This year we chose to have an early summer holiday in June as the new Danish flatcoated club SFR held a weekend of training on the isle of Fyn with great trainers in a lovely terrain at Faurskov. It is such a nice initiative because you get to meet many flatcoats and their owners throughout the weekend spending time socializing and training. The Netherlands was represented by me and Yvonne from Tricksywood’s kennel and also some German handlers joined.
During the weekend training camp we met with many old friends and lovely people from last year. It was great to see how the dogs had developed in their training and especially Rumi received compliments for her attitude. Last year we trained with a very friendly and strong working dog from Germany and enjoyed time with his handler so meeting each other again in training was a positive reunion. Another pleasant surprise – this lovely guy had passed my attention while looking through pedigrees of working flatcoated retrievers without knowing that I already knew him. I remembered him because of his calm nature and his self confidence and earthy presence. It is rather rare to find these traits in a dog who also works passionately.
After the weekend I was really in need of a holiday and my dummy bag went into the bottom of the car – giving me and the dogs 3 weeks just to be. No plans and no tasks to complete. Just enjoying holidays. Here are some pictures – they speak for themselves how a flatcoated retriever colors your holidays:
Once we arrived home it was with a memory of many re-visiting dog friends and places. Even the camping where I stayed 3 1/2 years ago awaiting the right moment with Rumi to mate with Brösel in the middle of covid lockdown. I did shed some tears because it felt like closing a book..
Hopefully a new chapter in a new book will start writing itself. So as I am vacuuming the last dog hair out of the caravan – my mind is daydreaming of what is to come this Autumn. There are many big plans awaiting – and the first plan is to have a debut with Rumi in the Map A. Rumi would not be Rumi if she did not manage to play tricks with my plans. Two days after arrival home she came in heat – meaning our whole working season of competitions will take place during a hormonal roller coaster. Never a dull moment with a flattie.
Flatastic flatcoated retrievers 