Rumor's Best Kept Secret MH...
Secret is from Bubba (FC-AFC
Hilltop's Hayseed) and Rumor (Hilltop's Jazzin' Up A Rumor MH). The
breeder was Andy Giegold of Gunshot Kennel. Secret is a great
all-around dog. She loves to retrieve as well as be in the house
with the family. She came to us after losing Jaz, our all time
favorite dog up to that point (you can read about Jaz on her tribute
page), so she became our special dog. She has earned her Master
title and had 3 great litter of puppies, so she has been a wonderful Top
Knob dog.
Bubba, Secret's sire, is the
father to the 2004 National Open Field Champion, 2004 NFC-AFC Dewey's
Drake of Moon River. This is a great bloodline with many field
champions to boast about, such as FC-AFC Black Gold's Kates Rascal and
Zip Code, National Amateur Champion. On the dam's
side, Rumor has produced several dogs participating at all levels of Hunt
Tests and competing in the Field Trial circuit.
One of Secret's greatest
strengths is also a weakness. She loves to play. I believe
that dogs in general are the greatest game players of all time.
Everything they do is a game. From keep away to tag to wrestling,
they make a game out of everything. Well, Secret takes this to a new
level. Wherever she is, whatever she is doing she is looking to
play. The reason this is also a weakness is because if training
becomes too much like work, she can get bored. She will do as I
ask her, of course, but she seems to be going through the
motions without much enthusiasm. I have had to learn how to "work"
with her so she still has fun.
She is a very steady dog that
tries very hard to please. Although her water entries are oftentimes
spectacular, her blind work sometimes becomes rather methodical. I
think this goes back to her strong play desire. She did not (does
not) enjoy pattern drills at all and this has carried over to her
blind work in general. She gets the job done, mind you, it just
isn't always as stylish as I would prefer. Still she has been a joy to work with and she gives me
everything she has.
Secret officially semi-retired in November of 2007. She now lives in
Evansville, Indiana, with Lauren and Robbie. She still gets to
train and retrieve now and then, just now the pressure is off and it's
all for fun. Secret brought us some great puppies, starting with
Gabby. We just hope they do half as well as their mom has.