At six weeks of age, the nine puppies out of Northwoods Stardust by Cold Creed Hank still sleep in a pile.
Of the chores Jerry and I do around the kennel, some are fun and some are not so fun. In the latter category are the daily hosing of the kennel runs (Jerry) and cleaning up the play yard with a little rake and shovel (me).
However, we agree unequivocally that the most enjoyable chores involve puppies.
Four-day-old puppies out of Northwoods Four Roses by Northwoods Homer cuddle while they sleep on the heated nest.
We got a huge dose of it this spring. Comet, Stardust and Four Roses came into season within a couple weeks of each other. They were each bred and then nine weeks later whelped their litters on May 2, May 13 and May 17, respectively.
The total was 20 puppies—3 pointers and 17 setters.
Since there were only three puppies out of CH Confident Nation x Northwoods Comet and they got plenty of food, they were always substantially larger than than the other two litters.
Even though it’s our business and, as previously mentioned lots of “enjoyable” work, there is another dimension to puppy chores. Every day for eight weeks, we watch them, care for them, play with them and get to know each one individually. From the very first day when each weighs less than one pound and are totally helpless until they have grown and developed into little dogs, we watch them.
Puppies out of Northwoods Homer x Northwoods Four Roses are eight weeks old and ready to go to their new homes.
Then, in a bittersweet blink, the puppies are eight weeks old and we send them off into the world. Excited new owners drove or flew from all over the country—New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas and Montana—to pick up their puppy.
As each puppy left with their owner, we said, a la Gandalf, “Fare well!”
Northwoods Tyler (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024) is owned and handled by Josh Matel.
“…there should be no distinction between a field trial dog and a shooting (hunting) dog, the former is merely the latter on public display.” ~ William Harnden Foster
We agree with Mr. Foster–especially when considering cover dog field trials. A large majority of the dogs entered in these competitions are also hunted on wild birds.
The dogs featured below perfectly exemplify our breeding goals for the past 30 years. We’ve strived to produce dogs with the physical and mental ability to compete at the highest levels of field trial competition. That those dogs win at the trials is because they excel as hunting dogs.
Here are Northwoods-bred dogs that had a phenomenal winning season.
Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) is owned and handled by Eric and Lindsey Saetre.
CH Northwoods Cedar (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) is owned and handled by Eric and Lindsey Saetre of Minnesota. Cedar continued her success last fall with a stunning spring season. She placed in three trials in three different venues on her way to winning the 2025 Minnesota/Wisconsin Amateur Shooting Dog of the Year. • 1st Don Didcoct Amateur Shooting Dog Classic • 2nd Moose River Grouse Classic • Runner-up Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Championship (blog post detailing the Invitational)
Northwoods Tyler (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024), owned and handled by Josh Matel of Minnesota, had a remarkable spring for a one-year-old puppy. Tyler placed over dogs up to twice his age in stakes that saw 25-32 entries. Tyler ran a mature hunting pattern and pointed grouse in three of his wins. He earned the 2025 Minnesota/Wisconsin Pro Plan Cover Dog Derby of the Year. • 1st North Country Championship Open Derby • 1st Minnesota Grouse Dog Association Open Derby (first trial) • 1st Minnesota Grouse Dog Association Open Derby (second trial) • 2nd Moose River Grouse Dog Club Open Derby
Northwoods Rip Roy (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024), second from left, is owned and handled by Greg Johnson.
Northwoods Rip Roy (CH Woodville’s Yukon Cornelius x Northwoods Redbreast, 2024) is another one-year-old, owned and handled by Greg Johnson of Wisconsin. The Grand National Puppy Classic is run on a single course—each brace of dogs runs over the same ground. Rip was in the fourth brace so six puppies had already run the course. Rip found and pointed a ruffed grouse—the only bird pointed in the stake! • 3rd Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association Open Derby • 2nd Grand National Grouse Futurity Puppy Classic
Northwoods Suki (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024) is owned and handled by Eric Beauregard.
Northwoods Suki (May’s Pond Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2024) is owned and handled by Eric Beauregard of Massachusetts. Suki is Eric’s first English setter and these were his first two trials! The placements earned Suki the 2024-2025 Amateur Walking Puppy Award by the Association of New England Field Trial Clubs. • 1st Setter Club of New England Amateur Puppy • 1st Northern New Hampshire Bird Dog Club Amateur Puppy Classic
Northwoods Homer (CH Snyder’s Pioneer Scout x CH Northwoods Cedar, 2022), middle, is owned and handled by Mitch Anderson.
Northwoods Homer (CH Snyder’s Pioneer Scout x CH Northwoods Cedar, 2022), is owned and handled by Mitch Anderson of Minnesota. • 2nd Southern Wisconsin Field Trial Club NBHA Open Shooting Dog
Northwoods Miles (RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Northwoods Madrid, 2024) is owned and handled by Lars Totton of New Jersey. They had success in their first trial! • 3rd Northern New Jersy Field Trial Club NBHA Open Puppy
Northwoods Southern Breeze (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023) is owned and handled by Nik Zewars of Minnesota. • 1st Northwest Field Trial Association Open Walking Derby
Willow Creek Northwoods Nugget (CH Miller’s Upgraded Version x Northwoods Comet, 2024) is owned and handled by Chad Hines of Minnesota. • 2nd Minnesota Grouse Dog Association Open Derby
Our hearty congratulations to owners and handlers for training and showing your dogs to such noteworthy success!
