Region 13

 June 1997

Roux - 8 Weeks Old

Retrieving Puppy Bumper

THANKS EVERYONE

His Sunday Finished pass at Platte Valley's August hunt at Ft. Vasquez marked the end of HRCH UH Atchafalaya Little Bigboy Roux's Finished career.  He turned 12 in April. While he's still healthy and has managed to pass the last dozen Finished tests in a row this spring and summer, he is slowing down a lot and I have to watch out for him in tests like a strong river current, steep banks or sucking mud, etc.  So, it was just a good time for him to hang 'em up and retire from running Finished.  Seems like he should still be a pup or a young dog, but that's far from the case either for him or for me. 

Roux will be heading to South Dakota the last day of August to hunt doves for 10 days, or however long they stay around Bill Spitzer's neck of the woods, so he's not retiring from his #1 interest, hunting.  Bill has invited Roux's young son, Din, along, so it will be fun that Roux has stayed healthy long enough to share at least one real hunting road trip with Din. But it was very strange to be running only Din at the Elkhorn Valley test. And I'm not sure if it was harder on Roux or me to leave for Norfolk without him.

I have really appreciated all you HRC members present and past who helped me learn to better train a hunting retriever, gave me guidance and tips on handling, trained with Roux and me and especially thanks for all the encouragement, support and attention we've had along the way from the HRC family.  I couldn't ask for a better hunting dog and companion than Roux as been, nor a better club or region to be part of. Platte Valley HRC has gone far above and beyond what's necessary to recognize Roux's achievements and we appreciate it. My goal was to find the best pup I could to have the best hunting dog I could train.  Roux has been that and more. I hope he can keep on hunting for a while yet.

    Thanks again, everyone, from Roux and me.  It's been a fun ride we've both enjoyed. Thank you all for being an important part of it.  Good hunting to all.

Rich Carpenter

ROUX RETIRING

HRCH UH Atchafalaya

Little Bigboy Roux 

holding his 2500+ Point Ribbon

KING FOR A DAY

Rich & the rest of us celebrating he & Roux’s 1000 Points!

A DAY OF HUNTING