Litter 4 – The Wish To Litter
24 February 2023 – Two males and two females
A male puppy was also born but was euthanised at 1.5 weeks of age as he was not developing normally.
This litter was born on day 63 following insemination with fresh semen.
Sire: Murphy – Clannabanna Black Jigger
Dam: Wish – Nifty Dude Swim’s Snowflake
About the Litter
I have received excellent feedback on this litter. These are highly trainable dogs with a strong work ethic and plenty of drive, and they have also stood out for their willingness to cooperate. Helix qualified as a search and rescue dog at just 2.5 years of age, Please became Junior Winner at the Norwegian Flatcoat Championship and made her hunting test debut with an Excellent award, Murphy is currently training to become a search and rescue dog, and Rex is a fantastic running companion.
They are confident in different environments and have wonderful temperaments, both with people and other dogs. Please is probably the one who stands out a little from the others, as she is not quite as social as most Flatcoats. She is friendly towards both people and other dogs, but she is not particularly interested in other dogs and is usually quick to finish greeting people.
The males are somewhat larger than the other dogs bred here, while Helix is about the same size as Wish, and Please is almost as small as her grandmother Snow.
Murphy Jr. suffered a serious fall as a puppy and underwent surgery on one of his shoulders. Rex has experienced itching and ear infections when fed kibble, but fortunately he does very well on VOM (raw food). Apart from this, they have so far remained healthy and injury-free—and we hope it stays that way!
Please – Nifty Dude Wish to Please
Reg. No.: NO36531/23
Sex: Female
Height: 54 cm
Weight: 22.5 kg
Hunting trial: Excellent BK (beginner class)
Working test: Young Dog Winner at the Norwegian Flatcoat Championship 2024
Show: Very good
Owner: Kirsti and Kristian – Nifty Dude Flatcoats
Rex – Nifty Dude Wish to Run
Reg. No.: NO36532/23
Sex: Male
Role: Family dog, hiking and running companion
Other: Rex reacts poorly to kibble. When fed kibble, he develops itching and is prone to ear infections. Fortunately, he does very well on VOM (raw food). I have therefore recorded this in FlatcoatData as a food allergy, although it has not been confirmed exactly what he is reacting to. It could, of course, be storage mites or something else entirely.
About Rex
Rex is described as a wonderful, confident dog with a big personality. He loves both people and other dogs and is always cheerful and friendly, although he can sometimes be a bit exuberant, so not every dog appreciates his enthusiasm. He is not bothered by loud noises, but he is not particularly fond of New Year's fireworks when the noise is at its most intense. He is also very well behaved when travelling on the metro.
Rex is quick to learn, but he is easily distracted when other dogs are around. He is a fantastic running companion, and you never have to worry about him getting tired. At home, when it is just the family around, he has a good off-switch and settles nicely. However, when visitors arrive, he becomes so excited that he struggles to relax and find his calm.
Rex lives in Oslo, and we have been fortunate enough to look after him regularly, so we know him well. We have seen that he can be a little intense and quick to get excited, but he is genuinely kind-hearted through and through. He is also prone to barking when he becomes excited or frustrated, although he is now completely quiet and relaxed in situations where he previously barked while staying with us.
When we look after him, he runs off lead together with the rest of the pack. He stays close, has an excellent recall, and comes back at full speed when called. He has also learned to walk nicely on a lead without pulling!
Murphy jr. – Nifty Dude Wish to Save
Reg. No.: NO36533/23
Sex: Male
Role: Murphy is training to become a search and rescue dog with the Norwegian Rescue Dogs organisation (NRH).
Other: Murphy suffered a serious fall of approximately 2–3 metres as a puppy and landed on his shoulder. X-rays revealed OCD (osteochondritis dissecans, a loose cartilage fragment) in the shoulder, and he underwent surgery to correct it. The veterinarian who performed the operation believed the OCD was caused by the fall, but I will nevertheless take this into consideration in my future breeding decisions. It is possible that there was an underlying weakness in the cartilage that caused a fragment to detach when he fell.
Fortunately, his other shoulder is completely normal, and the surgery was successful. He has made a full recovery and is now training actively to become a search and rescue dog with NRH.
About Murphy
Murphy's owner describes him as the best dog he has ever had. Murphy is an extremely energetic and hardworking dog with a great deal of drive and capacity. He loves to work and is easy to motivate in training, whether with food rewards or play. Combined with his strong desire to cooperate, this makes him a very enjoyable dog to train.
Everything Murphy does is done at full speed, both physically and mentally. He simply gives 100% in everything he does. As a result, he requires good timing and appropriate rewards to help manage his pace and enthusiasm. In that sense, he is not an ideal dog for a first-time owner, but those same qualities also make him incredibly rewarding to train.
Murphy lives in Bjørkelangen, 20 minutes from us, and was fortunate enough to spend the first year of his life living alongside Indy, his great-aunt from my first litter.
Helix – Nifty Dude Wish to Seek
Reg. No.: NO36534/23
Sex: Female
Weight: 26.5 kg
Role: Helix impressively qualified as a search and rescue dog with the Norwegian Rescue Dogs organisation (NRH) at just 2.5 years of age. She is highly confident in a wide variety of environments, and her owner hopes to eventually qualify her for USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) as well.
Temperament: Helix has completed a formal temperament test and received very positive evaluations. The assessment described her as:
"Lively, attentive, and curious. She is mentally resilient and recovers quickly from stressful situations. Gunshot stable. Shows little sharpness and negligible defensive drive."
About Helix
Helix is described as a best friend, and she and her owner make a truly great team. She is a very balanced dog with low stress levels, excellent concentration, a strong work ethic, and a high capacity for work. She is eager to cooperate, naturally curious, and has a strong hunting drive.
She is confident in challenging and varied environments such as piles of timber, ruins, and rocky terrain. She negotiates all types of stairs, including metal staircases with turns, and she is not afraid of heights. The only thing she finds slightly intimidating is high balconies or terraces with open railings, although this has improved as she has matured.
Helix is highly food-motivated and is rewarded either with food or hunting-based play. Her training has so far progressed smoothly, without complications or conflicts.
She gets along very well with other dogs and has excellent social skills. She has never been involved in any disputes with other dogs. If she encounters an aggressive dog, she simply chooses to walk away.
When she is especially happy, she smiles at people!
Helix lives in Oslo.
