New training videos from Britain - Looks neat.

[gdgnyc]

This guy is a trainer and lab breeder as well as a field trial judge. He has many dogs who are field trial champions and trial winners. He travels all over Europe judging field trials and holding seminars.

http://vimeo.com/53659433

Thanks Jennifer. I think that it looks really interesting. Maybe I'll put it on my Christmas list.

[Jennifer Henion]

Jennifer Loved the scenery (so beautiful) and loved what the dogs did. They probably are very fit and agile. No collars on. Certainly different than our DVD's setup. Of course they are for Gundogs! Would be interested to know if Colonel Blimp knows of this fellow and what his comments would be about his achievements??
Thanks for sharing.

I was wondering if Ye Olde Blimp had any comments on him or the video, too.

[Howard N]

Hey, who ya callin' olde?

Eug is just seasoned.

[Jennifer Henion]

Hey, who ya callin' olde?

Eug is just seasoned.

For my taste, the more seasoned the better!

[DickS]

I always think that with all the practice those British dogs get jumping and climbing fences, they must be a little trickier to keep kenneled

I taught mine to jump the high hurdles at the local track. BIG mistake. Only a 6 foot high kennel will keep in now

[Colonel Blimp]

I'm afraid I don't know of Keith Mathews or Copperbirch Labradors.

The adult sires (2) on his website are well enough bred and have very good hip scores, but neither has ever won a Trial or been made up to Field Trial Champion. The pedigrees show a strong representation of Irish dogs as you'd expect, plus some well regarded names from the rest of the UK. One sidelight might be the dog mentioned by Kirk; the full title should read "Copperbirch Paddy of Leadburn". This implies that the Leadburn kennel bought the pup and made it up to FTCh. If Billy Steele sees Copperbirch as having that sort of potential there isn't much too wrong.

I'm always griping on about the modern non collar method being poorly represented in the literature; if the DVDs go some way towards rectifying that, well and good. However £100 seems a biggish price to pay for something unreviewed or having a few trailer clips.

Jennifer I'm confused as to wether you admire "seasoned" men for their savoir faire and experience, or because they are too old and knackered to deploy either and thus won't give a girl any bother!

Eug

[Kirk Keene]

Eug, I see Paddy made his way back into the IGL this year. Have you ever had the opportunity to see him run?

[Colonel Blimp]

Kirk,

I'm not really in to Trialling these days so I don't go out of my way to attend them, other than a few local efforts. So regretfully ..

Eug

[Jennifer Henion]

Just sent a message to Keith Mathews, the guy in the video and asked about his Field Trial credentials. Will let you know what he says.

Eug: Been a fan of older men since way back, for too many reasons to list!

[Jennifer Henion]

Ok, here is a snippet from Keith Mathews resume:

Trainer of Field Trial Champions
In 2008 Keith won the most prestigious title on the Irish Field Trial calendar the “Irish Kennel Clubs Retriever of the Year title” and his FTCH bitch was declared “National Supreme Champion”.
Keith attributes his success to his ability to use his dog behavioural background and understanding of the canine mind to train his Labradors to Field Champion standard.
He is totally opposed to the traditional methods of gundog breaking and uses only positive training methods and his unique “Calmness Leads to Reward” dog training and behaviour method which he applies to his gundog training.
As an international Field trial judge, Keith has judged, competed and lectured and held workshops on gundog training and pet dog behaviour all over the world. He works his gundog’s fulltime on a variety of different terrains throughout the hunting season in Ireland.
Breeder of Champions
As a breeder, Keith’s Copperbirch Labrador line is one of the most sought after Irish working lines in the world and has been the Top Producing Labrador Kennel in Ireland for the last decade.
At the time of printing , Keith has bred The Irish Retriever of the Year. The three times winner of the Icelandic Championship. The Australian Retriever of the Year, FTCH’s who have been placed in the Irish Championship as well as FTCH’s who have qualified for the IGL British Retriever Championship. He has bred numerous FTCH’s as well as a further 27 dogs who have gained Field Trial awards in several different countries around the world.

And apparently, he has a hit TV show on BBC as the British version of the Dog Whisperer - but he is called the Dog GURU. For what it's worth.

Jen