Northwoods Charles wins prestigious national award

5X CH / 5X RU-CH Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013)

5X Champion / 5X Runner-up Champion Northwoods Charles is the recipient of the 2020-2021 Elwin G. Smith English Setter Shooting Dog Award. This accolade is bestowed on the nation’s winningest English setter in open shooting dog horseback field trials, based on wins during the previous trial season.

Charles, call name Charlie, is owned by Bill Owen of Santa Barbara, Calif. As an amateur, it’s even more impressive that Bill won this award handling Charlie in open stakes.

Charlie was whelped in 2013 by CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay. Cody (CH Can’t Go Wrong x CH Houston’s Belle, 2008), a famous dog in his own right, was co-bred by Paul Hauge and Northwoods Bird Dogs and is likely the most prominent sire of winning setters of the past 20 years. Chardonnay was a blue hen producer of many field trial winners and top-flight hunting dogs.

Charlie’s field trial achievements exhibit his versatility; he has won on the West coast, on the Canadian prairies and in the piney woods of the southeast. He has won on several species of wild, released and planted game birds.

On a training run in Saskatchewan, Northwoods Charles is backed by Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013).

This award is one of the annual English Setter Fund Awards. They were created to promote the breeding and campaigning of English setters in All Age, Shooting Dog and Cover Dog categories. There are also awards for Derby-aged dogs in each category. Each award is named after a prominent setter devotee of the past.

This is the fourth time a Northwoods-bred setter has been honored. Betsy and I won the 2002 Michael Seminatore Cover Dog Award with our 4X CH / 4X RU-CH Blue Streak. Cody won twice: the 2009 Bill Conlin Derby Award and, in 2012, the Elwin G. Smith Award, the same award as Charlie.

Like fine wine, English setters tend to get better with age. Just-turned-eight, Charlie should have many more wins in his future.

Congratulations to Bill and Charlie!

Developing puppies with marker training

Northwoods Redbreast (Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Minerva, 2021) happily complies with the “place” command using marker training.

I’m continually looking for new ways to enhance the development of our puppies.

For many years, we used the “treat” only technique to teach our puppies the kennel and recall commands. We used treats to lure the them into the desired behavior; such as tossing a treat into the dog crate for kennel or letting them see I had a treat in my hand for recall. With that technique, the puppies didn’t have to think about what they were doing; they automatically followed the food.

But then I found Gary Wilkes.

Gary is a professional dog trainer in Phoenix, Ariz., who got his start in the late 1980s. His resume is impressive, including experience training guide dogs, service dogs and military special operations dogs. An innovative person, he has developed techniques that dogs understand intuitively and respond to quickly.

One of Gary’s methods to teach new behaviors to dogs is called marker training. Initially used for training marine animals, marker training is now mainstream for training dogs. The concept is simple: wait for the desired behavior to occur and then “mark” it with a click and a treat. With this technique, the puppy has to think about what it has to do to get its reward.

And for me, a thinking dog is a better dog. It is more adaptable, more effective in the field and more interesting to be around.

Here is a video of 10-week-old Northwoods Redbreast (Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Minerva, 2021) working on the three behaviors I taught her:  kennel, sit and place.

For more information about marker training and many insightful tips on dog training, check out Gary’s website at clickandtreat.com.

CH Satin From Silk: April 2006 – May 2021

CH Satin From Silk (I’m Houston’s Image x Blue Silk, 2006)

CH Satin From Silk was knock-out pretty. Her perfectly conformed body was mostly white with a spot or two of orange around her dark eyes and on her ears and tail. Beneath that beautiful exterior, though, beat the heart of a champion—fierce in her focus, determination and application.

Satin From Silk was owned by Greg and Diane Gress of Minnesota. Her registered name honored her dam, Blue Silk (out of our 4X CH / 4X RU-CH Blue Streak), by I’m Houston’s Image, handsome male straight out of Paul Hauge’s favorite setter, Houston. Greg and Diane called her Peggy.

Betsy and I have many fond memories of Peggy.

Peggy and her seven littermates were born on Easter Sunday in 2006 in our rental home. It was, in general, a fine place to live, kennel our dogs and raise puppies. But one day as Jerry and I worked in the kennel, a big “boom” blew the wooden well cover off the floor, ignited some dog hair and dust and shot a ball of flames down the hallway of the kennel until it ran out of fuel.

With the exception of singed eyebrows on Silk, no dogs or puppies were harmed and nothing was damaged. (We did honor the occasion by naming one of the male puppies Boomer.)

CH Satin From Silk, on right, is backed by her dam, Blue Silk (CH First Rate x CH Blue Streak, 1999), on a training run in Oklahoma.

Greg and Diane entrusted us for Peggy’s early training. Highlights include late summer weeks at our prairie camp in North Dakota and a memorable winter in Oklahoma. We watched her develop from an energetic puppy into a national-caliber, field trial competitor. Like her dam, Peggy had the mental toughness and independence to be great but, at times, it could also be her downfall.

Peggy won the 2009 Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship. Still today, her performance ranks as an amazing display of the highest bird dog ability. And I had a front row seat; I was braced with Greg and Peggy, handling her litter sister, CH I’m Blue Gert, owned by Dave and Rochel Moore.

Greg and I broke away on the infamous “crash” course at the Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association’s grounds near Augusta, Wis. Peggy’s nose dragged her around the course—and she dragged Greg. Peggy went from grouse to grouse to grouse to grouse. Greg caught up in time to flush each bird and shoot, and then Peggy was quickly off to her next bird before he could even holster his pistol.

Peggy was never an easy handling, close-working dog and this hour she pushed—and beyond at times—the limits of the bell. When Greg finally put the lead on Peggy at the end of the hour, all who had witnessed her performance knew we were running for second place.

RIP, dear Peggy. We will always remember.

Impressive spring wins on the field trial circuit

Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), on right, is posed by his owner Greg Johnson after Atlas’ third place finish in the Don Didcoct Amateur Classic held near Augusta, Wis.

What a successful spring it has been for our clients who compete in field trials with their dauntless dogs! Whether handled from horseback or foot, whether campaigned on released or wild birds and no matter the geography, dogs from our kennel garnered ribbons and trophies.

Congratulations to all! We’re very proud of you and your dogs.

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN
Three must be Greg Johnson’s lucky number. His dog, three-year-old Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), placed in three shooting dog stakes on three different grounds.
• 2nd — Minnesota Grouse Dog Association (MGDA) Open Shooting Dog held near Mora, Minn.
• 3rd — Don Didcoct Amateur Classic held near Augusta, Wis.
• 3rd — Moose River Grouse Dog Club Open Shooting Dog held near Moose Junction, Wis.

Two Northwoods’ dogs are in the money after the April 2 MGDA derby stake. First place (blue ribbon) was won by Northwoods Sigurd Olson (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Chris Bye of Wisconsin. Northwoods Gale (Northwoods Grits X Northwoods Minerva, 2020), owned by Northwoods Bird Dogs and handled by Jerry, placed second (red ribbon).

Derby Northwoods Sigurd Olson (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Chris Bye, also had a tremendous spring. Sig placed in three of his starts.
• 1st — Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Associations Open Derby held near Augusta, Wis.
• 1st — MGDA April 2 Open Derby
• 2nd — MGDA April 16 Open Derby

Sig narrowly missed winning the MN/WI Cover Dog Derby of the Year Award, losing by only three points to Bill Frahm’s worthy setter.

Other Northwoods-bred dogs placed in the spring MGDA trials, including two in the Open Shooting Dog stake.
• 2nd — Sadie (CH Ridge Creek Cody X Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Ryan Bjerke.
• 3rd — The Highway (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus X Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018), owned and handled by Dave Moore.

And two derbies placed in their stakes.
• 1st — Lily (Northwoods Rob Roy X Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Jordon Pharris, in the April 16 stake.
• 2nd — Northwoods Gale (Northwoods Grits X Northwoods Minerva, 2020) owned by Northwoods Bird Dogs and handled by me, in the April 2 stake.

Jade (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2015) isn’t campaigned often because it cuts into owner Frank Ilijanic’s hunting time. But when she is entered in a trial, she is extremely competitive, including this second place in the Michigan Hunting Dog trial.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, a special female pointer named Jade (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2015), owned and handled by Frank Ilijanic, won second place in the Michigan Hunting Dog stake held near Gladwin, Mich.

SOUTHEAST
Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), owned by Ben McKean, placed in two one-hour shooting dogs stakes. Gordy placed second in the Columbia County Field Trial Club stake held near Lake City, Fla., and earned third at the Mill Pond Field Trial Club held on the Burnt Branch Plantation near Ochlocknee, Ga. Gordy was handled from horseback by professional Tommy Rice Jr. to both of those wins. In the pointer-dominated southern circuit, the wins are especially impressive for a setter.

Flanked by pointers, Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), was handled by pro Tommy Rice Jr. to second place in the Columbia County Field Trial Club stake held near Lake City, Fla. Gordy is owned by Ben McKean of Minnesota.

NORTH DAKOTA
Back near his home in Minnesota, Northwoods Sir Gordon won third place in the Northwest Field Open Shooting Dog trial held near Hankinson, N.D. In this stake, Gordy’s owner Ben McKean, handled off horseback. Four-year-old Gordy is well traveled—he’s now placed in field trials in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Georgia and Florida.

Northwoods Sir Gordon, on left, won third place in the Northwest Field Open Shooting Dog trial held near Hankinson, N.D. Gordy was handled by his owner, Ben McKean, in this trial.

WEST COAST
Tian Elhew Verbena (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013) won runner-up champion In the Pacific Coast All Age Championship (a horseback trial) held near Waupin, Ore. Verbena is owned by Angela and Tim Schillereff of Suave Island Kennel near Portland, Ore., and handled by Tim. This wasn’t Verbena’s first win in a titular stake. She’s been named champion or runner-up in several western shooting dog championships, including the top spot at the American Pointer Club National Amateur Championship.

Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Bill Owen of Santa Barbara, Calif., added to his illustrious career by winning the West Coast Open Shooting Dog Championship (a horseback trial) held near Valley Springs, Calif. Charles is a now a 5X champion and 5X runner-up champion (!!), in addition to eight other field trial wins.

Tian Elhew Verbena (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013), on right, won runner-up champion In the Pacific Coast All Age Championship held near Waupin, Ore. Verbena is owned by Angela and Tim Schillereff.

News from the 2020 Minnesota spring/summer field trial season

At the summer trial held by the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association, Jerry, with the blue ribbon, poses winner Northwoods Comet (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018). Standing in the back row are judges Rod Lein, on left, and Ryan Hough.

Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo, owned and handled by Jeff Forsberg of Loretto, Minn., won the 2020 Minnesota/Wisconsin Cover Dog Derby of the Year award and Amateur Cover Dog Derby Award.

Because spring field trials were cancelled, all Ringo’s winning performances happened last fall when he placed in every derby stake he entered. And in all but one, he had steady to wing and shot work on wild birds. Ringo is out of a litter Betsy and I bred in 2018—CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel.

Jeff and I worked dogs in the woods together this spring and I can verify that Ringo is a focused wild bird finder. Jeff’s work in the field developing and training Ringo definitely paid off I’m sure there will be more wins in his future.

Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018).

Jeff takes home a beautiful trophy that’s been traveling from winner to winner in the 26 years since the inception of the Derby of the Year award. We’re proud to note that Northwoods dogs are well represented on the plaques mounted on the trophy’s base. Betsy and I have bred, sired or handled nine winners and four runner-up winners.

Congratulations to Jeff and Ringo.

On June 20, the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association held its summer trial on the grounds at Four Brooks, near Milaca, Minn. Betsy and I were thrilled that our young pointer female, Northwoods Comet, won first place in the Open Derby stake. This was a one course trial with planted quail.

Comet was in the last brace—a tough draw in early afternoon—but she ran a strong, forward race, handled perfectly, backed her bracemate and, with two minutes left, pointed a single quail and remained steady at the shot.

Comet is out of CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen.

Backing point

Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011) is backed expertly by Northwoods Gucci (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015) while bobwhite quail hunting in northern Florida.

Even though there are countless heart-thumping sights an upland bird hunter encounters, there is something at once classic and captivating, mannerly and marvelous about seeing one dog backing another dog’s point.

Backing point, also called honoring or, simply, backing, is when one dog sees another dog on point, stops and points that dog. A back doesn’t involve scent; rather it’s strictly by sight. According to C.B. Whitford, author of the 1908 book Training the Bird Dog, “Backing is another form of expression for the pointing instinct.”

Like the ideal point, the ideal back isn’t either too far away from or too near to the dog that is pointing. The backing dog should be close enough so it can mark where the birds fly and find dead birds.

Backing point is genetic. Dogs that inherit a strong instinct might back perfectly the first time they see a dog on point while it might take several opportunities for dogs with less. Still others might have to be trained to back.

Backing point is important—and at times essential or crucial—when two or more dogs are hunted together. Not only does backing keep one dog from flushing birds pointed by another but it keeps the hunt safe and dogs out of shooting lanes.

Backing point is complex. Over the last 35 years, I’ve seen many unusual backing situations while hunting and guiding. There have also been interesting circumstances in field trials whether I’ve been competing or just watching a brace.

A heart-thumping site! During a training run on bobwhite quail, Jerry and his horse come upon three setters—one pointing and two backing.

Patch, one of my first setters, had lots of instinct to point, but when braced with Adrienne, my veteran Brittany, he waited for her to find the birds and then backed.

I’ve observed dogs refuse to back a bracemate after that bracemate had several unproductive points in a row. Sometimes bracemates become competitive and refuse to honor the other’s point.

Occasionally, a dog doesn’t see another dog on point, even though it seems obvious. While walking a brace during the Lake States Grouse Championship many years ago, I watched a setter, nose to the ground, run circles around a dog on point. The setter was so intent following his nose that he didn’t see the other dog. When he finally raised his head, he immediately backed, but by then it was too late and he was ordered up.

I’ve also seen a dog that doesn’t stop until alongside another dog on point. While not considered good behavior, it isn’t a major offence as long as the dog doesn’t flush the birds. But the situation can degenerate if a dog points in front of the other dog on point (stealing point) or flushes the birds (bumping). In a hunting situation, the hunting companion might become alienated and in a field trial, the offender will be picked up.

With e-collar in place, Northwoods Super Nova (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019) backs the dog silhouette.

Training to back point is incorporated into my sessions at the same time I teach steadiness around birds. Ideally, the dog is ready after a season of hunting wild birds and when it holds point long for me to flush the birds. The dog is usually between 8 and 12 months of age.

The first step of steadiness training is teaching the dog to stop and stand still when it feels e-collar stimulation on its flank. Once the dog masters that association, I move to the next step which is to create an association between birds and a dog on point.

For this, I use a dog silhouette, a life-sized cutout of a dog on point that I made out of plywood and painted. I place the silhouette in the field with a pigeon in a remote bird launcher behind it. I lead the dog into the field and, if it doesn’t back as soon as it sees the silhouette, I flush the pigeon and stop the dog with e-collar stimulation on the flank. If the dog does back, I walk in and flush the bird, stopping the dog if it starts to chase. Once the bird is gone, I lay the silhouette on its side.

When teaching a young dog the essentials of backing point, Jerry uses his handmade dog silhouette which he cut out from plywood and painted.

At this stage, I don’t use any verbal commands. I want the dog to learn with minimal distraction.

When the dog backs, I physically reward it with light strokes against the grain along the top of its back. I also say, “Whoa,” in a soft but firm tone. After this praising, I walk in, flush the bird, tip the silhouette on its side and release the dog to move on.

I keep the sessions short and mix them up. I have the dog back once and point its own birds once or twice but I also have a session or two without requiring a back at all. The silhouette is moved to different locations, too. It’s important not to overdue this phase.

Once the dog backs reliably in the training field, it is ready for wilds birds with a bracemate.

Since dogs learn behavior in context, I don’t expect the dog to back the first time on wild birds. Initially, I use a reliable bracemate, one not prone to unproductive points. Once that dog points, I let the inexperienced dog decide what to do. If it doesn’t back, I let it go past the pointing dog until it causes the birds to flush and then stop it with flank e-collar stimulation, again without any verbal distraction.

When the dog backs, I physically praise it and say, “Whoa,” just as in the training field. Repetition, time and maturity will still be necessary before the dog becomes dependable.

But even with training, experience and maturity, backing point is never 100% reliable. There are just too many circumstances with endless possibilities.

The best bird dogs I’ve trained, owned or competed against occasionally made mistakes.

A fantastic winter of training on wild bobwhite quail

A quintessential sight on a wild bobwhite quail plantation. Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017) points into a chopper block under towering longleaf pines.

It’s hard for us to believe but this is the eighth winter Betsy and I have lived and worked in southwestern Georgia. The adage is correct. Time flies.

The reason we’re here is simple—bobwhite quail. This Red Hills region is unique. There are about 300,000 mostly contiguous acres managed by about 100 private plantations devoted to bobwhite quail.

We’re fortunate to train on one of the finest of these plantations near Monticello, Fla. The manager and his crew work year-round to maintain high quality habitat that consistently produces an abundance of wild quail.

Each morning, I load up the day’s dogs and my horse (this Tennessee Walker is named Snort) into the trailer and head out onto the plantation. I park in a central spot and work several braces from there. Northwoods Valencia (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon, 2018), on left, and Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017) are whoa-ed at the breakaway and awaiting my whistle to be released.

I spend the majority of my days out on the plantation, working from horseback and training dogs in braces. When a dog points and a covey of 12, 16, or more flushes within a few feet of the dog and me, the rush is intense and incredible. And I never, ever tire of it.

I also condition derbies and adult dogs. This involves attaching heavy-duty iron bars to my four-wheeler and hooking up the dogs in pairs to each bar. The dogs love it.

Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011) and her daughter Northwoods Audi (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013) are cool, calm and ready for roading.

In addition, I use homing pigeons brought from our coop in Minnesota to teach steadiness to young dogs.

Steadiness training is started when young dogs show an inclination to not move when pointing. I use an ecollar on the belly so the stimulation is different from other training. Houston’s Audrey is a quick learner.

Breeding dogs: possibilities and probabilities

possible adj. 1. capable of happening

probable adj. 1. likely to happen

One spring, Betsy and I attended a Ruffed Grouse Society banquet in Superior, Wisc. We had a good time visiting with friends and participating in the fund-raising efforts. Unusual for me, I bought a raffle ticket for a shotgun. With the purchase of that single ticket, it was possible that I could win but not very probable. If I’d bought more tickets, the probability of winning would have increased.

That notion is similar to breeding dogs.

Photo by Chris Mathan

Random matings that don’t take into account hereditary characteristics, called genotype, and observable characteristics, called phenotypes, can produce an outstanding puppy. It is possible. Is it probable? Not very. Could that breeding produce an entire litter of outstanding puppies? Still possible but even less probable.

Let’s move the odds from possible toward probable. What if the two dogs that are bred are similar in phenotype and genotype and both are physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented, easy-to-train dogs? Now probability improves.

What if those two dogs came from litters where each puppy was physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented and easy-to-train? Probability increases further.

Photo by Chris Mathan

Finally, what if those two dogs and their siblings, and all of their grandparents and great grandparents and their siblings, were physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented, easy-to-train dogs? Now, it’s entirely probable that all puppies in the litter will be physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented, easy-to-train dogs.

And that’s just what a good, solid, long-term breeding program tries to do. Knowledge, experience, hard work, expense and patience are crucial. A truly consistent breeding program requires many years and perhaps even decades.

Is it worth it to you? Is finding a breeder with those qualifications worth it to you? That depends how badly you want to win the raffle.

Northwoods dogs prevail in fall field trials

Reuel Pietz Derby Classic winners. From left: Steve Snyder with his dog; Dave Moore with The Highway (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018), Jeff Forsberg with Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018).

Fall is the season when our clients are usually busy hunting their dogs. Some, though, were competing in—and winning—field trials around the country.

In late September, the North Country Shooting Dog Championship was run on native sharp-tailed grouse at the Namekagon Barrens near Danbury, Wisc. Two litter brothers won the top placements at the accompanying Open Derby stake. Northwoods Istanbul (Bull) ran a smooth, forward race with an adept relocation on a running grouse to earn first. Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo pointed a big covey to claim second. Both had excellent manners and were steady to wing and shot. I handled Bull and owner Jeff Forsberg handled Ringo. They are out of Northwoods Nickel by CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock.

Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018)

That placement started a roll for Jeff and Ringo. In early October, Ringo placed second in the companion open derby stake to the Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship held near Stanley, Wisc. A week later at the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association fall trials outside Mora, Minn, Ringo won the Reuel Pietz Derby Classic with a pointed woodcock, again displaying steady to wing and shot manners.

Second place in that same Reuel Pietz Derby Classic was another setter male, The Highway. Owned and handled by Dave Moore, Highway is out of RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus and Northwoods Carly Simon, one of our most consistent crosses.

Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013)

In the piney woods of Alabama, Northwoods Charles placed third in the Conecuh Station Field Trial Club Amateur Shooting Dog stake for his owner and handler Bill Owen. Charles also placed third in the Burnt Branch Amateur Shooting Dog stake. Charles and Bill are well traveled. They’ve competed and placed in field trials in Saskatchewan, several western states, Alabama and Georgia. Charles is out of Northwoods Chardonnay by CH Ridge Creek Cody.

In other parts of the country, a setter and pointer—both with grandparents that were bred by us—placed in futurity stakes. Erin’s Big Casino won fourth place in both the National Shooting Dog Futurity held near Bloomingdale, Ohio, and in the New England Futurity held near Windsor, Conn. Casino’s sire, CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock, the same sire as Bull and Ringo. Shamrock’s sire is CH Ridge Creek Cody who was co-bred by Paul Hauge and Betsy and me.

Casino’s dam, Three Stripes Livewire, is by RU-CH Northwoods Nirvana. Nirvana is from the heart of our breeding program. His dam was Northwoods Chardonnay and his sire was CH Houston’s Blackjack, a littermate to CH Ridge Creek Cody.

In the North American Woodcock Futurity held in mid September near McAdam, New Brunswick, pointer male Wynot Pete won third place. Pete’s dam is Northwoods Maddie, out of our 2015 CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen litter.

For an owner and handler, it takes a significantly greater amount of knowledge and effort to prepare a dog for field trial competition. To be successful at the highest levels, it also takes a dog with inherent ability.

Good luck to owners and dogs in all future competitions.

Conecuh Station Field Trial Club Amateur Shooting Dog winners. On right, Bill Owen with Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013).

World-class sharptail hunting in Montana

What do you get when you have 15 Northwoods Bird Dogs, one English cocker, five gaited horses, five guys and endless Big Sky country?

World-class upland bird hunting!

Here was our dog roster.

Our host, Sam, brought five setters and one pointer.
• Northwoods Ahniwake Grace (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2010)
• Northwoods Jeter (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011)
• Northwoods Audi (Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2014)
• Northwoods Gucci (Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015)
• Northwoods Hercules (Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016)
• Northwoods Dixie (Shadow Oak Bo x Northwoods Carbon, 2016)

Bill had three setters.
• Northwoods Louis Vuitton (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2014)
• Northwoods Flint (Sunny Hill Sam x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2015)
• Northwoods Madrid (Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018)

I hauled my dog trailer and so had room for one pointer and five setters.
• Northwoods Vixen (Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011)
• Northwoods Nickel (Shadow Oak Bo x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2014)
• Northwoods Minerva (Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016)
• Northwoods Istanbul, Northwoods Geneva, Northwoods Dublin (Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018)

Pat had his stellar cocker Rocket.

On our hunts, there were several moving pieces. Picture the five of us on horseback with at least three bird dogs on the ground and the cocker heeling alongside the horse.

When someone called point, we had one dog on point, two dogs backing, quick dismounts and two gunners going in to shoot.

And every time, a big covey of sharp-tailed grouse flushed.

What a hoot!

Northwoods Birds Dogs    53370 Duxbury Road, Sandstone, Minnesota 55072
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