Dulcie's First Eval

Fellow puppy raisers for GDB will understand the nerves that appear when you have and upcoming evaluation with your CFR. I'm sure other puppy raisers understand these feelings but I don't know how other schools conduct the evaluations of their puppies. But for us, CFRs are sort of the hang man when it comes to our puppies.

To be honest though, I don't really get nervous during eval time. Oh, I used to. I was a quivering ball of nerves at my very first eval all those years ago. I suppose it might have had something to do with the naughty puppy I had then who will remain Freya. But over the years I have come to realize that it's best to keep calm. We all know that our puppies will be perfect except for the one day when your CFR is in town and the CFR understands this too. So, why let your puppy pick up on you nerves? It would just make it worse I think.

I suppose my attitude towards evals may have something to do with the fact that we have a pretty awesome CFR. He doesn't jump to conclusions or make rash decisions about our puppies. He asks for our opinion and our outlook on our puppy. And he treats the puppies as individuals. This, I really like. I've met other CFRs who treat all puppies exactly the same and expect every rule to apply to each puppy. That's always frustrated me and always made me glad that our CFR here understands that one rule may not work for every single puppy.

Anyway, Dulcie had her very first eval last Tuesday. Now, like I said I don't really get nervous during eval time. In fact, I was a little excited by the fact that I was going to another eval.

We got there a teeny tiny bit late because Dulcie's bathroom schedule was a little thrown off because of the transition to my house just the day before. But it was ok because we were waiting on Nancy and Harlem as well. In the mean time we all just sat around talking. Then it was time to take a little walk. Instead of going on the walk, Dulcie and I went outside for a little potty break. Jim watched us walked away and laughed at Dulcie's walk. She definitely thinks she's hot stuff. Her tail goes straight up and she does a little golden prance. After we got back in from her bathroom break Jim worked with Dulcie. He gave her a little love, walked in and out of the head collar, kibbled her, and more. When he handed her back do you know what he said? "I really like her."

Jim rarely compliments a golden and I don't think I've ever heard him compliment a golden that young. He said that she was better than most of the lab puppies out there right now (and he's a lab person so this was the highest of compliments). He said that she had a good, little personality and that she was a good puppy.

I don't think I can tell you how long I have waited to hear Jim compliment one of my puppies. I've always had naughty puppies who need a lot of work. But not Dulcie. No. She is a good puppy. Not that I don't absolutely love my other puppies, but Dulcie is definitely one of the easiest I have had. She is eager to please, isn't too distracted, and isn't a little chicken like most golden are at this age. She's confident and bold and isn't any more or less unsure of certain things than I would expect of any puppy.

I was so happy to hear that she is a "good puppy."

Now, please enjoy some pictures of my "good puppy" at 14 weeks old with my CC girl Hilly.

Dulcie out in my back yard with her jacket on and a big grin on her face.

Dulcie outside in the back yard with her jacket on and a smile on her face.

Dulcie outside with her jacket on. She's giving us a goofy grin.

Dulcie with her jacket and Hilly with her Pet Ambassador scarf . Hilly is smiling, Dulcie is sticking her tongue out.

Dulcie and Hilly in their respective gear. Dulcie is smiling, Hilly is not.

Finally a picture where both are smiling even if it's not the best picture.