Category Archives: Geen categorie

The past 4 weekends Yvonne van Houten & I have hosted several 1/2 day workshops on different themes in the north of the Netherlands. We have enjoyed all participants and their dogs – especially because of their dedication to learning and improving their teamwork. Yvonne and I enjoyed having many different breeds joining and weContinue reading “Summer school completed”

Thursday & Friday I participated in a gundog demonstration for the KJV on the Terdege Outdoor Fair. It was a great experience for me and the dogs and also a very good way to show what kind of gundogs flatcoated retrievers are. A bit of everything was included: steadyness, marking, heelwork, water retrieves and socialContinue reading “Team Flatastic at Terdege summerfair – gundog demo for Dutch hunting association KJV.”

That dogs build relationships resembling (up to a limit) the human species’ way of developing bonds has been known for some time in scientific studies. I always enjoy the joy I see in my dogs when they meet up with their friends. To be honest many of my dogs’ friendships have resulted in friendships forContinue reading “Rumi & friends out sightseeing & MAP A workshop Partoe”

In the 2-2024 edition of the Dutch gundog magazine “de Jachthond” you will find an article about hunting with flatcoated retrievers. I have written this article inspired by many different interviews with other flatcoated owners, breeders, judges and hunters who use this great breed as a gun dog. Thank you to everyone who has contributed!Continue reading “Beauty & Brains article in Dutch gundog magazine “de Jachthond””

Today it is 4 years ago that our first litter was born after a long and tiresome birth. Today I received many photos of the gorgeous black beauties. Their joy of life is overflowing the pictures. Happy birthday Kai, Kaspar, Shelby, Spyke, Lotte, Jason, Jones, Fien, Gurbe, Bruce & Victor 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 Also in loving memoryContinue reading “Happy Flatastic 4th Birthday”

Many discussions are held between breed clubs and breeders about the dual purpose of the flatcoated retriever. Dual purpose is a term that is used for well build, fit for function and healthy looking dogs who also have excellent working abilities. Attending dog shows used to be a way of judging the dogs on anatomyContinue reading “Zeeland outdoor show”

It has been a couple of weeks since Lotte’s ultrasound showed an empty womb. It was a bit of a shock to us and I needed some time to digest the news. Digesting bad news has been a bit of theme lately and it has been reminding me that breeding and having passion for whatContinue reading “Back in the saddle..”

The gundog competition season finished for us with a qualification to participate in the Champions Trophy on the 24th of February. One may call it the “Retriever Championship” of the year as the best of all the retriever breeds compete at a high level. Rumi and I are invited and looking forward to the experience.Continue reading “Girls out hunting”

Last Sunday – the 19th of Nov 2023 the FRC held her flatcoated finals gun dog competition. Rumi and two of her siblings were invited which is very special to have 3 littermates at this top level. To qualify one must have at least an A diploma in an SJP – WT or MAP. TheContinue reading “Flatcoated Retriever Club NL – gun dog finals “Apporteer Trofee””

Last week I received an invitation from colleague flatcoated breeder Pearlycoat to join a hunt in Denmark. It was unique in the way that Cajus,who is planned to sire our upcoming, was attending too. Pearlycoat is a well known flatcoated breeder in Denmark who has a reputation of breeding working gun dogs with calm temperamentsContinue reading “Hunting pre-date”