Henry Berol

1896 – 1976

Henry Berol of Berol Lodge Kennels, a man who adored his cockers along with his wife Gem, contributed greatly to cocker field trials following World War II in two distinct ways: he was one of the most important breeders of dogs that performed exceptionally well in trials and he was a respected leader who, as head of the Field Trial Committee of the American Spaniel Club for many years, organized the first National Cocker Field Trial Championship in 1953.

According to Sports Illustrated, by 1954 Berol Lodge Kennels had 75 cockers in its kennel in Chappaqua, New York which was managed by Blair Crowell. All of his cockers were large, strong, field-bred American Cockers —- a type that no longer exists —- and they were known to be marvelous hunting companions and/or field trial competitors. Eleven became field trial champions, including three which won the National Cocker Field Trial Championships in 1957, 1960 and 1961.

The Berols owned the 1957 national championship winner, Berol Lodge Glen Garry, “Garry.” This dog was one of the top ranking cockers in field trials for many years, capable of beating the very best English Cockers of the day. The 1960 national winner was Berol’s Petey’s Boy, a dog owned by a doctor in Michigan who had a professional handler run him in the national competitions in Canada and the USA. Amazingly, the year the dog won the USA national championship it placed second in the first Canadian National Championship where it ran in competition with English Springers. It placed third in the Canadian National Championship in 1961. Berol’s Buckaroo, a dog owned by an amateur handler who often served as a gunner in trials, was the 1961 national championship winner.

By the late 1950s, the number of breeders of American Cockers for use in the field had dwindled to only a few as most breeders had elected to focus exclusively on producing the show type that had become America’s most popular pet. Coincidently, at this point, Henry Berol decided to relocate from New York to the other bird dog capital of the world besides Grand Junction —- Waynesboro, Georgia. There Mr. Berol purchased a plantation which he named Di-Lane Plantation in honor of his two daughters, Diane and Elaine, and he became actively involved in pointer/setter field trials. Today the plantation is a public wildlife area and on it is a cemetery where over 70 of Mr. Berol’s dogs are laid to rest, each with its own headstone.