Our association with CAREBEAR GOLDEN RETRIEVERS have led us to a deeper understanding of the breed and the dog show as a sport. Dedicated with the breed, MARIVIC LIM has inspired us in getting involved in the world of dog shows. Though, I'd still much prefer to be just a plain dog lover.  I have come to enjoy the sport as well not because of the glory, fame and triumph but because of the friendships we build. Dog people, one way or another, are an insecure bunch, paranoid to a certain extent. Who among others, upon first meetings could go on and on talking for hours about dogs for that matter? It is the only group of people coming from different levels of the social class who understand each other with no words spoken. Filthy rich people exchanging tips and techniques on how to pick up stools. I have met people from all walks of life and who would have thought we would bond and nurture deep and meaningful relationships with them. All prejudices are forgotten, except of course, like minded people become like minded friends and there is always the other side of the story. It's a pity that the same group of people fight over who has got a better dog. Alas, all their insecurities personified. And to our dogs, the virtues they want to teach us are lost into oblivion.

If there's one wish I have, it is for dog people to come as one passed all of humanities' pitfalls and weaknesses. I have gotten into trouble being associated with one group over another. It is what makes us think that our dogs have more breeding than the dog people we meet.

THE GOLD RUSH...

Probably much like the gold rush that took place in America, I rushed into the Golden Retriever breed just as I have done in most of the breeds anyway. BELLY is no exception. As I was spending time in Surrey, B.C., Canada, I went around looking for my type of Golden Retriever. New to the game, I stumbled on a newspaper ad. There I met Belly's breeder, BRIAN CLEGG. I looked at his puppies while he was asking me all kinds of questions. Marivic Lim has cautioned me about show people being selective with their prospective buyers and I remember her tellin me that I should appear knowledgeable about lines before any reputable breeder would sell me a good dog. So, I mentioned to Brian how I admire AMERICAN CHAMPION ASTERLING'S WILD BLUE YONDER. And as if I said the magic word, Brian invited me to go to his showroom where a picture of him and James was hung up on the wall. Then he asked me to follow him to the training room. Out came CAMEO who I later on named BELLY. I immediately wrote off a check and Brian said he needed to think about selling Cameo. We agreed that if he encashes the check after a week, Cameo is mine officially. He was leaving for San Francisco for the nationals. Tuesday, I went to my bank and found out that the check has been cashed. So, I thought it would be okay to take Cameo for a walk in the park. I was extremely lonely from being separated from my dogs in the Philippines. KATHERINE, Brian's partner did not agree that i take Cameo to the park. To make the long story short, it is only after that Belly arrived in the Philippines that I found out why Katherine did not want to sell Belly. She wanted Belly to have an OFA number before any sale. I wasn't aware of what OFA is all about. I just adored Belly's angelic face and disposition. It was when she came out of her crate while we were in the airport that I noticed a little side-winding on her right rear leg. I guess, that's why Katherine was so concerned. Brian has sent me Belly's preliminary OFA and after that, I never heard from him as he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Belly has been a real doll. She has easily finished her PHILIPPINE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP however, it's her obedience competitions we are having trouble with. She's excellent and as a matter of fact, she's almost perfect in the sense that she gets perfect scores. The problem is the break-away. So attached to me, she breaks-away from JESS, my handler whenever she gets a chance. Spoiled, huh! Anyway, she has a CD title now. Her CD certificate we finally got after a year's competition. You see, every time she does not break-away, perfect scores are automatic and she takes home the 1st place! Never second, never third, just first place. It's either 1st place or she flunks out. She doesn't have just beauty, she's got the brains to go with it and she knows it!