Bruce Gibbons and his golden retriever GMOTCh Rideauview’s Bright Horizons “Bright” will be competing next month in the 2013 Crufts World Cup Obedience competition.
Teams competing in this years event are from Wales, England, N.Ireland and Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Holland and Canada. This makes Bruce and Bright the farthest traveling team!
Bruce has been involved in the world of dog sports for over 25 years. He is a breeder of golden retrievers (Rideauview Goldens Reg’d) and has his own training facility “Top Ten Dog Obedience“ He is also a CKC/AKC Obedience Trial Judge. Bruce and his wife Lillian have a beautiful home on the Rideau River in Eastern Ontario.
Bruce says he has had other dogs that have won more High In Trials and have achieved more perfect scores than Bright, but none have the work ethic and desire to please that Bright does. Here are some of the accomplishments of his dogs to date:
1995 Top Obedience Dog (Rebel)
2001 Top Obedience Dog (Austin)
11 times in the CKC Top Ten All Breed
6 years Top Golden & Top Sporting Dog
Winner of 370 HITS (High in Trials)
Member of the 2013 Canadian World Cup Team to compete at Crufts
22 perfect 200 scores
Winner of the GRCC National Specialty 5 times
Winner of the Royal Canin Challenge in the Utility Class in 2011 with Bright
Canine specialty consultant
This is a pretty big deal in the golden retriever world. I was fortunate enough to have an email interview with Bruce, and here is what he says about his journey to Crufts:
TDG: How much time do you and Bright spend training each week?
Bruce: For Crufts I have been training about 2-3 hours a day for the last 6 months. If I am Trialing I dont train that day of course.
TDG: Is there anything special you are doing to prepare for this event?
Bruce: I have watched hundereds of hours of Crufts Video on YouTube which has been a great help. As well I had the opportunity to talk with Bridgett Carlson from the US who has competed at Crufts.
TDG: Do you use bait as a training tool? and if so, do you have a favorite?
Bruce: No I don’t use bait, my reward is my praise and affection.
TDG: Is there an age that is too old to start training for obedience trials? (of the dog, of course!)
Bruce: No it;s never too late but the later you start the more challenging it is.
TDG: Are there any particular traits you see in a dog that makes you think they have what it takes to participate in obedience? For example, what do you look for in the dog you will compete with?
Bruce: I want the craziest pup in the litter that is more interested in me rather than other pups.
TDG: How much does it cost to train and compete in Obedience? Can you give me a ballpark?
Bruce: Well, it’s difficult to pot a cost on the training if you work with a top trainer like myself is quite expensive but you get what you pay for. Competing would be similar to golf. You can spend $300 – $500 in a weekend depending how far you have to travel.
TDG: As a dog breeder, what has been your biggest accomplishment?
Bruce: For sure it would be Bright earning his GMOTCH (Grand Master Obedience Trial Championship) and then being invited to compete at Crufts.
TDG: What do you feed your dogs?
Bruce: Eukanuba Large Breed
TDG: What is Bright’s favorite toy?
Bruce: He loves all toys but is insane over field bumpers.
TDG: Where does Bright sleep at night?
Bruce: Where else, in our bedroom!
Here is an article from Dog Sport Mag about the competition. (featuring Bruce and Bright)
Maggie Rizer is a supermodel who has appeared on the cover of Vouge, and worked for Louis Vuitton, Vercace and Gap, to name a few. The 34 year old model has a blog about her life, including her three golden retrievers entitled Bea Makes Three I just went and checked it out..and now I am following. Such a beautiful blog!
On a recent flight from the East Coast to San Francisco on United Airlines, her 2 year old golden, Bea, did not survive the flight. Bea was a special dog, destined for greatness. Her life was cut short due to unexplained circumstances aboard that flight. Here is a link to Rizer’s tragic story. United Airlines Killed Our Golden Retriever
The airline is claiming no responsibility for the death, and has handled the matter with cold, corporate wording.
“We understand that the loss of a beloved pet is difficult and express our condolences to Ms. Rizer and her family for their loss. After careful review, we found there were no mechanical operational issues with Bea’s flight and also determined she was in a temperature-controlled environment for her entire journey. We would like [to] finalize the review but are unable until we receive a copy of the necropsy.”
My own two cents…Romney’s dog survived a trip to Canada strapped on top of the family car, makes you wonder how a young healthy golden could meet her demise on a routine flight.
It’s election time in the United States of America. Here in Ontario, most of our channels are American. I shamelessly confess I follow their politics closer than my own Countries’. (yawn) Tucker and I were glued to both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention. Those were some pretty intense speeches. My favorite so far are Marco Rubio and Michelle Obama. And how about Clint Eastwood? I’m leaning slightly one particular way, but I’m not going to get into politics on this blog. This is about the dogs. Here is what I have compiled so far as far as Golden Retrievers in US politics. Who is more “Golden”?
Ronald Reagan with “Victory” on the ranch (Republican)
Gerald Ford with Liberty in the Oval Office (Republican)
White House Photograph Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library
Leon Panetta – US Secretary of Defence – Golden named Bravo (this little guy still frequents The Pentagon) Could a golden get much darker? Some sources call him an Irish Setter. Not that there’s anything wrong with that….(Democrat, former Republican)
US Senator John Thune (with his brother Tom’s Golden’s) Great photo opp John! (Republican)
photo from Pander Paws
Republican Congress candidate Martha McSally and her precious golden Penelope…
How’s this for a campaign:
Former Sen. John Edwards and a Golden Retriever named “Bella” (Democrat)
Although I’m sure this is an incomplete list, so far its Republicans: 3 Democrats: 3
(I’m not going to count John Thune, as they weren’t his goldens, but it was a great photo op!)
I tried to do some research on Prime Minister pets in Canada…Stephen Harper and his wife love cats, John Chretien had a Scottish Terrier and a Cat (which caused much controversy) and other than that, there is no real history on the pets of 24 Sussex Drive, even as far back as Brian Mulroney….If anyone can provide me with such information, especially pertaining to Goldens, that would be much appreciated….
If there are any Golden lovers out there who know of a politician, athlete, actor, or other public figure with a Golden Retriever, please send me an email to thedailygolden@gmail.com or comment on this post. Would love to add to the list. I’m sure there are more. Also, if my research is incorrect, please correct me.
One of the blogs I follow is called The Grady Report. It is about a blind Golden Retriever who was rescued from an unthinkable situation resulting in blindness. Grady is entered in the Fido Casting Call (2) For every vote $1 is donated to Guide Dogs Canada. And Yes, our neighbours South of the Border can vote too!
Tonight we were watching the Canada vs US Women’s soccer game, and I was preparing some tenderloin steaks for supper. We bought a large roast at 7.99/lb so it came to just over $20 for the roast. I cut off two beautiful 1 1/2″ steaks and cut the final end into 3 pieces, which would have been perfect for filet migon. Holiday Monday at about 5 pm…the doorbell rings. I decide to be bold and go answer it. It was someone offering to seal our driveway. I gave him the boot and came back to the kitchen, checking the status of the game. My boyfriend and I looked over to the center island in the kitchen. There was Tucker, up on the counter, eyeing our steaks. We yelled “No” and he looked away, only to find the other 3 pieces of tenderloin. He quickly grabbed the thickest one, before we could react. Nothing you can do at this point. He was well rewarded for jumping up on the counter. Golden Retrievers truly are the best…they are!
Here is a picture of Tucker after his “catch”
Tucker after Tenderloin
And here is Tucker, with his Monkey, a little while after tenderloin…
Tucker after tenderloin…with Monkey
Needless to say, his food will be appropriately rationed tonight…
Today I spent over an hour in PetSmart. I just love that store. Needless to say, Tucker and Betty got a little bit spoiled today. I apologize in advance for the grainy photos, they were taken with my cell phone. I plan on developing my photography skills in the near future.
I started in the dog section. The first thing I picked out was Monkey. Kinda looks like a sock monkey with a squeaker inside. I thought Tucker needed a new stuffed toy, and besides, it was half off! What was I thinking…
Here’s monkey after about ten minutes:
Next was the clicker. I’ve been watching videos of dogs trained with this method, and want to do some more research on it before I attempt it with Tucker, but again, 50 % off, so I figured, why not?
While I was in the training aisle, I picked up a training line. This will come in handy with the digging, counter surfing and unruly behaviour. Now if only I could find his training collar…
Now that Tucker is starting to shed, I picked up the Furminator. It was on sale also. I was so concerned about getting the right weight, I didnt realize they also sold different coat lengths too.
Next I sauntered over the the cat section. Who am I kidding, and the fish section, rodent section, bird section, and reptile section. I eventually returned to the dog section to focus on treats. I feel these bones are really great for their teeth. They are Canadian made and are stuffed with a meat filling. The only downfall to these is when one gets dropped on your toe, or you stub it on one.
Tucker is enjoying one of the bones as I write this.
Last but not least, the liver treats, also made by Rollover.
When I was finished at PetSmart, I sauntered over to Best Buy and treated myself to a new blogging tool, considering I am always fighting with my teenage daughters for computer time. Yes, it is PINK!!!!
It was a pretty great day. Now I am enjoying a glass of red wine and playing with my new laptop.
Well, not exactly, but there is a band that keeps creeping up in my Google searches, and I felt the urge to blog about them.
The Golden Retrivers, from Ontario, Canada
Some of my posts lately have been rather serious, so here’s one for “Just for Fun”
Here in Canada, close to my hometown, there is a band of four guys who have been together for a few years, and call themselves “The Golden Retrievers“ They are an alternative funk/rock jam band who play local gigs. They describe their music as a “soul sockin’, hip rockin’, down home, nitty-gritty bag of explodin’ dynamite that you just gotta’ dig”. Keep your ears on, maybe you will hear them being played on a radio station near you someday!
Here’s a video, they are actually sound pretty good. Bet our goldens would love them.
Does your Golden Retriever like beer? Due to the fact that my dog has a strange obsession for anything with booze in it…I think Tucker would like to try this…wonder if it tastes like real beer…Too bad they don’t have it in Canada (I guess)
“Being a hero to someone, even if it is a dog, is a feeling like no other...it can be the most rewarding thing to give someone a second chance at a happy life." ~ From Finally Home, by Elizabeth Parker
Lighthearted tales of life beside the sun on a heavenly ridge with occasional travels in the kingdom animalia. Starring "The Sundogs" "Rockin Roy" 2 handsome horses, 7 goats, a wild burro named Rosie and a sensational guest appearance from time to time.
