Betsy and I are fortunate to train our dogs on a premier 6,000-acre plantation in north Florida. It is managed exclusively for wild bobwhite quail which provides exceptional training opportunities.
I have been taking videos of training sessions. Here are three.
Northwoods Nirvana (CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2011) has made the transition to plantation quail dog and does a great job. Here he is with Ridge Creek Pepper, owned by Larry Brutger.
One-year-old Northwoods Aphrodite (RU-CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock x Southern Grace, 2017) is a young female we are excited about. Here she displays her natural staunchness and exceptional pointing posture.
Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), owned by Ben McKean, is an outstanding one-year-old male that makes finding and pointing wild quail look easy.
Parting with puppies is always a bittersweet time for Jerry and me. Even if we’re keeping a puppy or two for development and future breeding possibilities, we usually have our favorites and want to keep them all.
But we do know that a large part of our business is breeding and selling puppies…and so we brace ourselves. And we do know that our puppy buyers will provide loving homes and ample opportunities to do what the puppies were bred to do. Too, there is just no greater satisfaction than seeing the pleasure, happiness and joy that is felt when families welcome the new puppies home.
Our heartfelt thanks to puppy buyers of our Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon litter.
Charlie is a joy!
~ Jim, Pennylvania
Willow has adjusted to her new life wonderfully. She is a very happy, confident and inquisitive puppy. Again thanks so much.
~ Mike, Minnesota
Alder is a confident, active puppy. He’s adjusted nicely to his new home and fits in well with his new family. He has no problems with snow, as if he’s known it his whole life! It’s evident you and Jerry put a lot of time and heart into the early development of your puppies.
~ Cliff, Minnesota
He’s doing really well. Lot of personality!
~ Bryan, Montana
Bree is picking up everything on our walks, leaves, sticks, oyster shells, etc. The other item of note is that she is very calm and confident around new people, dogs, noises, etc. All in all we want to thank you both for this beautiful, friendly, puppy that wants to please.
~ Ed, South Carolina
Tark is doing well – fitting right in to the family. Thanks for everything.
~ Matt, Minnesota
CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Erin’s Skydancer)
Puppies and young dogs bred by Northwoods Bird Dogs are sold to various types of owners scattered across the country. The vast majority are serious upland bird hunters who spend many days and weeks in the woods and fields. Some owners are professional guides who need to put on a top-notch show for their clients. Still other owners have the field trial bug and compete their dogs at different venues.
No matter the buyer, Betsy and I are dedicated to breeding outstanding dogs that have the physical and mental ability to do whatever the owner chooses.
Though we don’t compete in field trials any longer, we are extremely proud to have dogs with Northwoods blood campaigned. Congratulations to these owners for their time, effort and expense to showcase their dogs in public competition.
Merimac’s Westerly Gail (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2009)
Merimac’s Westerly Gail (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2009) placed first for owner/handler Don McKean in the Grand Valley Field Trial walking stake held at Ionia, Mich. Not only is Don a retired Michigan veterinarian, grouse hunter and avid bird dog connoisseur but he’s also the father of our good friend and client, Ben McKean.
CH Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013) is posed by handler Travis Gelhaus for owner Bill Owen in green hat.
CH Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013) continues his winning ways for owner Bill Owen of California. Charles was named RU-CH at the Pacific Northwest Open Shooting Dog Championship in Condon, Ore. This placement, along with other wins, qualified him to run in the National Shooting Dog Championship (the foremost field trial for shooting dogs) held this spring on the Sedgefield plantation near Midway, Ala.
Sean Derrig of Illinois is a successful trainer and handler on the horseback all age field trial circuit with many championships. He primarily breeds and competes with his pointers but currently has two setters in his string. The eldest is CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock (photo at top), a male sired by CH Ridge Creek Cody, a dog we co-bred with Paul Hauge, out of Erin’s Skydancer.
Shamrock racked up impressive wins last fall. He won the United States Open Championship held in Alabama and was named RU-CH in the International Pheasant Championship held in Ohio. These wins re-qualified him for the 2018 National Championship (he also qualified and ran in 2017) on the Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tenn. This is the foremost all age field trial in the country and requires entrants to compete in three-hour braces.
Sean Derrig, on left, poses his derby winner Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay).
Sean also campaigns Shamrock’s son by Northwoods Chardonnay, Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock. Three Leaf placed first in the Arlin Nolen Open Derby Classic, held in Booneville, Ark., a one-hour stake judged by all age standards.
CH Ludy’s Northwoods Jack Pot (CH Shadow Oak Bo x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2014)
Chuck Ludolph of Minnesota competes his setters in National Shoot to Retrieve (NSTRA) trials. CH Ludy’s Northwoods Jack Pot (CH Shadow Oak Bo x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2014) placed sixth in a field of 192 dogs at the 2017 NSTRA Dog of the Year trial. In addition, Jack Pot recently earned his first NSTRA champion title.
