2 x NFC/DC Backwoods Sure Shot Marley "Marley"
Marley was the first puppy born on December 25th, 1999 of the 10 that were to come. At the time of their birth, we would have no idea that this would be an incredible litter that would produce 2 National Field Champions, 2 Dual Champions, 4 FC's, 1 AFC, 1 MH and 1 champion! Their sire was a NFC/DC/MH and dam a show champion with 7 points toward her field championship.
The puppies from the litter that went to trial homes excelled in the field. Marley was second in the GWPCA Puppy Classic when he was 10 months old. The following year, he was 3rd in the Derby. The next year 2002, he won the National Championship! Marley was the #1 Gun Dog for the GWPCA in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2009 he had major surgery in March and didn't return to trialing until the fall. He made a great showing at the '09 GWPCA Nationals, but broke like a puppy in the callbacks. Naughty Marley!
Marley wasn't just a field trial dog, he was a dog that loved being a house dog and pouted when he couldn't come in. We discovered that he loved puppies - and to the detriment of the house, he and the puppies would race around and over the furniture like crazed beings! The day before he left for Texas he was playing with his 5 month old GSP buddy on the couch. He had a toy and he was Dub's toy! Dubya was lying on top of him chewing on his neck while Marley was playing with a toy! This is what I will miss the most. He thought he was a lap dog and would crawl in your lap and lick your face until you were wet! He thought he was the truck dog and would try to navigate every where we went - he made a better door than a window.
Marley - we will miss you forever! Stacy and I decided he was with Pepe (and all of his other doggy pals) at a field trial with Steph Strassman, Roger Bultman and Helen Shelley (in her little plastic hat). We're not sure who is running whom, but we know they're having a great time!
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- Marley & Stoney, 6 weeks old
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- Marley around 5 weeks old
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- First point
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- Winning the GWPCA Nationals in 2002, not even 3 years old!
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- Liz & Marley in Madras, Oregon, 2000
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- Winning the GWPCA National Championship for the second time in 2008. Owner Helen Shelley was present!
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- He loved to retrieve!
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- Wrestling with the grandkids in the house - I don't know who the puppy was!
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- Mario - the #1 Amateur Gun Dog in 2007
- Marley - the #1 Open Gun Dog in 2007
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- There are pages and pages of pictures of Marley, but I'll stop here - you get the picture! Forever in our hearts, we miss you Marley!