calm and mannerly, but he lights up the second it’s time to work.
In the field he’s known for two things: marking and water entry. He’s a natural marker in the mold of his brother Arden, and he hits heavy cover and big water hard — the kind of entry that makes you watch twice.
Rio was imported through Lee Hayman at Tildaross Gundogs. He’s by FTW Copperbirch Ross (same sire as Arden) and out of a driven Levenghyl field-trial winning bitch who is a daughter of FTCh Copperbirch Paddy of Leadburn — a pedigree stacked with proven British trial lines.
U.S. hunt test career: Started HRC in fall 2022 ran Seasoned undefeated, hunted the 2023 season, then went 4-for-4 in Finished in late 2023 to earn his HRCH title. 
Health: BVA Hips 4:2, Elbows 0, Eyes Unaffected. DNA clear: PRA, CNM, EIC, SD2.
About the Dam: SHR Greatstortun Little Ness JH “Skylark”
Skylark is our yellow British Labrador female at Essayons. She earned her SHR early and has been a consistent hunt-test dog — including paired successes at AKC events. She has gone 8 for 8 in hunt test!!!
Her training foundation is steadiness and control (she was steady to live ducks as a young dog), and that carries into the house — calm, handler-focused, and easy to live with.
OFA
HIPS-Good
ELBOWS- Normal
DNA done through embark as well as AKC
The Litter
7 puppies whelped June 11, 2026 — 4 males, 3 females. Black and yellow.
Current availability as of July 5:
• Black females: 2 (2nd pick available)
• Yellow female: 1 (deposit pending)
• Black male: 1 (available)
• Yellow males: 3 (3rd pick available)
Puppies are being raised in-home at our Prosper, TX kennel with ENS, daily neurological stimulation, sound exposure, and early bird introduction. They will be vet-checked, dewormed, microchipped, and have first vaccines before leaving at 8 weeks (~August 8 2026).
Why this breeding
We paired Rio’s size, speed, marking ability and big-water courage with Skylark’s trainability, steadiness, and calm house temperament. Both dogs are natural retrievers from deep British field lines, health-cleared, and proven in hunt-test environments. Expect medium-high drive pups with good noses, water attitude, and the biddability to make excellent working gundogs or active family gundogs.
Placement preference to hunting homes or highly active outdoors families committed to training. Essayons provides lifetime breeder support and starter training guidance. #gundogs #gundogcentral #huntingdogs #sportdog #fielddog #dogsofgundogcentral #labradorretriever #retrievers #puppiesforsale #forsale #gundogsforsale #huntingdogsforsale #prosper #texas
