HEALTH - Tess is Hip scored 5:4, VWd Clear and PHPV Clear. Thank you to Robert & Andy for using Bracco and allowing us to have Tess. She is an absolute joy.

Feedback from new owners is excellent, thank you everyone, and we repeated the between Nominator and Tess in Dec 2009.

In June 2011, Tess had her third and final litter. The sire is our young dog Aritaur Philosophy. Her daughter Aritaur Enchante is owned by Elaine Long who is enjoying some success in the show-ring.

We start our pups for early training in prey drive for a piece of hessian cloth then a baby bite roll. We allow them to work a little for it then they win the toy. They work in prey drive, not defence, and begin to understand that the game is best when it is with their human, so they learn to bring it back for more games.

Meanwhile Jay will have done the technical training of sit, down and stand etc routines, (with no compulsion or hands on except to gently stroke and calmly praise) for treats.

After quite some time of this play, and once the puppy understands the basic position commands, Martin will work them in prey for the toy and drop a quick command in - ie of sit then later down etc. The response speed is much faster than it is for food treats.

All training is done through fun and play and not compulsion. This significantly enhances the bond with owner and dog and makes for a great working relationship, such as that which Martin has with Tess's father - Bracco who gained the highest grade of Schutzhund 3 possible in the UK.