A couple Saturdays ago, the latest addition to our team arrived. Meet out new pointer pup: Striking Elhew Sky.
Sky’s out of Superior Pointers. She’s half-sister to Lexi by the father. We’re thrilled to have her, and I’m more excited than ever to have another bird dog for this fall.
If you spent much time with hunting dogs, you’ve probably wondered about their noses. A recent piece called BIRD DOGS, SCENT AND FINDING BIRDS from the Pheasants Forever blog gave some insights into scent and into how dogs process it. It’s short, but talks about:
I’m not a big fan of the summer. Heat and humidity are my Kryptonites, so by the middle of June I’ve had enough of it. Lexi was up at Wild Apple Kennel in Dummer, NH, from end of May to last week. Her absence made the summer feel even longer. I work from home, and it was a lonely home without her. But enough of my bitchin’.
Here’s the good part:
At the New England Bird Dog Club’s Labor Day Weekend Trial, Lexi won Sunday’s Open Restricted Derby Competition. I’m super proud of her – – and very thankful for the great job that trainer Craig Doherty did with her.
This was Lexi’s third time in a field trial. Her first time was on August 29, and her second was on the Saturday before her win. So she’s 1 for 3. Not bad.
So am I psyched for October? You bet. It’s going to be an awesome fall. More to come on that.
BTW: Derby stakes are for dogs 6-24months of age and no more than 2 years of age. A “restricted” derby is for dogs that have not already placed in a derby stake.
God, this video makes me envious: Of the countryside, of the experience, and most of all, of the dogs. Running birds can frazzle a pointing dog. This setter handles them like she’s done it a million times.
It’s time to put some more “dog” in Dogs and Doubles. It has been while since I posted any updates on my pointer Lexi.
Here are pics and videos to catch you up on her.
Lexi was born on April 31, 2014. We’ve had her since July 3. We’ve been thrilled with her since day one. Right now, Lexi’s up in northern NH with Craig Doherty at Wild Apple Kennels.
I shot this video last March.
And these are from last weekend up at Wild Apple Kennels.
Tom Davis is a great writer, and always check out anything I come across from him. This piece from the Sporting Classics Daily blog is a good example of why he’s worth reading. It’s short, and in very few word Davis touches hits on why we fall in love with bird dogs. Do yourself a favor and click through to read the entire piece.
Dad Saw Himself in Setters by Tom Davis now
“I picked him up at the condo he’d rented on the Lake Michigan beachfront. It was more like March than May, a raw wind blowing off the lake, scudding clouds that spat occasional volleys of needle-sharp rain. He wanted to see my dogs run.
“Jesus, Dad,” I said, scowling at his low-cut tennis shoes. “We’re going to be in woodcock cover. Where the hell are your boots?…”
Back when I first got into Pointers, Beaver Meadow Benjamin was THE hot dog on the New England field trial circuit. Even though an injury put an early end to Benny’s trial career, he went on to sire a bunch of winners. Born in 2001, Benny passed away a couple weeks ago. You can read more about Beaver Meadow Benjamin here on the Region 1 Field Trial Club site and in this string on the Cover Dog Field Trial Board.
Ok. So this video isn’t the greatest. But if you would like to an Irish Setter who can really hunt, it’s worth watching. Check out how she moves and covers her ground. Very impressive, and she sure looks pretty on point at the end.
Here’s another great photo essay by writer, photographer Craig Koshyk. He’s the author of : Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continental, one of the best books around about pointing dogs. If you want to learn more about dogs like the ones you’ll see in his pics, be sure to check it out
Desert Dogs: In Idaho with the WPCGA
Craig Koshyk is the author of one of my favorite dog books: Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continental. He’s also a talented photographer, and, of course, a passionate upland hunter. His photo essay Prairie Dogs: Under the Broomhill Sky takes a look at the people, horses, and dogs that make the Broomhill Field Trials so special. The pictures are beautiful, so click through and give yourself a treat.
I used to read the magazine Sporting Classics regularly, but in the past few years I’ve stopped. Judging by the quality of these two stories, perhaps I should pick it up again. Both these stories are quick reads and, if you love bird dogs, well worth your time.
There’s Hardly a Man Who Can’t Be Improved By a Good Dog: By Robert Matthews
“At the time, I vowed that I wouldn’t get another dog. Life’s thread had grown too short, the grief too deep and the task too burdensome, I reasoned. And I knew for certain that I would never find another dog like Sam. A dog like that comes along only once in lifetime….”
One of the first questions my vet asked me when he saw Lexi was: When would you like to bring her in and have her spayed? When he found out that I was planning on holding off, he asked if I planned to breed her
“Not necessarily,” I said.
My breeder suggested holding off on spaying, and I’m reading more studies that indicate that doing it may be wise.
Tom Davis just published a piece called Gundogs: To Neuter or Not to Neuter? in the 8/20/14 issue of Sporting Classic Daily. It does a good job of laying out both sides of the story. If you have a young dog, I suggest checking it out.
Here a few more resources to look at, too:
Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs
Basis for Position on Mandatory Spay-Neuter in the Canine and Feline
I’m finally back from my fishing trip and some other travels. This past week has been especially busy: I started a new job on Monday and on Thursday this little bundle arrived.
Her name is Lexi. She’s out of Superior Pointers in Bayfield, WI. She’s a fantastic pup, and my wife and I are thrilled with her. As you can see in this video, she’s as wild and mischievous as you would expect a 9-week old pup to be: Lexi, English Pointer, Superior Pointers
Here are the latest pics of the pups. These were taking on June 8th. These pups are from Superior Pointers in Bayfield, WI, and they’re just about over 5 weeks old. We’re going with the orange one. Her name will be Lexey.
Check out this issue of Nova Science Now : How Smart Are Dogs?, hosted by the big brained Neil deGrasse Tyson. It tells the story of Chaser, a Border Collie who’s pretty darn smart. The video is a bit long, but it’s worth watching just to see how much a dog can learn to do.
Here are the latest pics of the puppies. These pics were taking a few days ago when the pups were 25 days old. They should be starting on solid food soon.
These pups are from Superior Pointers’s Striking Elhew Rex x Striking Elhew Haley. They’re all females. My wife and I are loving that little yellow girl. The wife has picked a name, too: Lexey – a nice tribute to the parents.
Puck passed away almost 8 weeks ago. Her bed is still on the floor in my office, and I still glance over at it and expect to see her looking back. This spring has been strange. I didn’t realize how much my life built around on having Puck by my side. From chasing spring woodcock to daily walks in the woods, I did so much with her this time of year. I’ve missed all that since she has been gone, and that part of my life feels stagnant and empty.
Fortunately, I have a pup on the way. She should be here around July 3. I started looking for another pointer a couples years ago. The plan was for my wife and I to raise a pup and while we eased Puck into retirement. Life arranged things differently, though.
Our pup is coming from Superior Pointers in Bayfield, WI. She’s out of Striking Elhew Rex x Striking Elhew Haley, and we’re hoping she’s a lot like Puck. Her breeding is similar – almost all Elhew – with lots of Elhew Strike, Elhew Kiwi, Snakefoot, and Guardrail in her.
Mark and Kathy Wendling own Superior Pointers. They impressed me with their passion, dedication, and kindness . They “…hunt, and breed, only pure Elhew Pointers with lineage tracing exclusively to matings personally designed by Elhew Kennels’ founder, Robert G. Wehle.” If you have some time, I suggest checking out the “Rambling Thoughts” section on there website. There’s a lot of valuable advice there.
Pointing, retrieving, tracking game – sure some versatile gun dogs can do all that.
But Jess springer spaniel goes one step further. Watch as she feeds an orphaned lamb from a bottle.
Thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday’s post about Puck. It’s a shame that so many of you have been through the same thing.
My wife and I appreciate the condolences, stories, and kind words a great deal. Losing Puck has been tough, and your notes are a great comfort to both of us.
Puck’s bed is beside me here in my study, and I’ve turned to it several times this morning thinking she’ll be there, ready with wagging tail to go for a walk or for just a rub on the ear.
I shot this videos just over a week ago. Puck and I were out looking for spring woodcock. I thought we would get out several more times this spring, but fate decided this would be our last day in the field together.
Back before I got Puck, I had a thing for the less popular sporting breeds – Vizlas, Griffons, French Spaniels, etc. I also liked Clumber Spaniels.
From what I’ve been told, Clumbers used to be popular in the UK. Today, there numbers are extremely low – according to The Working Clumber Spaniel Society, there are just 134 registered Clumber Spaniels in the UK today.
There are a few of them in the North America, too, and The Clumber Spaniel Club of America does a lot of work to support the breed over here.
