Darby L. Wiggins wrote:

Kate - every time I see pictures of Storm and Hammie, I keep thinking to
myself that a FC is got to be on my list of "someday" dogs...I guess I
don't have to ask if they are as much work as they are fun, cute,
adorable, beautiful ect....

You're right - you already know the answer! They're what some folks
tactfully call "slow to mature." That goes for the body and the brain.
I can't imagine living with one who doesn't have at least one dog
sport to keep him busy and to help focus training efforts. People
playing "guess the breed" often suppose there's some Setter in there,
and I sometimes think that the external resemblance flows into the core
of the dog's mentality.

Field Lab people just Don't Get FCRs. Field Golden people tend to
think they're very nice, but not generally serious or committed enough.
FCRs under pressure are prone to internalizing and then shutting down,
but if they aren't given structure and clear boundaries, will blow you
off at the most inconvenient possible time.

oh, what is the overall health like in the breed? have they escaped the
wrath of winning Westminster a few years ago? (that was a FC correct?)

Yep, we had a Westminster win a few years back, but the breed is *very*
closely held and we haven't (knock on wood) taken a bad hit. It can't
hurt that FCRs, being mostly black, don't photograph terribly well and
therefore don't end up in lots of advertising or magazines.

Health: Cancer is killing our dogs. The breed clubs are supporting a
number of cancer studies, but the tragic fact is that too many of our
dogs don't make it past seven. Those who do often will see eleven or
twelve years. Routine health checks include eyes, hearts, patellas
(there's an interesting question of whether bad knees are linked to
liver shunts), hips, and thyroid. The US National breed club has lots
more information at http://www.fcrsainc.org/health/index.html.

--
Kate
and Storm and Hamish, whose ears are flying about in a gale today.