News_2016

News 2016

December 15, 2016	We received sad news from Chappaqua, NY: Piper Islandflats All U Need is Love lost her battle with cancer today. She was the last surviving puppy of the Islandflats Rock N Roll A litter. She was a beautiful girl who did some modeling and made some television appearances. We know her family is devastated by her loss and we are as well. We're lighting a candle tonight in honor of Piper. We'll always miss our yellow ribbon puppy girl with the cute zipper on her nose.
August 27 - 28, 2016	Aug 27 - Dog Agility Club of Long Island - Summer Obedience & Rally Trials (Day 1) - Bay Shore NY: Today it's Tripper in the Rally ring. Tripper and Terry earn a high qualifying score (not high enough for a placement) in Rally Novice. This is Tripper's second leg towards his title. A few people there commented on what a nice looking dog he is, but that's not the kind of show this was. Tripper performed when he had to and he did very well. He certainly has brains behind his good looks! Aug 28 - Dog Agility Club of Long Island - Summer Obedience & Rally Trials (Day 2) - Bay Shore NY: Tripper and Terry performed a little better in the Novice Rally ring today as they earned a qualifying score and fourth place finish! That's their third qualifying leg for Rally Novice, so Tripper now holds a new title: *CH Nautica's Day Tripper RN* CGC**. Tripper still needs a bit of polishing before he enters a higher level, but he's a quick learner. Expect to see Tripper perform in other performance events in the future.
July 20, 2016	She was our second Flat-Coated Retriever and she taught us most of what we know about dogs. Crystal TLC Starlite's First Gleaming CD RE MX MXJ NAP NJP NF NAC TN-N RL1 CGC (Cosmo x Ashley b.February 1, 2002) passed away today. Crystal was the first dog that we ever competed with. She was the first dog we ever trained in advanced obedience and agility. She was a quick learner, and she always did her best for you. In April 2006 she gave birth to our beautiful girl Lylah. For all of her 14-1/2 years Crystal was the Queen of our household. Not having her here anymore will be a big adjustment, we miss her so much. Crystal we love you.
July 6 - 9, 2016	The Yankee Classic, West Springfield, MA: July 6 - Holyoke Kennel Club (Obedience/Rally trial) Quite a day forDazzle ... Margaret & Dazzle compete in Graduate Novice Obedience and earn a qualifying score and a first place finish! That's Dazzle's second leg towards her title. Later that day, Dazzle competes in Rally Obedience, and earns a good qualifying score, which is her second leg in Rally Excellent! July 7 - Holyoke Kennel Club (Obedience/Rally trials) - It's Margaret & Dazzle again in Rally. Together they earned a qualifying score, and with that Dazzle earns a new title! Now she's known as: Breezy Hill's Heart N Soul of Islandflats CD "RE" NJP CGC. They performed great together and just missed a placement. Same day ... Naugatuck Valley KC (Breed) - Tripper is awarded Winner's Dog under judge Maureen Day. No points today, but he showed nicely. July 8 - Kenilworth Kennel Club (Breed/Obedience/Rally) - Tripper was active in the Breed ring, and in Rally Obedience. In Breed, Tripper and Margaret were awarded Winner's Dog and best Owner Handler under judge Elliott Weiss. Tripper earned one more point as he inches closer to his championship. Later in Rally Obedience, Tripper scores a 99; and with that comes a second place finish and his first leg in Rally Novice. Tripper was handled by Terry. Lots of ribbons for our young Field Spaniel today! July 9 - Farmington Valley KC (Breed) - A NEW AKC CHAMPION !!! Tripper was awarded Winner's Dog, Best of Winners and won a 3 point major under judge Virginia Lyne, and earned his AKC Championship title! He is now known as *CH Nautica's Day Tripper CGC. Tripper* was owner-handled by Margaret for all of his conformation points. He earned a total of 4 majors under 4 different judges, and he completed his title in the 12 & Under 18 Months Dogs class. It was a big week for Islandflats. We had a great time and we're so happy with our dogs. Ribbons, prizes and toys for all these past few days.
June 19, 2016	Bryn Mar Kennel Club dog show - Ludwigs Corner, PA: He does it again! Judge Judy Webb awards Tripper Winner's Dog, for a three point major! Margaret showed Tripper flawlessly, and the judge was certainly impressed. Now Tripper has three major wins, and he only needs to earn two more points to complete his championship title. Let's hope he continues showing this nicely. He certainly seems to enjoy it.
May 22, 2016	Dog Agility Club of Long Island - Obedience & Rally Trials - Bay Shore NY: Something new for Dazzle as she competes in the Graduate Novice class in obedience and she scores a first place finish and her first leg in that class! Later in the day, Dazzle competed in Rally Excellent for the first time and she earned her first qualifying leg! Both times she was handled by Margaret. Two different events, two qualifiers. What a team ...
April 24, 2016	South Windsor KC dog show - W. Springfield, MA: It's another big day for Tripper! Judge Mary Ann Alston hands the Winner's Dog, Best of Winners and Best of Breed ribbons and rosettes to Tripper who earns another two points towards his championship. Margaret then took Tripper to the Sporting Group ring, and again he showed nicely but other dogs took the top prizes. He's definitely gaining more experience in the show ring, and although the rest of us were exausted after a long weekend, Tripper would spend the rest of the night playing with his toys. That's our boy ...
April 22, 2016	Springfield Kennel Club dog show - W. Springfield, MA: Tripper is awarded Best of Breed under judge Houston Clark. With the win, Tripper earns another point towards his championship. Handled by Margaret, he later went on to show in the Sporting Group where he didn't fare as well, but he moved around the ring beautifully and drew the praise of spectators. Nice going Field Spaniel!
April 9, 2016	Troy Kennel Club dog show - W. Springfield, MA: We "Got a good reason" for a day trip today as Tripper heads north to the "Big E". Under judge Sharol Candice Way Tripper is awarded Winners Dog, Best of Winners and picks up a four point major! Handled by Margaret, he showed so well in the ring. Now he has both his majors under two different judges. He still needs more points to finish his championship, but he's working on that. Hooray for Tripper!
April 7, 2016	It's always a big day when a Flat-Coated Retriever joins the double digit club, so today we honor Piper (Islandflats All You Need is Love), who turns 10 years old today! It's hard to believe that this much time passed so quickly from when the Islandflats Rock N Roll A litter was born. At Islandflats, momma Crystal couldn't be happier. From the Rainbow Bridge we know that littermates C.J., Rasta and Lylah, as well as pappa Logan are all celebrating this very special day. Happy Birthday Piper!
February 25, 2016	We celebrate three dog birthdays this February, and today it's Tripper's turn. Our Field Spaniel boy Tripper turns 1 today! Starting today he is no longer labeled "puppy" - but he'll always be our baby. Horray for Tripper! More toys and special treats are in store for all our puppies as we celebrate today. Happy birthday wishes to all Tripper's littermates from Nautica's "Beatles" litter!
February 21, 2016	Islandflats celebrates Dazzle's birthday today! It was four years ago that the Breezy Hill "H" litter was born in northern CT, and we're all happy to share birthday festivities with them. Today Dazzle is sharing her birthday cake (in the shape of the letter "D") with our other dogs. Afterwards she's opening her new toys. Let's hope that Crystal and Tripper give her a chance to play with them before they take off with them.
February 13, 2016	It's part of the annual Westminster KC dog show - New York City, NY: Tripper represented the Field Spaniel Society of America in "Meet the Breeds". As an ambassador for the breed, Tripper met (literally) hundreds of people who were there to learn more about all the different dog breeds. He especially liked when small children came up to pet him and although tired, we believe he had a great time and that he'd do it again. He was such a good boy today!
February 1, 2016	Today is Crystal's 14th Birthday! What gift do you get a dog who already has all the toys she could ever need? Quick answer: Whatever she wants! We're so fortunate that Crystal has been part of our family all these years, and we're so happy to be hosting another birthday party for her. Today Crystal, Dazzle and Tripper get to indulge in home baked dog treats, Frosty Paws, and of course Crystal gets more toys. We're so happy for Crystal.
January 21, 2016	Sad news from the homefront ... Our beautiful girl Lylah CH Islandflats American Pie CD RN OA OAJ CGC (Logan x Crystal b.April 7, 2006) passed away today. Her already weakened body couldn't take it any longer and began to shut down, so we had to finally let go. Dogs love you so much, you love them, and then one day they break your heart. I suppose we expected this, but it still hurts. Such a happy, exuberant dog, she is sorely missed. We love you Lylah!
January 9, 2016	Merrimack Valley KC dog show - W. Springfield, MA: We seldom enter dog shows this time of year, but with the prospect of good weather and the potential for a Field Spaniel major, Islandflats headed north for the day. Handled by Margaret, judge Sidney Marx awarded Tripper first place in the 9 to 12 month old puppy class. Tripper also took Winner's Dog and Best of Winners, which means that our puppy not only got his first conformation points today, but he also earned a three point major! That's a big achievement for our young puppy, we couldn't be happier.