The Pointers of Northwoods Bird Dogs

Northwoods Comet (HOF CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018)

Even though Jerry and I are primarily known for breeding setters, we also have had a line of pointers for 27 years. It doesn’t have the breadth of our setter breeding program but there is length and incredible strength.

It began inadvertently but we’re so proud of the outcome.

When we started in the 1990s, not only were we neophytes in trialing but in breeding, too. We were fortunate, though, to own an extraordinary liver-and-white pointer female, registered as Dance Smartly. We called her Dancer. Her sire, CH Northern Dancer, was a grouse champion and her dam was ultra talented 6X CH Vanidestine’s Rail Lady. Besides her parents, the top and bottom of her pedigree included three HOF males—Smart, Pork Roll and Guard Rail.

CH Dance Smartly (CH Northern Dancer x CH Vanidestine’s Rail Lady, 1991)

Dancer was a beautiful dog with an evenly masked head and near-perfect conformation. She had intelligence, strength, grace and incredible bird-finding ability. Dancer was stunning on point—confident, composed, nose in the air, eyes on fire. She loved people and couldn’t wag her tail fast enough when anyone got within petting distance.

For a span of three years, Dancer dominated the grouse field trial circuit in our region. She won the 1995 Minnesota Grouse Championship and the 1996 Wisconsin Woodcock Championship. Before the Wisconsin trial was a championship, she was named runner-up in 1994 and won first place in 1995.

Dancer was invited to the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational three times and was named Minnesota/Wisconsin Cover Shooting Dog of the Year in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

Northwoods Prancer (Dashaway x Fallset Fate, 2008)
© Chris Mathan Sporting Dogs

Jerry and I were novices in breeding knowledge and experience, but we knew Dancer was worthy. Since we had a strong female line as a start, we looked to the best-of-the-best field trial champions for sires. Two are Hall of Fame males—Rock Acre Blackhawk and True Confidence—and all but one are champions in various venues. The lone non-champion was Dasher, our own dog out of the Dancer’s first litter. Dasher was rarely competed but did have several field trial placements. Most importantly, we valued his qualities and strengths—and he proved crucial to the line’s continuation.

Perhaps it was beginner’s luck or serendipity, or both, but our strategy worked. Through almost three decades, we’ve continued our pointer line and are now producing the sixth generation.

Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011)
© Chris Mathan Sporting Dogs

We’ve kept the reindeer theme blithely started with Dancer. Just this year with our youngest female, we ran out of reindeer so Dahlia is the first of our flower-themed pointers.

Dancer (CH Northern Dancer x CH Vanidestine’s Rail Lady, 1991)
Dasher (CH Brook’s Elhew Ranger x CH Dance Smartly, 1997)
Prancer (Dashaway x Fallset Fate, 2008)
Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011)
Blitzen (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2016)
Comet (HOF CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018)
Cupid and Rudolph (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023)
Dahlia (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024)

Cupid and Dahlia are next in line to continue our pointer breeding program and will, hopefully, produce the seventh generation.

Passionate hunters from states in all parts of the country—east to west, north to south and every place in between—own pointers from our breeding. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, Jerry and I are so proud. We’re thrilled to give our pointer puppies their best lives possible with these truly wonderful people.

Murphy (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2016)
~ Tony and Cheryl Follen, Montana

Northwoods Juniper (HOF CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021)
~ Joey Paxman and Amanda Allpress, Montana

Northwoods Timber (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024)
~ Randy Ott and Kim Olson, Minnesota

Northwoods Easy Keeper (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024)
~ Joey Paxman and Amanda Allpress, Montana

Attie (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023)
~ Jeff and Carol Hintz, Arizona

Jade (HOF CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2015)
~ Frank Ilijanic, Michigan

Jordy (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Prancer, 2014)
~ Mark and Janie Fouts, Wisconsin

Belle (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023)
~ Kevin Sipple, Wisconsin

Lacey (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2016)
~ Brian Smith, Pennsylvania