English Golden Retrievers In France

On May 9th, a year and a day since Grace went, I had the very sad decision to let Velvet go to Rainbow Bridge. She was 64 days from her 15th birthday and had not eaten a proper meal for weeks. I bought some tinned food and white fish for her but she was just wasting away. The lump on her front leg was giving her jip. In the morning, Velvet still wanted to go for her little walk but clearly she was struggling and I knew it was time. The vet was called and Velvet went to sleep on the front lawn just like her sister. I don’t know if she was the last to go in the litter, if anyone knows Bella, Millie, Rebecca, CJ or Harvey, could they contact me?
Sleep well my little one xxx

Velvet, the official oldest Hareswith Golden

Today, Christmas day, Velvet has reached the age of 14 years 166 days, beating Chesters record of 14 years 165 days.
She has out lived her sister Grace and niece Hazel. Long may she continue. Bless her.

Dear Hazel was given sleep on 22nd September after her tumour returned with avengence. The morphine she was prescribed was not being effective any more.
Hazel could be naughty at times, disappearing on her walks only to be found in the forbidden lake chasing the ducks. She became official old folks when she was 10, insisting on her piece of “Charlie chocolate” before going to bed each night. Hazel won her first 1st at the age of 10 from class veteran. At her last show in August at Brive, Hazel won Best Veteran in Breed then in Ring D’Honneur, won 3rd Best Veteran in Show. Not a bad swan song for her. I knew this would be her last show as when I was bathing her, I felt the tumour that had returned.
Rest in peace Hazel Rah XXX

This was supposed to have appeared before Hazel but it disappeared !!!
Left to right
Thyme, Sable, Clover, Rowan, Laird, Lace, Hazel and Velvet lying down.

All the family in one place at the same time, it is a miracle!!

Brive Show 14th August

Left to right - Lace, Hazel and The Laird

Another great result for all!
The Laird won his class, CACS and CACIB and Best of Breed. Lace also won her class CACS and CACIB (her first). Hazel, although the only one in her class was given 1st Excellent, then she competed against the Veteran dog, who was a champion, beat him. In ring D’honneur, Hazel was awarded 3rd Best in Show Veteran. The Laird was 2nd in the group.
Merlin, Sable and Laird’s son was Best Puppy in Breed.

Velvet 12th July

Today, Velvet celebrates her 14th birthday. She has now stopped going out with the rest for a walk but enjoys going around the field at the back of us.
I wish her many happy returns.

Being still without the car, I asked my sister to take me. We were going for 7 Best of Breeds in a row. Laird having won the group for last 2 years.
Thyme was in the open class for the first time and won 4th Excellent, Laird won his class and the CACS but was beaten by the junior winner for Best of Breed. It meant we had an early finish that I was quite please about as was still tired from the weekend before.

Paris was hosting the World this year in conjuction with the Championnat de France. The Laird and I were accompionied by Wendy and her adorable Toller, the bed bug, Yum Yum.
We travelled up the day before, and set off for the show. The Championnat on the Thursday. The Laird got Très Bon and Yum Yum Excellent and Best Junior. Friday was the World show, Laird did better getting an Excellent and Yum Yum très bon. C’est la vie!
After 3 ½ hours in a traffic jam, getting out of Paris, the car decided to break down, the clutch had gone. We managed to get to the services and called for assistance. Another night in a hotel. It was very hot and despite having the window open, Laird was puffing and panting all night. He did not appreciate having to get on the back seat of the hire car, but used Yum Yum as a pillow! We finally arrived home 24 hours later than when we set off.

Today, The Laird was taking his Epreuve B, for the 3rd time. The first he mucked up his water work, the second he mucked up everything except his recall and finding the pigeon.
In practice, he could do all the exercises perfectly but on the day who knows?!!
Today he did the field work perfectly, then came the water work. He fetched the first dummie got to the edge and decided to drop it and have a drink before bringing to me. Off for the second one, same thing. Fetching the last one, no problem. Finding and retrieving the pigeon was done with style apart from putting it down and picking it up again. Was it enough?
Thyme did her TAN, with a few hiccups, but the basics were there.
All back to base for the results. The Laird was one of the 2 out of 6 that passed!!!!! I was delighted with him. Thyme was also awarded her TAN.

Hareswith Amazing Grace 12/07/1997 – 10/05/2011

Our lovely Grace went to sleep on our lawn in the sunshine on the 10th May, following a short illness.
She tried her paw at showing, obedience, working tests and on shoots where she excelled. In the showring, Grace won in UK and after moving to France, won 2 BOB’s, 2 CACS and RCACIB. What she lived for was to retrieve. Balls, sticks or pheasants.
Grace is buried next to Dickens, with her is a tennis ball. Well you never know, Rainbow Bridge might not have any!
Enjoy your new lease of life my little honey bear.