My 6 month pup has been doing this horrible retchy cough on and off the last couple of days.  she is bright and happy , eating well, lively but everynow and then is doing this vile cough which on a couple of occassions has turned into retching up part of last meal.. (on both occassions right while we were eating our meal ..)
does this sound like kennel cough to you?
is there anything much I can do or is it just watch her and vet job if she starts looking sad?

Yes it does...needs a visit to the Vet! :-(

thanks,  only thing is I'm really not that keen on her having antibiotics if not really necessary, shes coughing maybe once an hour or so and normal hyperactive mad food hovering self so was really hoping we could just give her a bit of support at home rather then starting her onto stronger drugs.
obviously if she looks unhappy would get her straight to vets.

Doubt the vet will give ABs if they are not needed, if you don't trust your vet to administer treatment appropriate to the condition then I would change your vet. If the pup has a secondary infection of the respiratory system then ABs are appropriate, giving them for KC is not as that is caused by a virus and not a bacterial infection