Flatcoated retrievers: Eltjo of the Black Nature & Gigolo van de Demerbron

Eltjo (Tjoke), Incognito (Iggy) & Gigolo (Gigo)
Our story
On 17 December 1997 we were the victims of a burglary. To feel safe again, we decided to take a dog. Our 3 sons were little then.(Kjell was 7 years and the twins Jens and Niels were 4 years old), so we searched for a big but kind dog, one that’s gentle with children. Inexperienced as we were, we bought our very first dog in a pet shop.
Our choice was a Bernese Mountain dog, a bitch we gave the name Triska. Triska was a very kind and gentle dog, but also watchful and protective towards her little family. A big dog must be well educated so we decided to go to a school for dogs. Sometimes Triska was a little obstinate and rather lazy than tired. She obtained her diploma of obedience for beginners, but we couldn’t really do competitions with her.
	Stefaan dreamt of doing competitions and our children wanted a second friend to play with. So, we decided to buy a male Bernese Mountain dog at an official breeder. We chose Akke van 't Maroyke, born on 14 April 2001. Unfortunately, Akke died much too soon on 5 March 2005. His stomach reversed. The children and us were very sad. We really couldn’t believe how this could happen.
Several years before we had met a Flat-coated Retriever, a very intelligent, elegant, tireless and child loving dog that likes to play. The “flat” (as we like to call them) is also very kind, reliable, trustful, forever young and everybody’s friend. We immediately knew: once we’ll take such a puppy, because the temper, enthusiasm and the will to please of a “flat” cannot be equaled by a Bernese Mountain dog! A while after Akke’s dead, we made a reservation for a puppy at Patrick and Anja Vliegen-Quintiens. They are nice friendly people with a lot of love and knowledge of the Flat-coated Retriever and they own the kennel “Of the Black Nature” in Diepenbeek.
Our children weren’t convinced of our choice yet and they preferred a new puppy of a Bernese Mountain dog. We decided to take both: we had enough space and love for 3 dogs. And so Kjell, Jens, Niels and also Triska got 3 friends instead of 2.At the end of June Embo van Cara's Bernerhof (Boke), born 12 April 2005, was the first to arrive in our family. It was a very friendly, calm and also very beautiful puppy, that we bought at the Family Bonami-Mauws from Tielt.
Now we had to wait for our Flat-Coated Retriever to arrive. On 8 October 2005 we got a message from Patrick Vliegen that the litter for which we were on a waiting list was born. It were all very beautiful puppies. Their father is Luxembourgian and Dutch champion Branco Of the Black Nature and their mother is Butterfly Of the Black Nature.
		We asked Anja and Patrick to choose us a male with a lot of potential in obedience and we called it Eltjo. On 6 December 2005 was the big day. Tjoke (Eltjo of the Black Nature)came home to us, the most beautiful gift of Saint Nicolas that our sons Kjell, Jens and Niels have ever received. Very soon we saw that Anja and Patrick chose an excellent puppy. Eltjo is a very kind, affectionate and studious dog, always ready to play and exercise, the darling of our sons and us, and, Embo’s best friend.
Both Embo and Eltjo got their certificate of obedience. Eltjo was only 1 year old. Meanwhile he has already done several competitions of “obedience for beginners” with results between 80 and 97%, splendid for such a young “Flat”! On several occasions people told us that Eltjo was a beautiful dog and that we should present him at a purebred dog show. Although we never had that intention, we decided to give it a try in Kortrijk at “Eurodog” (19/11/2006). Fortunately for us, Eltjo’s breeders were also present and Anja was so kind to do the presentation of Eltjo! Eltjo became the first in the Junior class, with the mention “excellent” and he also won from the bitch in the same category. Thus, he became the best Junior dog and he received the “debscup”. We were very proud! Meanwhile, we’ve already done several dog shows. “Practice makes perfect” and after a few lessons in “presentation”, we have collected a list of excellent results. We’ll continue in dog shows and in competitions of obedience. Obedience is what Eltjo likes the most. We hope that one day, when he’s older and more stable, he will be able to do the competitions of “Program1”. But, no hurry, he gets all the time he needs, as long as he enjoys himself! This already happened, Eltjo plays obedience competetions since november 2008. Triska died in August 2006 at the age of 9. We tried everything to save our dear girl. In 2 weeks time she had 3 surgeries . Apparently, she decided that it was enough and with al lot of pain in our heart we had to let her go.
Finally we can only agree that the predicate “ONCE A FLAT, ALWAYS A FLAT” is very true, because, since 1 July 2007 a new puppy is living in our family. Gigolo van de Demerbron (Gigo), born 21 April 2007 is a liver colored male that we bought together with Patrick & Anja Vliegen-Quintiens. Since a flat is an excellent retriever and gundog, Stefaan sees it as a big challenge to achieve something in the hunting discipline with Gigo. We hope he has inherited lot of qualities of his father Kenzed High Flyer, who won the “trailer” in 2003 in France. August 2007
We are 2 years later now, and a lot has happened since. Our Gigolo has grown up to a beautiful and very kind "dual purpose" Champion. On 6 September 2009 Gigo (Ch. Gigolo van de Demerbron) became Luxemburgian champion, one year after he became Luxembourgian Junior Champion and Belgian Junior Winner. He also became a father. But the year 2009 ended really SUPER for Gigo. Not only he became International Beauty Champion (Ch.I.B),he also became FR Trialer'09 in the weekend of 5 and 6 december 2009 ! With this last title, he follows the footsteps of his daddy Steady (Kenzed High Flyer), een beautiful dream that came true.
We could also welcome in August of this year a son of our Gigolo: "Incognito van het Bevershof" (called Iggy) is newest liver boy. Anja & Patrick did surprise us with this WONDERFUL GIFT: A son of our Gigo, a dream that came true. Iggy was born on 20 June 2009 has just like his dad a very dark liver colour. It is our dream that Iggy can follow the footsteps of his dad in show and on field trial. to be continued... December 2009	Anja, Patrick & little Iggy (Incognito van het Bevershof) thank you Anja & Patrick for this beautiful gift !!!!!!!!

Our story