Northwoods Bird Dogs is justifiably proud of its breeding program of English setters and pointers. What began as a lark to win field trials has developed into a part of the business that not only ensures the future of the program but supplies passionate hunters nationwide with its preeminent puppies and trained dogs.
The first setter litter Jerry and Betsy bred in 1995 was a fortuitous pairing that produced both CH Blue Streak and CH Blue Smoke. They chose CH Dance Smartly, their pointer champion, as the dam for the first pointer breeding in 1997. Now, some 28 years, 80 litters and 500 puppies later, Jerry and Betsy are producing their 9th of generation of setters and 7th generation of pointers.
So many setters have contributed to the Northwoods’ line that it’s difficult to list them all. A partial list includes males Blue Chief, Blue Shaquille, Northwoods Blue Ox and Northwoods Grits and females Blue Streak, Blue Silk, Blue Blossom, Houston’s Belle, Houston’s Belle’s Choice, Northwoods Chardonnay, Northwoods Chablis, Northwoods Carly Simon, Northwoods Nickel, Northwoods Minerva and Northwoods Valencia.
The pointer line continues from Dance Smartly through her son Dasher and subsequent females Northwoods Prancer, Northwoods Vixen, Northwoods Comet and Northwoods Cupid.
A limited number of litters is planned each year. Some puppies are available for sale while others will be owned and trained by Northwoods Bird Dogs.
While no pointer litters are planned for 2027, listed below is information about two 2027 setter litters. All puppies are reserved.
No reservations are being accepted for 2028.
3X CH Snyder’s Fireside Ed x Northwoods Snow Queen Pedigree
Snyder’s Fireside Ed (8X CH Ponderosa Mac x Rogue River Bogsucker) is a ten-year-old tri color with black ticks and a hint of brown. He is solidly built and weighs 48 lbs. in hunting condition. Ed is a powerful dog with a reaching gait and lofty carriage. His posture on point is majestic. He has a wonderful disposition and is easy to have around the kennel.
In 2025, Ed made his mark in Cover Dog field trial competition by winning both the Grand National Grouse Championship and Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Championship. With those two wins, Ed received the 2025 Michael Seminatore award for in Cover Dog competition. He also won the Michigan Woodcock Championship in 2022.
When Ed isn’t competing, he’s at home in Minnesota with his owners Steve and Wendy Snyder.
Northwoods Snow Queen (RU-CH Northwoods Atlas x Houston’s Nelly Bly, 2023) weighs 39 lbs. and has a white body with a beautiful, evenly masked, tricolor head. She is classy in motion and runs with a smooth, easy gait. Queen naturally held to the flush and backed her first hunting season. She has been hunted on sharp-tailed grouse, pheasant, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse and woodcock. She is an integral part of both the Georgia bobwhite quail and ruffed grouse hunting strings.
Queen has a playful, sweet temperament and is relaxed and calm in the kennel. She gets along with every dog—no matter whether male or female and no matter puppy or old dog.
Queen has been bred and is expected to whelp in late November 2026. All puppies are reserved.
Cold Creek Hank x Northwoods Four Roses Pedigree
Cold Creek Hank (CH Cold Creek Kevinator x Cold Creek Maggie) is a nine-year-old tricolor male with an even mask and a ticked body. He weighs about 55 lbs. Hank is a strong, forward-running bird-finder with a calm disposition. He is attractive both pointing and backing. He is field trialed in both AKC and UKC events and hunted extensively on prairie birds. Hank is line-bred to Blue Shaquille and CH Houston’s Belle, exhibiting many traits of the Houston line. His previous litters out of Northwoods Stardust and Northwoods Narcissus show extraordinary promise.
Hank divides his time between his Minnesota and Georgia homes with his owner Ian MacTavish.
Northwoods Four Roses (CH Rufus del Fuego x Northwoods Valencia, 2021) weighs 40 lbs. and has a white body with a beautiful, evenly masked, tricolor head. She is strong in motion and runs with a smooth, easy gait. She naturally backs and retrieves. Rose (call name) was pointing ruffed grouse her first season and naturally held to the flush. She has been hunted on sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge as well as being a member of the Georgia bobwhite quail hunting string.
In the kennel, Rose’s disposition is a 10. She is as calm as a dog can be and gets along with every dog in the kennel. Her first litter by Northwoods Homer was pointing and backing on several species of wild birds before they were five months old.
Rose is expected to be bred in mid winter 2026/2027.
