CH FT/AFTCH OTCH FIREMARK’S PUSH COMES TO SHOVE WCX QFTR ***

Aptly Named: ”PUSH”

Pushing the boundaries and raising the bar. “Catch me if you can” has been our motivational mantra!

A Triple Champion having now achieved four of the toughest championship titles available for the breed. Field Trial Champion – Amateur Field Trial Champion – Obedience Trial Champion – Conformation Champion giving Push the acclaimed status of being the first ever Golden Retriever in the history of the breed in North America to have ever become a true Triple Champion.

A single dog that acquires these specific multiple titles indicates and confirms the existence of a very special dog. In order for one dog to achieve this status, the dog must possess mountains of natural ability, be exceptionally biddable, be intelligent, be an extraordinary athlete, be very much a team player yet be full of self confidence and, have a well balanced temperament. All of us who have had the opportunity to meet this wonderful and exceptional animal would, no doubt, agree that these characteristics very much do describe who Push is!

The Push Story: Push was previously featured by the GRCC in a 2005 issue wherein his story was told up to the point that he became a Dual Champion which most of you have read. For those of you who have not, the following is a summary of the previous article.

Push was purchased from Melanie Foster of Firemark Golden Retrievers in California when he was 10 months old. He very quickly adapted to his new owner and trainer, Mike Ducross of Ambertrail Golden Retrievers (www.ambertrail.com) and to our Canadian weather. Mike immediately put Push into his basics program for Push was to be his next Open all age field trial dog. Before Push turned 2 years of age he had earned his first All-age points and by the end of 2003 as a 2 year old he had accumulated 5 all age points.

In the fall of 2003 Push competed at the GRCA National Specialty where he showed his true competitiveness and potential for field trial competition. He earned a Judges Award of Merit in both the Open All-Age and the Amateur All-Age and won the Qualifying stake having an entry of 101 dogs.

Fast forward to 2005, where Push not only earned his FTCH and AFTCH titles, but also went on to become Canada’s Top Golden Retriever in the Open All-Age, the Amateur All-Age and Combined All-Age categories. He was the only Golden Retriever to make Canada’s Top Ten Field Trial ‘All Retriever Breed’ List in 2005. He was No. 4 on the Amateur All-Age list and No. 7 for Combined All-Age points.

In 2006 the focus became the Dual Champion title. Push completed his Conformation Championship title after being entered in only a half a dozen shows. He did that with style as well by not only winning the open dog classes, Push won the Best of Breed award twice and also was awarded a Group 4th. Thanks to judges Leta Bett, Sandy Gunn and Mike Lanctot for recognizing Push’s physical excellence and conformation to our breed standard. As of June 9, 2006 Push became the only living Dual Champion Golden Retriever in North America, the last time a Golden had achieved this distinguished tile was over a quarter century ago!

When asked for comments on their assessment of Push’s conformation; noted Judge Sandy Gunn wrote ““Before me I finally had a ‘hunting dog’ shown in hard condition, balanced, strong, eager, alert and confident," Mr. Gunn further remarked. "I had here a Golden who exuded fitness and balance fore and aft, and strength of loin, all in proper proportions and packaged in just the right size and weight, to my eye”. And noted Judge Mike Lanctot wrote ““He (Push) earned it, he never put a foot in the wrong place and showed his heart out. It was his day, it was his turn and I was glad it was me that was doing the pointing.”

What could be our next adventure??? The Triple Championship?? All we had to do was get a CD, CDX and a UD!! Why not give it a shot?? So one day in the Fall of 2007, I mentioned this possibility to Bruce Gibbons, a friend and as all of you know in the Obedience arena Bruce is “the guy to beat” in that venue of competition. Bruce’s eyes lit up as he immediately offered to help. This offer sealed the commitment for us to go for the Triple! As it turned out, Bruce did not help! He did all of the work!!! The training, the traveling to competitions and the successful completion of Push’s obedience titles......here is how it went........ Bruce took Push for a month of training in January of 2008 and immediately thereafter got a CD title, and then Bruce trained Push to his CDX title during the spring and summer of 2008. There were some frustrations getting the CDX as Push decided that, at trials, he did not like the idea of being left in the ring with a bunch of other dogs as Bruce ‘left the building’.

However, Bruce pushed on and taught Push that he must stay, eventually Push understood the exercise and stayed for his long sits and downs. Push remained at home throughout the Fall of 08 and Winter/Spring of 09. Bruce once again took Push in late summer of 09 for UD training and trailing. On December 19, 2009 the only Triple Champion in the history of the Golden Retriever breed had arrived. His name
CH FT/AFTCH OTCH FIREMARK’S PUSH COMES TO SHOVE WCX QFTR ***

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