I am starting to look for a trial dog. I am in Region 14 and really want to get into this game. Where should I start looking? I am not really in the kow of what lines are best and what lines are worst so any help is appreciated. There are alot of Dunfur GSP's up here ( FC NDL Dunfurs Diver, NFC/NGDC/FC/AFC Dunfur's PFK Joe Obvious) to name a couple. I havent ruled out the Dunfur lines but would really like somthing different than what everyone else has. I was thinking of going for the dual title and I have been looking at Oddyssey Kennels.

You should figure out what trials there are to run in up there Ryan.  You say you are in Region 14, which would be NGSPA or AFTCA Region 14.  But to my knowledge there is no Region 14 Championship.  Steve Short would know if there is one, and what other trials are around up there to run in.  If you decide you want to try the American Field style trials then you should not get a "DC quality" dog.  There are practically none that are capable of running and winning in AF trials.  If you are going to run in CKC/AKC trials, then a DC type might be a good choice.

But you better figure out what you have available to you up there first.  If you want to PM me, I can send you Steve Short's email, he is a GSP trialer and judge from AB who will know what is going on up there.

I mentioned it because you said Region 14.  AKC and CKC do not have regions.  That is NGSPA/AFTCA terminology (which is American Field).

Thanks Phyllis! Willow really has proven to be a once in a lifetime. Now we hope to duplicate that. I should be so lucky. I'll keep checking in now and then, but work has been insane - with no end in sight.

Jean

Yes, Willow is a very nice dog.  From out of nowhere to the top of the heap, or near the top anyway.  Give her and Blair a chance to learn some of the courses and I expect we will see more big wins from her in the future.

Technically, Tarkus would be Eldon's winningest dog ever, with 27 Championships and three National titles.  Spot has 12 Championships and 1 National title.  But Tarkus's career is over, he gets to sit on the couch, sleep with Eldon, and get petted.  I love that dog. 

Spot is still 5 1/2 and provided we keep him injury free, he is going to have a great career.  Spot is ahead of Tarkus's pace, and last year, broke Eldon's personal record with Tarkus of 7 Championship wins in one year. 

However it comes out in the end, I am just pleased that Spot would be in that kind of rare air, with a dog like Tarkus.  The signal characteristic of both of them, is that they are true bird dogs.  Not dogs that run to feel the wind between their ears.  They always come up with birds, even when other dogs are having difficulty with that.

Am anxious to hear how those pups come out.

The main difference between Tarkus and Spot is that when you pet Tarkus, he sort of jams his head between your legs and makes you pet his rump,  where Spot will nibble your nose and ears.  And Spot smiles, Tarkus does not. 

And after Spot smiles at you so that you'll lean down to pet him, he will steal your ball cap

Jean

I havent ruled Fritz out yet. I almost had a puppy out of him and Sally lastyear but the timing just couldnt line up. I would be very picky about the bitch if I were to get a puppy out of him. No offense zodiakgsp but I am looking for a dog with more trial titles in a pedigree than show.

No offense taken!! I simply meant that I'm very into having duals myself and Fritz is a really nice dog &  he is producing well, a good dog to look at for a dual type dog. (That's why I'm planning on breeding to Fritz, because I want a dual, all but 1 of my dogs are dual pointed & he just has a lot of field wins/placements so far, no show points)

I laughed at that one Jean.  You have really met him.  Yes, he does exactly that.  But he just wants to hold it, he won't tear it up.  But when he and his sister get together, there is trouble.

When Spot won the NC last year I managed to get just four of the red caps from the event.  I had one embroidered for myself, one for Eldon, one for Keith, and one for Pat Waresk.  They had the "2007 NGSPA National Championships" on the front.  Then on one side I added "National Champion" and on the other side I added the person's name "Spot".

Spot came home and he liked that hat, which was just fine because he would just carry it around.  But his sister wanted it too.  One day he found it, carried it around, she got it, and now it is no more.  So thanks Spot.  I liked that hat.