Hey,
I am thinking in a years time of getting my first flattie, i have done massess of research and am on the waiting list for a possible liver (not too bothered dog or bitch!),
I was just wondering about the wonderful world of flatties, please everyone share your stories both good and bad,
I would love to know about famous show dogs old and new and about peoples fave lines etc etc!
Cant wait for my bundle of joy!
Thanks 
Love Joe

Flatties! Never owned one! Hate 'em!

I remember a 150mile drive through freezing fog to mate a friends bitch. It was Christmas eve many years ago. There we were sitting on straw bales in the dark, in the middle of the fens, whilst the stud dog did his stuff. And I was frozen. My friend was sitting in doors in the warm because "She doesn't like me watching"!!!

It was about 18 months later when my friend decided it was time the resultant puppy learned to jump. It was around midnight and we were walking beside a dry drainage ditch. "If you jump over you can call him." She said. (Why is it always the man who gets these jobs?)

There was me, launching myself off into space with the ground an invisible black mass somewhere below. The side I took off on was quite a bit higher than the landing side but of course, in the dark I could see none of this.

After flying for what seemed like hours during which time my life flashed before me I figured I must be coming in to land. You know what happens, you lower your undercarriage and make ready for landing. Unfortunately I must have still been some way up in the air because it was (or seemed) several minutes later when, totally unprepared and panicking, I hit the ground and rolled over and over.

As I laid there nursing two broken legs (or at least, they felt broken) a black shape loomed over me and a very wet tongue slapped my face. It was at that moment the dulcet tones of my ex friend's voice rang out, "Well call him then!" 

Now you know why I stick to sensible dogs like Labradors!

Best wishes, John   

lol John.  What a great account! It's the way you tell 'em :-D

Helen

I get easily led astray Helen. Thats how I end up handling Flatcoats in my short trousers at Crufts! :p

and very sweet you looked too............... when I finally got the right man worked out ;)

Can't quite remember, did you say you gave that stranger a kiss the other year when you thought he was me Sara? ;)

well nearly *blush*
Poor bloke lol

The mark of a good dog trainer, John... patience and willing friends to supply dogs for him to practice on! lol
This is a thread which flatcoat owners could go on and on and on about. These dogs have a sense of humour, so if you don't then don't have one is the answer, Mine have shown me up so often, if I had a pound for each occasion I'd be retired and living in luxury!
One one occasion, I was attending a country fair, stood by the roped off main ring, with a young bitch I was training, and an older trained bitch, all was well. That is until the labrador in the demonstration couldn't find the retrieve.......
The young bitch, Sassy was watching the arena, the old bitch, Peggy, was watching a picnic. Well the young bitch suddenly jumped the arena rope, and the old bitch saw her opportunity. Being pulled in two directions at once there was nothing I could do. I had to retrieve one from the arena and return the dummy, and then buy lunch for the people whose picnic had disappeared so fast down the older bitches throat......
Another time I had Lucinda at a fun working event, at each of the tests she was absolutely "paw perfect", each judge said "That was excellent, would she do it again for you?" Well I knew she would so we did each test two or three times and as we did so, the judges were saying to the ever growing crowd of spectators, "That is text book, this is the level of obedience and good working ability we all should be striving for".
OK so we felt smug, and I certainly should have known...... As the old saying goes, "pride comes before a fall" and  was so proud of Madam behaving so beautifully. She had made all the retrieves look so easy, even the unseen across a river. We got through four tests, then with two to go disaster! It was a double retrieve, I'd saved her two favourites for the last. So as an advanced retriever, we had to collect the retrieve selected by the judge. We had one about 150 yards to the left and an easy one about 20 yards to the right. The judge selected the easy one to be retrieved first.
I sent her out, about 5 yards from the bushes where the dummy was hidden, she slammed on the anchors, and stopped dead still. Not knowing what was going on, I encouraged her to move forward, she didn't instead she put her head down and started grazing! So I called her back and again sent her. The same thing happened again.
Totally puzzled by this, I said to the judge, "Excuse me while I just go have have a few words with my dog". So I went out asked her what she was up to, brought her back, and sent her again. This time she went to the bushes, and found the dummy within seconds, but she was now in a sulk!
So she had the dummy in her mouth, only I thankgoodness could see her from my vantage point, she sat there watching me totally ignoring my calls to return, for a good few minutes, just when I was getting fed up of waiting, she sauntered out of the cover, walked oh so slowly, back, walked past me went to the judge, he wouldn't take the dummy, so she tried to take it to the stewards, they wouldn't take it so she offered it around the audience who were in fits of laughter by now. None of them would take it so she walked up to me and literally spit it out of her mouth at my feet, turned on her heels and sauntered off out of the arena!
And you still want a flatcoat?
I could tell you heaps more stories about these little "angels" but you'd be worried about what they can do given the chance. All of mine are black, I have never had a liver one, although the sire of Arthur my new one was a liver dog. Oh and by the way John how are your jumping abilities these days ? :-)

<<Oh and by the way John how are your jumping abilities these days ?>>

More to the point Polly, you should ask what I was doing with a Labrador, fly fishing in a field, half a mile from the nearest water this morning!

On second thoughts, Dont Ask!

Best wishes, John

Never had a Flattie - in fact only met one, and he was a sweety, but just wanted to say to Polly and John - your stories really made me smile!
bye
Gwen

Just remembered another story. A friend had set up her lawn sprinkler, and her puppy was playing trying to catch the water as they do. She thought it would be safe to leave and hose and sprinkler in the garden. She went upstairs to do something or other, all was quiet, however when she came downstairs a little while later, she discovered water everywhere! Her puppy had brought the sprinkler into the living room to play with it there!
Still want one? :-D

I've had 3 FC's, 2 black and 1 liver and would truly love to have another (I've got Staffs currently)...FC's are a truly wonderful breed, if you have a sense of humour and the time and energy for them. :-)

All mine, and those that I knew in the show world, have been fantastic with cats, people, other dogs, horses, you name it...they lived for their cuddles and walks (oh yes, and their food! :-)).

They are eternally young and will make you smile everyday that they share you life...

Well if you insist I won't ask but I will admit to being just a bit curious.... then again if it was anything to do with dog training........ lol
The new puppy needs to learn a few new things, so when you're fit enough.. :-D Jumping is good.

Four old men, two Springers and a Labrador standing in the middle of a field playing with a fly rod! Bit "Last of the summer wine'ish". Not sure which one I am, Compo or Foggy I would guess.

We'll have to organise a get together and do a little training with him. :)

Best wishes, John

Well if you look at 'leather collar breakfast' on the  'general' board you'll see a recent trick added to our repertoire!

Went to a shoot barbeque this evening; in evidence was a little wire-haired dachshund belonging to the owner of the shoot.   This reminded me of our old dog Barti 's famous exploit - he was getting a little short-sighted in his old age, and was watching one of the drives, when the boss asked OH to send him for a running pheasant.

In spite of protestations that Barti wasn't supposed to be picking up on that drive, the boss insisted that he went.

So off went Barti, and picked up the little wire-haired dachshund and retrieved it as far as its flexi-lead would allow.

After a speedy 'sorry - Ma'am. mistaken identity' Barti beat a hasty retreat back to OH.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

:D :D lol @ Barti

I have been in stitches reading this thread :D

This one could titled the strange case of the missing tomatoes!
I had people coming to supper, so I had decided to make a lasagne and salad. I went shopping, bought everything I needed, lasagne in the oven cooking nicely. Went to get some fresh tomatoes to add to the salad. No tomatoes! So I looked everywhere as did my kids, who will happily tell you I am a little absent minded.
No sign so I contacted the shop and said help! please can I come and get my tomatoes I paid for and didn't pick up.
So I drove into Waitrose, got more, and as they had been unable to find any tomatoes left at their checkouts, but could see I'd paid for some, on my receipt. I went home with a new bag of tomatoes which they had let me have assuming somebody must have spotted them and put them back on the shelf.
Got home put them on the side, started to get the lettuce etc ready and the lasagne out of the oven, turned back, no tomatoes! Looked everywhere, no tomatoes. The shop was now shut, but I knew I had brought them home this time.
As time time was running short, and guests already arriving, I had to make up a simple green salad, but intrigued as to where the tomatoes were, I kept looking and guests helped...... We found one flatcoat at the top of the garden wolfing down the last of the evidence! Meanwhile back indoors...... there was another flatcoat trying her best to make sure we didn't get any lasagne either! We ended up with fish and chips!
Another dinner party all guests seated, food on the table........ two very quiet flatcoats laying under the table? Yes but then we started hearing little noises, thinking the dogs were trying to beg for food we ignored them, then I thought, actually that doesn't sound like the dogs really. So looked under the table only to find two smug flatcoats and my little hen chicks, which they had been busy sneaking into the house!