Splash is a true gift to our breeding program and I will forever been indebted to his owners Jim and Maria Bethard.  Maria came out to the kennel when Splash was just 4 weeks old.  When she saw Splash, she picked him up, snuggled with him and said "I want THIS one!!" Three weeks later she came and picked him up.  

How Splash got his name... Once Splash was home with the Bethard's they would take him into the back yard where the pool is located.  Splash was very curious and interested in the pool.  One time while he was sniffing at the water he lost his balance and fell in.  Maria was quick to run over and scoop him out.  Splash immediately shook himself off and then with a running start leaped back into the pool with a big "SPLASH".  And so his call name came into being.  Coming up with his AKC name was another story.  Splash went home with the Bethard's the summer that Hurricane Eugene ripped thru Virginia.  With Splash's love of water, in any form, his AKC name became Cresthill's Hurricane Eugene. 

When Splash was just over a year old he came to the kennel for boarding and some obedience training.  I worked with him on a daily basis teaching him formal commands.  With every passing day I found my heart melting more and more.  Many of his expressions and mannerisms were so much like his grand mother, Kyla (whom I had recently had to say good-bye to).  Splash flew thru his initial training, because I felt he had excellent potential to run hunt tests, I asked Maria and Jim if I could send him off to my professional hunt test trainer.  They agreed.