Northwoods-bred dogs sweep Minnesota/Wisconsin Dog of the Year awards
Winning is always fun but who wouldn’t relish these gorgeous trophies?
What a trial season for two young Northwoods dogs and their owners/handlers!
We are extremely proud of Northwoods Cedar Edge (call name Enni), owned by Eric and Lindsey Saetre of Minnesota, and Northwoods Peregrine (call name Poppy), owned by Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf of Wisconsin. Both dogs won Minnesota/Wisconsin cover Dog of the Year (DOY) awards.
The DOY awards are jointly administered by three field trial clubs, Minnesota Grouse Dog Assoc., and two Wisconsin clubs—Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Assoc. and Moose River Grouse Dog Club. The awards are based on accumulation of points earned over a fall-to-spring trial season. Points are based on placements won and number of dogs per stake.
Being honored with these awards involves winning multiple trials, on different grounds, in different states, over a roughly six-month period. Other variabilities include judges, courses, bracemates, time of day, weather conditions and availability of wild birds. The odds can seem insurmountable.
Northwoods Cedar Edge (CH Snyder’s Pioneer Scout x CH Northwoods Cedar, 2022) won both the Open and Amateur Shooting Dog Minnesota/Wisconsin Cover Dog of the Year awards. She is owned by Lindsey and Eric Saetre.
But these two dogs prevailed. Northwoods Cedar Edge (CH Snyder’s Pioneer Scout x CH Northwoods Cedar, 2022) won both the Pro Plan Cover Shooting Dog (for professionals and amateurs) and Amateur Cover Shooting Dog DOY awards. Lindsey handled Enni and Eric scouted. Enni is no newcomer to the winner’s circle. In 2024, she won the Amateur Derby DOY.
This spring Enni, as a three-year-old shooting dog, placed in two highly competitive stakes. She earned:
• 1st place: Moose River Grouse Dog Club Open Shooting Dog Classic (34 entries)
• 2nd place: Minnesota Grouse Dog Assoc. Open Shooting Dog (36 entries)
Northwoods Peregrine (Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2025) is the winner of both the Open and Amateur Cover Derby Dog of the Year awards. She is owned by Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf.
Northwoods Peregrine (Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Stardust, 2025) is the winner of the Pro Plan Cover Derby (for professionals and amateurs) and Amateur Cover Derby DOY awards. Not only did she win both awards but, amazingly, Poppy is a puppy. She is handled by Chris at the trials but both Chris and Roberta have been instrumental in her development.
Poppy placed 2nd in three trials:
• Minnesota Grouse Dog Assoc. Open Puppy
• Minnesota Grouse Dog Assoc. Open Derby
• North Country Shooting Dog Championship Open Derby
Congratulations to Eric, Lindsey, Chris and Roberta and their dogs for this outstanding achievement!
A final thought: Since the inception of the Minnesota/Wisconsin Pro Plan Cover Dog of the Year awards in 1994, our own Blue or Northwoods dogs, or dogs out of our breeding or dogs handled by Jerry have won 10 shooting dog and 13 derby awards.