Blue Shaquille: May 2004 – May 2018

Blue Shaquille (Houston x Blue Silk, 2004) was the best grouse dog I’ve owned. He had size, strength, power, gait, grit, composure, instinct, nose, tenacity, temperament and brains. Photo by Chris Mathan.

I’ve been fortunate to own many outstanding dogs. For most, I witnessed their first breath; with all, their last. I gave each a piece of me. But Shaq was different. When he died, it was a huge chunk.

Blue Shaquille was out of a 2004 frozen semen litter by Houston, Paul Hauge’s favorite setter, and our Blue Silk. He was the leftover pup in the litter. Betsy and I passed on him. So did Paul. In the end, without a buyer, he stayed. Luckily.

AS A YOUNG DOG

How many times does this happen? Shaq was the leftover puppy from his litter. Everyone else passed on him so Betsy and I kept him.

It didn’t take me long to see something special. His first scent point at 10 weeks of age was spectacular—exhibiting loftiness and composure that he would display on every point of his life. He knew how to use his nose and his instincts around game were incredible. But, like his sire’s line, he was slow to mature in application. Even during his first summer on the North Dakota prairie, Shaq didn’t light it up. Visitors to our camp questioned my enthusiasm for him and I could only reply, “I just like him.”

We never entered Shaq in 2005 fall trials because of that immaturity in drive and range. But after a winter training on the rolling plains of west Texas, he blossomed. Working bobwhite quail, Shaq grew from a close-working hunting dog to a hard-driving, far-ranging, focused, extraordinary bird finder. By the 2006 spring grouse trial season, Shaq was ready and won both derby and shooting dog stakes.

AS A MATURE DOG

For me, there has been no more chiseled, blocky, handsome head than Shaq’s.

Shaq was all boy—55 lbs. of strong, powerful bird dog. He had a square, chiseled head and dark, gentle eyes. He carried his sire’s traits: majestic and lofty on point and in motion, long, effortless gait, natural backing instincts and staunchness from the get-go. From Silk, he inherited stamina, focus, tenacity and a sweet disposition. He broke out easily and rarely made a mistake around game.

Above all, Shaq’s nose and brain set him apart. He could read grouse cover like few dogs I’ve witnessed and his search was relentless. When Shaq was hunting grouse, he had to be handled. He was going where the birds were and you better turn him or follow him. I learned that it was usually better to follow.

Shaq’s disposition was a 10. He was calm, confident, charismatic, poised and most of all, gentle. Shaq ruled without contact. Visitors to the kennel, invariably, ended up at his run. He leaned his body and head against the kennel wire so he could be petted and scratched. When loose, Shaq sat as close as possible, his eyes catching anyone that looked his way. He was impossible to resist.

AS A WINNER

Shaq stands tall and composed when I found him on point, deep in the grouse woods.

In the fall of his first shooting dog season, Betsy and I entered him in the 2006 Grand National Grouse Championship held in Marienville, Penn. He was just two years old but he put on a tremendous ground performance with a great grouse find, noteworthy enough for reporter John Yates to write in the American Field:

“Shaq, as he is called, has an exceptionally smooth and ground-eating stride. His powerful casts were far reaching and forward throughout and more often than not he was at the very edge of his bell… He was found standing beautifully at 31 facing a log pile at the edge of an older cut. Kolter flushed a grouse about 30 feet in front of his dog and shot and three more grouse lifted from about 10 feet in front of him. The young dog showed perfect composure in the face of the temptation.”

Harold Ray, hall of fame trainer and breeder of the well-known Smith Setters, was one of the judges. Yates wrote: “Ray said he would love to have several of the grouse dogs he saw in his horseback shooting dog string,” and that Shaq “would have great potential in any stake.”

In his short field trial career, Shaq won horseback trials on sharp-tailed grouse, liberated quail stakes and grouse trials. Unfortunately, his opportunities were few as Betsy and I transitioned our business away from competition toward training, breeding and guiding.

AS A GUIDE DOG

Shaq was famous on guided hunts at Bowen Lodge in northern Minnesota where serious grouse hunters from all over the country gather every fall.

By late fall of 2006, Shaq was already unbelievable on ruffed grouse. Among the grouse hunters at Bowen Lodge on Lake Winnibigoshish, his reputation was growing. I remember one hunt when, in addition to two gunners, two others came along just to watch.

A young boy pets Shaq after a grouse hunt in northern Minnesota.

Shaq would point any woodcock he came across but he was always searching for grouse, wherever they might be. Sometimes the finds were close but, more often, you better be ready to walk. Often, my GPS indicated point at 300 yards. I’d turn in his direction and casually say to the hunters, “Let’s go this way for a bit.” When we arrived within 100 yards, I’d say, “Shaq just went on point!”

AS A PRODUCER

Shaq was a producer, especially when bred to Houston’s Belle’s Choice, and Northwoods Chardonnay (2009) was their exceptional daughter. Not only did she inherit the talent and prepotency of her parents but she just might be the most beautiful setter Betsy and I have owned. Photo by Chris Mathan.

Betsy and I bred Shaq seven times and produced many exceptional dogs. The best nick was with Houston’s Belle’s Choice, a daughter of 2X CH/2X RU-CH Houston’s Belle, who was owned by Paul Hauge. It was a breeding we repeated three times, with unusually high litter quality. Notable males in those litters included Northwoods Jeter, Northwoods Rolls Royce, Northwoods Lager, Northwoods Creek, Northwoods Aerosmith and Prairie Lakes Royal Flush.

No sons have been bred but his daughters clearly carry on his traits. Northwoods Chardonnay was the most celebrated and produced winners and champions, no matter the sire.
• RU-CH Northwoods Nirvana (CH Houston’s Blackjack, 2011)
• Northwoods Manhattan (Northwoods Blue Ox, 2012)
• CH Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody, 2013)
• FC/AFC Ridge Creek Piper (CH Ridge Creek Cody, 2013)
• NSTRA CH Ludy’s Northwoods Jack Pot (CH Shadow Oak Bo, 2014)
• MN/WI Derby of the Year Northwoods Gucci (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock, 2015)
• RU-CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock, 2016)

A litter sister to Chardonnay, Northwoods Chablis, was famous in her own right through her five breedings to Northwoods Blue Ox. Among many talented dogs produced, Northwoods Grits, is now a producer.

Northwoods Carly Simon, younger sister of Chardonnay and Chablis, is still producing tremendous dogs, including Northwoods Sir Gordon, Northwoods Minerva, Northwoods Carbon, Northwoods Bizmuth and Northwoods Louis Vuitton.

Shaq’s litter with Houston’s Belle produced FC/AFC Cold Creek Pearl, who in turn produced a generation of winners for owner Ian MacTavish.

When bred to Steve Snyder’s RU-CH Magic’s Climb Kaytoo, Northwoods Blackeyed Susan was produced. Susan is owned by Charles DeCasteja and trained by Tony Bly. Tony calls her a “special dog” and “a bird-finding machine.”

A final testament to his prepotency and significance is in our setter breeding program. Every setter sold today and in our kennel today has Shaq in their pedigree.

IN RETIREMENT

In 2011, Blue Silk is backed by her sons Northwoods Blue Ox (by CH Peace Dale Duke, 2007) and Blue Shaquille (by Houston, 2004).

After nine years of guided grouse hunts, Betsy and I retired Shaq in 2014. Even though it was a tough year for grouse, he pointed plenty. The following two winters he was the star of our Georgia liberated quail hunts –a walk in the park compared to grouse hunts. In late summers, he also tutored young pups in finding woodcock and backing in the cutover aspen behind the kennel.

But mostly, Shaq was my bud. During the day, he had run of the kennel and slept on a bed in the office. He pursued pets as fervently as he had ruffed grouse. He followed me everywhere and trotted happily wherever my chores took me. He always looked for an opportunity to get some attention, especially when I sat down to put on my boots.

So, how do you say goodbye to such a dog?

For me, it’s every day. It’s every day when a blocky head doesn’t appear in the kennel door window as I approach and when there’s quiet instead of tail thumping. It’s every day in the empty spot on the floor next to my chair and and in the silence when there should be comforting, deep snores.

Rest in peace, Shaq…aka Bud, Thumper, Scruffy, Scootcher, Tacker. You moved the bar to new heights.