Our life with dogs commenced in 1976 when we purchased our first golden retriever, Ben. We showed and bred golden retrievers successfully for a number of years breeding a best in show winner. In 1986 while on a trip overseas, we visited the United Retriever Club show at Stoneleigh in England where we saw flat coated retrievers for the first time. I can still remember the thrill of seeing the dogs with their coats shining in the sun and their tails wagging nonstop. On our return we hunted for a puppy and with the guidance of the Flatcoated Retriever Association of Victoria purchased our first flatcoat Ch Hadwin Blair Dooley from Donna Turner in Canberra. Dooley was a total character and we were captivated by our new breed. Over time the five golden retrievers and one flat coated retriever became five flat coated retrievers and one golden retriever. In December 2007 we lost our last golden to cancer at the age of thirteen. We now have seven flat coated retrievers and one aged ridgeback.

We live on 10 acres about 15 kilometres from Devonport on the north west coast of Tasmania. We are both retired so the dogs get plenty of walks along the local country roads and and free runs in our paddocks. While showing is our main interest, we also dabble in some obedience and retrieving training.

With our flatcoated retrievers, we have owned three grand champions and seven champions and from our first flat coated retriever litter we have Ch Firebush Dizzy Miz Lizzy gaining her championship title in October 2008 and her sister Ch Firebush Let It Be gaining hers in May 2009. Their brother BIS BISS Aus & NZ Ch Firebush Sergeant Pepper owned by Kirsty Gray in Sydney gained his CCD and RRD in addition to his show title before the age of two. He gained his NZ championship in 2010 in just two months of showing. All three are multiple class in group winners, with Ch Firebush Sergeant Pepper going best in group and runner up to best in show at a Sydney show in November in 2008 and best in specialty show as well as mutliple best in group winner in 2009. In addition he is a NZ best in show winner and has won multiple best in group and runner up to best exhibit in group awards. Their dam is Ch Bushman Dream Come True and their sire the best in show winning Grand Champion Bushman The Deputy.

Puppies from Ch Firebush Dizzy Miz Lizzy and Disco, Grand Ch Explicit No Trouble At All (Imported Sweden), arrived October 21 2009. We kept a black bitch Firebush Billie Piper from this litter. Billie is a delight to live with and is showing signs of promise in the conformation ring and in the field.