New Champion!

I can't believe how fast the days have flown by and that summer is coming to an end already!

Hazel and I have had a whirl-wind of a summer and have some great news to post! The last weekend of August we traveled up to Cumberland, Maine for a three day dog show. The weather was beautiful on Friday, but alas, we didn't do too well in the show, we got third place. Oh well, ya can't win them all! So then we headed into nearby Boothbay Harbor for some sight seeing and good food and drink, making sure that the day wasn't a total loss!

The show on Saturday was a supported entry by the American Chesapeake Club, and the judge was Nat Horn, a longtime breeder/exhibitor of Chesapeakes himself. Saturday's weather was cold and rainy, but Hazel loved it! She strutted her stuff around the ring in the rain and won the class along with a 4 point major, which finished up her points needed for a Championship title!
I was (and am) SO proud of my little girl!!!
Then there was a dinner that evening at Safe Harbor Chesapeake Rescue which was absolutely fabulous! Lobster, steak, clams, corn on the cob....all you could eat.....thank you to Jane and Ron Peabody for being such gracious hosts and having all us wet folks in your beautiful home! It was the perfect end to a perfect day!

On Sunday Hazel competed in the Best of Breed class with the other Champions, and although she had fun, the class was won by a lovely bitch (CH. Poisett's Following Sea) and her very talented Jr. Handler - Annie Henshaw. Congrats to the both of them!
On the way home we stopped in Wells Beach for some clam chowder and to take some photos of the ocean! All in all it was a wonderful weekend!

Whoo -hoo!! New Champion!!!
With a very damp (but happy) Mom!

Mom and me practicing our synchronized trotting!

Dad and me in Boothbay Harbor

The Tugboat Inn in Boothbay Harbor

Getting ready for Dinner (and a good one it was!)

I can smell the ocean from here!!!
Hurry, lets go!!

Ohhhhh.....That looks like fun down there!

Please can I go down there????
Pretty please????

Showing off my Maine "bling"!

Ahhhhhhhh...........

Champion Hazel!!!
CH Blucollars Hocus Pocus CD, JH, RN

And a couple of weeks before our Maine trip, we were in Fitchburg , MA where Hazel and I competed for the first time ever in a Rally Advanced obedience class. Not only did she get 1st place out of the 33 dogs in the class, but she was the only dog to score a perfect 100!

Mom says I'm pretty AND smart!
Really all I want to do is get the ball
that dad is taunting me with while taking this picture!


Our next adventure starts this weekend (Sept. 13) when we head off once again to Maine to watch the American Chesapeake Clubs National Field Trial Specialty. No competing this time, just watching, learning and keeping an eye out for handsome young Chesapeake boys!!! ;-)

Summer Fun

Last weekend I went to Syracuse and met up with my Mom and the two of us, and Hazel of course, participated in a wine tour event on Cayuga Lake!
It was geared towards dog lovers and the dogs were welcome to join in the fun!
Visit: Greyhound Wine Tour & Friends
We could only attend Thursday night and Friday, but had a great time and can't wait for next years event!

Our first stop on the trail!

This is my new friend, Miles.
She was serving the wine at Long Point winery.
And dog cookies too! I like her!

What a pretty day!

Another new friend!
Being greeted by the resident winery dog, Ruby.

I think Ruby's had enough wine!

Last stop of the day. We only got to visit four of the wineries, but still had a lot of fun! Looking forward to doing it again next year!

Sunday was spent having a cookout with my husbands family, including his five grandchildren, all girls,
ranging in ages from 1 1/2 - 5 years old!
What fun for a energetic pooch!

Cool sticks! Can I play?



Catch me if you can!

Ummm....excuse me, but I get yelled at
if I try to eat the frisbee!

Is it my turn yet?
Please, please, pretty please?

I LOVE pool time!

Who gave her the hose?

Yikes! Everyone outta the pool!

Dutch also enjoyed the family party.........

Stealing kisses from all the girls

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

New JH Title!

With such good news, you'd think I would have updated the blog site sooner, but alas, I've been slacking on my blog duties! Sorry!!!!
Anyways......on July 11, 2009 at the Finger Lakes Retriever Club hunt test in Baldwinsville, NY, Hazel qualified for the fourth and final time to earn her Junior Hunter title! She was entered on Sunday as well, and qualified that day also! What a good girl!

Mmmmmm......feather up the nose!

You can't fool me! I know those geese are fake!

Don't I look dreamy!

This pesky decoy keeps following me!

Splish, Splash!!

Blucollars Hocus Pocus CD, RN, JH

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy
Independence Day!

Last weekend in June was busy!

The last weekend in June was a busy one.
On Thursday and Friday (the 25th and 26th), we were in Bainbridge, NY competing in a breed confirmation show. Hazel has been shedding out her coat, which does not help with the "beauty" contests, but she still managed to win her class on Thursday and also win BOS (best of opposite sex) earning another point towards her championship title!

She needs a total of 15 points with two "major" (3 or more points) wins, and she's halfway there with 8 points and one major win!

We spent Saturday at home, doing stuff around the house and trying to rub as much coat off of Hazel as possible (we're done with the beauty contests until August, so hopefully the faster I can get her old coat out, a new one will grow in!)

Sunday morning it was off to Simsbury, CT for a hunt test. The weather was perfect in the morning for the land series, overcast and just a wee bit cool. Hazel nailed her land marks, but I was a little dissappointed in her delivery back to me, as she wanted to parade her retrieved prize in front of the judge first!
By the afternoon water series, the sun had come out and it was quite warm. Hazel did a good job on her water marks. The first one landed in the reeds and she had to hunt a bit for it, but found it and the second mark was in the open water (yeah)! Both time's she would have "broke" on the line (good thing I was holding her) and her delivery again was sloppy (set the bird down to "shake off") so we do have some things to work on! But all in all it was good and she qualified!
She needs one more pass now to earn her Junior Hunter title. She will be competeing in Baldwinsville, NY on July 11 and 12, so hopefully that will be it!

Yipeeeeee!! Here I come duck!

But Mom.....I wanna go swimming again!

Fun in Salem, MA

No dog events scheduled for this weekend, instead we spent Friday and Saturday in one of our favorite places to visit, Salem, MA.
The rain held off and we enjoyed all of our usual "haunts" (O'Neill's Pub, Red's, Pickering Wharf and The Engine House Pizza), as well as walking about town enjoying the sights, sounds, shops and people. And although the Boston Red Sox lost against Atlanta on Friday night, they won the games on Saturday and Sunday! " Yeah" says Mom and Dad! "Woof Woof" says Hazel! Go Red Sox!

Our first stop on Friday night is always O'Neill's Pub
for great food and great live Irish music!

Hazel also enjoyed the live Irish music by
John Rockwell (guitar) and Larry Young (fiddle)
at O'Neill's Pub

Relaxing on Essex Street

Salem is filled with Witches
(Mom can't fool me, I know it's her!)

and Skeletons
(Mmmmm, bones - I'm getting hungry)

and Pirates! Oh my!
(Do you have any treats?)

Which one do you like best Dad?

Hazel and Dad checking out the boats at Pickering Wharf

Trying to get a closer look

What a fun weekend in Salem, MA
Can't wait to come back again!

Jr. Hunt test passes

Hello everyone!
A month has passed since our last entry and we apologize for that!
A quick update of what Hazel has been up to since earning her CD title in May...... The last weekend of May we attended our first hunt test in Newburgh, NY. Unfortunately it was not a successful venture, the test the first day was very difficult and we weren't alone in finding it difficult as 22 of the 47 dogs entered didn't pass either! The highlight of the day though was a visit from one of Hazel's siblings, her sister Briley! (See picture below) Briley is a very nice girl, who is spoiled rotten (as she should be) by her family and enjoys goose and pheasant hunting with her dad who raves about her trainability and retrieving skills.

Me and my sister "Briley".
We had fun visiting each other in Newburgh, NY
I'm glad I got to play with her again!

Sunday's test was a nice test and Hazel got her first land mark, but unfortunately looked back at the first set of gunners as the second mark was being thrown and missed the fall. She doesn't handle yet, so I wasn't going to even try. But the weather was beautiful, we met some new friends, and all in all it was a decent weekend!

On June 7th we were in Yorktown Heights, NY for a confirmation show. Hazel did get reserve winners, but alas, no points towards her CH title.

Last weekend, June 13th and 14th, we were in Baldwinsville, NY for another two hunt tests. This time we were successful! The tests both days were nice tests, the weather was great and the test grounds are only about 45 minutes away from where my Mom lives so we were also able to get free room and board! Can't beat that!! Hazel performed very well, but it is amazing how when walking to the holding blinds, obedience type heeling seems to be a forgotten skill! Definately something to work on!
Here are some pictures from the tests.

I see it!!
Let me at it!

It's all wet Mom....
are you sure you really want it?

Waiting in the holding blind for my turn at the fun!

I've got it Mom and here I come!

Waiting for your turn is the worst part!

Thank you judges!
That was fun!

This weekend we're headed to Salem, MA for some "relax" time, and then the following week (June 25th and 26th) is a breed show in Bainbridge, NY and on the 28th a hunt test in Simsbury, CT. We'll let you know how it all goes!