Harmony Flat Coated Retrievers
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What's New?

Find out what Jill and Theresa have been up to!

1/16/2020

Pupdate 1.16.2020

On January 12, 2020 we welcomed 8 little ones into the world. Nina, the 4 boys, and 4 girls are all doing exceptionally well. They are growing so fast and we're enjoying watching their little personalities start to shine through.

This litter also shares a special birthday with our King, who left us last September but we know he is an angel looking over these little ones.

While we will do our best to update our website and respond to people during this time, please be patient with us. If you are looking for more puppy photos, Theresa regularly posts on her instagram feed and story. You can check our her page (and follow for regular updates) here
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12/17/2019

Announcing The 20/20 Litter

We're proud to announce that we have confirmed a litter that will be due Mid-January

Nina and Tian

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At this time, we anticipate that we will have home for all of the puppies that be produced by this beautiful breeding, however please keep an eye on our website to see if any become available.

11/10/2019

Crusoe's Visit

A few months ago, Theresa moved in with her boyfriend, Ken. Crusoe comes and visits us on occasion. Right now, he's curled up next to me on the sofa as I type this. He will be staying with us for a few weeks. He's enjoying his time here going on walks, meeting people on trips to downtown, and playing with Ken's dog, Allie.
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10/10/2019

When training meets real life...

Today, Nina and Theresa went duck hunting with their favorite gunner, Ken.  This was both Theresa and Nina's first real duck hunting experience even though we have loads field training and hunt test experience.

For those of you who hunt (and those who don't), there is something special about watching a dog do what it is bred to do -- art in its own way.  Flat-Coated Retrievers were bred to retrieve birds and small game.  As breeders, we think it is important, and we are proud that our dogs have a natural ability to work as retrievers.  We train using positive reinforcement and then work side-by-side with our dogs as partners.  For us, field work and taking our dogs to the line is a privilege.  Seeing them "do their job" with happy flat-coat enthusiasm is beyond poetry in motion.
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Our Nina meets and, in her own way, exceeds expectations as a hunting retriever; she is a eager worker who loves being out in the field.  At hunt tests, judges always comment that they "love her style."  While this was her first real hunting experience, she easily used her natural ability, her skills from training and her experience at hunt tests to have a great day.  All that and she's so easy to live with -- such a sweet, sweet girl!

Today's adventure provided a spectacular sunrise, the joy of seeing Nina work in a real hunting situation, and extra kisses when the day was done!  We are thrilled to keep working with Nina for more advanced hunt and field experiences...Can't wait to see what comes next!
PictureFlat Coat Duck Hunt
Nina watching & waiting for ducks
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Nina gives kisses for such a fun day!
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Ready and waiting at sunrise

9/27/2019

Loving Fall ~ Crusoe style

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8/27/2019

Summer Fun!

Shorter days and cooler nights are reminding us that Summer will be coming to a close before too long. We had so many great photos of Harmony and Fishercreek pups (young and old) that we had to share them! Enjoy!

8/25/2019

August 25th, 2019

WOW! How do you sum up an amazing weekend?
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Crusoe was the only class dog all weekend, but went Best of Winners every day to bring his total up to 10 points!
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Nina was an absolute rock star this weekend! She took 2 Selects, 2 Owner-Handler Best of Breeds, a *huge* Best of Breed in a very competitive breed ring, and an Owner-Handler Group 3! 
Nina also tried her hand in Barn Hunt and passed her Rat Instinct with flying colors for a **NEW RATI TITLE** and then went and got her first RATN leg and a second place!
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As always, we had a great time with a great group of people. Congrats to all this weekends winners and thank you too all of the wonderful judges for acknowledging our two pups and the other flatties that saw such success.
Harmony Flat Coated Retrievers
Theresa & Nina (Fishercreeks Take A Chance on Me)

8/24/2019

August 24th, 2019

Fishercreek Flat Coated Retrievers
Hi frens

I did show 2day. I won moor points today and yesterday. I has lots of fun. Now I am close to my "title" (wutever dat means). I gotted lots of snacks. I lik snacks.

My muma Nina also gots ribbons too, but I dun't know wut they mean.

Did I mention dat I gets snacks? And sometimes, the judges even pets me. Its fun.
​
~Crusoe

8/11/2019

What a great time at the UKC this weekend!

Two days, four shows, two new titles at the UKC in Massachusetts this weekend...

Day 1, A great day at UKC!
Nina starts off the day with a 95 and a third place! At the afternoon show, she earns a 96 for a first place!
Crusoe takes Best of Breed and then a Gundog Group 4 in a very competitive group!

UKC Day 2 in the books!

After spending this weekend at Westfield with the pups. Primarily we went for experience and the ability to work the dogs in a new environment, but also to see great friends and have a great time. However...
Crusoe showed at both shows today and finished his UKC championship!
Nina showed at 2 rally trials today to finish her RO1 title and then showed in conformation to win Best of Breed and then a Group 2 in a very competitive Gundog Group!

We had so much fun with friends and all kinds of dogs. Maybe we'll see you there next time!!
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Sharing the love after competing Day 1
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Crusoe and Nina after Day 2 of competing

8/6/2019

From Then to Now

So proud of the Beachy Keen Littermates ~ they turn one year old today!
These lovely babies have grown into smart, confident, amazing pups. They are all in fabulous, loving families. And, they're having all kinds of fun enjoying the best things life has to offer, and of course they are all great at sharing flattie kisses.
We love that EVERY family stays in touch with us, and some even sent pictures of their special birthday pup!

8/3/2019

Nina Earns her AKC Junior Hunt TItle

​Today, Jill and Nina travelled to Connecticut to compete in an AKC Huny Test.

Again, Nina was completely on mark to earn her fourth and final qualifying leg. This means that Nina has earned her AKC Junior Hunt Title. To qualify, Nina marked and retrieved ducks on land and on water. Today's test had waist high cover for the land marks -- no problem for Nina. The judges scored Nina in four categories including Ability (to mark and remember where the duck was), Style (she excels at this one), Perseverance/Courage/Hunting, and Trainability. Nina passed with high marks across the board.

What a great time we've had with this girl, and we're extra proud that she passed 100% of the hunting tests in which she was entered. Nina has great drive and ability in the field and she is so much fun. We can't wait to see what she does next!!

Fishercreek Flat Coated Retriever

7/18/2019

Summer Update Part 2

We've had a very busy few weeks! Here are the results:

Nina

In addition to the two Junior Hunter legs that she earned last weekend (see our previous post), Nina switched gears a few times over the last few days and earned:
  • New UKC Championship
  • New AKC Rally Advanced Title
  • New AKC Canine Good Citizen Title
  • UKC Gundog Group 2

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Crusoe

Crusoe has spent the last few weeks working on basic obedience and practicing his manners for the show ring. This past weekend, Crusoe went to his first UKC show and won a Best of Breed and Gundog Group 4! He also earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen title!

7/8/2019

Summer Update

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Last weekend, Jill and Nina attended the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club Hunt Test in Torrington, CT. The tests were challenging, but they walked away with two more legs towards Nina's Junior Hunter title. This means that Nina now has three of the four total qualifying legs towards her title.

We're very excited for the rest of the summer!


6/23/2019

Summertime Shows 2019 Pt 2

Hi everyone!

We will be attending the shows in W. Springfield, MA from Friday July 5th to Sunday July 7th. We will have both Crusoe and Nina with us! We don't know what time we'll be showing yet, but if you're interested in visit please let us know.

We are also planning on attending UKC shows throughout New England as the summer moves on.

If you are interested in meeting us and/or the dogs, please contact us!

~Jill & Theresa

6/4/2019

Summertime Shows

Hi all!

Our show calendar this year is going to be lighter than it has been the last few years. While we will continue to show our dogs, we have goals for our dogs outside of the "fluff and puff" dog show world. Both Nina and Crusoe will be working on achieving titles in many other venues, like obedience, rally, and field.

We will be in Norwalk, CT on Saturday June 8th for the Flat Coated Retriever Society of America Supported Entry.
We are also planning on attending the 4th of July Cluster shows with both Nina and Crusoe, although we do not know which days or which events we will be entered in.
We will also be attending UKC dog shows (mostly in Westfield, MA) throughout the summer.

Feel free to come out and meet us!
We will keep everyone posted on results!

~Jill & Theresa

5/20/2019

May Brings Field Fun

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Apple blossoms by our pond
For us, the month of May means that Spring has finally arrived -- snow is usually gone by mid-month, ponds warm up after ice out, the spring peepers start singing, bugs start buzzing and Nature starts to paint bright colors and beautiful blooms.

This May, we are excited to get back to field training. With the our dogs' natural ability and field drive, our Winter-long obedience training crosses right over to have field fun with bumpers and birds. We love to see these sweeties doing what our breed is meant to do.  Watching a flat-coat use its natural drive in the field is art in motion.

Hope you all are enjoying the bright blue skies, warm weather and all that nature offers!
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What a joy and honor to walk Nina to the line!
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It doesn't matter -- bumpers or birds. Love Nina's attitude and happy work ethic!
After a live flier day with Nina successfully retrieving doubles on land and water, Nina and Jill took the time for some fun bumpers.
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Spring morning mist rising off our training pond

5/8/2019

Spring Is In The Air

Spring is finally in New Hampshire!

3/24/2019

Our Versatile Flat-Coats

This past weekend, at the NorthEast Flat-Coated Retriever Club's annual meeting, Nina and King were recognized with special Versatility Awards. In 2018, they both earned multiple titles in different performance venues including conformation, field, obedience and rally. Combined, they have received this award at least six times now.

Our breed standard defines the Flat-Coated Retriever as "versatile".  We love our dogs, really enjoy training and competing with them in different venues, and are proud that they are "versatile."

Can't wait for the fun to continue!! 
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Nina's Versatility Award
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King's Versatility Award

3/22/2019

Nina and the Hamburger Bun

Nina is usually a very good girl. She has never taken food off of the table, counters, or gotten into the trash... Until last night.

Last night we had hamburgers for dinner. My Dad made his plate and turned around to grab silverware for his dinner. In that split second, Nina decided that she was going to help herself to the top half of him hamburger bun that teetered on the edge of the counter. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her, stopped her midway through a chomp, and removed the surprisingly unharmed bun from her mouth.

Dad got a new bun.
Dinner continued.

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One naughty Nina giving me a stare for taking away HER bun.

As dinner was being cleaned up, the trash (located on rollers in the cabinet so the dogs aren't tempted) I look over and Nina is eating something. It isn't uncommon by any means that Nina might get a nibble of leftovers. After a census of the Kuchinos family revealed that no one had, in fact fed her, I walked over to open her mouth.
This revealed that she had somehow managed to rifle through a few layers of trash to get...

THE BUN.

We laughed. She got half the bun. And then she gave me this nasty look for only letting her have half the bun.

3/11/2019

Living the Good Life!

Over 90 amazing acres makes lots of room for fun! Today brought blue skies and flying flatties.
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Nina flying over the snow
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Crusoe mastering his catching skills

3/2/2019

Crusoe Wins His First Major

Today, Crusoe won his Bred By class, then Winner's Dog for his first major championship points. He finished by winning Best of Winners, Best of Breed Bred By Exhibitor, and a nice placement in a strong Bred By Ehibitor Sporting Group. Nice start for this 6-month old pup. Momma Nina cheered him on both days and added some Grand Champion points too. Best of all, we ll had fun!
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2/16/2019

Spring Plans

Hi everyone!
We're staying warm and enjoying a wonderful New Hampshire winter! Nina and Crusoe have been enjoying their long hikes in the beautiful white woods!
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Nina resting in the woods during a hike.
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Crusoe in the woods
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Crusoe and Pearl (littermates from the Beachy Keen Litter) posing for a few treats
We are planning at attending some dog shows in Massachusetts over the next couple of months! If anyone is interested in meeting us and our dogs, please reach out!

~Jill and Theresa

1/28/2019

Winter fun!

The cold and snow of New England Winters have set in this month. Even with sometimes subzero temperatures, we still hike and play outside every day.

This is a slow time for dog shows and competitions, but we keep very busy anyway. Nina is continuing obedience and rally training. She is also doing yard drills for field. Nina seems more than ready to earn her Junior Hunt title, but we'll see more about that when there's open water. Baby Crusoe is not such a baby anymore. He is working on growing, learning manners, and has started basic obedience training. Nina and Crusoe have a great time together with Moxie, Henry and Bella joining in.  This month, Pearl visited for just over two weeks. This sweetie and Crusoe still love puppy play. We're so lucky to have these flat coats who crack us up with their antics!

Hope you're enjoying the New Year and Winter!
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Momma Nina & Pearl (with Crusoe trying to sneak in)
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Silly Nina, you're not a unicorn
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A view of our woods -- seems like a piece of heaven
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Two of five on a trail in our woods

12/28/2018

Nina earns her Rally Intermediate Title!

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Nina 1st place, High score in class, and Qualifying leg for her Rally Intermediate Title
It's AKC official! Earlier this month, Nina finished her Rally Intermediate title with style!!

In a very competitive class, Nina finished 1st with a High Score that was more than 10 points above the second place dog. This was her final qualifying test for Rally Intermediate. The judge complimented her heeling, her attention and her happy attitude! This went one, two, three with all Q's. This girl is so fun and easy to train...can't wait to see what she does next!

12/9/2018

Puppies' First Show Fun

Both Crusoe and Pearl went to Springfield for their first baby puppy competitions (for puppies 4 to 6 months old). Between them, they won Best of Breed Puppy, and earned Sporting Group Puppy Placements all four days.
​What good babies! 
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Pearl celebrates her Puppy Group 1 with a big kiss
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​Last updated: 4.9.2020