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Ольга Плоткина (Москва)
26.11.2005 |
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Curlies. Connecting people.
11.2005 |
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19.03.2005
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29.01.2005 Надежда Середа |
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& the story about Kraft's chilhood
Now, when in our family lives remarkable curly coated retriver Duck's Hunter Kruft, friends and familiar frequently ask, why we have stopped the choice on this, some more to little-known breed in Russia. The matter is that, choosing a dog, we took into consideration first of all its pedigree features, instead of popularity in Russia We dreamed of a dog who would be tender family with all members, is especial with children, but thus would not run on call of the first comer; which would not be aggressive, but thus could stand for itself and the owner; dreamed, that the dog was beautiful, but for maintenance of this beauty it would not be required the big efforts on the part of the owner; it is important also that, living with a dog in one apartment, anybody from all members of family did not suffer from an allergy, and, certainly, that the dog was clever, sharp and easily trained. When we have seen curly , we have understood is that we so long searched! Having called in a door to our future factory owners, we have heard terrible bark and when the door has opened, have seen before ourselves rather large dog in a pose expressing obvious threat, however was one word of the owner as the Tika has tempered justice with mercy enough, and has approached to us with absolutely friendly kind. (By the way, in following our arrival she has learned us at once, and has met very affably). Kid Kruft, his mum Tika, his brother and his sister have fascinated us since the first minute. Has struck not only their beauty and grace, but also skill tactfully to behave with children: in a room simultaneously was six curly , they played with us and with each other, and neither to us, nor to our small daughter any of dogs has never stepped on a leg, has not scratched, has not bitten during game! (At us before veins remarkable labrador, but such « miracles of engineering » to him were not under force) Curlie's wool is something especial - without any under fur, all in hard curls and without what - or a smell (any allergy!), and looks simply superb!
And though, having looked puppies, we have told, that we need to think, consult, we already were sure in depth of soul, that necessarily we shall buy Krufty. This very day, hardly having reached up to a house, we have called back to factory owners and have agreed upon when we shall take away the puppy. On a new place the kid at once has closely examined and has sniffed at all territory, from the offered toys without hesitation has chosen the biggest - the toy-wolf, the size hardly more itself Krufty, and is proud has left with "extraction" on the place. For night few times bypassed rooms, whether probably checking all people on a place, but attempts п?р?и?л?е?ч?ь? near to us and has not undertaken - has left to sleep to itself. In general he behaves completely differently, than conducted in due time Nika (our loved labrador). For example, Kruft very sensitively reacts to change of tone of the person - to frown eyebrows enough and strictly to make it "is impossible", as he at once stops undesirable actions (Nika at his age paid no attention to such retorts, and then ran up with completely innocent kind). On walks he does not run for passers - by and if someone approaches to him with intention to stroke, Krufty always looks on owners, and only met with of our approval (a nod or it "is possible"), allows the stranger of to stroke. With Nika to us it was possible to achieve such behavior only due to regular employment, and Kruft behaves so under the own discretion. Krufty it is practically impossible where - or to entice (even by means of a delicacy liked by him) whereas our naive Niky gave in on such provocations rather easily. The kid quietly can play with itself whereas Nika, as a rule, tried to achieve that people played with her. This small sly fellow - the fan of free life - has learned to unbutton a collar, and we had to establish on it an additional ring though Nika at his age ran in the same collar, and she never managed to remove it. Krufty - very attentive and cautious, playing with four children, he manages nobody to touch, whereas Niky practically always (though and not purposely) or came all on legs, or dropped somebody of children. Undoubtedly, already now, at three-monthly age, Kruft shows the character which should be taken into account at training. Most likely, with such dog it is necessary to be engaged absolutely differently, than with labrador. To observe of how our favorite grows, very interestingly, and dialogue with him delivers to us a sheer pleasure. And a lot of love is the most important thing, and he answers us the same! Nadezhda Sereda НадеждаСереда |
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he history of curly coated retrievers with the Theut family (USA)
This love affair started in the 1930’s with my mothers father Ed Toyra. He was a simple man, a meat cutter, but very wise to nature (avid hunter and fisherman) and to dogs. Dogs always loved him. He often said that people should train themselves to the way the dog hunts, not train the dog to how the human wishes the dog could hunt. As he said repeatedly, the dog is bred to hunt and humans are not, so respect this and you and your dog will gather much game. Ed Toyra said the key to this is finding a smart dog (that is to say a dog with a brain and a good nose). Ed was a kind and gentle man and helped tourists when then come to the small town of Manistique, Michigan, USA. He helped them by directing them to the best hunting and fishing spots and where to pick berries in the summer time. To one person from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he directed him to very good fishing and the man had such success he came back the following year so overjoyed that he gave Ed a puppy (a curly coated retriever). Ed not knowing the breed was surprised and only learned of the unique breed after reading about it in the library. He thought at first the man passed off a crossbred dog on him (thinking it a cross between a poodle and a lab) and only made it sound like an important breed. This was the first purebred dog Ed Toyra had in his life. He was happy. He named the dog Curly. He quickly found the traits of the dog and adjusted his hunting style to his new friend Curly. He found the dog to be very quite but very protective of my mother and her sister. In the winter Curly would pull the two girls on a sleigh as Curly weighted 50kg. For the first time Ed shot ducks since he now had a dog that could retrieve them. In addition he shot ruffed grouse, woodcock, and rabbits with the dog. The dog learning from Ed did not chase deer or porcupines or skunks. Curly did not pick fights with other dogs and did not roam the neighborhood. They were best of friends. Curly slept outdoors in a doghouse in a bed of straw that Ed changed every two months. He only let Curly in the house (Mary his wife did not want dogs in the house) only when the temperature was less than minus 30c. After about 4 years, a friend watched Curly work in the woods and in the water and asked Ed if he could take him to an even called a field trial. Ed did not know what this was but being the nice man he was said fine. So this friend took Curly to apparently the National Field Trial Championships and Curly won the event! I did not believe this at first, but research shows that in the 1930’s a curly coated retriever won the National Field Trial. I believe this was the dog. Ed was immediately approached by many people to sell the dog but he would not give his friend away for any amount of money, such was Ed’s loyalty. One day, Ed came home and Curly was gone, as someone had taken him. They left the collar and the chain. Ed kept the collar in the hopes that some day Curly would come home. This was not to be. Now to modern times. Michele and I were looking for a dog that would fit well with a growing family. In 1985 we had two little girls with a boy on the way and, though we did not know it at the time in 5 years another boy would come along. So, we needed a dog that was not rough with children, that hunted, and was quite but protective. We search many breeds, but one day Ed mentioned that we should see if we could find a curly. He told us of Curly and we decided to take a chance. We search for months (prior to the internet) until we found a female curly for sale near Detroit, Michigan, USA. I drove in February in heavy snow and cold over 1600km round trip to obtain this 3month old girl. Michele and I decided to give her the AKC name of Black Liquor of Ebony. We called her Ebony. Ebony immediate took to the girls who were 1.5yrs and 3 yrs at the time. She would let them fall on her, dress her up in clothes and hats, and allow the girls to parade her around the house on various types of leashes (typically ribbons). The girls brushed and bathed her endlessly. At night, just before Ebony would go to sleep she would walk into the girls’ room and make sure they were fine. She continued this for all the kids until she passed on at the age of 15. She would also make a bed check at 4am too. She was 25kg. If a stranger came into the house Ebony would immediately move between the stranger the kids but would not bark or show teeth. The stranger knew that Ebony was on guard and the kids were hers to protect. When Ebony would bark we all knew something was going on and needed investigation. As for hunting, Ebony was pure pleasure. I adjusted my style to hers and together we shot much game. I did very little training with her as a puppy or as an adult. Other breeds cannot say this as with other breeds you must constantly train and retrain, not with curly’s. Once is enough and they got it. Here is an estimate from my hunting logbook of the game gathered with Ebony:
When Ebony was 10 we obtained Teak (akc name of Black Liquor of Teak). Teak is a 60kg male. Ebony taught Teak well, as we would hunt together. Ebony would at first do all the retrieving until one time I shot a pheasant and Ebony in her own way signaled to Teak to retrieve the bird. He did and the torch was now passed on. She always honored his retrieves but she was still the boss. Teak like Ebony is a great friend to the kids. Teak would take Eric on sleigh rides much like Curly did for my mother. It was great joy to hear the squeal of a 6 yr old boy being pulled by Teak. They would go fast in the snow. Teak would pull Edd on his skateboard too. Due to demands in my life, I have not hunted Teak as much as Ebony. The results to date are:
In the case of both dogs, it must be noted that the weather in Upper Michigan during the duck season can range in temperature from plus 20C to minus 20C with no wind to as much as 150km/hr wind and in any one given day it can rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, and hail at any given time. There can be ice on the lakes and rivers but this did and does not bother these dogs. Teak highlights:
We now have a new addition to the family from Russia. Will keep you aware of the progress.
Duck's Hunter Kornelia and her new family
All for now Sincerely Patrick J Theut
And some later addition to that story. The new illustrated message from the USA was recieved in the Autumn, 2004.
What you can see is the first time in the marsh for the lovely girl Kornelia. Her first day was this past saturday in Central Upper Michigan north of the town of manistique.
The results: 4 geese - two lesser canadian (2kg) and two greater canadian (7kg) 5 mallards with one being a black duck 2 coots. Teak and Kornelia were joined in the hunt with my son Eric (14 years) and his friend Derek (14 years). Eric was using a russian made pump shotgun (Baikal) for some of the ducks. And at least Patrick promissed to send new information about the happy life of Kornelia in North America.
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