Hi, I'm quite new to the forum, and being fortunate enough to be owned by a gorgeous flatcoat bitch, bred by Peggy Miller, I read everything I could find about f/c on the board.
I was surprised to hear some people felt they were being "put off the breed". Surely it's better to be safe than sorry, and check their expectations before bringing a young, energetic pup home, THEN discovering it's not for them.
Personally I've always found F/C people friendly,very helpfuland always happy to talkabout this lovely breed.

we are a friendly lot out here,welcome to champdogs i have 5 f/c.

Thanks for the welcome!!!

I'm really enjoying champdogs.....found it by accident

I just dream of the day when I can have 5f/c!! You lucky thing

Hello there and a welcome from me as well! Flatcoat people don't usually bite, do we? Whereabouts are you? We live Surrey/Hants/Sussex border, and Terri isn't too far from us, so would be nice to meet up.

We've got 7 flatcoats - keeps us out of mischief - (don't know about them, though!) :-)

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi,
Welcome fellow flattie lover. This is a friendly bunch of folk, I am sure you will enjoy visiting this site. My Rosebug is a Peggy Millar flatcoat, and thoroughly wonderful. She has the best nose for finding game of any dog I have owned. Do you visit flatcoats@yahoogroups.com as well? I am in Buckinghamshire.
Regards

Polly and the Foxpath flatcoats.

Hi Jo and Polly

Thanks for welcome:)

I live in Crawley, W. Sussex, as well as Liberty f/c, I also have a 13yr old Golden Retriever, Bree (not the cheese, she's named after a village in the Lord of the Rings:D )
Would love to meet up with fellow flattie lovers, although Libby is still at that hooligan stage, mind you I hear they never really grow out of it!!!

Could I ask what you feed your f/c's? At the moment I'm introducing her to the raw frozen chicken. She was on Pascoes complete, and although she loved it, it was a very windy place in our house :)
Regards

Alison

You're not too far away from us. If you give us a ring on 0128 653 828 I can tell you all the activities (some crazy, some not quite so!) of the Surrey group.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Thanks very much Jo

I'll certainly give you a call about the Surrey group!!!

Really appreciate all the info and messages I've received.

Regards
Alison:)

my f/c is brie to,like the chesse,then i got rush,harley,wispa,chase,then gollie a spasinh water dog.

Oh dear!! I hope I didn't offend you with my comment about my Bree not being named after the cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trust me to put my foot in it, only just got onto the site.
Must remember to engage brain before posting.

Regards Alison

no you didnt offend me,it nice to know some elis likes that name,my brie is soft and mellow like that chesse,not like her mum wispa she should have been call echo with the barking she dose at times,

Alison,

On the subject of food, if you are thinking about feeding your flatcoat a natural raw diet, may I recommend that, as part of your research, you join the yahoo fcrBARF list, which is very informative and specifically for flattie owners? http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/fcrBARF. You will find loads of stuff to read in the archives and links pages on that website. Even though it is US-based, there are already quite a few Brits on the list.

Monty eats Arden Grange and does not have a windy bum. The only time he had one of them was when he had James Well-Be-Turbocharged as we called it. He was also even madder for those memorable few weeks!

Good luck in finding a suitable food!

Regards, Monty's Mum :)

Hi Monty's Mum!

Thanks for info about Arden Grange, I think someone else mentioned it in an earlier post.

Must admit I've not heard of it before, Oh dear showing my ignorance now!!!!!
Will try her on it and let you know how it goes. Less wind would be much appreciated:)

I'll also find out about BARF diet as you suggested.

Thanks again Alison

Hi Alison,

The Arden Grange website is a good place to start, if you are interested in this food. :) If there is no supplier in your area, it can be delivered to your door. I find this very convenient. :)

I'll also find out about BARF diet as you suggested.

Only if you want to! :) I mentioned the fcrBARF list because your post said "At the moment I'm introducing her to the raw frozen chicken.". I therefore assumed that you were feeding this raw (after defrosting it) but of course, I could have got the wrong end of the stick! It wouldn't be the first time. :D :D You may be cooking it, in which case you don't need to read about raw diets, unless you particularly want to!

It seems to me that a lot of people are talking about raw diets these days, but not always from an informed point of view. So, if you have an interest in this way of feeding, it is advisable to do your own research before making a decision about whether it is the right way for you. After all, it is a big responsibility to take on the full nutritional requirements of one's pets. By mentioning it, I have no intention of guiding you in any particular direction, just wishing to be helpful with whatever you choose to do. :)

Oh goodness me, I hope this doesn't sound like a lecture! :D I think I'd better shut up now!!! :rolleyes:

Regards, Monty's Mum :)

Hello,
If you are interested in the training group run by Jill Whitwell her phone number is 01483 416 982
Although she is listed as the Flatcoated Retriever Societies London/Middlesex representative, her training group meet up in all sorts of places.
Regards
Polly & Foxpath Flatcoated Retrievers

Hi Polly

Sorry but thought the original post about Jill Whitwells training group was meant for someone else!!! I do have some manners - honest :)

Can I just ask if it's general training (Liberty could do with that) or is it designed towards working dogs? Libby isn't a working dog, but that's because I don't know that much about it. :D
Thanks for getting back to me!

Liberty:) :)

Hi,
Jill's group is called a training group but it is much, much more. She does general training, show training, junior handling, obedience and agilty on the training side. Her group also has a busy social schedule, which includes a family picnic each year, there have been bost rides and pub walks too. They are a very friendly bunch there and you will meet up with Jo and Terri as well.
Have fun,
Polly & Foxpath Flatcoats.

thankyou for your post i cannot send out private post at the moment please send my wishes to ann,she too having a bad time,i can only go through champdog,
take care
terri

Hi Polly

Sorry if this interrupts the thread..... was chatting to Peggy Miller the other night. Mentioned I'd been in contact with other f/c lovers/breeders. inc yourself.
She said to say 'Hello' to you, she's had some bad news recently, such a lovely lady it's so difficult to know what to say in such times.....

Hope you and the Foxpath f/c are all well.

Liberty

yes she is a nice lady,she judging the f/c champ show on sunday,
but she give my rush 1st at crufts 4 year ago so i hope to go to the show on sunday with brie,just have to see how rush .harley an wispa are.

Hi,
I had heard from Rona on Thursday Peggy had lost Ra, he is the sire of Rosebug. I was sad to hear this news as Ra was a big softie, and Rose is just the same. All but my first two flatcoats have had Peggy's lines somewhere behind them. All have been excellent working dogs, very popular on the shoots I pick up on, so much so you think I'd sinned big time if I turned up with out them! On one shoot the guns used to compete almost to have Trefor in their cars, to go between drives! So often I'd be walking on my own, or riding the cold drafty trailer, while my dogs stare at me from the cosy back of rather smart 4x4's!!!!!
Polly & Rosebug

Hi Polly and Briedog,

She is a lovely lady, it was actually the formidable Rona, who put me in touch with her!!!

I unfortunately phoned Mrs M the day she lost Ra....:( Talk about perfect timing:( :(
Obviously I didn't like to ask...was he very old?
I don't remember seeing him when we were down there, not unusual really....we were swamped by f/c and couldn't keep up with who was who!!!!

Regards

Liberty

Hi,
Yes he was an old dog, but a lovely old boy.
Polly

Just a thought are you a member of Jill Whitwell's excellent training group? That is near you.
Polly

Hi Liberty, I live in Gosport (nr Portsmouth) I have two flatcoat puppies (6mths) and a 2yr old goldie, all boys, so I know what you mean about the hooligan stage. I feed mine on burns and they are in great shape and are not at all windy. their coats are so shiny you can see your face in them. welcome to the board, I havent been here that long myself. Sarah :D

Hello, I read this board a lot and occasionallly post messages. I have a lovely 2 year old liver flat coated retriever, she is our third. We feed her Arden grange, i read a lot of good things about it on here when Livvy was a puppy and she looks great on it! we are thinking of getting another f/c puppy in the near future..love them to bits!

i throught you only had one f/c and one golden,have you got another baby,for mason.
i got 3 livers 2 blacks and a litter on the way,

Hi Terri, yes we had Jacks brother aswell, I am hoping that I can break into the show scene with him Ann thinks he is good so we are going to go see her in about 2 weeks to see what she thinks and to give us some pointers on showing. Sorry to hear that Rush has not been well, I hope all is well with him now. Another litter on the way !! great news, I hope all goes well for you this time, if there is anything I can do to help you just let me know. I know nothing about raising a litter but I am a quick learner. Good luck and Love to all. Sarah

who the new baby mum and dad,is he black or liver,

same parents as Jack, He is black, Have e-mailed you Terri. Sarah

my emails are not going out,privatly,so is he out the same litter as jack,but you didnt get him at the same time as jack,or did you have him arrive later,

Hi Mason

Liberty is only 12months old, so I guess I've got the hooligan stage for a while longer?
Still, I wouldn't change her for anything!!!

The lady who we got Liberty from lives down your neck of the woods. Did you get your dogs Locally?

Regards
Alison :)

Hello from another flattie lover! :) I'm owned by one male flatcoat, 4.5 yrs old, very mad, but gorgeous - well, I think so, but could be a little biased!

I have only ever met friendly flatcoat folk. From this board, I have met Terri (Briedog) and Polly, who are both lovely. I am still hoping that Jo's path and mine will cross soon - who knows, maybe at the champ show? And let us not forget to mention John, who pretends to be a labrador person, but we all know he secretly hankers after a flattie (don't you, John!? :D).

Regards, Monty's Mum :)

what shows are you going to this year,hope to catch with you at one,if not,
if you like to come and see the litter in may you are more than welcome,hows that big boy still got the picture on him in my head from bath show,it was so funny,that how always rember you as montys mum,from that day on.
rush is doing well nick my dinner last night,hope to get result on monday,wispa tail is healing up nicely,harley laying on the settee,still with a lame leg,gollie chase and brie touch wood are ok at the moment.

Hi Terri,

We'll be at Ryton next week, but have nothing else planned yet. We may do Bath again, but only if Monty promises to behave himself! :D I'm glad to hear that Rush has a good appetite! I have my fingers crossed for good news on Monday. Big kisses from Monty xx :)

Hi Mason - have you got two dogs pups from the same litter? If you have, I've got a very good friend who specialises in flatcoat behaviour, and who would be more than happy to give you a few pointers to successfully handling the two of them when they get a little older. If you'd like her name, feel free to e-mail me.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jo and Terri, yes they are from the same litter, but are completely different personalities. Jack the first one that we got is the more out going,lively one. Jay the second one we got in January and he is alot mor laid back and quite calm, nothing fazes him so far. My goldie is also very laid back and takes everything in his stride, so so far no problems with their behaviour. I do realise that having 2 pups from same litter could get me into strife so any advice is more than welcome. Thank you. :D Liberty, I had to go to Wiltshire to get my Puppies, from a lovely lady, I have regular contact with her, she is very interested in their progress, any problems and I know that she would be there for me. Where did you get yours from? did you have to go far? tell me more about your Goldie, mine is a great big softy :D Sarah

Hi Mason

I got my f/c from a lady called Peggy Miller who lives just outside Southampton. Like your lady she's very interested in Libbys' progress, I keep in touch with her, usually by phone and send photo's of her 'baby' every so often.
My Goldie will be 14yr in December, she's turned into a right old Madam, but we let her get away with it because of her age really. Her back legs are still pretty good but she can't do long walks anymore, is selectively deaf but can hear a crisp packet rustle at 100 yards :)
Still likes to chase any cat brave enough to come into the garden and still wouldn't know what to do if she caught it:)

How old is your Goldie and how did he take to the arrival of the f/c?

Regards liberty :D

guess what you said it again chase cats,i got a puppy called chase.???
and if i keep a bitch it was going to be liberty,beacuse a charity send me out to turkey 5 years ago to do a dog show and judge it and the charity was called wispa and liberty,so i liked the name and said to andrew if we keep another girl thats what we are going to call her.

Hi Liberty, Our Goldie is 2yrs old his name is Murphy, and he is not the most confident of dogs. Bin bags are his biggest fear, when I am putting new bin bag in bin he is upstairs on the landing, also hates the post shooting through the letter box, goes to the same place, top of the stairs. He loves all dogs, wants to play with any that we meet on our walks, which sometimes is not so good as the other dogs dont always like him and he doesnt seem to get the message. He just wants to play :) He loves our puppies to bits, and can be quite protective of them, He will gladly give up his favourite toy for them to play with and loves to cuddle up with them in his bed. Even if the bed is getting a bit cramped now that they have grown so much. they all have their own beds but prefere to all squeeze in together :D All three have no control over their tails what-so-ever and at times can get quite drafty in our house but they are getting really good at dusting the television :D one less job for me to do which cant be a bad thing :) I would never be without my dogs, I love them all to bits, even when they are just a little bit naughty :D Sarah

Hi Mason

It was lovely to hear about Murphy, he sounds not unlike my Goldie, Bree.
She hated binbags too, and walking over/near manhole covers, she also hated fire engines with their sirens on, and after making a dirty dive at one she almost ended up as a motif on the front of one of them!!!! Just as well she was on the lead at the time :)
She has mellowed with age but I think she found a f/c puppy very stressful, they get on fine now. So don't think I would bring in another pup at the moment!!

Got to mention tails :D Mine are no good at dusting, :( but I do not own a set of 4 matching glasses since Libby arrived, and so much wine has been spilt/tail-swiped, the Bin-men left me the number of AA . No not the car rescue/repair lot

Regards Liberty

yes wispa was name after the bear charity,rush name was two reason he rushed around plus his dark liver colour like the plant ballrushes in lakes,and yes he very poorly at the moment but he given me great fun over the years in and out of the ring and i can se his childern and granchildern in the ring too.

So sorry to read about Rush's results, can I ask how old he is?

7 1/2 years.i have never got a dog pass 8 years old,but there other which live to 12 or 14 years.all i can say he had a good home and quailty of life like being a dad of 7 litters, 1st at crufts,stud book number,a gental gaint,we have had laugh and fun at show with him with his tail set,people of the breed will know what i am talking about.he top dog in the house with air present, dose not tell them off just a look.

He sounds like a character:) Our last flattie had to be p.t.s at 4yrs, i know it's devastating. Take Care xxx

Does anyone know what road the Ske Blue center in Coventry is ? flatcoat show next weekend.
Ted

Hi Ted,
Which direction are you coming from?
It's off the A423 Southam-Coventry road. Where the A445 crosses at a Roundabout.

i hope to be there with brie my liver bitch,if all goes well with rush and wispa.so any of you going please come and say hello.

Thanks genie
ted

Hi Briedog

I did delete the post about wispa and Libearty when I learned that Rush was so poorly. It seemed a bit insensitive, but you obviously received it anyway!
It's so difficult to know what to say at such times, thinking of you.

Take care Liberty