Project Upland interviews Jerry about breeding and developing bird dogs

Nick Larson, on left, of Project Upland, interviews Jerry in the kennel office for Nick’s podcast.

On a recent summer morning, Nick Larson of Project Upland visited the kennel. Although he brought his six-year-old setter Hartley (Northwoods Grits x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2014) for a nice run in the pasture, his main purpose was to interview Jerry for the Project Upland podcast.

Besides lots of talk about bird dogs and grouse hunting, specific topics include how we raise puppies and what a new buyer should do during the puppy’s important first season.

https://projectupland.com/project-upland-listen/107-breeding-and-developing-wild-bird-dogs-with-jerry-kolter-of-northwoods-bird-dogs/

News from the 2020 Minnesota spring/summer field trial season

At the summer trial held by the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association, Jerry, with the blue ribbon, poses winner Northwoods Comet (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2018). Standing in the back row are judges Rod Lein, on left, and Ryan Hough.

Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo, owned and handled by Jeff Forsberg of Loretto, Minn., won the 2020 Minnesota/Wisconsin Cover Dog Derby of the Year award and Amateur Cover Dog Derby Award.

Because spring field trials were cancelled, all Ringo’s winning performances happened last fall when he placed in every derby stake he entered. And in all but one, he had steady to wing and shot work on wild birds. Ringo is out of a litter Betsy and I bred in 2018—CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel.

Jeff and I worked dogs in the woods together this spring and I can verify that Ringo is a focused wild bird finder. Jeff’s work in the field developing and training Ringo definitely paid off I’m sure there will be more wins in his future.

Northwoods Setter Tech Ringo (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018).

Jeff takes home a beautiful trophy that’s been traveling from winner to winner in the 26 years since the inception of the Derby of the Year award. We’re proud to note that Northwoods dogs are well represented on the plaques mounted on the trophy’s base. Betsy and I have bred, sired or handled nine winners and four runner-up winners.

Congratulations to Jeff and Ringo.

On June 20, the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association held its summer trial on the grounds at Four Brooks, near Milaca, Minn. Betsy and I were thrilled that our young pointer female, Northwoods Comet, won first place in the Open Derby stake. This was a one course trial with planted quail.

Comet was in the last brace—a tough draw in early afternoon—but she ran a strong, forward race, handled perfectly, backed her bracemate and, with two minutes left, pointed a single quail and remained steady at the shot.

Comet is out of CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen.

Backing point

Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011) is backed expertly by Northwoods Gucci (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015) while bobwhite quail hunting in northern Florida.

Even though there are countless heart-thumping sights an upland bird hunter encounters, there is something at once classic and captivating, mannerly and marvelous about seeing one dog backing another dog’s point.

Backing point, also called honoring or, simply, backing, is when one dog sees another dog on point, stops and points that dog. A back doesn’t involve scent; rather it’s strictly by sight. According to C.B. Whitford, author of the 1908 book Training the Bird Dog, “Backing is another form of expression for the pointing instinct.”

Like the ideal point, the ideal back isn’t either too far away from or too near to the dog that is pointing. The backing dog should be close enough so it can mark where the birds fly and find dead birds.

Backing point is genetic. Dogs that inherit a strong instinct might back perfectly the first time they see a dog on point while it might take several opportunities for dogs with less. Still others might have to be trained to back.

Backing point is important—and at times essential or crucial—when two or more dogs are hunted together. Not only does backing keep one dog from flushing birds pointed by another but it keeps the hunt safe and dogs out of shooting lanes.

Backing point is complex. Over the last 35 years, I’ve seen many unusual backing situations while hunting and guiding. There have also been interesting circumstances in field trials whether I’ve been competing or just watching a brace.

A heart-thumping site! During a training run on bobwhite quail, Jerry and his horse come upon three setters—one pointing and two backing.

Patch, one of my first setters, had lots of instinct to point, but when braced with Adrienne, my veteran Brittany, he waited for her to find the birds and then backed.

I’ve observed dogs refuse to back a bracemate after that bracemate had several unproductive points in a row. Sometimes bracemates become competitive and refuse to honor the other’s point.

Occasionally, a dog doesn’t see another dog on point, even though it seems obvious. While walking a brace during the Lake States Grouse Championship many years ago, I watched a setter, nose to the ground, run circles around a dog on point. The setter was so intent following his nose that he didn’t see the other dog. When he finally raised his head, he immediately backed, but by then it was too late and he was ordered up.

I’ve also seen a dog that doesn’t stop until alongside another dog on point. While not considered good behavior, it isn’t a major offence as long as the dog doesn’t flush the birds. But the situation can degenerate if a dog points in front of the other dog on point (stealing point) or flushes the birds (bumping). In a hunting situation, the hunting companion might become alienated and in a field trial, the offender will be picked up.

With e-collar in place, Northwoods Super Nova (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019) backs the dog silhouette.

Training to back point is incorporated into my sessions at the same time I teach steadiness around birds. Ideally, the dog is ready after a season of hunting wild birds and when it holds point long for me to flush the birds. The dog is usually between 8 and 12 months of age.

The first step of steadiness training is teaching the dog to stop and stand still when it feels e-collar stimulation on its flank. Once the dog masters that association, I move to the next step which is to create an association between birds and a dog on point.

For this, I use a dog silhouette, a life-sized cutout of a dog on point that I made out of plywood and painted. I place the silhouette in the field with a pigeon in a remote bird launcher behind it. I lead the dog into the field and, if it doesn’t back as soon as it sees the silhouette, I flush the pigeon and stop the dog with e-collar stimulation on the flank. If the dog does back, I walk in and flush the bird, stopping the dog if it starts to chase. Once the bird is gone, I lay the silhouette on its side.

When teaching a young dog the essentials of backing point, Jerry uses his handmade dog silhouette which he cut out from plywood and painted.

At this stage, I don’t use any verbal commands. I want the dog to learn with minimal distraction.

When the dog backs, I physically reward it with light strokes against the grain along the top of its back. I also say, “Whoa,” in a soft but firm tone. After this praising, I walk in, flush the bird, tip the silhouette on its side and release the dog to move on.

I keep the sessions short and mix them up. I have the dog back once and point its own birds once or twice but I also have a session or two without requiring a back at all. The silhouette is moved to different locations, too. It’s important not to overdue this phase.

Once the dog backs reliably in the training field, it is ready for wilds birds with a bracemate.

Since dogs learn behavior in context, I don’t expect the dog to back the first time on wild birds. Initially, I use a reliable bracemate, one not prone to unproductive points. Once that dog points, I let the inexperienced dog decide what to do. If it doesn’t back, I let it go past the pointing dog until it causes the birds to flush and then stop it with flank e-collar stimulation, again without any verbal distraction.

When the dog backs, I physically praise it and say, “Whoa,” just as in the training field. Repetition, time and maturity will still be necessary before the dog becomes dependable.

But even with training, experience and maturity, backing point is never 100% reliable. There are just too many circumstances with endless possibilities.

The best bird dogs I’ve trained, owned or competed against occasionally made mistakes.

A fine morning with a setter puppy on a Florida quail plantation

Northwoods Madison (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2018) and Jerry. Photo by Ben McKean.

At the age of one, Northwoods Madison (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2018) is precocious—and not only in desire and focus but in stamina. From the moment she’s released at the breakaway, Madison has one thing on her mind. Birds. During this morning’s session, she finds and points four coveys.

Madison is owned by Barry Frieler of Minnesota.

Spring in Minnesota

Our kennel on a cold spring morning.

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.
~ Robert Frost

Northwoods Geneva (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018) on a sunny afternoon in the woods.

Evening meal of sharp-tailed grouse from last fall.

Our pond on a pretty spring day.

Northwoods Rolls Royce wins 2020 Georgia-Florida Hunting Dog Invitational

The first place win for Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Chocie, 2013) garnered lots of hardware for Jerry and Royce’s owner, Bob Senkler.

After the close of the Florida bobwhite quail hunting season, the Georgia-Florida Field Trial Club gathers for its annual trial. This year, the trial was held March 7 on the Aucilla Plantation near Thomasville, Ga.

The club is comprised of dog trainers, handlers and scouts, many of whom work for the 100+ private plantations in southwestern Georgia and northern Florida. The trial is open only for dogs used on plantation hunts.

The 2020 Georgia-Florida Hunting Dog Invitational Field Trial attracts a big gallery to watch the 24 dogs in competition. Photo by Hope Doolittle.

Three placements are awarded. Winners must be steady to wing and shot but otherwise are no different than the kind of dog our foot-hunting clients would love to own.

Pointers are the dominant dog—by far—used on plantations. This year, only two of the 24 dogs entered were English setters. Jerry, of course, ran a setter. He chose Northwoods Rolls Royce, a handsome seven-year-old, tricolor son out of a favorite nick of ours, Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice. Royce is well conformed and even tempered and he always finds birds—lots of birds. Royce is owned by Bob Senkler of Florida.

Jerry flushes on one of Royce’s four covey finds. Photo by Hope Doolittle.

Royce ran in the first brace after lunch, not a coveted draw anytime but especially in a wild bird trial. He was outstanding! He pointed four coveys with perfect style and manners, handled like a dream and always showed to the front.

Congratulations to Royce and Bob!

Jerry and Royce, on left, pose with the second and third place dogs, their handlers, the judges and some members of the Georgia-Florida Field Trial Club. Photo by Hope Doolittle.

A fantastic winter of training on wild bobwhite quail

A quintessential sight on a wild bobwhite quail plantation. Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017) points into a chopper block under towering longleaf pines.

It’s hard for us to believe but this is the eighth winter Betsy and I have lived and worked in southwestern Georgia. The adage is correct. Time flies.

The reason we’re here is simple—bobwhite quail. This Red Hills region is unique. There are about 300,000 mostly contiguous acres managed by about 100 private plantations devoted to bobwhite quail.

We’re fortunate to train on one of the finest of these plantations near Monticello, Fla. The manager and his crew work year-round to maintain high quality habitat that consistently produces an abundance of wild quail.

Each morning, I load up the day’s dogs and my horse (this Tennessee Walker is named Snort) into the trailer and head out onto the plantation. I park in a central spot and work several braces from there. Northwoods Valencia (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon, 2018), on left, and Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017) are whoa-ed at the breakaway and awaiting my whistle to be released.

I spend the majority of my days out on the plantation, working from horseback and training dogs in braces. When a dog points and a covey of 12, 16, or more flushes within a few feet of the dog and me, the rush is intense and incredible. And I never, ever tire of it.

I also condition derbies and adult dogs. This involves attaching heavy-duty iron bars to my four-wheeler and hooking up the dogs in pairs to each bar. The dogs love it.

Northwoods Vixen (CH Westfall’s Black Ice x Northwoods Prancer, 2011) and her daughter Northwoods Audi (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013) are cool, calm and ready for roading.

In addition, I use homing pigeons brought from our coop in Minnesota to teach steadiness to young dogs.

Steadiness training is started when young dogs show an inclination to not move when pointing. I use an ecollar on the belly so the stimulation is different from other training. Houston’s Audrey is a quick learner.

Breeding dogs: possibilities and probabilities

possible adj. 1. capable of happening

probable adj. 1. likely to happen

One spring, Betsy and I attended a Ruffed Grouse Society banquet in Superior, Wisc. We had a good time visiting with friends and participating in the fund-raising efforts. Unusual for me, I bought a raffle ticket for a shotgun. With the purchase of that single ticket, it was possible that I could win but not very probable. If I’d bought more tickets, the probability of winning would have increased.

That notion is similar to breeding dogs.

Photo by Chris Mathan

Random matings that don’t take into account hereditary characteristics, called genotype, and observable characteristics, called phenotypes, can produce an outstanding puppy. It is possible. Is it probable? Not very. Could that breeding produce an entire litter of outstanding puppies? Still possible but even less probable.

Let’s move the odds from possible toward probable. What if the two dogs that are bred are similar in phenotype and genotype and both are physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented, easy-to-train dogs? Now probability improves.

What if those two dogs came from litters where each puppy was physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented and easy-to-train? Probability increases further.

Photo by Chris Mathan

Finally, what if those two dogs and their siblings, and all of their grandparents and great grandparents and their siblings, were physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented, easy-to-train dogs? Now, it’s entirely probable that all puppies in the litter will be physically robust, mentally sound, naturally talented, easy-to-train dogs.

And that’s just what a good, solid, long-term breeding program tries to do. Knowledge, experience, hard work, expense and patience are crucial. A truly consistent breeding program requires many years and perhaps even decades.

Is it worth it to you? Is finding a breeder with those qualifications worth it to you? That depends how badly you want to win the raffle.

Gift idea: On Dogs

“What do you want this dog for?” I was asked austerely…
“I want him,” I answered, “to be my friend.”
~ One Brown Dog, by Dorothy Margaret Stuart

Here’s a last-minute gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for dog lover. On Dogs: An Anthology is a small, lovely book with simple, charming graphics and very nice black-and-white dog portraits.

“There is a profound connection between humankind and dogs that has existed for thousands of years. What began as a mutually beneficial hunting partnership has developed into a deeper emotional attachment.”
~ Tracey Ullman

That blurb is from the introduction by Tracey Ullman. It perfectly sets the stage for the thoughtful, heart-warming, sometimes humorous writing by authors as luminary and disparate as William Shakespeare, Alexander Dumas, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville-West, John Steinbeck, Jack London, Alice Walker, A. A. Gill, James Thurber and David Sedaris.

“To get through to a dog’s mind…You need hands that on touching the dog send messages of love and sympathy to its brain. You need eyes that tell the dog who watches them what you are feeling…you need telepathy so that the dog thinks with you.”
~ Barbara Woodhouse

“…and she’s watching me…What she’s doing is learning me. She’s reading me like a book. The truth is, I’m the Fool to her Lear.”
~ A. A. Gill

“Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them’s making a poop, the other one’s carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge?”
~ Jerry Seinfeld

Northwoods dogs are cover dogs

Northwoods Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), in front, and Northwoods Aphrodite (RU-CH Three Leaf Shamrock x Southern Grace, 2018).

Recognize these tricolor setters?

That’s Northwoods Minerva and Northwoods Aphrodite on the cover of the newest catalog from Kevin’s, Fine Outdoor Gear and Apparel. The blurb on the inside page states: “Great wild bird dogs can handle both our beloved Bobwhites and the king of the north woods, the Ruffed Grouse.”

Chris Mathan shot the photograph last spring at Pinehaven Plantation in Monticello, Fla. Chris, of Chris Mathan Sporting Dogs, is an excellent outdoor photographer and graphic designer and also a long-time business associate and friend. She lives in Pavo, Ga., and is in high demand to photograph the myriad bird dog hunting and field trial gatherings in the area.

Kevin’s is an institution in this plantation-rich region of south Georgia/north Florida. Kevin Kelly and his wife, Kathleen, run a business that includes the catalog and stores in Thomasville and Tallahassee. The Thomasville location on Broad Street couldn’t be more charming. Complete with a high ceiling, squeaky wooden floor, gorgeous antique display cases and top-quality merchandise piled in every nook and cranny, the shop is always bustling.

Jerry and I own Minerva (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017). She inherited wonderful traits from her sire and dam, including her spectacular posture on point. She is part of the grouse and quail guiding string and has whelped two fine litters.

Aphrodite (RU-CH Three Leaf Shamrock x Southern Grace, 2018; Shamrock is out of Northwoods Chardonnay by CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock) now hunts quail for John Downing on Long Brow Plantation in Green Pond, S.C.