​Proud of my boy, Django.  Last week he passed his 50th master test…which qualifies him for GRCA’s HUNT TEST HALL OF FAME!

As of 2020, there were only 52 goldens with this recognition - just an awesome accomplishment for John’s pride and joy!  John’s birthday was this passed Saturday (9/4)…what a nice birthday gift…wish he was here with us to enjoy it.  I can picture how John would be celebrating 🥳 😪   Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone in real life to share this with so Facebook world gets to hear about it.  I’m so proud of him.

And…my favorite red headed stepchild Django…beat his brother Grip (Grip only has 48 master passes) ;o) For once, Grip is in Django’s shadow instead of the other way around. (Yes, Grip is in a hall of fame too…but it’s the HRC HOF).  FYI - There are 3 hall of fames for golden hunt test competitors (HRC, GRCA & MN). 

HRCH UH Thunderstruck Django Unchained MH50 WCX** HTHF

Nice ring to it, huh? 🥰

Although most of the passes were earned by Django and I as a team on the line, many people helped us along our way.  Bucko (Brooke VandeBrake Jr., Conway Kennels) & Justin Jackson (Texoma Retrievers) ran Django when I was unable to.  Tim Springer (Dynamic Retrievers) helped with Django’s basics (much needed help as John was NOT a natural trainer/handler lol).  Bucko took pity on me after John died when he saw me struggle to sync with Django during the transition to me handling Django at our first few master tests lol…and he helped Django step up to be the consistent competitor he has become.  Justin currently has Django (he was the lucky one who got to be by Django’s side for his 50th pass)…they are prepping for the Grand and Master Nationals, which sadly, I won’t be able to handle my boys or attend as I’m at home tending to puppies.  Justin takes good care of my boys and spoils them in exactly the way goldens deserve to be spoiled ;o)

Lastly, I am forever grateful to Todd & Benita Otterness (Thunderstruck Retrievers) who “created” Django and selected us as his family! 

Well done my Chewbaca…can’t wait to hug you soon!

It’s been quite a ride with this handsome and insanely talented yet goofball redhead!  I’m pleased to announce that Grip has earned a well-deserved place in the HRC Hall Of Fame!  

This weekend, Grip and I ran finished at the Colorado River Retriever Club’s Trievin’ By the Bay hunt test and passed...which satisfied the requirements for HRC’s Hall of Fame (4 Grand passes & 1000 points).  Never dreamed of achieving what we have done together these past years... 4 Grand passes...1 Master National Plate...2 1st place wins (all-breed) quals...40+ Master passes...7 upland passes...5th place at SRS competition with pros...50+ finished passes...the list goes on.  Not bad for just a girl and her swamp collie, huh? ;o)

It was bitter sweet as we reached this goal at our home club event (which, as many of you know, was the last event that my late husband and I enjoyed together before his death 5 years ago)...and although I no longer have the pleasure of my late husband cheering me on and applauding our accomplishments, it was nice to have several of my club member friends (as well as others in the hunt test world) acknowledge the accomplishment...I do have to admit it is hard to feel the joy without John by my side...and Grip doesn’t care that he is a champion/hall of famer, he’s just as happy with me whether we are out in the field or laying at my feet in bed.  I’m so very thankful I have this beautiful and amazing dog by my side...through the good times and the bad.

Life is so different for me than what it was when I started this game.  Sorry...this is about to get mushy...this is doubly emotional as it is the week of John’s passing 5 years ago that still seems so fresh.  I struggle to continue to play the game that has essentially kept my alive for these recent years.  I’m thankful to have people in the hunt test world who remember this and help me through the emotional ups & downs...and don’t judge me for it.  I’m fortunate to have family/friends like “Bucko” Brooke VandeBrake Jr. Janet Kimbrough and Clark Kennington and Maria Valdez Jefferies and  Carrie Jeane Hall Shaw and Jason Christopher and Robert Murray and Mark Strickland and Sam Roll and Bob Brundrett  and Pat Johnson and Byron Bass, Rebecca A Bass, Randy McBrayer and  Ginger Parks and Karin Long Bowers and Kristin Kier and Debbie Seames and Katelyn Brouillette  and Sherry Popiolek (and others) who know I struggle on a daily basis but remain patient when I disappear and although I know they can’t possibly understand the pain I endure...they seem to always subtly gesture in just the right genuine way to let me know they care and it’s okay that I have to deal with life the way I do...and to those of you who think that 5 years has gone by, I should be “over it” by now...I hope that you never have to experience it.

There are few who achieve this HOF status...I’m pretty sure Grip is the 2nd golden ever to reach this height! - to the haters who don’t think Grip deserves this or that we just got lucky or whatever...Grip has been amateur trained and handled by a female amateur handler with non-traditional methods since he turned 2 years old.  He is almost 8 now.  Grip is totally deaf in one ear (no ear canal/not genetic but A&M believes it to be a fluke from when his ears were developing or trauma when he was a neonate)...This creates a major handicap for us when we run (especially at master tests) as he hears things in the opposite direction and causes a lot of second-guessing in the heat of the moment.  I would not be the handler that I am without him but he would not be the dog he is without me...we get each other...we know how to communicate with each other...we know how to help each other.  “WE” have overcome so much adversity...good luck, bad luck, dog errors, handler errors, “swamp collie” stereotypes, “female handler” stereotypes...we kept going (learned to hold our head up and keep our...lol my... mouth shut [thank you, Janet Kimbrough  & Glenda Mitchell]) and we have persevered and feel like we finally have the respect from those who matter and simply filter out the disrespect from the others.  We love playing the game together and look forward to spending time with each other each and every day.

Most of all, I hope Grip and I have many more hunt test memories to be had...and I hope all of you get to experience the bond with your dog like I have with this special boy of mine.