2013

Feb. 17/18 - Julep (Remus x Lilah) kicked off her show career with a big bang, winning BOB then BOS for two 5-pt. majors from her puppy class . . . a real honor with so many lovely dogs in the ring. Thanks to Kerry for making her look like a veritable contender, and to Keli and David for the awesome San Jose hospitality . . . we would've had a blast even without the big wins!

Feb. 16 - Big congrats to Gail and Rob, and their first ever dog Kodi, who completed his 3rd JH pass with flying colors. Kudos to an awesome team we are proud to know!

Jan. 17 - The Wonder Guppies have landed! Seven healthy pups.

2012

Dec. 27 - A tearful farewell to 9-week old Pink, the pup we kept from the Sure Fire Hit litter, diagnosed with an extremely rare congenital defect she would not recover from. We miss her just as she was, and all she promised to become.

Dec. - Bittersweet puppy send-offs for the Sure Fire Hit litter.

Nov. 4 - Remus, sire of our 'Laughing at the Moon' litter, wins Best in Show at NEFRA. Congrats to breeder & owner Hayley Tomlinson of Rainesgift kennel.

Oct. 20 - The 'Sure Fire Hit' litter arrived. 3 boys and 3 girls. Mum and pups are doing great.

Oct. 17 - Fire Truck celebrates his first veteran birthday with a run on the levee road and a swimming party with friends. We feel very fortunate to have such vibrant oldsters.

July 30 - David and Kelly Kunkle's superstar Anton earns his third Master leg, with trainer and handler Mitch White at the helm. Rock on Team Anton! Three down, two to go.

July 28 - Beckett earns her NW2 Title by placing first out of 47 dogs - a truly unique success bringing wonderful diversity to the list of FF dog talents. Super job Kevern & Beckett - we are proud of you!

July 22 - Anton earns his second Master Hunter pass. Big congrats to Kelly and David Kunkle and trainer / handler Mitch White. He's on a roll now.

June - The FF crew stocks up on ribbons at the National Specialty. Boy - Qual JAM, SS JAM, SH leg, MH leg, WCX. Minnow - SS JAM, SH leg, JH leg, WC, WCX. Lilah - SS JAM, SH leg, WCX. Layla - SS JAM, MH leg. Puppy Julep - WC & 4th in show class. David and Kelly Kunkle's, Anton - MH leg (handled by Mitch White). Wowie Zowie!

April 21 - Minnow, the little big fish, swam with the little big dogs to earn an all breed derby JAM. Way da' go, girl!

Mar. 13 - Godspeed Jordan, sire of our first litter, and best friend to his owner, Kathi Leonhardt. He leaves a grand legacy, and many mournful hearts.

Mar. 3 - 5 - Boy Wonder finishes his bench Championship with 2 more majors including a 5 pt. BOB, and goes on to win another BOB in his second specials appearance.

 

2011

Nov. 28 - The puppy pen is eerily empty after bittersweet farewells to the 'Laughing at the Moon' pups. Congrats to the new owners of this super bunch of pups, and a hearty welcome to the FF family.

Nov. 16 - FF joins the Rainesgift gang in mourning the passing of their grand old dam, Berrie. May her great grandbabies follow in her pawsteps.

Oct. 1/2 - BIG congrats to Gail, Rob and their pup, Kodi, who earned his first two JH legs at the Sagehens RC hunt test. Kodi is their first dog and they've done such a great job with him.

September 13 - Delilah welcomed nine puppies. Mum and pups are doing well.

August 20 - Huge congrats to David's superstar Anton for placing 3rd out of 24 all-breed dogs in the Monterrey Bay Retriever Club's Super Singles series. What a grand achievement for a young Flat-coat.

August 8 - Delilah's ultrasound shows a large litter of Flat-coat puppies is on it's way. Learn more about this breeding here.

July 2 - Happy first Birthday to the Stitch n' Giggles pups - Addie, Ember, and Kodi. My how time flies.

June 19 - Boy Wonder passes his health clearances with flying colors, including OFA 'Excellent' hips.

June 5 - Anton continues his unstoppable ribbon streak, this time earning his WCX. Congrats to Kelly, David, and Anton.

March 26 - Boy Wonder JAMs an all-breed derby. Way to go Boy Boy!

March 24 - Lilah steps back into the show ring for the first time since raising her litter to finish her Championship. Thanks to Krystal and Michael McGuire for showing her.

January 21/22 - Boy Wonder takes a weekend break from the field and picks up a few more breed points.

2010

November 13 - Two weeks after earning his SH, Anton finishes his Championship. Congrats to David and Kelly on their wonderfully versatile boy.

November 6 - A new Senior Hunter! Proving he's much more than just a pretty face, Anton took a weekend off from his show schedule to complete his Senior title with style. Congrats to David and Kelly Kunkle, and their dual-purpose boy.

September 4/5 - Anton continues his winning streak in the show ring, this time winning Best Opp. over a special, and then BOW the next day for another coupla points.

August - Beckett has had one super summer, first earning her NW1 in canine scent work, placing 3rd out of 48 dogs, then making her debut in lure coursing and dock diving. She is a lucky girl to live with Kevern and Steph!

August 27/28 - Bittersweet farewells to the Stitch n' Giggles puppies. A fun bunch who will be much missed but luckily remain local so we can watch them grow up.

August 7/8 - A huge congrats to Kelly, David, and Anton! Anton kicked off his grown-up show career with a big bang - back-to-back Best of Winners wins for two 4-point majors.

July 2 - We welcomed the 'Stitch & Giggles' litter in the wee hours of the morning. Lilah has taken to motherhood like an old pro and is thrilled with her brood.

June 11 - The FF 'triever pack had a very successful time at the Flat-coat National Specialty. Layla - MH leg and first in the Field Trial show class, Fire Truck - SH leg, WCX, and Steady Singles JAM, Lilah - first in Unsteady Singles and a WC, Trygger - Unsteady Singles JAM, Boy Wonder - Steady Singles JAM and 2nd in his sweepstakes show class.

May 29 - Fire Truck finishes his Senior Hunter title in Horicon, WI! Thanks to the Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club - great folks, beautiful grounds, and fun tests - we had a blast!

May 21 - Congrats to Beckett on completing her odor recognition test to earn her NW1 from the National Association of Canine Scent Work! Beckett is owned, loved, trained and handled by Kevern and Steph in Pasadena, CA.

May 16 - Boy Wonder earns a 4-point major in the show ring!

May 2 - Lilah was bred to Stitch, and we anxiously await the pitter-patter of puppy feetsies in late June.

April 25 - Trygger finishes his Junior Hunter title while Fire Truck hammers a tough senior test . . . just one leg to go.

April 20 - The pack mourns the loss of it's patriach, Deuce. My marathon trainer, faithful protector, and loyal co-pilot. The pack referee and puppy-raiser. A quiet listener, a forgiving heart, a patient teacher, and a selfless soul. Thank you, Dubby, for all the memories and the awesome legacy . . . we won't let you down!

April 17 - Congrats to Boy Wonder's daddy, Jet (Sh Ch Vbos The Kentuckian), and Jim Irvine, on Jet's 50th CC, with a BIS win at the FRC of Scotland show, two weeks after his BIS win at the FCRS Champ Show.

April 17 - Deuce celebrates his 10th birthday with an epic mountain party in Mammoth - a decade of Dub; a decade of love.

April 10/11 - Anton & David do it again! Not even the gale force winds and torrential downpour could deter Anton from hammering two more Senior tests, and still only 25 months old! Hoping to follow in his half-bro's paw-steps, Boy Wonder earned his JH in two short weeks, going 4 for 4 in tests at just 11 months old. Fire Truck also picked up a senior leg, and was running awesome all weekend.

March 27/28 - A big 'woot woot' to David and Anton (Layla x Jordan) for earning an SH leg just one month after celebrating Anton's 2nd Bday. Fire Truck joined Anton with a senior orange ribbon. The younguns kicked off their hunt test careers in style - Trygger and Boy Wonder both earned 2 JH legs. The girls sat this weekend out, though not without a little protest. A most fun kick-off for the HT season, including the rare opportunity to run under some flat-coat owning judges.

March 21 - So long pheasies . . . until next season.

March - Layla x Jordan babes, Delilah and Anton, get stellar marks on their orthopedic clearances.

February 20 - The Layla x Jordan babies celebrated their 2nd Bdays. We are certain Willow was celebrating with us at the bridge, chasing endless tennis balls.

January 3 - Another fun agility weekend. Fire Truck finishes his NA and earns Open Standard and Excellent Jumpers legs, while Layla earns her first Excellent Standard and Masters Jumpers leg.

2009

November 29 - a fun agility weekend . . . Layla finished her AXJ with a first place run and Fire Truck finished his OAJ with a first place run.

November 23 - Delilah picks up another coupla breed points and is now just one point shy of finishing her Championship.

November 21 - Trygger, Anton, and Boy Wonder (at just 6 months old!) earn their WCs, and Layla earns her WC/X at the Great Western Flat-coated Retriever Club's test in Chino, CA.

October 18 - Delilah goes WB and BW for a 4 pt. major in the breed ring, and the following weekend retrieves two limits of mallards on NorCal's waterfowl opener.

October 17 - Fire Truck celebrates his fourth birthday with an epic upland hunt. Happy birthday bestest buddy bear!

August 16 - Delilah goes WB and BOS at Mensona for another coupla points.

June 7 - Delilah earns two majors at the Woofstock shows while Trygger celebrates his 7-month birthday by going BOW for his first major.

May 11 - Littermates Anton and Delilah finish their JH titles!

Apr. 27 - Layla delivered a single boy pup via C-section. 'The Boy Wonder' is healthy, vibrant, and very spoiled. Info and pics on the litter page. We will repeat the breeding in fall '09.

Mar. 13 - Pheasie season is rolling to a close. Lots of great memories from our countless happy hunts.

Mar. 7 - David K. and Anton returned to Los Banos for another JH leg. Congrats, boys! 2 down, 2 to go.

Feb. 27 - Fire Truck goes BOB under breeder-judge Ann Yuhasz to finish his Championship with a third major! Way to go Truck-E-Bear, and a big thanks to Michael and Krystal for showing him.

Feb. 26 - Layla was bred to Jet. If all goes well, pups should arrive in late April.

Feb. 20 - Happy Birthday to the Jordan x Layla kids. I can't believe it's been a year already. Delilah celebrated her big day with an epic pheasie hunt. Thanks to all for the wonderful updates.

Feb. 12 - Layla is in season and will be bred in the next couple of weeks.

Jan. 31 - Litter page updated. Layla will be bred to Jet (Eng Sh Ch Vbos the Kentuckian).

Jan. 26 - The barn rennovation is nearing completion. Check out the new 'old barn.'

Jan. 24/25 - Fire Truck goes WD and BOW Saturday, and WD Sunday for his second major. Puppies Delilah and Anton had a great time at their first show, and eventually learned how to stand still and wag their tails without wagging their entire bodies.

2008

Dec. 6/7 - Layla has a great agility weekend earning two Open Standard legs with first and second placements to finish her open title, and one Excellent Jumpers leg with a third place.

Nov. 9 - Layla stands among 5 qualifiers to finish her Senior Hunter title. Puppy Delilah earned her first Junior pass, though she was just there to play, which she did.

Oct. 30 - Litter planned with Layla for spring '09. Stud TBD.

Oct. 26 - Layla earns two Senior Hunter legs with style galore and was one of only 6 qualifiers on Sunday.

Oct. 19 - Layla completes her Open Jumpers title (OAJ) and earns an Excellent Jumpers leg with a first place. Fire Truck earns an Open Jumpers leg with a first place.

August 28 - Congrats to Nick and Will for placing 6th in Dog Showmanship at the County Fair with the youngest dog entered. You make a great team.

May 26 - Fire Truck's OFA reports are in - 'Excellent' hips, and 'Normal' elbows and patellas.

May 25 - Fire Truck completes his novice jumpers title (NAJ) with a first place run and earns a novice standard leg with a first place. Layla gets open jumpers leg with a first place.

May 18 - Teague, now Willow, has a new home - congrats to Nick and the rest of the Funke family.

May 10/11 - Fire Truck goes WD Saturday and WD & BoW Sunday at Camelia Capital KC show.

April 23 - Layla x Jordan pup available to show home.

April 22 - Layla is back from maternity leave, and loving every minute of working in the field. Follow our spring training adventures.

April 20 - Layla's pups have gone to their new homes. Things sure are quiet around here, and I miss them already.

March 20 - Hunting season has come to a sad close, but what a season it was. Lots of great memories.

Feb. 20 - Layla x Jordan pups are here! Layla whelped 9 pups over the course of 3 hours in the early morning, (and less than 36 hours after hunting up pheasies)! 5 girls and 4 boys.

Jan. 20 - Layla earns NA title at Rose City Classic and an open jumpers leg. Fire Truck earns very first agility leg in novice jumpers class.

2007

Dec. 19, 2007 - Layla was bred to Jordan (CH SR Hallbent Most Happy Fella SH WCX CGC). If the breeding takes, pups will arrive in late February.

Oct., 2007 - Fire Truck earns his first major.