In late 1975, Tom Quinn bred his FC-AFC bitch to a yet unproven, untitled stud. The litter resulted in a NFC-AFC, FC-AFC, and a High-Point Derby Dog. From that litter Risky Business Ruby became a fourth generation Hall of Fame retriever produced by the breeding of Super Powder and FC-AFC Nakai Anny, themselves Hall of Fame retrievers.

Tom owned and trained Ruby until she was 18 months old. Jeffrey L. Copeland, D.D.S., was attracted to her because of her courage and ability when she was one year old, and was finally able to purchase her six months later. She went to Roy and Jim Gonia for further training. When Copeland got her back from Gonia, she was doing quads, diversions and handling. She won two qualifyings and went on to be the youngest dog to qualify for the National Amateur at Portland. Copeland subsequently handled her to the 1980 National Championship win.

By early 1981 Ruby had been purchased by Gary Thompson of Plymouth, Minnesota and was being trained at Reo Raj Kennels by Jim Kappes. Ruby acculated 156 1/2 Open All-Age points and 121 1/2 Amateur All-Age points, with eighteen wins in each stake. Her last trial placement was at the age of 10 1/2 years.

Ruby had been conventionally trained until her acquisition by Thompson and was converted to the electronic collar program by Kappes. She was very "gutsy" for her size (60+ pounds). And with her intellect she remembered her training and was very water conscious. Generally she had a cool head and could do the work, but if she didn't get the the bird clean she could get excited.

Contributed to Working Retriever Central! by Richard Halstead, Lino Lakes, Minnesota.

(Statistics are from Retriever Field Trials 1979-84, published by the Retriever Field Trial News, and Retriever Field Trial Statistics 1941-1993, by Sue Reynolds.)