Chip
HRCH Justamere Chocolate Chip CD TDX SH RAE CGC
Chocolate Labrador with multiple titles
Chip joined us shortly after we lost Jackson. During that long drive home he made sure we heard his objections. Every one.
Because we were still grieving, it took awhile to bond with him. But what a bond that became!
He was my constant companion for 17 years. Anything I asked him to do he did it – tracking, obedience, Rally, hunt tests. We even tried some fun matches, although he thought they were kind of silly. Hunt tests and tracking were his favorites. I’m amazed at how versatile and willing he was and the multiple titles he earned.
And he taught me a lot. When we ran our first Finished test I thought we had to pick up the birds in reverse order. So when I lined him up for the left bird (last bird down), he looked at the middle bird. I got his head and body all lined up for the left bird, but his eyebrows gave him away. He was still looking at the middle bird. I sent him anyway and wound up handling on two of the three birds. Yeah, he taught me!
He went on to earn multiple titles in various events. I’m so proud of my boy!
Notable Achievements
Six time recipient of the Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Denver’s Retriever Achiever award!
Earned his Tracking Dog title on his first try. While other dogs were taking upwards of a half-hour to complete their tracks, Chip finished in less than four minutes. He exuded confidence and poise for the entire track.
Earned his Junior Hunter title in four straight passes. Then went on to finish his Senior Hunter title too.
Earned his Tracking Dog Excellent title by tracking over 800 yards in 14 minutes. The track included negotiating two obstacles, passing two sets of cross-tracks, and finding four articles left by the track layer.
Earned his Hunting Retriever title in fine style. He must have eyes in the back of his head to see some of the doubles that were nearly 180 degrees apart.
Enjoys Rally so much, he earned his Rally Novice, Rally Advanced and Rally Excellent titles in three straight shows each. He also finished his Rally Advanced Excellent title by qualifying in both Rally Advanced and Excellent TEN times!
As his twelfth title, Chip earned his Hunting Retriever Championship!
He’s also working on some basic agility. I just need to work on keeping up with him.
Way to go Chip!
Health certifications:
OFA Good (hips)
OFA Normal (elbows)
CERF (eyes)
prcd-PRA Clear (blindness)
CNM Clear (muscle myopathy)
EIC Clear (exercise induced collapse)
Pedigree:
Chip’s pedigree is a blend of field and show lines and includes such greats as:
3xNFC CFC Dual CH Shed of Arden
NFC-Am Can Dual CH Bracken’s Sweep
Dual CH Shamrock Acres Super Drive
Dual CH Grangemead Precocious
Dual CH Cherokee Buck
Dual CH CFC Ridgewood Playboy
Dual CH AFC Calypso Clipper
Dual CH NAFC Boley’s Tar Baby
Dual CH Trumarc’s Triple Threat
Dual CH AFC Alpine Cherokee Rocket
Am Can Dual CH Little Pierre of Deer Creek
Can Dual CH Coastal Charger of Deer Creek
FC-Can Dual CH Ginger’s Choc August
Can Dual CH Dart of Netley Creek
NAFC NFC Super Chief
NAFC CNFC-FC River Oaks Corky
NAFC-FC Ray’s Rascal
NFC-AFC-CFC Cork of Oakwood Lane
NFC-AFC-CNFC Del Tone Colvin
Am Can CH Shamrock Acres Light Brigade
Am Can Mex World CH Franklin’s Golden Mandigo CD AWC
Am Mex CH Gunfields Super Charger CD
Am Swed CH Puhs Superman WC
Ch Lockerbie Brian Boru WC
CH Lockerbie Sandylands Tarquin WC
CH Earlsmoor Moor of Arden
Eng CH Sandylands Mark
Eng CH Follytower Merrybrook Black Stormer
Starting to compete
Of the 10 dogs entered in the Mountain States Dog Training Club tracking test, only four qualified. Posing with Chip are the other qualifiers (left to right) Emma (yellow Lab), Breeze (Corgi), and Lucy (Newfoundland).
We’d like to thank the judges, track layers, and other workers who made the day possible.
Chip finished his CD title in three straight obedience trials, winning a second and a fourth along the way.
Shown finishing his title under judge Dan Butcher.
Chip bringing back a duck while earning his first Junior Hunter (JH) pass. He wound up earning multiple titles in various competitions.
Although Chip likes to do things his own way, sometimes he does play by the rules! He won First Place in Open A obedience and High in Trial at the 2005 LRCGD B/OB match.
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
And through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way.
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all, so amusing
To think, I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
Oh no, oh no not me, I did it my way!
Earning his Tracking Dog Excellent title
Chip earned his TDX title and was the only dog of six to pass that day. Thanks to judges AJ Knoll and Ginny Conway and to Kathy Marshburn, the track layer.
Chip started his TDX track on a cold Halloween morning after waiting three hours for the track to properly age. He tracked the first leg and the first turn like his nose was on a rail. When he’s confident he also moves fast! I had a hard time keeping up with him.
About 60 yards or so into the second leg, he stopped and sniffed around like he’d found an article. I asked him what he found and he usually lays down if it’s his article, but instead he restarted tracking. I looked around to be sure we didn’t miss an article, then realized that it was a cross track.
Further along that leg we came to some downed timber. Chip checked along the edges and followed the scent downwind. He wound up skirting the timber and worked his way back along on the far side. Shortly after that he found an intermediate articles, and I thought “woo hoo” we might just pass this time! Then I chastised myself and said “just watch the dog and work the track; celebrate later.”
Nearing the end of the track
All of the previous tracks I’d seen in that field had crossed the upper road as an obstacle. I thought we would cross it too, but when we got close, Chip said “nope, the track goes left.” I doubted for a split second, then told him “okay, if you’re sure.” He was and we went over a hill and down the other side where he found the next article. Boy, I could taste the title then, but again told myself “just work the track.”
He did two more turns very nicely and now we were getting close to the main park road. I realized we had gotten through the required turns, obstacles, cross tracks and all but the final article. It didn’t feel like we’d gone far enough, but our first attempt didn’t feel long enough either. About that time Chip stopped and I asked him what he found. He laid down and gave me a look like, “see, I told you!” He’d found the final article! I had tears streaming down my face as I waved the article for the judges to see. All the spectators were honking and hollering.
What a day! I am SO proud of my boy!
Earning hunt test titles
Chip watching the memory bird of a water double on his way to earning his first Senior Hunter (SH) pass.
Double-header in New Mexico! Chip earned two Senior Hunter passes at Conchas Lake.
How did 10 years go by so quickly? Chip, with just a touch of gray on his muzzle, still thinks he’s a puppy. Watch for him to continue competing for as long as he’s happy and healthy.
We had a great day at the Platte Valley HRC hunt test!
Chip finished his twelfth title – Hunting Retriever Champion. His daughter, Arwen, finished her Hunting Retriever title and his son, Tory, got another pass toward his Hunting Retriever title.
Senior years
I was pleased to celebrate his 13th birthday. Tickled at his 14th birthday. Amazed when he turned 15. So, at 16 years old, I figured why not let him drive the car? Chip can do anything!
At 17 years old, my Energizer Bunny was slowing down. He still enjoyed a short retrieve or two, but a nap in the sun felt pretty good.
11/25/1998 – 12/18/2015
The tears in my eyes
I can wipe away.
The ache in my heart,
will always stay.
Until we meet again Chipper!
