It’s A Girl!

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The cigars are on me.


If a five week old puppy doesn’t make you smile then you’re not human. Meet my new English Setter. The name is not yet final but the few we have are all winners. We visited the litter today and will pick her up next Saturday morning.

Our new pup and a sister resting in the shade.


Since Speck passed away two months ago it seemed impossible that I would have another dog this year. Sooner than I expected the spousal unit decided she could no longer deal with not having a dog here at the country bunker. That’s all I needed to know to get off my azz and get busy looking.

My friend and hunting buddy Scott bought a new setter last year. After seeing what a fine gun dog Speck was he had his sights set on an English Setter. He found a breeder about twenty miles south of where I live who breeds setters and horses, his name is Bob.

Bob is a competitive field trials participant and judge. He travels the country competing with his horses and dogs. In field trial competition, one earns points for style, obedience and results. It’s a sport for professional breeders and those with deep pockets. Dogs who win the trials on a regular basis earn the status of champion studs or dams. Litters of champions command big bucks for the effort.

You may be familiar with the AKC and their method of recording and documenting pedigree show dog lineages. The gun dog breeding lines are verified and confirmed by the FDSB, or Field Dog Stud Book.

The five week old pup on point, she's a natural even if she's only pointing a butterfly.


The FDSB ensures that registered dogs are not inbred. It carries the same type of purebred pedigree as the AKC, but it’s for bird dogs only. All my setters have had FDSB papers. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This pup is not a litter from one of Bob’s dams. Bob’s top stud dog was mated with another Setter to produce this brood. The dam belongs to a retired good-old country-boy court judge from Rensselaer Indiana who has been a bird hunter all his life and a personal friend of Bob. Previously the judge was a Brittany Spaniel guy, now he's an English Setter addict. As Bob told me the judge’s dam is papered to death, meaning it has more than a few field trial hall of fame gun dogs in it’s lineage.

For what they’re worth, papers mean only so much. Early socialization, bonding and patient, consistent training make the difference in a quality pet. Training above and beyond obedience along with natural abilities that comes with a "papered dog" creates a better than average gun dog. This little pup is guaranteed to be spoiled rotten with affection.

Before you judge me as being a dog snob I think there is nothing wrong with a mutt, a pound puppy or a rescued Greyhound making a fine pet. I love all dogs. But there’s something special to me having a healthy dog with a strong background that not only becomes a member of the family but helps put some food on the table.

The relationship between a hunter and his gun dog is indescribable. It makes a crisp late autumn morning so much more enjoyable walking the fields with a well trained gun dog and my well oiled classic Belgian Browning Sweet Sixteen.

Our new pup and her sister wrestling.


Look for a lot of dog training essays in the year to come. But for the first 5-6 months it will be all poopy pickup and house breaking fun.

Along with very regular “no bite” commands and finger snaps on the nose.
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