Below are photos of
Benson with his family at home and on holiday during his first few
months.
9th September 2007
We visited Benson at home.
His transformation over the past month has been astonishing.
He seems to be "growing into his ears" now!
His puppy coat is
being replaced with a thick cream wavy coat.
It was lovely to see
him again!
Photos -
Diane Cooke
Margaret and John are
rearing Benson beautifully - he is their first dog - and I am
very proud of them. They have met all of his emotional and
physical needs and he is a very biddable and obedient puppy.
Of course he occasionally gets into mischief, as puppies do, and
still has lots to learn - the main lessons being not to take the
tags off garden plants, not to take things from the wash basket
and that any rough and tumble stops play! He is enjoying his
Kennel Club Good Citizen training classes and short walks in a local park, where he also
runs free. On 11th September Benson passed his
Kennel Club Puppy Foundation, after attending just five training
classes.
30th September 2007
Today Benson
went to a show for some socialisation. He was very excited
seeing so many dogs all in once place but after a while he
managed to stand still!
Benson met his
half-brother Frankie (left) who is also sired by Sh Ch Shardanell Castaspell,
Frankie
is bred and owned by Kim Stonebridge (Toseland).
15th October 2007
Benson has come back
to Norfolk for a few days.
Today he spent time on
Holkham beach with his friend Harry, who is the same age.....
Getting wet was great
fun of course......
.....and he was soon
dirty too!
He enjoyed watching
the world go by......
Paddling in the
sea.....
Trying to catch the
waves.....
The boys enjoyed
chasing each other on the beach and in the sea.....
Of course there were
lots of other dogs to play with too.....
He has enjoyed
spending time with Summer, his mum, at home and Summer was
pleased to see him from the smile on her face.....
This soft crate is
designed for one dog but the two of them managed to squeeze in
together......
He also enjoyed
playing with Isis.....
He sat on the sofa -
whoops.....
Looking cute when you
are being cheeky helps.....
He soon learnt that
lying on the floor was more acceptable.....
He spent the evening
at ringcraft - he enjoyed spending time with Marcus......
He
adores his mum!
17th October 2007
Benson is now six
months old and went to his first show - Gundog of Wales.
He was exceptionally
well behaved in every way - from the long journey, staying
overnight in a motel, meeting so many dogs and being in the show
ring.
He was very calm and
biddable in the show ring and coped with it all exceptionally
well. I could not
have asked for more, especially as he does not live with us and
this was our first show together. I am looking
forward to showing Benson on occasions in the future, but family
fun and muddy puddles will of course take priority.
Above - photos
courtesy of Mick Griggs (Mulfield)
After the show he
returned home to Margaret and John - went to his toy box - and
carried on as before!
Thank you to John,
Margaret, Kevin and Emma for allowing me to "borrow" Benson.
4th November 2007
Benson and I had
another day out together at Berkshire Downs and Chilterns Golden
Retriever Club show. Photos courtesy of Ian and Anne
Fanning.
13th November 2007
I went down to
Hertfordshire to watch Benson in action at his KC Good Citizen
Bronze Class. He certainly enjoys his classes and seems
to be the "clown" of the class, but even with all the excitement
and distractions is managing to complete the exercises.
Walking past other
dogs........
Ignoring dogs which
walk past.......
Being groomed.........
Having feet
checked.......
Walking through
cones.........
Walking to
heel.........
Lying down.........
Sitting.......
Down, stay........
Recall.......
Playtime......
Watching a friend play
with a ball.......
Well done John and
Benson!
28th November 2007
Benson and Emma having
fun!
Mud Monster!
Emma is studying to be
a Veterinary Nurse - Benson is often her "Guinea Pig" but does
not seem to mind!
1st December 2007
Benson
has come for another short holiday in Norfolk.
He soon
makes himself at home!
He has
enjoyed walks in the countryside.
He walks
to heel very well and enjoys being told he is a "Good Boy".....!
.....and
wags his tail non-stop!
He is
also excellent on the lead with Marcus.
He
enjoys having his photo taken!
Christmas 2007
Benson enjoying his first
Christmas.
12th January 2008
Today Marcus and I went
down to Hertfordshire to visit Benson.
Benson
(wearing the blue collar) was very pleased to see Wiggy and happily
shared his toys! This was the first time Benson had a canine
visitor in his home and I was thrilled with how polite he was in
this situation!
The boys
enjoyed playing in the garden together - they even managed to sit
still long enough to pose for a photo!
I am
very pleased with Benson - he has matured in a a very handsome dog.
Soon it
was time for a short car ride to find some mud......
and sure
enough within minutes we had found some......
Benson's
expression showed how delighted he was!
Gradually the boys got muddier and muddier........from head......
to
tail.......
They
also had great fun in a very large puddle........
They
were in heaven!
Even
though the boys do not spend very much time together they were
inseparable during the walk.......
and
loved exploring together.......
By the
time they got home they were looking rather smug!
Some of
the mud was rinsed off with warm water before they went indoors to
be dried off!
John,
Margaret, Kevin and Emma have raised Benson beautifully. He
recently went through an adolescent stage, which is normal, but he
soon reverted back to a biddable and well mannered dog thanks to
their willingness to persevere at this stage of his development.
It was lovely to watch him today - I was very proud of him. As
well as all the basic training commands he also sits and waits
before going through doorways, waits for a release command when his
lead is unclipped before running free and ignores distractions while
out for a walk - today we met other dogs, a horse and cyclists on
the paths and bridleways and to see him under control at all times
was a credit to John and Margaret.
His recalls are also superb.
Benson is their first dog and I am
very grateful to them - they have shown Benson the commitment and
care that every dog deserves!
31st
January 2008
Today I
spoke to Margaret and she told me Benson has gone from "clown of the
class" to "teachers pet" - he is continuing to make progress at his
training classes since the Christmas break and now completes
exercises such as walking off lead to heel through cones with ease.
More
photos to follow soon.
16th
February 2008
Today
Benson came back to Norfolk for the day with Margaret and John and
we went to Holkham beach. Summer, Libby and Isis went to the
beach too.
It did
not take Benson very long to find some water!
He was
soon wet and sandy!
There
were lots of other dogs on the beach to play with!
John
with Libby and Isis....
....and
with all four dogs!
Benson
enjoyed paddling in the sea.
He also
enjoyed running along the shoreline.
Despite
all the distractions on the beach, including other dogs, families
with children and horses Benson was impeccably behaved.....
.....and
always came back when called.
Most of
all he was happy being with Summer again and mother and son were
inseparable!
Libby,
Summer and Benson on a recall.
Benson
in the sand dunes.
Head
studies.
Summer
enjoying the sea.
Summer
loves nothing more than snoozing in her favourite chair after a day
at the beach!
28th March 2008
Today we visited John, Margaret and Benson and
took down a "well done" present for passing his Bronze Kennel Club
Good Citizen Award. Isis and Bodie also went along to play.
Here is Benson with his new toy!
He likes to pose for the camera!
He is very well behaved and does not jump up
visitors.
Benson and Marcus with his Good Citizen rosette.
27th July 2008
Benson came to visit us
yesterday. We are extremely proud of him - he is very calm and
biddable - a perfect gentleman just like his sire (Sh Ch Shardanell
Castaspell - or Harry to his friends!) - and only 15 months old.
Puppy watching!
As a puppy Libby was happy
to baby-sit for Benson - it was lovely to see them together.
Benson was also lightly
trimmed while he was here.
Below is a video of Benson
during his visit, including a visit to the puppy pen. As you
will see he is a very gentle dog with the calm, biddable temperament
which for us is so important.
Below are a selection of
recent photos of Benson taken by his family.
First caravanning holiday
of 2008.
At home with friends Emma
and Beth - with a teacher and vet nurse as his buddies he could not
be in better company!
Enjoying home comforts.
Practising a down stay
while out for a walk. Benson is currently training towards his
Silver Good Citizens Award
