Thursday evening the 10th of October we received a heartbreaking phone call from the owner of sweet girl Fien, Flatastic Green Compassion. Fien had two days earlier had a collapsed lung that had been treated by the vet. Unfortunately her lungs collapsed again and she died on her way to medical treatment. We are heartbroken that this little gem of a Rumi daughter has left us far too soon. Even though our tears seem to have no end I feel the urge to pay this wonderful soul a tribute. I am forever grateful for her being a part of our lives – and as a breeder I am very proud of her. She was a fantastic flatcoated retriever.

Puppy Green:

Fien was as a puppy a little energy ball. She would run around with a toy in her mouth most of the time and she loved challenging the boys to do a play of chase. If any of the boys got to close she would jump up to a higher place and tell them off. In this manner she was a copy of Rumi – having the exact strong spirit and motivation as her mother.

When I met Laurine I noticed how their energy matched – even though it was Laurine’s first working flatcoated they proved to be a great couple.

Youngster:

Fien remained one of the smallest of the dogs of the Aura nest. Her charisma and energy was however one of the largest. Fien showed very early that she was very clever with a strong mind of her own. She was very quick to develop and learn – challenging her handler to be a step ahead all the time.

Grown up:

I had the pleasure of enjoying a couple of hunting days together with Fien and her owner Laurine. Fien showed great stamina and eagerness in retrieving and she worked very well together with other dogs in the field. She had a keen nose and kept her head calm even in a busy shoot. With her 24 kg she was at the small end of the scale for her breed – but her speed was on of a kind.

CV:

HD A EL free Patella free ECVO clear (except distichiasis) – Gonio mild height 54 cm

Show results: 

Excellent junior class WFRG KCM. Very good junior class FRC KCM

Working results:

SJP-C WFRG Heerle – SJP-C Wijchen – SJP-C Gieten 

Practical hunting experience in Belgium

Fien you have left us far too early leaving our hearts sore and sad. We will never forget your sweet, funny and energetic soul. Your name “green compassion” is a quality we need now the most to heal from our loss.

Run free sweet girl – run and chase those rabbits in the forever hunting fields.

After our poop failed attempt at the SJP Rhenoy – Lotte and I had the opportunity to make our true premiere at the SJP A in Delft Monday the 16th of September.

Conditions were not easy – eastern winds and a terrein with high plants and many distractions

Lotte started very well on the first cast, a few corrections and the first blind of 100 meters came back.

After the first blind we were up for the second – most difficult of all. 130 meters crossing a walking path, a ditch and situated up against a wall of water plants. Lotte listened very well and I managed to keep her out of the water. All up until the ditch she did very well and then the whole thing collapsed and she ran full speed ahead to the place first dove.

One may argue that it was a poor ending – I went home with a big smile. She did very well for 85% of the time. This is certainly not bad for a first time.

14 participants on the double blind (I proef) and no one passed.

I am feeling very hopeful with Lotte and our work together. Good girl she is.

All photos by Sanne Romijn “Dog Portret”

The Dutch Gundog Show is traditionally every other year and used to take place at a castle location with lists of “hunting” atmosphere. This year the show was unfortunately held elsewhere and it sadly took out some of its he characteristic spirit of the show. Nevertheless team Flatastic showed in full style and our dogs were valued with good critiques and nice placements.

Flatastic Red Strength 1st place excellent working class bitches & 3rd place couples class all breeds

Flatastic Black Peace 1st place excellent working class males, BOB working & 3rd place couples class all breeds

Flow of Spirits Silver Skipper 2nd place VG Veteran bitches

Thursday morning my husband asked me to take care of a “rear” situation. Rumi had some loose stool..as she was smelly to start with she got a nice clean bath with shampoo too which she was deeply offended of course. I normally do not wash my dogs – only in cases like this when they have done a “scent camouflage” out of something that does not go well with our noses.

Friday Kaspar was at the MAP Bilthoven. He had been a bit restless at night but looked fit in the morning. The first post was a total failure. He ran out hunting the forest far too deep and I suspected him to hunting for deer instead of cold game. The second station he did nothing at all after running out. This is very unlike Kaspar. Third station he picked up a crow and then ran out as if he had forgotten at all what he was doing. I decided to pull him back. The rest of the day he was sleeping in a corner and the next morning he was having diarrhea too.

The Saturday I was with Lotte at the SJP Rhenoy. She obtained a good 75 point B certificate and we were ready for the A part in the afternoon. She ran out on a very nice cast – stopped for a large poop and ran further to get the dove and came back, stopped and had to poop again. What an onfortunate situation.. of course I pulled her back from the test at that point. Next day was full of stomach trouble and by the time she was better we had another SJP test in Gieten. Our 2nd station: a mark in the plowed soil. Let’s say she was not on top of her game and lets say that the judge and I had different insights on what happened but I had a hard time finding value in any discussion and considered that this experience was a good closure of a weekend in the theme of “shit happens”. My smile is though unaffected as I have passed the hunting exam past Thursday and I received some gorgeous photos from Fred Bekema of Lotte and I in Rhenoy. So even with poor results – I am still smiling feeling very content.

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 we feel very satisfied having witnessed their growth and pleasure in working. Thank you all helpers & participants.

• Water Heelwork
• Marking skills
• Working on the line
• Distractions
• Multiple retrieves

We hope to be back in the winter with an indoor heelwork workshop…

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 social behavior. The only difficult part was ignoring the pet rabbits on the other side of the arena fence…

Thank Gerald for the invitation & 2 wonderful days🐾

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 for me too.

Sometimes people’s life stories touches us and reaches out to us.. and life works in wonderous ways. Last year I met Henk at a gun dog competition and we felt a connection and discovered that we share some of the same back ground in coaching and views on humanity. Jet had also met Henk and their meeting also left a footprint..

And so it came to an idea that the “old” map A group of Jantine would drive ourselves to Rheden and be treated with a guided walk through the Veluwezoom, Posbank. An area with forest, farmland and moorland. The area is home to Fallow deer, wild boar and wolf.

Of course also many different birds and other small animals..

The moorland is keept by a flock of sheep and their herder with herding dogs. Absolutely a treat it was to see the herder working her dogs in the hills.

After the 6 km walk we enjoyed a lovely lunch at restaurant De Ruif.

https://restaurantderuif.nl/locatie/

For the afternoon I had arranged Emmy Rensen from Partoe Gundogtraining to challenge us with a MAP A workshop. Young Jason (Flatastic Aquamarine Acceptance) was attending for “listen & learn” time.

I think the lovely photos of Linda Spaargaren speak better about the atmosphere than my words..

Thank you Partoe for a fantastic afternoon with challenging gun dog work full of blinds, distractions – waterwork and serious drags. Team Partoe – Emmy, Jan & John you really gave us a blast.

Frans, Linda, Jet & Henk – thank you for a lovely day. A perfect sunny day to forget all worries and enjoy our dog friendships and great gun dog work.

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!

You can order this magazine in a single edition or permanent distribution via http://dejachthond.nl/

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 memory Line

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 anatomy and looks. This is today also the case. But. It is a big but. Over the years showing one’s dog has become a sport itself. And of course it is lovely that we enjoy all kinds of sports with our dogs. This has resulted in the fact that breeders breed toward the sport they prefer and this will translate into different types. The showdogs tend to have long necks, long backs and a very charming trot. The working types tend to be lighter build, less angulation and having a more significant stop. My dogs may lean more against the working type being lightly build and not having enormous thick coats. It is therefore a bit of a surprise what a judge will think of them.

Friday the 10th of May we went to Zeeland outdoor dog show – flatcoated retrievers being judged by Hannie Warendorf.

Rumi & Kaspar were in a good mood. Lotte was not very motivated for a day in the ring and looking a bit scruffy in her coat her VG was suitable for how she showed.

Rumi very a bit affected by the heat but she reached a 3rd place Excellent- pleased with that.

Kaspar really surprised by being rather excited and showed off in the ring with high tail carriage and charisma. When he was appreciated with an excellent I was very happy. It is really nice that there is room for a more elegant type to achieve an excellent – the diversity in the breed is important.

When the end judging of the males took place – I was really surprised that Kaspar came in second with a reserve CAC. Thank you for the appreciation. Cannot believe that my Italian has 1/4 of a cert. point. Who would have thought to..

Kaspar is exclusively on the FRC stud list. The breed club FRC is the only breed club in the Netherlands who have a genepool supporting set of breeding rules – allowing breeders to use foreign studs and having ethical guidelines that must be complied with.

📷 Manon Eslooppoc