BISS Ch Rush Hill’s Cu Latr Alligatr

Gat’r wasn’t my first Golden retriever, he was the second one, but will be the first “boy” forever in my heart.

When we had the choice of two puppies from the Parker/Toni litter, Mike was drinking a Gatorade as we watched the puppies play. When he was done, Mike threw the bottle and the one that brought the Gatorade bottle right back to us was the one we took….and well…it was the animal litter….so you can see how the name came about! And in true Gat’r fashion, if there was a lake, river or even a mud puddle, he would be right in it! He loved the water just about as much as he loved playing ball! Be careful what you name a dog!

At around 18 months of age, Gat’r decided that hand stacking wasn’t for him! I tried, Tonya tried and he just wasn’t having any of it! So free baiting was our path forward! Well…until the 2005 GRCA National when Mark and Tonya drove the truck of dogs out while I stayed behind and worked till I could fly out. Along the way, I always say he found Jesus! When I walked in the ring with him at the National as an Open dog, he strutted in and I went to try to set him up, and he let me! He won the Open Dog class under Larry Stanbridge that day and as he did his go around and came back to the judge in Winners, he hit the perfect free bait! All that free baiting paid off!! We didn’t win that day but oh…did we win! He quickly gained his Championship after that trip. And the very next year, he won the 2006 GRCA Western Regional in Spokane WA making him my first Best in Specialty Winner!!! His picture still hangs on the wall and it truly is my favorite!

He was the best trick dog and taking a bow was his specialty! He would bound down into a bow when you bowed and it was one of his favorite games to play in the ring. He also had and still has the BEST Gator collection! He has shelves of stuff toys, ornaments, trinkets that his friends would bring him when they found another to add to his collection.

He loved showing as a sugar face veteran and we had so many firsts together:

Best Opposite in Veteran Sweeps at the 2010 GRCA National in Greeley

Best Veteran Golden Retriever Club of Oregon 2010

Best Veteran in Sweepstakes Evergreen Golden Retriever Club 2010

Award of Merit/Best Veteran Evergreen Golden Retriever Club 2010

Judges Award of Merit 2012 GRCA National in St Louis

10-12 1st place Veteran Sweepstakes 2012 GRCA National in St Louis

As we said our final good bye, we went to the beach so he could feel the sun and water and he laid his head on my shoulder the whole way I drove to the vet. He was ready but I was never ready. He still remains my  “first” boy!

… Suzanne Rapier