Bad Bad Blogger!

It would seem that it has been a year since the last blog post.  That's bad.

But we have had an exceptionally busy year.... 

We will try to catch up with some of the highlights over the next couple of weeks - putting the results and news back in the time slots where they happened. 

Larkin - Group 4th & Group 1st

Larkin had a successful weekend at the Saskatoon Dog Show.   She won Best of Breed twice and then went on to win a Group 4th under Catherine Barlow and a Group 1st under Mark Houston-McMillan. It was a real thrill to show her in the Best in Show ring (and very nerve-wracking).  She also won Best Owner Handled in Group that day.

Those wins have now put her as the #2 flat-coated retriever female in Canada.

I'm not a big fan of show photos - they never seem to show off the dog very well and like the others, I don't feel that this one does Larkin justice.  She is poised to leap after the toy thrown by the photographer.   Oh well, it was a proud moment anyway!

Best Puppy in Show

What an amazing weekend for Ole (Blazingstar Crimson Topaz - from our Flip x Puffin litter) and his owner Avey at the Saskatoon Dog Show.  As well as winning more championship points, putting him at 8 points, he won Best Puppy in Group twice and went on to win Best Puppy in Show under judge Guy Jeavons.

We are very proud of both Ole and Avey!

Welcome Puppies!

Puffin whelped 9 healthy puppies in the early hours of September 13th, between 5:00 and 9:00 am.  There are 3 black females, 2 liver females, 3 black males and 1 liver male.  As with her last litter, it was a relatively easy, quick and uncomplicated whelping and she is being a fantastic mother. As soon as we get a chance, we will update our website with more photos and information. 

One Week to Go

Puffin is looking rather large and starting to feel a bit uncomfortable, with just one week to go before she whelps.  Up until the last day or so, she has continued to join us on all of our walks and is in great shape and good spirits.

We prepared the whelping room (our spare bedroom) over the weekend and Puffin seemed genuinely pleased to see the whelping box and had a good nesting session in it.

Puffin with one week to go.

New Champion - Ch Blazingstar Rain Delay

Congratulations to Darren, Michele and Amber for finishing Amber's championship with a big win at the Saskatoon shows!  She picked up 3 points, winning Winners Bitch over 7 other lovely flat-coat girls, which completed her championship.

Amber is the first from our Rain litter (Seymour x Puffin) to finish, although Bow is very close behind at 9 points.

Ch Blazingstar Rain Delay

Spring

We are very much enjoying the many shades of fresh greens in the prairie this spring.  They make for lots of photo opportunities.

Larkin

Puffin

Cava