Testimonials
Pinecliff Testimonials
From Alvin's Family
Carol and Darlene Bryant
Lisa Gaertner is the Willy Wonka of the Cocker Spaniel world. We’ve been proud pet parents to Cocker Spaniels for over 30 years. We’ve never seen someone go as above and beyond as Lisa and Sandy for their litters of amazing puppies. These fine touches and attention to detail include, but are not limited to: Puppy cam to watch the babies being born Puppy cam throughout the first nine weeks of the litter’s life that you can tune into daily and watch with other Pinecliff pet parents, past and present Health testing of the mom and dad Close contact with any updates, news, and photos along the way Ability to visit your puppy in advance with a pre-arranged visit All Pinecliff puppies are nurtured, given full attention, exposed to many experiences in the home, and are gently and diligently raised to be the best 9-week-old versions of themselves when you take them home Surprises and health records along with the promise to stay in touch the day you take your Pinecliff puppy home I, Carol, own two pet industry businesses and I work as a dog writer and blogger. I’ve never met a breeder so caring, knowledgeable, and passionate about Cocker Spaniels as Pinecliff. We welcomed Alvin to our home in March of 2022. Our previous Cocker passed away in November and we were devastated. We always knew we wanted a Pinecliff Cocker. Alvin is everything we’ve dreamed of and more. He is, above all merry but also intelligent, gorgeous, fun, and rambunctious. We aren’t the only ones who feel this way about Pinecliff Cockers. Dozens and dozens of proud puppy parents over the years have shared their photos and experiences with these amazing dogs. We are proud to call Lisa and Sandy our friends and wholeheartedly recommend Pinecliff Cockers. Carol and Darlene Bryant Aka dog moms to Alvin, born 01/25/22
From Rusty's Family ...
Sincerely, Eric & Chad
We were introduced to Lisa by our neighbor and friend, Christine, who has a sweet little Pinecliff Cocker named Holly. We love Holly’s temperament and after being invited to Lisa’s warm and cozy home and meeting her other dogs it was obvious that there was a trend to that sweet and loving temperament. When our boy Rusty was born we were able to see him on Lisa’s Puppy Cam every day and watch him grow, learn and thrive in the loving and nurturing environment Lisa has created for her dogs. We’ve had purebred dogs in the past and have worked with other breeders and none of them compare to Lisa. Her knowledge, integrity, sincerity, warmth and honesty is so transparent and so is her love and passion for this breed. Lisa is always available to answer a question or give advice and she truly cares about all of the puppies she brings into this world. Rusty is the first Cocker Spaniel we’ve ever had. We come from a history of mixed breeds and most recently, Golden Retrievers. At almost 2 years of age, Rusty has matured into a handsome, sweet, inquisitive, feisty, quirky, loving, fun and loyal companion. We feel so blessed to have him as such a major part of our lives and we’re grateful to be part of the Pinecliff family.
From Lucy and Audrey's Family
Lucy (5/16) and Audrey (11/15) joined our family at different times which is great because they’re different dogs. Lucy was ten weeks old and Audrey was five years old. Lisa proved to us twice over that she raises the kindest, gentlest, sweetest dogs, each with their own personality. Our dogs came from love and deep caring into a home where they’re loved and deeply cared for. What these babies get in their first months stays with them for life. Pinecliff is a family and we’re forever grateful for our extended doggy family and for Lisa for giving us two of the best fur babies ever.
From Peaches's Family
Alicia and Stephen Weaver
When we lost our Cocker in February I knew that the next go around had to be different. My previous cocker, Hershey, struggled with severe anxiety and much of her life she was never completely comfortable. This time I was going to find the right breeder that not only knew her stuff but also produced babies that would hit the merry temperament of the spaniel. Lisa far exceeded this!! She was highly recommended from a dear friend who added me to the pinecliff group and placed me in contact with Lisa. From the moment I started to read pasts posts and look though past videos I knew without a doubt I wanted to be apart of the Pinecliff family. You see this is exact what this whole process was- becoming part of a family, from witnessing my future baby being born, to being able to captivate the 1st weeks of life, to being included in all the “1sts” such as their hair trims and solid foods. The amount of love, time and commitment that is placed into these dogs truly pours over! They are smart, friendly, easy going, patient, loving… and ohh boy do their little tails wag! We drove to pick up Peaches on October 9, 2023 - and upon meeting Lisa it was as if I had known her for years. Georgia, Peaches mom, greeted me and it was love at 1st sight. Georgia’s temperament and how well she was with my 1 year old was amazing. Truly a testament to what her future litter would become! All of the puppies were curious and friendly and I could have taken them all! Peaches [🍑] had been chosen and she did remarkable on the 9 hour car ride home. She has meshed right into our hearts and family. For a little puppy she transitioned like a champ. I can’t recommend Pinecliff Cockers enough! It is so much more than just “buying a dog” it’s becoming apart of a family and sharing the love of the breed. Pinecliff Cockers are an amazing and perfect example of the all around they must be merry temperament. I am more than sure we will add another in the future. Lisa you and Sandy are truly the best! What a blessing to be apart of it all!
From Gibbs's Family
Maureen McConnell Grillo
I find it hard to express how much I love my Pinecliff puppy Gibbs!! Lisa is an outstanding breeder. So much love and care she gives all her puppies. I feel so blessed and fortunate to have one of her puppies. Pinecliff is the best!!
From Bailey's Family
Kim and Pete Chenard
We both grew up with cocker spaniels and love their personality and temperament. Our last two cockers passed away at the ripe old age of 16.5 and 16 years. When you have a dog and a breed you love, you hope to find another with the same happy, fun-loving personality. We found Lisa by way of a breeder our veterinarian had as a client. We were looking for a loving and responsible breeder and Lisa at Pinecliff’s Cockers is just that. It’s obvious she cares about her cockers and about those that become part of the Pinecliff extended family. Lisa allowed us to watch our Bailey come into the world, and what an experience that was to see! We were able to watch Bailey (aka Darcy) daily and her siblings grow and meet all their little milestones. We have had Bailey for a few weeks now and she is beautiful, with a sweet personality, very affectionate, intelligent and confident. She loves running and exploring her new yard, chasing her ball (or butterflies) and carrying every stick she can find. She instantly tried her best and succeeded to befriend the cats. We loved her from day one. It shows that her parents Isabelle and Ike were a good match. Thank you Lisa and Sandy for allowing us to be part of the Pinecliff family and trusting us to make Bailey part of our family.
From Tessa's Family
Mary Jane and Bill
I attended an AKC dog show in Bridgewater, NJ in September 2015 in hopes of making a contact to fill the void left by the loss of our Dotsy on July 5, a beautiful black and white parti cocker spaniel. Dotsy was our 4th cocker and we loved her so much, as we have all of our cockers. It was the first time we didn't have the buffer of 'heartbreak insurance', our term for a younger dog to buffer the loss of the older one. For the first time in 40 years we were dogless and heartbroken. The first person I met at the show was Lisa Gaertner. Fate, I know now. We talked about my 'wish list' for our next dog. Lisa intimated that she might be needing to find a family for a pup that exactly fit our wish list. Lisa and I communicated via email over the next couple of weeks and from those discussions, Lisa determined that Tess was the girl for Bill and me. We were delirious .. afraid to hope .. I am now sitting here on my couch next to Tessa. She is the sweetest little girl, even our friends that are not 'dog people' think that she is the dearest pup they've ever met. On the Pinecliff Cockers website, it's stated that "Above All They Must Be Merry" and I can unequivocally say that she is that! When we went to Lisa's home, we were greeted by a houseful of exuberant dogs, all ages, colors and sexes. What a happy place! Tessa was and is just a beautiful girl, inside and out. We can't look at her without smiling. Thank you Thank you Thank you!
From Callie's Family
Gary & Antoinette from Toms River, NJ
We lost our first Cocker, Amber, after 11 year wonderful years with her. When we were ready, we knew our next dog would have to be another Cocker. The loving temperament they have is so special. We began our search though the AKC site, which led us to the American Spaniel Club. We contacted them for referral and Lisa was at the top of the list (coincidentally, we were already looking at the Pinecliff Cockers site). It seemed meant to be and has been a wonderful experience. We have been able to see our new baby come into the world and watch as she spent her first couple of months in the loving care of Lisa’s home. Our little Callie has brought us great joy. Lisa, Sandy and the rest of the Pinecliff crew did an outstanding job. When Lisa tells you that you’re part of the Pinecliff family, she means every word. We have been sincerely treated like family and are so grateful to her. Only that kind of love and commitment could bring such a beauty as our Callie into the world.
From Isabelle and Wyatt’s Family
Debbie, Jim, Michael and our newest member “Isabelle”
"Over the last 26 years my husband and I have owned 3 cocker spaniels. Sadly, this past winter we lost two cocker spaniels that were beloved members of our family for the last 11 and 14 years. In January I started on a journey to find the perfect breeder for our next puppy. I first saw Madison in Cocker Classic. Needless to say it was love at first sight! After spending a month researching breeders across the country, I knew my search was over. I had found the perfect breeder with the perfect mother for our future puppy. My husband and I decided we would wait as long as it took and travel 1000 miles from our home to New Jersey to bring home our new bundle of love. Our next family dog would be a Pinecliff Cocker puppy! I have tremendous admiration and respect for Lisa. She is extremely knowledgeable of the breed and is active in handling and showing her own dogs. All of her dogs are beautiful representatives of the breed standard with loving temperaments. But first and foremost they are all members of her family. They all live in her home and not in kennels outside of the home. They lovingly share her couch as all dogs should. There are way too many dog beds though out the house to even count! They romp and play in her beautiful fenced in yard overlooking Pinecliff Lake. Lisa is a wealth of information and is always eager to answer questions. She updates her Facebook group with pictures of the puppies in all phases of their development. Every evening she graciously welcomed me into her home thru UStream to watch the puppies. Even though I was a 1000 miles away, I felt like I bonded with our bundle of love from the time that I first saw her at 4 weeks old. But what continues to impress me the most is the love that she has for all of her dogs and puppies. Nothing is more important to her than ensuring that they are all placed with the best family possible in a forever loving home and that they are cared for and loved for the rest of their lives. Baby Isabelle came home with us in early March. She is the love of our lives! We feel so blessed to have her as part of our family and for our family to be part of the Pinecliff Cocker family!
From Gibbs's Family
Most Sincerely, Ellen and Richard Strock (Gibbs too)
We first met Lisa Gaertner along withthe eye-catching Madison nearly two years ago at the Harrisburg Dog Show. At that time Madison was 11 months old and we were so impressed with her poise and conformation. It became readily apparent after talking with Lisa for just a few minutes how engaging she is and how much she loves her dogs. It became equally apparent how dedicated she is to offering quality puppies to carefully selected homes. Lisa is uncompromising in placing her puppies in homes where she feels that puppy will receive the same love and care she would give. We got on the puppy list and on December 29, 2011 we had the opportunity to bring Gibbs into our lives. This is our third Cocker and although Classy and Bailey will always hold a special spot in our lives, Lisa has brought us Gibbs and it would be very empty around here without him. What a beautiful litter to pick from but Gibbs seemed to ooze, "Pick Me, Pick Me" which we did. Lisa is very meticulous in preparing her puppies for their new homes. She provides well documented vet visits, shot records and Health Certificate. There is also a Puppy Growth Chart which shows all their significant events. When we took Gibbs to his first visit with our Vet, Pinecliff Cockers received glowing praise not only for Gibbs but for Lisa's administration. Lisa also provided a nightly UStream website which was a fantastic watch every night...unbelievable watching them grow and to see the love and care they were receiving. We couldn't be anymore thrilled with our Pinecliff Cockers experience...Thanks Lisa!
From Abby and Harry’s Family
Linda Weinacker and Abby
Well Lisa, I have to say it has been a great couple of months with Abby. She is full of energy and loves exploring all the new things introduced to her life. She is the great explorer of the yard! Trying to catch the birds to play with, or seeing the rabbit and thinking "oh, a new friend". She catches the ball and returns it too.. Loves to RUN! Sometimes I think she would do well with agility training. Of course she also has a mind of her own, that's when we wonder if she knows her name or is she just ignoring you..LOL! Cuddler, thats her middle name in the evening. she trys to make believe she is sleeping at night on my bed. I actually let her get a couple of cuddle hours in but then slipped her into her pen area. During the day when she sleeps, you can't move. ..the minute you do shes up and following. We all love her very much and she has been a great addition to our family. I'm glad you get to see her grow also. So I'll call you later and see about stopping by. Thank you again for letting us have her. Hugs and puppy Kisses from us and especially Abby.
From Madeline’s Family
Kathy and Michael from Pennsylvania
We met Lisa at the Canine Learning Experience in Allentown not long after we had lost our beloved Molly who was 15. She was so kind and understanding. She gave us her phone number so that when we were ready to get another cocker we could give her a call. At times we thought we’d never be ready, but finally we couldn’t stand the emptiness any longer. I contacted Lisa and she said if we could wait she’d be having a litter more toward Christmas. Since the time was right for us right then and we weren’t sure we could wait, we asked if she could recommend anyone else. She graciously gave me the name and number of another person who might be able to help us out. That’s when we got our beautiful red and white Hannah from Jessica who handles Lisa’s dogs. Lisa had me keep in contact with her. I shared pictures and milestones with her. Her loving spirit was evident, so that when we decided to get Hannah a buddy there was no doubt where we would go for it. Lisa opened up her home and heart by having us join her on Ustream. I chatted with her and other friends of Pinecliff Cockers. I soon learned that puppies receive human touch 24/7 while with Lisa. Her friend Sandy helps make that possible. I loved that, knowing that they are lovingly cared for inside her house as a part of her family. Lisa meticulously cares for their living space and keeps fantastic records of each pup’s progress. All of her pups are healthy, happy, and well-socialized little ones. Lisa is a warm and generous person whose top priority is raising beautiful representatives of the breed standard with loving temperaments. Our black and tan Madeline is one beautiful, happy little puppy who loves to kiss and cuddle. She has gorgeous markings and loves to romp and play with her sister Hannah. I also appreciate that once you take your puppy home, Lisa continues to keep in contact and makes you feel a part of her Pinecliff family. I will always cherish the DVD of Madeline that Lisa gave to us when we picked her up and would not hesitate to tell others about Pinecliff Cockers nor get another from her. We love our little Madeline. She fills our lives with joy and always keeps us smiling. Thank you, Lisa, for all your love, support, and wonderful companions.
From Elaine's Family
Kathy and Steve Fleckenstein
Why did I choose Pinecliff Cockers? Three months before we had to put down our buff cocker Scarlett, I started to research breeders. I wanted a breeder that wasn’t that far from our home with transporting a pup to its new furever home. I looked on the AKC website and the ASC website for breeders in our area. I came across three of them. Pinecliff’s site stood out and the rest of what I was reading about Lisa. On the AKC Website Breeder Spotlight page, there was a photo of her at a show and the dog she had was Dani was looking at Lisa with those loving eyes…well that got me hooked. I was impressed with Lisa’s involvement in several cocker clubs in the area and bring back to the American Spaniel Club’s Cataract Research program which has a soft spot with me since our second cocker had them. So were the videos of the “Too Cute” litter on Animal Planet. I had to have a Pinecliff cocker. So, we applied the next day to get a Pinecliff Cocker. Then the wait went on to see if we had gotten approved to get a Pinecliff Cocker. By the end of May, 2021, we got a call from Lisa if we were still interested in one. We said “Yes.” and wanted a female. About three days later and on the same day our second cocker was born we got an email from Lisa that we were approved. The litter of puppies were parti colored, which was a first for us since we had two buffs and one black. We then became friends on Facebook and was added to Lisa’s Pinecliff Cockers group. We were able to see not only photos of the puppies but got to watch them on Puppy Cam, which is very beneficial to seeing the personalities of the pups. The end of June we got an email stating that the beginning of July we would be bringing our new four-legged cocker home to be ours. I was impressed with the letter and attachment with the puppy feeding schedule and what to feed them as well as adding the yogurt with probiotics to their diet as well as coconut oil along with their dog food. Two years later I am still doing this with her. I also asked Lisa which pup we were getting which she told me she would decide with one we got. The second Saturday in July could not come any sooner. Our adult daughter and husband came down from upstate NY to be there at Gotcha Day. I knew there was one of the pups that I was sweet on and hoped to get that one. While my husband and I were in the kitchen signing our contract with Lisa she came in with the puppy she was giving us. And boy she does know how to pick out the perfect pup… we got Elaine. The pup who on puppy cam I saw with such loving eyes. And she still is the biggest love sponge I have had in all four of the cockers we have had. I was amazed at the detailed records that Lisa keeps on the pups their height, weight. When they opened their eyes and more. Little did I know what she does with them before their eyes and ears open. I found out later that Lisa does desensitization techniques with the puppies. My daughter, who is a biology teacher, had Lisa as a guest speaker with her remote learning class educate the students about puppy development and desensitization techniques used to promote their development. Lisa rubs their paws and chest to desensitize them. I still do this with Elaine to help her out with thunderstorms and fireworks and it helps her out a lot. Lisa also does a lot of picking them giving them kisses on their face and paws. So does Sandy from Pinecliff Goldens when she is over the house visiting. I also found out from Lisa when going to see her in one of the dogs shows closest out our home that she looks for specific traits in a puppy’s daddy, those that are calm and promotes to the overall health of the breed. These are things that go into being an outstanding breeder and Lisa is an officially recognized AKC Breeder of Merit. We have had Elaine for two years now and each day she surprises even more with her learning commands, matters and our routine. She is amazing. I have never in the previous cocker’s had one like her. She is loving, smart, caring, beautiful, and what a snuggler and cuddler. She so loved by my husband and I as well as our daughter and son in law. She might not be a show dog or one with other titles but in our hearts, she is and our prized companion. She has stolen out hearts. As Lisa’s website say’s they “Above All They Must Be Merry”, that is what you are getting when you get a Pinecliff Cocker. I highly recommend Pinecliff Cockers to anyone who is looking for a cocker.
From Daisy Mae's Family
Doug and Kelly Jo Baer
Found Lisa and Pinecliff Cockers after looking everywhere for a parti color. While searching for a puppy we found that there are a lot of shady breeders . When we were steered towards Pinecliff we found the most honest of breeders. Lisa took the the time to check our reference to be sure that entrusting us with her baby was the right thing to do . We can’t say enough good about Lisa, Sandy and Pinecliff Cockers. THANK YOU for being our angel and placing Daisy Mae in our care, We love her dearly!
From Finn's Family
Derek and Kathryn Wittner
Two weeks ago this special little guy became part of our family, and we of yours. Derek and I cannot express the sheer delight it has been to have Finn in our lives. He is growing so rapidly—changes we see every day. He loves his crate and his toys and is a very happy, curious puppy. And smart! Boy is he smart. It absolutely amazes us how quickly he has caught on, from “go potty,” the routines of this household, where the outside door is, and the beginning of basic commands. He is an eager learner. Our friends and neighbors, who can’t seem to get enough puppy time, have loved getting to know him and have remarked on what a social, confident puppy he is. That has everything to do with you and his earliest love and attention in your home. Thank you for that. You provided a strong foundation on which to build. He is a love, and as one of our friends said, “our family all agrees, Finn is absolutely the cutest puppy we have ever seen.” Derek and I agree. With the imminent arrival of Julia’s puppies, we know you are very busy, but we think about you every day and the joy this sweet puppy has brought into our family. We can’t wait to see Julia’s little ones.
From Luna’s Family
Carol and Nick
When we lost our cocker spaniel that I had growing up we knew that we needed to find another dog to fill the holes in our heart. I have had dogs all of my life and knew that I wanted another cocker. We started to research cocker spaniel breeders and came across Lisa and Pinecliff Cockers. We sent Lisa a message and then it was history from there. It was so amazing to be able to watch all of the puppies grow up and reach their milestones. We felt like we were part of their lives from the very beginning. We counted down from when they were born and it was finally time to pick up our new puppy! We got to Lisa’s house and were greeted by Luna’s mother. She was such a sweet girl. Then got to meet our little pup Luna! It was love at first sight. She was so cute and adorable. We loved her coloring! We are beyond grateful to be part of the Pinecliff Family and love our girl Luna so much! She has filled our hearts with so much love and is part of our family. Lisa is an outstanding breeder who loves and cares for all of her dogs and puppies. We are so thankful that we found her and can be part of the Pinecliff Family!
From Daisy Mae's Family
Carol and Nick
Working with Pinecliff Cockers was a wonderful experience! Lisa is an amazing breeder who truly loves and cares for each of her puppies. Our Daisy Mae has been an angel sent from heaven—so lovable, affectionate, and such a joy to our family. Thank you, Lisa, for entrusting us with one of your precious babies!
