'Pepper' is the latest addition to the household. She is the long awaited daughter from super mum Teals' third litter - the puppy that almost never was!
The husband we had planned for Teal wouldn't do a mating, so after many phone calls we visited 'Digby' owned by Marlene Sillence ..... and we are so glad we did! Digby simply loved Teal and what a superb litter, so quiet, calm and laid back.
Besotted by Pepper, she is such a poppet. She stole our hearts right from the outset. She is a proper little monkey and naughty but nice and oh so endearing. As a puppy, her favourite hobby was paddling in the water bowl and getting covered in mud. Now she has grown into a most delightful and feminine young lady with the sweetest of persnalities.
She qualified for Crufts 2007 at her first Championship Show winning 2nd in Minor Puppy Bitch at the Berkshire Downs & Chilterns Championship Show age 6 months, from a class entry of 18 puppies.
She followed this by being placed 2nd in Puppy behind the Best Puppy In Show winner at her first Open Show and then being awarded Best Any Variety Gundog Puppy in a class of 12 puppies where she was very much the baby!
At her third show, Midland Golden Retriever Champiosnhip Show she was again placed 2nd in Minor Puppy Bitch, this time in an entry of 31 puppies, followed by 3rd in Puppy Bitch, Maiden and Novice Bitch in even bigger classes.
Unfortunately we missed her class at her next Championship Show, but she was able to compete in the Puppy Stakes class, where she was short-listed to the final 10 in a class with 74 entries.
Pepper has carried on being consistently placed at Championship Shows, qualifying for Crufts 2008 at her first attempt and then winning Championship Show firsts and achieving her JUNIOR WARRANT at only 13 months. She has also won Open Show Best Puppy in Breed, Gundog Puppy Group places and Reserve Best Puppy in Show awards. She is a really good retriever and has carried her first pheasants, so we are hoping Pepper will join the picking up team as a working gundog in years to come.
Pepper's colour is changing by the week - she is a paler golden than we normally have at home, though similar to Tenfield Chamomile. She moves like a dream and is so soundly made, free standing and wagging her tail and bouncing around the show ring. Pepper is a special girl - we just love her!
** PEPPER HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE KENNEL CLUB'S JUNIOR WARRANT WINNERS COMPETITION BEING HELD AT DISCOVER DOGS, EARLS COURT, LONDON ON SATURDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2007. SHE QUALIFIED FROM A QUALITY HEAT COMPRISING 38 OF THE SOUTH'S TOP YOUNG JUNIORS. WE ARE NO STRANGER TO THIS COMPETITION, AS TENFIELD BORDER RAMBLER JW WON THE FINAL IN 1999**
Kennel - TENFIELD
Breed - Retriever (Golden)
Date of Birth - 6th April 2014