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In 1987, I went on a quest to obtain my first purebred
dog. I researched many breeds,looked through books for information (no WWW then!),
and went to a few dog shows. I narrowed my choices down to a handful of breeds.
We also went to a dog show to talk to owners about their dogs.
After much research, and after weighing the pros and cons of this breed, we decided
on the Flat Coated Retriever. I was attracted to their beauty, elegance, and happy-go-lucky
nature. And even more to the fact that the breeders of this wonderful breed were--and
still are-diligent about breeding sound, healthy, dogs that are versatile and
of good temperament. The Flat Coated retriever is one of just a few sporting dog
breeds that have not split into 'show' types and 'field' types thanks to breeders
that have been and are committed to keeping these dogs dual-purpose.
Back to the dog shows-I was able to get a number of a breeder, who in turn sent
me to Chris Chambers and Essex Kennels. We made arrangements to meet with Chris
--and maybe--just maybe she would be willing to send me home with a puppy! We
spent the afternoon with Chris and her dogs-watching her litter, asking her all
about FlatCoats, and -oh yes- answering all of HER questions about us, our lifestyle,
and expectations of a pup! Soon I had a phone call to come pick up my Flat Coat
puppy - my first purebred and she was an obedience prospect--just what I was looking
for! Little did I know where Brandy (Ch
Essex Perfect Harmony, Am/Can/UKC CD CGC TT) would lead me! She finished her
Championship, a few obedience titles and became my foundation bitch. Brandy was
the first Flat Coated Retriever to become a Canine Good Citizen - a program AKC
started in the early 90's. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We
(my husband Jerry and I ) live on 10 acres in Southeast Michigan with our
4 Flatcoats--grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Brandy. I enjoy
tracking, agility, obedience..and the show ring. I am currently the
webmaster of the Midwest Waterways Flatcoated Retriever Club --and a past
president, vice-president, and board member. My
husband prefers fishing the Great Lakes and hunting to dog shows- He occasional
comes to the shows, I occasionally go fishing ;) I
am a Master Gardener, newsletter editor of my local garden club (which has
an overabundance of dog show fanciers, judges and breeders!), and am raising
500+ varieties of daylilys for market.
I also *dabble* in photography and have had photos of my Flat-coats used in
the AKC Gazette magazine, the FCRSA newsletter, and the Flat Coated Retriever
Rescue Brochure. I
am a member of : The Flat Coated Retriever
Club of America The Flat Coated Retriever
Club of Canada The Midwest Waterways Flat Coated Retriever Club The Northeast
Flat Coated Retriever Club
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