I sold my cousin, Jim Smith, an English setter puppy, out of my female, Blaze and the really good male, Bad Boy Buddy, owned by Rob Downen, a couple of years ago. I hunted with Dottie, in Oklahoma, last fall. Jim was breeding her to his male English setter, Willie. Willie came from Jason Patty’s kennel. Both of these dogs were young but they both were really good bird dogs.
On the road with two puppies.
My daughter, Dana, with the puppies.
Man on the left and Babe on the right.
When Jim and I hunted in Oklahoma last fall Dottie was in heat so I ran Sally and Dolly with her. Jim and I were watching her float through the cover across a deep ditch from us. I was commenting on how smoothly she moved through the cover when she wheeled into a point. Her tail was twelve o’clock and her head was high. Before we got to her point I told Jim I wanted a pup out of her. As we went to her I checked the GPS and Sally was on point over the hill behind us. Dottie was closer so we continued to her. We were still behind her when the quail flushed. It came my way and dropped when I shot.
We started back toward Sally. As we started back across the ditch Jim started sliding down the hill and two more quail flushed in front of him. He shot but it’s hard to shoot when you’re sliding down a hill. I was a little ahead of him and when I got close to the top of the hill two quail flew over me. I took one shot and a quail fell. Sally popped up right behind the two quail. I think these two were being pointed by Sally and flushed when Jim shot.
He said he would swap me one for one out of Sally. This was the on February twelve. Sally still hasn’t come in heat. It’s too late now but when she comes in next winter or spring I will breed her and Jim will get First pick.
Instead of getting one pup I decided I needed two. I, also, took a female puppy. Now I owe him two puppies out of my next litter.
My wife June, our daughter Dana and I went to Oklahoma on Friday. On the way down we stopped by Jim’s to see the puppies. Nothing is cuter than English setter puppies. I had brought two collars with me and each had a short cord tied on. I put them on a male I had picked out from a video and a female that was left. I looked at all 6 puppies and there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch.
Sunday morning we came by again and picked up the puppies. Jim was afraid they would be too rambunctious and loaned us a small kennel for the pups. Dana rode in the back seat with them. They started out riding in the kennel. Dana opened the kennel and they both came out. The female walked back into the kennel and went to sleep. The male played for about 45 miles then went to sleep, also.
The pups were still asleep when we came to the rest stop just across the state line into Missouri. I took the pups to the grass and let them play for a little while. We gave them a drink and loaded them. They went right back to sleep.
When we got home I put them in the kennel with a bucket of water and a full food dish.
This morning I went out and turned the pups loose. While they investigated the area I got a pigeon out. I locked it’s wings and placed it on the ground. Both pups found it at the same time and were really working it over. I, finally, took the pigeon from them and turned it loose. When it flew away they chased.
I took several birds from the coop and some I teased the pups with then let them fly away. I put a few to sleep and when the pups found them, they jumped on the pigeons and woke them up. The pups aren’t coordinated enough to hurt the pigeons. When the pigeons wake up they fly away.
I am kenneling the pups together for a while. Having two pups allows them to get used to being away from all that they have known but still have a sibling to ease the pain.
When I cleaned pens and fed dogs in the evening I turned the pups out again. I flew several pigeons for them. I put one to sleep and the male pup didn’t know whether to point or jump onto the pigeon. His sister saved him. She ran by him and woke the pigeon. They both chased.
I threw some dog food in the grass where the pups play. As the pups smell the food they learn to use their noses. They didn’t find a lot of the food but as they get used to using their noses they will get better.
I may be (am) prejudice but having puppies is fun but having English setter puppies is even more fun.
Babe pointing her brother.
Not a great picture of Man.
Using their nose to find dog food in the grass.