Joe and Tessa's Mobile Groomers

We purchased our first Golden Retriever in 1975 and have never owned
another breed since then. (Our daughter bought herself an English Cocker
Spaniel puppy which she groomed and showed herself). Tessa qualified as a KUSA
Championship Gundog Show judge in the mid 1980's. We bred our first litter in May 1978 and this produced two show
champions. We did not breed often as we only bred when we needed

a new
puppy ourselves. We produced show champions in each of our litters. Tessa worked for a grooming parlour in Newcastle when we lived there
from 1979 to 1981 but we really became involved in Show grooming of
Goldens from about 1982 when we used to groom many of the Natal Goldens
who were competing in shows there. We also gave grooming seminars to the
show fraternity so that they could learn to groom their own Golden show
dogs. We did obedience training and competed in tests occasionally in the
early 1980's but then changed to Field Trials which we found to be more
interesting and rewarding. It is an incredible experience to work a
Gundog in what he was bred for if the line you own still has working
ability in it. In the old days the Golden breeders tried to breed dual
purpose dogs ie for Show and working ability. We always felt that a
beautiful dog did not have to be stupid and that a clever dog did not
have to be ugly. We enjoyed Shows and Field Trials for many years but now get our joy
from grooming and interacting with Goldens to make them even more
gorgeous.