Trainers
Cara Mock
Cara grew up in the Carson Valley in Northern Nevada. She was part of a large family that hunted everything with wings, so she learned to love hunting dogs early in her life. Cara ran her first pointer Daisy in club trials as if she were a retriever. She went on to train many different breeds. When the National Retriever Championship came to Carson Valley in 1975, Cara became thoroughly hooked. Soon, she had her first licensed placement with a client-owned dog. She was fourteen-years-old.
In 1981, Cara moved east to South Carolina, to work with Felix Mock training Zip Zac, who finished in the National Open and Jack Martin, who won the National with Sky.
From 1983 to 1985, Cara trained at Coto de Caza in Orange County, California. There, whe won the 1983 California Derby Championship. She worked with Hall of Fame dog Volwood’s Ruff and Reddy and FC AFC Volwoods Abby. She trained Ziggy Stardust for the hunt and sold him to baseball manager Billy Martin.
From 1985 to 1987, Cara traveled to Southeast Idaho to train FC AFC Top Notch Ruff and Ruddy as well as Mudduggly, “Mudd,” who was an Open winner. Cara put Top Priority Tag on the Derby list; he later won the Open. Cara also ran FC AFC Wee Willie Wilson.
In 1988, Cara returned to South Carolina to work at Canvasback. She won with FC AFC Cookies Spot Em Now, and she trained the basics for FC AFC Snakes Pony Express. In 1993, Cara married Felix Mock. They have one daughter, Anna.
Cara trained and handled Christy Taucher’s FC Harley Davis MH. She ran him in the 1998 St. Louis National. He was PRC Dog of the Year. Harley was followed by several other great field champions: Miss Scarlet, Miss Pink, Chavez, Downeaster, and Lotties Sherman Tank. Cara also had PRC Dog of the Year with Bowmans Mister Big Splash.
The winning tradition at Canvasback Kennel continues with several promising young dogs. Oldland’s Handyman MH became QAA in April 2010. Canvasback Titan won a Derby in late 2009, and Candlewood’s Daughter of the General earned 8 Derby points and has two third places in the Q
Canvasbacks’ Founder and Retired Handler:
Felix Mock
Felix Mock’s training career began in 1972, in Metamora, Michigan. There, he worked with Billy Voigt training River Oak’s Corky. The next year, Felix purchased his first retriever puppy. FC/AFC Trieven’s Canvasback Zip Zac went on to finish two nationals in 1979 and 1981 and was the High Point Open dog in 1981. A year after purchasing Zip Zac, Felix acquired his next puppy, FC Sanctuary Chase. Zac had 23 Derby points; Chase had 15 and qualified for 6 consecutive National Opens.
In the winter of 1975, Felix began training in South Carolina. He trained Zac, Chase, Dude’s Double or Nothin’, and Snake Eyes Double or Nothin’. Doc won the 1981 National Amateur, and Snake became an FC AFC. In 1978, his professional career began when he sold Zac and Chase to John Larkin. Felix continued to train them, as well as other of Larkin’s dogs, with the goal of winning the National Open. Their six field champions dominated the eighties: FC AFC Mad River’s Oliver Hardy (‘79 National Derby Champion), FC AFC Jonas Abraham Malarky ( “Jam”), FC AFC Jubilashus TC Malarky (“Hoss”), FC Trout, FC AFC Trieven’s Canvasback Zip Zac, and FC Sanctuary Chase. The ultimate goal of winning the National Championship was accomplished in 1986 when “Hoss” won the National in St. Louis. He was tested under extreme conditions, breaking ice in several water series. Felix also took time to hunt these dogs in Canada and at King Ranch in Texas.
Felix coached National Amateur finalists three times. In 1987, John Larkin finished with FC AFC Jubilashus T C Malarky. In 1988, Felix coached Sibby Wood and FC AFC Westwinds Super Bunny Babe. In 1991, he coached Carol Gesner and FC AFC Southland Lightning.
In 2002, Felix took all four Open placements at Maumee Valley with Kippy and Clint Swingle’s dogs. FC Cream won, and FC Miss Scarlet, FC Miss Pink, and FC Downeaster took the other placements. In 2003, Felix went to the National with FC Cream from the Abe-Lottie litter.
Felix and his wife, Cara, have one daughter. They have trained over 40 titled dogs. They train year-round in Camden, South Carolina.