Fred Konrad

For the most part, Fred's adult life had been consumed by his career.  After graduating from college at the University of Illinois, he got right  to work for Illinois Bell (which later became Ameritech).  Long hours hours, travel and work in Chicago left little time for much else (except an occasional fishing trip ~ Fred is an avid fisherman).  But all that changed one day in the early  1980's when he acquired his first golden retriever as the family pet. 

In an effort to help his puppy settle into her new home, Fred enrolled her in a local obedience class.  Right from the start she showed signs of being a future superstar and Fred's life took an unexpected turn.  He and his new pup started entering  matches  and obedience trials and met with immediate success.  Thus was born a decades long love (and some might say obsession ) with dogs and dog showing. 

This first puppy grew up to be Brigitte's Bonnie Penny UD. CanCDX, WC, OBHOF.  She was known to friends simply as Bonnie.  Besides a successful obedience career with many High In Trial awards and entry into the Golden Retriever Club's Obedience Hall of Fame, Bonnie also introduced Fred to breeding and produced the first litter for Bonacres Golden Retrievers.

A trip to the Golden Retriever Club of America's National Specialty Show  in 1983 exposed  Fred to the excitement and pageantry of Conformation showing.  A ring side seat for the Best of Breed

class changed the path of the Bonacres breeding program.  The sight of several of the breed's leading icons dueling it out in the  specials ring was a life changing event.  At that moment he became aware that he wanted to produce Golden Retrievers that could perform and look beautiful.  In the years that followed, Bonacres has produced many, AKC champions and many dogs with  obedience, agility, tracking, hunt test, rally and working titles.  In addition, several Bonacres dogs have become therapy and service assistance dogs. Among Fred's proudest achievements is being the breeder of several outstanding dogs.

BIS BISS CH. Bonacres Sherwood Fourrest OS SDHF

"Sam" had an impressive show career.  He was an All-breed Best In Show winner, a multiple Best in Specialty Show winner, Award of Merit winner at Westminster Kennel Club and the Number 3 Golden Retriever in the USA in 2001.  Sam is also an GRCA Outstanding Sire and has produced an All-Breed Best In Show winner.

CH OTCH MACH Bonacres The Lucky Penny UDX4 WC MH OS

"Caymus" is a testament to that original vision Fred had for Bonacres.  He certainly is a dog that can do it all!  He is one of the most versatile dogs in Golden Retriever history.  He is known for his achievements as a showdog as well as excellence in the  several performance arenas.  He is a breed champion (CH), an obedience trial champion (OTCH), an agility champion (MACH),   as well as a Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) and a Master Hunter (MH)!!  Caymus was the first Golden to achieve all of these titles --- and remains among a very few dogs  to achieve such a high level of success and versatility.  The icing on the cake is that Caymus is also a GRCA Outstanding Sire after just a few litters.  His kids have excelled in the conformation ring and many venues of performance work. 

Having retired from Ameritech in the late  1990's, Fred moved Bonacres from Virginia back to it's roots in Illinois, where he embarked on one of the most exciting projects of his life.  With his partner, Diane Baker he planned, built , opened and operates Paws Here Pet Resort.  Paws Here is a luxury Pet Resort, Grooming Salon and Training facility in Northern Illinois and is the home of Bonacres Goldens and Sandbar Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.