John and Kato had been a successful team at retrieving trials for 7 or so years. After me getting Kato back to rehome, after a change in his previous family's circumstances, he didn't come to live with John until he was 4 years of age, having played at just being a "show dog" up until they met.
Despite the late start, Kato was a natural - it was his immediately apparent lust for retrieving that indicated to John that he had a nice biddable dog to work with.
Kato had already obtained his show title before coming to live with John, along the way winning his class and gaining several 'Excellent" awards at National Shows, amongst other awards.
Together with John, Kato gained both his NRD and RRD (retrieving) titles, and had dabbled in All Age prior to his retirement from the swamp. Kato (Ch Oakridge Going T Xtremes RRD) was instrumental in assisting John to eventually become an All Age retrieving judge.
It only seems like yesterday, when I took baby Kato out with me when training a couple of my older dogs. Right from that early age, his working potential was clearly evident.
Kato had an amazingly stable, bomb-proof temperament (just like his mum!), was a beautifully conformed and sound moving boy, who got on well with other dogs. He loved retrieving! He was used at stud by several well-known kennels, producing for them his good looks and trademark outgoing temperament. He has four show champion, as well as working titled, progeny.
Myself, John and his family will certainly miss Kato, who was such a dear, sweet, loving old dog.
RIP Kato.