Donna Reece, Founder, Ridgeview Labrador Retrievers,  United States Marine veteran

Donna Reece founded Ridge View Labradors in 1990. The Ridge View kennel has been breeding excellence for well over 30 years now.

The foundation of Ridge View Labradors is a bitch named Snobear.  Snobear easily became an AKC champion and with select breeding went on to become the Top Producer of AKC Champions in the history of the breed, breaking a record that had stood for 30 years, and still stands today.

As a result of Donna’s breeding philosophy and decisions, Snobear became the dam of 18 AKC champion Labrador retrievers, including 2 Westminster Best of Breed winners:

1997 Best in Show CH Ridge View Heartland Hit Man (call name: Tony) 

1999 CH Ridge View Frosty The Snoman CD, JH (call name: Frosty) 

Continuing that legacy Donna has bred over 100 AKC show champions and titled labs winning in all venues. Other well-known dogs bred by Donna include:

 BIS Grand Champion Bronze Ridge View’s Magician

 BIS AKC & JKC  Champion Ridge View call My Bluff 

CH Ridge View’s No Fear MH 

CH Ridge View King Of Spades CD SH.

CH Ridge View’s Bugs Bunny

CH Ridge View Virginia Gentleman RN CD SH

 In 2012, a high school student working at Donna’s kennel was present during the Chardon, Ohio High School shooting which left 3 dead and 3 seriously injured.

Previous to this, Linda Alberta a dog trainer/friend had purchased a Labrador from Donna. Linda trained him to be a medical alert dog for herself and also trained and certified him as an Emergency Response K9.  For a year after the shooting at Chardon High School,  Linda and her Labrador visited the school 3 days a week to help with the recovery of the students, teachers, and staff at the school. The positive impact that dog had on everyone left a never-ending impression on Donna. 

Donna began to learn more about how service dogs help people. She attended some service dog seminars and discovered the need of Veterans and others for service dogs. She soon realized that many of the personality traits and heath clearances she was selecting were exactly what Service dog organizations were looking for. 

Ridge View Labradors has provided puppies, stud services, & breeding females to many guide dog and service dog organizations, some of these including United States Veterans Service Dogs, K9 for Warriors, Project 2 Heal, Leader Dogs for the blind, Retrieving Freedom, Circle Tail, Freedom Service Dogs, Guide Dog Foundation, Guide Dogs of the Desert, Southeast Guide Dogs, & Occupaw as well as many private service dog trainers. 

Over the generations, nearly every sire and dam bred at Ridge View as well as dogs currently in residence at Ridge View have produced working service dogs. 

2022 was a good year for Donna and the labs of Ridge View.  The kennel added 3 new AKC champions & 7 new hunt test titles along with having many Ridge View dogs graduate as working services dogs.