Old bird dogs epitomize the word “noble”
Jerry and Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011)
A dog lives fifteen years, if you’re lucky.
~ Mary Oliver
Jerry and I feel lucky. Vixen, the fourth of our reindeer-named pointers, will be 15 years old in a couple weeks. We’ve had many dogs, setters and pointers both, live to be 13 and 14 but Vixen is our first dog to live to age 15.
With age comes particular virtues. Words like wise and noble come to mind. My dictionary defines noble as “exalted in character…grand, stately, and magnificent in appearance.” Noble comes from the Latin nobilis which means knowable.
Noble is the perfect adjective.
We’ve noticed a few outward physical changes. Vixen’s striking orange mask has faded but, interestingly, she’s retained color on her ears. There is eyesight and hearing loss but her personality, brain, heart and nose aren’t noticeably diminished. In the woods and fields, Vixen has lost a bit of style on point but her desire hasn’t waned.
Over cocktails on a recent evening, Jerry and I started thinking about other old Northwoods dogs. A setter female came to mind as the oldest. At 16 years of age, Northwoods Highclass Kate (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice) was whelped in 2010.
Northwoods Highclass Kate (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2010)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota
Some dogs out of Vixen inherited her longevity. Three female littermates from her breeding to Elhew G Force in 2013 are 13 years of age.
Northwoods Blue Ox was not only the sire of Highclass Kate but, through Kate, those longevity traits were passed to two littermate males that are now 14 years old. Blue Shaquille sired dogs to live to 15 and 14; and he lived to 14 years of age.
Here is a list of old dogs that we know about. We’re certain all owners would agree their dogs are noble. And that they feel lucky.
One 16-year-old setter female
Northwoods Highclass Kate (Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2010)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota
Besides Vixen, a 15-year-old setter male
Jeter (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011)
~ Sam and Kate Gary, Colorado
Three 14-year-old setters, two of which are littermates
Northwoods Rob Roy (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf, Wisconsin
Northwoods So Crisp (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Brad and Susan Gudenkauf, Minnesota
Northwoods White Russian (Blue Shaquille x Snyder’s Liz, 2012)
~ Tim and Tia Esse, Minnesota
Northwoods Rob Roy (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf, Wisconsin
“Roy always had the ability to pace himself and as an old dog he finds his pace and keeps at it. He still gets around the woods even if I need to be a bit more selective where I run him.”
Northwoods So Crisp (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012)
~ Brad and Susan Gudenkauf, Minnesota
“Tana hunted right alongside RIgby this season and I was treated to many honored points by each dog. She will be in the field this October.”
Northwoods White Russian (Blue Shaquille x Snyder’s Liz, 2012)
~ Tim and Tia Esse, Minnesota
Tasha doesn’t waste energy doing young dog stuff. She has had 6 dogs come and go during her time and has gotten along with them all. She does like her solo time on the dog couch.
13 years old: Three pointer littermates and 2 setter littermates
Penny (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013)
~Sam & Kate Gary, Colorado
Ginger & Smooch (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013)
~ Wayne Grayson, Mississippi
Watson ((CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Jonathon and Allison Long, Ontario, Canada
Jack (CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota
~ Penny (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013)
Sam & Kate Gary, Colorado
Watson ((CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Jonathon and Allison Long Family, Ontario, Canada
“Watson is a bit slower than he used to be but he’s still surprisingly active for his age. He got out hunting a few days last fall and his nose still works great, even though his eyes aren’t as sharp.”
Jack (CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Highclass Kate, 2013)
~ Barry and Jill Frieler, Minnesota