The extraordinary pointer male, CH True Confidence (2009 – 2023), will be awarded a bird dog’s highest honor when he is inducted into the Bird Dog Hall of Fame on February 10, 2024. The prestigious event will take place in Grand Junction, Tenn., home of the National Bird Dog Museum. CH True Confidence, call name Bob, was owned by Frank and Jean LaNasa of Isanti, Minn.
Bob had a distinctive pedigree. He was sired by Two Acre Bulldog, a son of CH Funseeker’s Rebel out of Rester’s Tiny Dancer, a granddaughter of this year’s other elected Hall of Fame dog, CH House’s Rain Cloud, through his son CH House’s Rain Water.
Bob’s dam, Bar P Annex, was sired by Bar P Shadow, bred to Bar P Xena. Xena is the daughter of CH Front N’ Center (another dog Frank and Jean owned) bred to CH Hard Driving Bev, a multiple grouse champion.
In stature, Bob was stunningly handsome with a beautifully shaped head and perfect conformation. He was mostly white with dark orange ears and a distinguished mark on the right side of his muzzle. Bob’s temperament was a 10 and on point, he exuded confidence and poise. Never hardheaded or willful, Bob was, as his pro handler Luke Eisenhart mentioned, “a dog handler’s dream.”
Perhaps, most importantly, Bob had uncanny intelligence—clearly evident in his keen, brown eyes. He adapted to all terrains and cover types and could find and point birds anywhere.
As a two-year-old, Bob won his first runner-up championship placements at the Region 19 Amateur All-Age and National Prairie Chicken Open Shooting Dog trials. His next three placements—two championships and another runner-up—were in shooting dog stakes.
At these trials, Frank handled Bob and Jean scouted. But when Bob was six years old, they decided to give him the best opportunities and, in 2015, placed him on the open all-age circuit with pro handler Luke Eisenhart.
Over the ensuing five years, Luke was phenomenally successful. Bob placed in 11 championship stakes and on five different birds—from prairie birds to bobwhite quail.
Bob’s tally of placements and honors is exceptional.
• 6 Championship wins • 11 Runner-up placements • 2 First Place and 2 Second Place honors in classics • 6 consecutive years qualified for the National Championship • Top qualifier in 2019 and 2020 Continental Championships
One of Frank’s fondest memories was Bob’s last trial. As usual, Bob was part of Frank’s string when he trained on the North Dakota prairie during late summer.
“In 2020, I decided I would run him in one last trial after he had a really good summer. I entered him in the Dr. D.E. Hawthorne Open All-Age Border Classic (held in Columbus, N.D.) and he placed first among 35 contenders at 11½ years of age,” Frank said.
Besides placements, another measure of a dog’s worth is what it produces. So far, Bob has sired eight champions with a 29-36-164 record. Jerry and I vouch for Bob’s prepotency and our progeny should soon add to those numbers. We bred Northwoods Comet (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen) to Bob in 2021 and to Bob’s son, CH Southern Confidence (call name Big), in 2023. Every puppy of both litters shows the bird-finding, style, poise, intelligence and temperament of the sires. (Interestingly, the sires of both Big and Comet, parents of the 2023 litter, are now in the Hall of Fame.)
Frank and Jean retired Bob from the field trial circuit in 2021. He lived his last years in the house and even though the kennel was about 100 feet from the house, “We could never get him to get near the kennel again!” Frank said.
Congratulations to Frank and Jean on this most prestigious award for your most deserving dog, CH True Confidence.
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What is the Bird Dog Hall of Fame? Bill Brown, long-time editor of The American Field, initiated the idea for a Hall of Fame in 1953 and simple rules were announced one year later. The first year of the awards followed in 1954 when five dogs (must be deceased) and five people (living or deceased) were inducted. Since that initial year, two dogs and two people are inducted.
CH Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016), is owned and handled by Ben McKean.
In the Winter 2024 issue of Gun Dog magazine, Jeremy Moore’s column highlights Ben McKean and CH Northwoods Sir Gordon, Ben’s seven-year-old setter male out of RU-CU Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon.
Jeremy mentions Ben’s decades-long history of grouse hunting but the focus of his piece is field trials and Ben’s championship placement with Gordie in April 2023 at the Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship.
Jeremy describes several of Gordie’s attributes: “Built long, tall, and rugged…a sight to behold…evenly masked blocky, black head….a powerhouse of a dog with magnificent carriage on point.”
He also writes, “…Gordie arguably runs as well as he has in his career. Maybe better than any dog Ben’s ever owned and competed with before. Their target is on winning field trials…”
Santa Claus and his team of nine reindeer didn’t miss a stop at our winter kennel here in the Red Hills region of southwestern Georgia/northern Florida.
All dogs received special treats in their dog dishes this morning.
From all of us at Northwoods Bird Dogs, a very Merry Christmas to you, your friends and family!
Sig (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019), on left, and Rob Roy (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2012) ~ Chris Bye, Wisconsin
For a business idea that originated in the grouse woods of the Lake States, dogs out of our breeding now live and hunt wherever there are wild birds.
This selection of photos from clients shows dogs pursuing not only ruffed grouse (including one extremely steady setter) but Hungarian partridge and ring-necked pheasants. Correspondence from other clients mentions chukars, prairie chickens, woodcock, blue grouse, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and California, Gambel’s, Mearns and bobwhite quail.
Junie (CH True Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2021) ~ Joey Paxman and Amanda Allpress, Montana
Pearl (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2016), on right, and her shorthair partner ~ Caleb Johansson Family, Minnesota
Fitz (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) ~ Ted Sommer Family, Wisconsin
The geography in Hun country can be as picturesque as it is steep. Northwoods Comet (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018) beat Northwoods Gucci (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015), on left, and Northwoods Jane Eyre (Northwoods Louis Vuitton x Houston’s Dancing Queen, 2022) to the find at the top.
Even though Northwoods Bird Dogs was conceived decades ago in the grouse woods of the Great Lakes states, Jerry and I have also trained and hunted our dogs in the open prairies of places far to our west. That we now have clients spread across the country is a testament that our dogs do equally well in either terrain.
Just to be sure, though, Jerry loaded up the dog box and dog trailer with as many dogs as would fit—from seasoned adults and young dogs to puppies—and spent virtually the entire month of September in western North Dakota and Montana. The objective was coveys of Hungarian partridge and sharp-tailed grouse.
Here are highlights of his trip.
In a lovely, undulating valley, Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013) points a big covey of Huns.
What a fine training moment for three young setters on a Hungarian partridge covey. Northwoods Charlotte Bronte (Northwoods Louis Vuitton x Houston’s Dancing Queen, 2022) is credited with the find while Northwoods Snow Swept (CH Northwoods Sir Gordon x Northwoods Valencia, 2023), on right, is next to the find, followed by Northwoods Snow Boots (RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Northwoods Stardust, 2023).
Setters and pointers alike take a well-deserved, midday rest.
Northwoods Stardust (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2019) inherited that high-headed pointing style from her dam.
Hun country is incredibly scenic. On a gentle hillside, Northwoods Jane Eyre (Northwoods Louis Vuitton x Houston’s Dancing Queen, 2022) honors a find by Northwoods Redbreast (Northwoods Rolls Royce x Northwoods Minerva, 2021).
Don Julio is a nice sippin’ tequila to toast a special day in the field.
“I wanted to better understand mechanics, timing and how to effectively use tools like releasers and launchers…That’s stuff you can read about or watch as many videos as you want, but won’t truly understand until you see, feel, and do.” ~ Jeremy Moore
Northwoods Bird Dogs—both our dogs and Jerry’s training style and technique—were featured in the November 2023 issue of Gun Dog magazine. Jeremy Moore of Pulaski, Wisc., is a columnist for the magazine and even though he has been to our kennel several times, those are the reasons he visited last summer.
We’ve known Jeremy since the summer of 2020 when he first visited us. He subsequently reserved a female setter puppy and in early 2022, he picked up Maquina (CH Northwoods Sir Gordon and Houston’s Nelly Bly).
Jeremy nails what, I think, makes Jerry the trainer he is. Jeremy comments on Jerry’s confidence and calmness and how well he reads a dog.
In the end, though, Jeremy writes: “Jerry has given me the confidence to ‘do it’ rather just ‘think about it.’”
Elsewhere in the issue, editor Kali Parmley described a “milestone” hunt with Jones, the young setter male she bought from us 2020. Jones (Northwoods Grits x Houston’s Nelly Bly) is her first bird dog and in previous Editor’s Letters, Kali has shared some of the issues of raising and training a pointing dog. This piece was different.
“The image of my soaking wet setter locked on point with a wave of fog blanketing the mountains behind him is an image that will forever be ingrained in my memory. He was beautiful. These are the reasons we hunt and the milestones we dream of for our bird dogs.”
Alzada (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), age 10 years “Thanks for sharing a dog of a lifetime.” ~ Tom Condon, Montana
Northwoods Carly Simon (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2011), age 12 years “More than a minor celebrity, many have traveled to the hunt camp just to hunt with Carly Simon and spend time with her on ‘her’ couch.” ~ Chris Bye and Jessica Kramer, Wisconsin
Northwoods Rudolph (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023), age 6 months, on left, and his grand-dam Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011), age 12 years “Young and a little goofy vs. old and wise. A fun brace!” ~ Both owned by Northwoods Bird Dogs
Maisy (RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Houston’s Nelly Bly, 2023), age 6 months “The star of last week was Maisy. She handled well, made beautiful casts, and pointed a grouse!” ~ Zenas Hutcheson, Minnesota
Caddie (CH Southern Confidence x Northwoods Comet, 2023), age 6 months “This last week, Caddie has really turned it on. Her first woodcock!” ~ Brian Smith, Pennsylvania
CH Tian Elhew Verbena (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013)
Not much is more gratifying for Jerry and me than hearing from happy dog owners. It is thrilling to see how our puppies have grown up and how they’ve fit into their lives—whether hunting, competing in field trials or sleeping on a pad near the fire.
And not much saddens us more than when we hear of the death of a beloved dog.
Multiple champion Tian Elhew Verbena (call name Bena) was owned by Angela and Tim Schillereff of Sauvie Island Kennels in Portland, Ore. Bena was whelped in 2013 out of Northwoods Vixen by CH Elhew G Force.
Of the nine puppies in the litter, seven were females. Angela and Tim had the fourth pick and they chose a pretty black and white puppy.
The G Force x Vixen litter was whelped on April 21, 2013. Bena is the puppy on the upper right.
Angela has kept in touch with photos and news periodically throughout the years. She recently informed us of the passing of Bena. Heartbroken, she wrote, “It’s been hard to think about her no longer with us.”
“She was an amazing dog and all who hunted her or saw her run in trials recognized how special she was.”
Angela and Tim campaigned Bena in American Field/Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America horseback shooting dog stakes where she won six championships and 2 runner-up championships.
She also earned several AKC titles: National Open Champion, National Amateur Champion, Grand Field Champion, Field Champion and Amateur Field Champion.
