Darwin

Going back in 1989, I simply fell in love with this unique breed but could not get one. This is how I got Octave, a golden retriever, my first purebred dog. As he was aging, I felt a second dog would be great and this time, this dog had to be a flat-coated retriever! That's how Darwin entered in my life in July 2001.

But there was a price to pay! At first, in the puppy class he was in, he was known as “The Terror”! He finished last out of a total of 17 dogs in this class! What a demon he was! And he stayed a little bit that way all his life. Always happy to please me, making big smiles, dancing and always ready to poke my pocket because he knew I was hiding some treats there. He was one of a kind.

So I decided to continue with him in obedience and things turned pretty well. From a simple companion dog he was supposed to be, Darwin quickly became one of the most titled flat-coated retrievers in Canada. He simply changed my life forever.

He was one year and a half when he earned his novice obedience title. That is when I began to like competing and I made the decision to pursue further. In 2003, he earned his CDX then, after only one year of training, he finally became an Obedience trial Champion. He was not done yet, on October 22 2005, with tears in my eyes, Darwin completed his Obedience trial Champion Excellent title, a work combination of Open and Utility classes. It took him only eight trials to earn his five necessary qualifications but I promised him at the time that he deserved his retirement for obedience.

Darwin was the second best flat-coated in obedience in Canada for 2004 and 2005. Back in 2004 at the Canadian FCRSC specialty, Darwin made the obedience 'High in Trial' with a score of 194,5 in the 'Open B' class. He also finished his obedience career in USA earning his CD, CDX and one Utility leg.

During this time, I also started to train him for hunt tests. He obtained his Junior Hunter, Working Certificate and Working Certificate Intermediate titles very easily.

Darwin also had another passion: Frisbee. He earned his Novice title with the Canadian Disc Dog Association in 2004.

We have learned to work together and have developed a profound admiration for each other. With his 'Joie de vivre', he was simply my hero, my idol and my best friend at the time. Our lives together were a bit too short but he will be in my heart for as long as I live.

Darwin died in my arms from cancer on April 29 2010, two weeks shy of his ninth birthday.

I will never thank him enough for what we did together, that was simply amazing. Thank you Darwin.