The Past
My dog history started early – about 9 years of age with a terrier cross. My mother sent me off to obedience and I eventually competed up to Open level with various dogs.
Then I saw and fell in love with the Irish Setter.
My first Irish Setter was a gift for my 21st birthday. Aust Ch Wychitella Cinchona CD was born on the 22nd September 1975 and she was the start of a long association with the breed.
I went on to own a number of Irish Setters including Aust Ch Gwyndarra The Bitch is Back, a multiple Best Exhibit in Group winner. Aust Ch Gwyndarra Show No Mercy was also a Best Exhibit in Group winner.
Whilst I no longer have Irish Setters, I still follow the breed with interest, am close friends with Treveor & Leeanne Jones (Gwyndarra) and occasionally handle them at shows. They are fabulous dogs.
Curltriever
I acquired my first Curly Coated Retriever as a combination show/hunting dog with my husband.
This dog was Aust Ch Blazeaway Copper Penny QC “Penny”. The all-round ability Penny exhibited, typical of the breed I now know, was one of the main factors in my coming to love and continue on with Curly Coated Retrievers.
Penny went on to become the foundation of Curltriever. Her first litter in 1983 was to a Queensland dog – Aust Ch Adsdoe Bosun – and produced an All Breeds Best in Show winning liver dog Aust Ch Curltriever Copper Mine (pictured below).
Over the past 20+ years Curltriever has continued to produce dogs which excel in many areas including Australia’s only two surviving Dual Champion (show & obedience) Curly Coated Retrievers, Australia’s first Grand Champion and Supreme Champion Curly Coated Retriever, multiple All Breeds Best in Show winners and consistent ‘in group’ and ‘in show’ winning dogs.