Flat-Coated Retrievers - Gabe

The newest member of our tribe is Gabe, born on December 18, 2024, and who came home with us February 23, 2025. He is the nephew of our older dog Echo and the grandson of our previous dog Trip. His mom is Joy (Echo's sister and Trip's daughter), and is a Senior Hunter (working on Master) owned by Candy and Ed Ferner.

Gabe's official name is

CH Sanderling Gabriel's Trumpet RA CGC WC
[Sire: Rainesgift Wax Lyrical (Omar)]
[Dam: CH Sanderling Exceeding Joy CDX SH WCX (Joy)]

Given his uncle's and grandfather's talents, Gabe has some huge shoes to fill. However, as he is starting to mature, he is showing significant progress. He is doing well in the show ring and finished his Champion title at just 14½ months. His first point was at the Ranier Sporting Dog Association working group specialty on August 13, 2025 in Enumclaw, WA, where he went Winners Dog as a 7 month old. After the Palm Springs show in January 2026, he was up to 8 points, mostly as 1 or 2 point wins. The breakthrough came on February 20 at the Silver Bay Kennel Club show, when he was selected Best of Winners, which gave him a 4-point major. The second major came at the next show on March 6 at the Malibu Kennel Club show, where he again went Best of Winners for another 4 points. Definitely a Grand Champion in the future! (Fingers crossed.)

He also earned his first performance title at the Palm Spring show, a CGC (Canine Good Citizen). It's a simple test that shows he knows how to behave, but it's a good starting point for all dogs. He is also well into Rally Obedience; he earned his first two Rally Novice legs with a 99 both times at the Silver Bay show, then finished it off with a perfect 100 at the Peninsula Dog Fanciers Club show in Bremerton, WA on March 21. Julie bumped him up to Advanced the next day (skipping Intermediate) and he pulled off a 98. Another 99, followed by a 98 at the 2026 Flat-Coated Retriever National Specialty yielded his Rally Advanced title. Walking in the footprints of his uncle Echo for sure!

Gabe is also starting to work on his hunting titles, since that is what a retriever is for. He passed his first Junior Hunter test on his first attempt at the Great Western Flat-Coated Retriever Club hunt test in Chino Hills on May 2, 2026. He even survived having a still-live duck pecking at him when he tried to pick up his live flier. He tends to get spooked by anything out of the ordinary, but he definitely showed a bit of tenacity in this run. After a couple of blown trials at the 2026 National Specialty, Gabe came through on the third day to earn his Working Certificate (WC), definitely a cause for celebration and confirmation that his retrieving skills continue to improve.

A few pictures of Gabe are now in the photo gallery and more pictures of him and his littermates can be found at the Sanderling website.

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Last update: 2026-06-30