10 day Trialling trip for Aytee dogs

All Breeds Dog of the Year - UK & NZ FTW Aytee Oceania

ALL BREEDS DOG OF THE YEAR - UK & NZ FTW AYTEE OCEANIA

A major trip south to a series of field trials held across Otago and hosted by the North and Central Otago Clubs, ended well for “Mavis”, Ch NTL FW FTW Aytee Quintessa and “Oxo” FTW Aytee Oceania . Trial conditions varied although were generally dry with light breeze and each of the fabulous grounds offered dogs every chance to show themselves whether running braced or DTL trials.

Oxo was our star, winning the South Island Championship and also collecting the All Breeds Dog of the Year Trophy. Donated by Elaine Clarke and in memory of Gordon Clarke, it’s awarded for the highest scoring dog in this series of Pointer and Setter Trials. Mavis was close behind with 2 wins and 2 seconds. Congratulations also go to 1st Prize trial winners Grand Adolph and Liza Terry and to all placegetters in all the trials.

The teamwork to put this trip together was phenomenal, so thanks to organisers and FT secs, Roger Neale, Grant Adolph and Janis & Russell Giles, Central Otago President Peter Southee, Marty (for birds) and also thanks to all judges, Barry Hill, Neil Stewart, Robyn Gaskin, Dave Sheeley, Don Mackay and Roger Neale, as many hours driving and in some cases flights were needed to reach locations.

Thanks also to the hosts for the use of their wonderful grounds and thankyou too, to the many generous sponsors amongst them Blackhawk and New Zealand Petfoods.

It was a fabulous trip, spending time with great people, in super places and with our amazing dogs, thanks Oxo and Mavis🐾❤️🐾

Oxo and Mavis😁 each the winner in their two Central Otago braced trials. Mavis 1ST and Oxo top dog on 2ND

Escape to the West Coast

A fabulous 100km cycled on the West Coast with lovely friends Catherine and Tony Sellin (Castlepoint GSPs) The trip snuck in just before their litter arrives and our field trials start. Thanks guys, fabulous memories made and thanks to our great dog sitters for sorting the 8 dogs🐾😅🐾

Aytee dogs with a holiday friend who was in charge 🤣

What a Trip!

A 1750km Southland road trip in endless pouring rain to visit puppies from our 2025 “S” Litter, was a wonderful chance to catch up with owners  and see their dogs at 8 months old…  all looking fabulous, like Bev’s dog Loki, who I must persuade to show 😍 and with two super bitches starting to work. Training with Cliff Lloyd and “Iller" was a joy and also exciting to see Tim Brown’s “Isla" have her first proper point on a bird, and a big thankyou to Grant Adolph for training and organising birds and making the time …. until next time 😁

Tim’s Isla honoring Oxo’s point

Cliff’s Iller, starting to enjoy her retrieving

Bev’s Loki - who is growing into a stunning (and cheeky!) boy

Clever Oxo

Oxo (Aytee Oceania) relished her first NZ competition by winning the South Otago Gundog Club Novice this weekend with some lovely runs. Thankyou to the host for the super ground and to the judges, organisers and helpers for smiling through the rain and congratulations to all ribbon winners.

FW Aytee Quintessa Wins = 1st NZ Champ FT 2025

Mavis shared 1st Place at the NZ Pointer & Setter Championship Trial 2025 this weekend with lovely GWP NTL GFTC Hotwyr Its Getting Hot n Here and owner Grant Adolph. We couldn't have been happier sharing this trophy with such a partnership and congratulate them both too. I thank judge Russell Giles for a super competition and the hosting Working Retriever Club for all their hard work and providing great ground to run on.

Finally Congratulations and thanks to all the other prizewinners who made it such a great day.

Goodnight Dora

“Dora” 11/07//2011 - 27/10/2025 FT CH & KC HPR Champion 2015 Aytee Isadora.

A true matriarch of our 4 legged family, a wonderful competitor and shooting companion, an indomitable character and fireside queen, Dora passed peacefully at home today. She brought us joy, and we loved her well.   She was not ours. She was not mine.

K9 teen 😁

courtesy AI 😏

If you have an entire bitch you will have dealt with seasons and the nuisance that prevents normal exercise.  In New Zealand, bitches cannot enter trials during their season plus a 7 day clearance immediately afterwards and in 2 yo Mavis’s case this has been almost 30 days !

 I do agreed that it’s an exceptionally sensible rule, aiming to prevent competitors dogs from being unfairly distracted and she was very obliging in her timing,  loosing us just one weekend of trials.  However, despite my efforts, after a month of self induced lethargy, she might as well have watched TV and eaten crisps every day as her fitness is zilch, so getting back to work needs some serious tackling. All tips gratefully received !! ...I guess the good thing is that handler will benefit too 😆.