Is it a certain age? Is it a certain point of your dog's training? Is it only to accomplish certain things?

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you've experienced. Don't be forget to include stories of times when things went wrong. Those are
possibly the most helpful lessons.

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Saturday was a sad day for everyone at Dogs Unlimited.  One of our office dogs, FC/AFC Davison's Orion on the Rise MH, call name Reko, had to be put to sleep after a long bout with a tumor that affected his nervous system.  From an early age Reko was stylish on point; pointing with intensity the fluttering of a pheasant wing dangling from the end of an old fishing pole.  We had high hopes for Reko but during his early formal training it appeared that he just wanted to play with his bracemate.  After much soul searching and conversations with our pro handler Tim Hidalgo about Reko's potential as a field trial prospect we decided to continue on with his formal training.

The light came on for Reko during the breaking process and he became as biddable as any dog could hope to be.  It seems that all he really wanted to do was to have a job and please his trainer and for Reko that job became finding and pointing birds.  Many of his placements came because of his long nose and incredible style on point.  When birds were tough to find Reko always found more.

As a field trial competitor, Reko was an absolute pleasure to watch.  Though not the biggest running Weimaraner around he was a classic horseback handling gun dog.  Always to the front, searching all available cover for his elusive quarry.  During his field trialing career Reko became a Field Champion, Amateur Field Champion and a Master Hunter.  He earned many placements in all breed stakes including a number of 1st placements along the way.  At the Weimaraner National Championships Reko earned placements in the National Championship and the National Amateur Championship including a 2nd Place in the National Championship the same year that his father, NAFC/FC Robynski Deaugh Davison, received a 4th Place in the same event.  That was a very good trial.

Reko also earned a 4th Place placement at the AKC Gun Dog Championships held at Branched Oaks just outside of Lincoln, Nebraska while competing in the Retrieving Stake against some of the best dogs in the country.  The retrieving stake is a shoot on course stake consisting of two series in which the dogs have to retrieve in each series.  Making it to the second series is an accomplishment in and of itself, finishing in the top four is just fantastic.

When Reko was not on the field trial circuit trying his hardest to beat the best he was in the fields of Colorado and Kansas with me, Eric Cook and the Colorado Chapter of the FOA hunting for the elusive pheasant.  He was a pleasure to watch in the field because all he wanted to do was please and that meant finding and pointing birds.  A many a pheasant ended up on the dinner plate because of Reko.

During his later years Reko was our office dog along with another one of our Weimaraners, Raja.  Each of them slept by the main entrance making sure that everyone who entered was on the up and up and of course treats would help with that concensus.

Reko taught me to be a better handler, a better hunter and a better person.  Reko had absolute unconditional love for everyone and every day was a good day for him even up until Saturday.  Everyone at Dogs Unlimited will miss Reko, I will miss him more.