We are grateful to our friend Susan for sending this research piece below about the benefits of dietary DHA in puppy development that she discovered online. Chapel Farm Puppy/Junior is rich in DHA which is an Omega 3 Fatty Acid component of salmon oil. It has long been thought that Omega 3 increases intelligence and the research indicating increased learning and trainability would suggest that belief to be correct.

Kelley (2005) demonstrated that despite their level of immaturity, pups fed a diet enhanced with DHA showed significant increases in their levels of learning. Hoffman, Kelley, and Waltz, (2004) demonstrated that new-born puppies are susceptible to different levels of dietary DHA which affect their brain and eyes. Their study involved three colonies of bitches (a, ab, b) dietary DHA from proestrus until the puppies were weaned. Post-weaned puppies were fed the same diet as their dams. Using an experimental and control group, testing began at nine weeks of age. As shown in Figure 1, those fed the enhanced diet with DHA (group b) fed were found to be significantly more trainable than the control group (a). Similar findings have been reported in other species. Hamazaki, (1999) using mice, found that by varying the DHA dietary supplementation, stress-related behaviour responses (anxiety index) were lowered.

​Source:  ​http://caninechronicle.com/featured/first-year-of-development/

Cited:  Administration of docosahexaenoic acid influences behaviour and plasma catecholamine levels at time of psychological stress. Lipids, 34, Suppl: S33-7. Hoffman, L., Kelley, R., Waltz, D., 2004. For smarter more trainable puppies: effect of docosahexaenoic acid on puppy trainability.

Scott our Kennel-Man at Chapel Farm Kennels is known and well-liked by many and it is with a degree of sadness that we announce he will shortly be leaving to start a new career as a Gamekeeper.

Scott has been a credit to the kennels and we are sorry to see him go however we are delighted for him to have this great opportunity to develop further the skills he has learned in his five years here and we know he is looking forward to this new challenge.

We expect Scott to do well in his new role and wish Him, Partner Alice and Son Isaac all the very best as they take this next step together.

Photo shows Scott and Ellie following their first Test success in 2014.

Scott will leave big boots to fill however if you think a position as Kennel Assistant at Chapel Farm could be of interest, find out more here (applications close 24^th Feb): https://www.indeed.co.uk/viewjob?t=kennel+assistant&jk=4e886dfdfe775f26&_ga=1.31664062.1489837872.1476711441

The Home Nations Team Trial for Retrievers, held as part of Queen Elizabeth’s 90^th birthday celebration, was held on the 28^th of November at Windsor Great Park.

Chapel Farm was pleased to sponsor Team England which was made up of handlers from left to right: Claire Baker, John Halsted, Jennie Hankey and Mike Tallamy.

Well done Team on contributing to an excellent competition and our congratulations to the eventual winners Team Scotland.

Each member of the team also qualified for the 2016 IGL Retriever Championship held at the Ampton Shoot, Suffolk on the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th of December where John and last year’s winner, FTCh Asterix Aguzannis of Chatsworth, were awarded an excellent third place.

Our thanks to Nina for sending the photo of Team England taken on the day of the Home Nations.

We are delighted to learn that first place at this year’s ESS Championship was awarded to the Chapel Farm Sponsored team of Mr Simon Dixon and Rytex Reba. To round off a perfect day, following a run off, Simon was also awarded third place with FTCh Dawsonlee Heather,  in second – Mr L Cooper and FTCh Bishwell Black Magic of Breckmarsh, in fourth Mr C Morgan with Tailorswift Shadowland.

Well done to all who took part and contributed to an excellent Championship and huge congratulations to Simon, a fantastic result well deserved.

This latest result means that all sponsored gundog handlers are winners of their respective Championships which is a source of great pride for Chapel Farm and the team.

Photo taken at Chapel Farm Kennels during a visit last year.

Every year our Stirling based stockist Jim Fleming of Top Dog Training arranges an awards evening. This year saw an excellent turn out to witness a good selection of awards being presented. Thanks to Jim, one of the awards was named the Chapel Farm Young Spaniel Handler Trophy. In addition to the presentations there was a raffle and huge tombola which raised £1700 in aid of Strathcarron Hospice and the PDSA. This is a truly fantastic achievement very well done to Jim and all who helped.

Thanks to Jim for providing the photo below of the Chapel Farm Trophy. There were a great many more pictures taken on the night, to view others please click the link http://www.aileenstewart.com/  then select, – Client Pages and Top Dog Training.

If you live in the Stirling area and want to contact Jim about Training or Chapel Farm please call on 07765 650833

Fortune smiled upon David and Buccleuch Honey “Tina” at yesterday’s Welsh & English Counties Open Stake held at Downton Estate, Ludlow, Shropshire, by kind permission of Mr C Lyons with Head Keeper Mr Bob Bowyers and Judges Mr D J Sowerby and Mr D Bishop.

They have hit the crossbar a few times this season but on this occasion they enjoyed good luck and were awarded first place with Tina also picking up the trophy for Guns Choice. Thanks to all who contributed to make it an excellent day.

Our thanks also to Ann Kedward, Field Trial Secretary of Welsh and English Counties for being kind enough to provide this photo from the presentation showing Mr D Bishop, Mr Ian English, Mr Will Clulee, Mr David Lisett, Mr Steve Bates, Mr D J Sowerby.

David and Cowarnecourt Jonquil of Buccleuch “Wiggle” previously qualified for the English Springer Spaniel Championship with her win at the Moray Firth Open in October.

David is now lucky enough to have qualified two dogs to compete at the event which is to be held at Byrd’s Retreat, Worcestershire from the 9^th to the 11^th of January. Best wishes to all who will be taking part.

Congratulations to Chapel Farm sponsored handler Mr Jon Bailey and Field Trial Champion Rheastmoar Fizzy on their win yesterday in the English Springer Spaniel Open Stake organised by Forth & Clyde Gundog Club and held by kind permission of the Duke of Northumberland at Tollishill. This ground is well known to Jon and may perhaps be lucky for him as it was here and on the very same hill that Jon won the Springer Spaniel Championship with Rheastmoar Fizzy in January 2015.

Their win yesterday qualifies John and Fizzy to take part in the next English Springer Spaniel Championship which will take place at Byrd’s Retreat, Worcestershire on the 9/10/11^th of January.

Good luck Jon and best wishes from all at Chapel Farm.

Galloway Country Fair provided mixed weather at the weekend, wet on the first day but dry on the second which really brought the crowds out in force. Despite the weather it had been an enjoyable event for all who attended no matter which day they visited.

It was certainly a worthwhile visit for Lanarkshire based Chapel Farm Stockist Mr Kevin Haynes who is well known in the gundog world and had entries in the Novice and Open Retriever Tests organised for the Sunday by Galloway Gundogs.

Kevin finished in 4^th place in the Novice with Jocksburn Amber of Cairngryffe and had an excellent run in the Open with Balmuir Replay of Cairngryffe where he was awarded first place. Well done Kevin, many congratulations from the Buccleuch Gundogs/Chapel Farm Team.

Photo shows Kevin and the successful dogs with son Arran holding the trophy.

Huge Congratulations to Chapel Farm sponsored “Team GB” on their win in the Euro Challenge at the Game Fair at the Weekend.

Photo Shows from left to right: Norman Onens and Kestrelway Freddie, Jacqui Crew and Casblaidd Quill Hogan and May Jarrod with Chishillhyde Lewis. On the right is David Lisett, developer of the Chapel Farm brand, who was judging the International Spaniel Test at the Game Fair and met up with the team to offer his congratulations.

In addition to winning the Team Event, Norman Onens was awarded “Top European Labrador” and Jacqui Crew won “Top Minor Breed”

From all at Chapel Farm – very well done Norman, Jacqui and May.

Thanks to Galloway Gundogs Chairman, Cammy Watt for sending in this photo with some of the winners from their Chapel Farm Sponsored Tests held here at Drumlanrig at the weekend. Saturday saw the Individual Tests with the Team Event being held on the Sunday.

Photo shows Scurry Winner, Jim Tomlinson, Open Retriever Winner, Billy Straub and Team Winners: Martin Whiteford, Rob Lind, Scott Esquierdo (Chapel Farm Kennel Man) and Fraser Clark. There were 9 teams entered with 4 handlers in each team.

Congratulations also to the following Individual class winners:

• Novice Retriever – Martin Whiteford who also picked up the Gamekeepers Cup for the highest score in any class with 99/100.
• Open Spaniel Class – Scott Esquierdo.
• Novice Spaniel – Mark Williamson.
• Spaniel Puppy – Andy Brown.

Thanks also for their hard work to judges, Dick, Allison, Derek and Alec and all others who gave of their time to allow the weekend to run so smoothly.