[Maddie]

My beautiful pup has proved to be a challenge with socialisation. Very timid, to the point I was seriously worried.

i took her to her first show at the weekend. Well, she allowed the judge to go over her, with a tiny growl, but, more importantly, she met loads of dogs and allowed herself to be petted by members of the public.

She was placed best baby in breed, very promising. Because she got best baby, she qualified for best baby in show. This meant going in the big arena with grandstands, crowds and loud speakers. The equivalent of the big ring at crufts 🤣. I decided to use it as a learning experience…in the main ring with 40+ other babies and she gets picked in the Final Cut…the last 8. She moves beautifully and my friends, who were watching, said the judge couldn't take his eyes off her. She was so tired by then, I didn’t force her to do anything…she didn’t want to stand, so be it.

I came home with a tired puppy and she won a rather spiffing trophy.

Gillie…Show Me of Tintagel Winds, daughter of dual champion Carromer’s Charlie Chalk.

 

[DJGoody]

Well done!

She looks a winner to me but I'm no judge!

 

[mandyb]

Congratulations! She's a cracker!

 

[Lablover61]

She's gorgeous, well done👏

 

[Maddie]

Tomorrrow she is going for her first gundog training session. If she does well in the show ring she cannot get a title of any description without competing in field trials. In order to compete she needs to qualify via selective B and in order to be able to do that, she has to pass a test of natural aptitude. None of this show gundog working certificate malarkey but the real thing. A French title, indeed an FCI CACIB, is one of the hardest to achieve if you have a breed that requires a working test like the Labrador.

 

[JohnW]

I'm very sorry the title Sh Ch was ever invented here in the UK. I believe it spelled the demise of the dual purpose Labrador here. Because with covid the years 2020 and 2021 were not really representative I looked up 2019 as being a more normal year. That year there were 15 field trials champions made up, 16 show champions, but just 1 Champion!!! Sad times.

 

[Maddie]

It is very sad. I’m even more sad that people think a GB Sh Ch is one of the hardest titles to get. They have no idea 🤣🤣. For a French title you need the equivalent of 6 CC (one of which must be at the French equivalent of crufts or the French national breed speciality show), a very good rating in a field trial and all that entails to even qualify to enter a FT (you don’t get ratings in Uk but we get them in field trials and beauty shows in addition to placings), dna profile, and minimum hip and elbow scores. It ain’t no picnic 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Maddie]

Wow, gundoggery is the business! I appear to have a natural.

 

[JohnW]

Wow, gundoggery is the business! I appear to have a natural.

The dogs really love it, and it helps with them paying attention to us, because we are where their fun comes from.