He's back at it.
 
A few years back John was sidelined for a couple of seasons. But the above photo shows he is back at it. He and hunting companion, Mike Frash, along with John's English Setters, Teddy and Trouble, returned in 2008 to the Rend Lake (Illinois) Pheasant Hunt.
 
He writes: "The five-day hunt was grand. Not shown are the pheasants in front of the dogs and hunters."  

His plans for the coming season are not final but John does allow that there might be some photos coming from the back yard "tune up" sessions.
 
If you are new to DOGS UNLIMITED, John Ingram founded the company in 1971, and has been the wind at our backs since he passed it on to us in 2005.

Some people think this is the best thing to happen to field trials since they started using horses. Others are not so sure. Like the horse, this opens new opportunities for win-at-all-costs competitors to cut corners. Unlike the horse, this is a new area of technology that allows for never before known peace of mind for handers of big running dogs.

So we have an up-side and a down-side. What do you think?

You can follow this link to te AKC website for more information on tracking devices allowed in AKC Field Trials:
www.AKC.org/trackingdevices/

   

The system starts out with stainless steel pails and bowls that cleverly attach to a fence, wall, post or crate using a yoke (bowls) or mounting block (pails) and what Kennel Gear refers to as their Piranha Lox Secure Locking System.  These are stainless steel as well. The bowl or pail can easily be placed into or removed from the kennel bar mount by simply flipping the paw proof lever of the Piranha Lox system. 

What’s really nice is that all kennel bar mounts accept both the bowls and pails.  This is particularly useful when exchanging the feed bowl in the morning with a fresh water pail for the rest of the day.  And if you have it mounted high enough you won't have to worry about your male dogs lifting their legs into their water.

We like that the bowls and pails unlock easily with the flick of a tab and can be washed and sanitized. And you don't have your bowls and pails being beaten around the kennel floor, coming in contact with all that is disgusting.

We also like that there are several different attachment methods to fit your particular situation. 

The kennel bar mount comes standard with either the bowls or pails can be attached using a simple hand tightened plate style system.  This will work on most crate style dog transporters, most divider bars in your vehicle, and outdoor kennels that are not made of chain link fence. 

For a chain link fence, they offer a mounting plate accessory which gives you a nice, secure attachment.

For mounting to a pipe they offer a vertical post mount assembly that attaches to a post up to 1¼” in diameter.

And finally, for those who have left bowl after bowl along the side of the road while hunting or traveling,  they've come up with a  2” x 2” steel tube for a 2” receiver hitch on the back of you truck or SUV.  So no more leaving your good dishes along side the road or in a parking lot.

Sometimes something new comes along that not only is very cool but also serves an important function. That is exactly what Kennel Gear provides. This system keeps your feed bowls and water pails up and off of the floor of the kennel or crate, eliminating your dog's desire to use them as toys, banging them around the kennel for fun and entertainment.

Check them out at DOGSUnlimited.com or give us a call at 800/338-DOGS (3647).

Team DU Members Alan Davison, Scott Wilson & Eric Cook took away First, Second and Third Place in The Colorado Field Dog Association's American Field Classic Open Shooting Dog (Saturday) on April 25, 2009.

1st: Alan Davison w. Solo                      2nd: Scott Wilson w. Big                     3rd: Eric Cook w. Joe

More Team DU Wins:

First Place Open Derby (Saturday) - Scott Wilson w. Houston
Third Place Open Shooting Dog (Sunday) - Eric Cook w. Fanny

At long last, the American Kennel Club seems to be ready to give it's blessing for use of the Garmin Astro DC-30 in field events. The AKC Performance Events Department has made an in-favor recommendation to the board.
Is this a good thing? Or are there pitfalls?
Read the entire document HERE, then tell us what you think.

Spring of 2009 has brought a crazy mix of weather to the high plains of Colorado.
Weekdays have been mild and warm with wild winter weather reserved especially for field trial weekends. 
At the combined AKC & American Field Event, GSP Rocky Mountain Championships, despite the conditions, TEAM DU came, saw and conquered.

And the weather cleared just in time for pictures...

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Open Limited Gun Dog - 1st & 3rd
    Winning this stake finishes Dave Heller's Fiddling Jack as a Dual Champion
    (only the 10th dual in for the Pointer breed)
    Willie got third with Drew Foster.
Both placements were handled and scouted by Team DU members

Open Gun Dog - 1st & 4th
    Bell's first broke dog placement and a 5 pointer to boot
    Belle Owned & Handled by John Moreland
    Joe Owned & Handled by Eric Cook
Both placements were handled and scouted by Team DU members

Amateur Gun Dog - 1st
    Solo's first place finishes him as an Amateur Field Champion and adds to his title of Open Field Champion
Handled by Alan Davison and scouted by Eric Cook, Team DU Charter Members

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Open Derby - 1st (anybody got a picture?)
    Gus handled by Scott Wilson scouted by John Moreland
Handled and scouted by Team DU Members

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Rocky Mountain Championship (American Field)   Open Shooting Dog1st, Breaker with Eldon Hongo and Son
   Scouted by Team DU Member
Pictured Back Row Left to Right:  George Miller (judge), Eldon Hongo (handler), John Moreland (judge)
Pictured Front Row Left to Right: Johnny V w/ Breaker, Son Hongo (cutie pie) Keith Richardson (Sponsor: Sierra Trading Post)

Amateur Shooting Dog - (American Field)    1st - Karl - Handler, John Moreland (standing)
    Field Trial Chairman, Johnny V (with Karl) 
Scouted by Team DU Members. The runner-up was also scouted by a Team DU Member

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A tip of the hat to Johnny V for reporting the results and providing many of the pictures.

 

 
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.

Wil-Nor Hunt Club, located just outside of St. Louis, Missouri, was one of our stops on our trip back to Colorado after participating in the 2009 AKC Gun Dog Championships.  Upon arrival one of the first people to greet us was Bill Kunz.  He showed us around the property and even let me take my good dog Solo for a couple of laps around their bird dog training field.  Solo was very happy to be out of the truck and looking for birds. Anything to stretch his legs.

Unfortunately we were unable to meet with Eric Varnadore, the proprietor of Wil-Nor Hunt Club, as he was competing at a NSTRA trial.  It's good to see people doing what they love and we hope Eric did well at the trial.  We did meet a good number of members who were glad to see us and tell me about their club.  They were excited to let me know that they had thousands of acres on which to hunt their favorite species.

Not only does Wil-Nor Hunt Club offer dog training and quail, chukar and pheasant hunts but the membership, as well as non-members, can also hunt Whitetail deer, turkey and rabbits. Not bad for what seems to be a very reasonable price.

You can go to their website at www.wil-nor.com and get all the information you need.

It was great to see everyone and get a taste for what it's like to be a member of one of the premier hunt clubs in Missouri.

On March 15th Dogs Unlimited made the trip to Danville, Virginia to attend and compete in the 2009 AKC Gun Dog Championships.  This was our first trip to Fred Leggett's Cloverdale Farms and we were treated to a tremendous venue and fantastic hospitality.  Cloverdale Farms is manicured to field trial perfection with quality quail habitat -- a mixture of farm fields, hedgerows and timber stands.  And the weather couldn't be any better for running bird dogs and visiting with the other competitors.

Our stay in Danville was an excellent experience and we truly enjoyed meeting people we had not met before and renewing old friendships. Tim Carwile and Bonnie Hidalgo, co-chairs of the Championships, and their volunteers did an excellent job making this event a first class Championship.  And kudos need to be extended to the AKC staff for all of their hard work and endless hours making sure this was the finest AKC Gun Dog Championships yet.

After Tuesday's running Dogs Unlimited hosted a social hour for the participants, AKC staff and trial hosts.  It was an absolute pleasure conversing with everyone about the day's running and the good dogs we saw. The evening ended with an excellent prime rib dinner.

Earlier on Tuesday our own Good Dog FC AO Wildfire's Solo Express, a long legged 7 year old male German Shorthaired Pointer, competed in the Retrieving portion of the Championships and was drawn to run in the 9th brace.  Our brace ran mid-afternoon, the weather was nice but the breeze was slight, making scenting conditions a bit challenging.  Solo's breakaway was strong and to the front along with his bracemate.  About 6 minutes into the running, Solo's bracemate was found standing so we headed to the front to find our own birds. Covering the ground with grace and speed Solo made all the right moves and hit all of the likely places; some where birds had been pointed in previous braces and places where other dogs had yet to go.  Unfortunately Solo's only bird contact came at approximately 24 minutes into the 30 minute brace with a stop to flush which he handled nicely.  He finished strong and to the front but failed to meet the requirements to be called back to the second series.

For us this was the first trial of the spring season and we look forward to what the season has to bring. 

Good luck to you and your Good Dogs for the upcoming season.

Join us for the Rick Smith Foundation Seminar in Hudson, Colorado August 21 - 23, 2009.

Rick Smith believes everyone is capable of training their own bird dog and he has dedicated himself to helping people achieve this goal by refining the system that his father, Delmar Smith, started decades ago.

Check out the details HERE.

John Falk, well known author of many books and articles on gun dogs, recommends Joan Bailey’s latest book:
“Impeccable credentials seem to be in rare supply today. When they are truly found, however, it restores one’s faith. So, it is with Joan Bailey, author of a new book that’s a real gem for hunting dog owners, entitled How to Have the Best Trained Gun Dog. Here is a very fine, invaluable step-by-step manual, which, if faithfully followed to the letter, should guide any bird hunter to the promised land: ownership of a gun dog that performs as a really well trained field dog should, obediently and with confidence and success.

The new book is a logically natural segue from the author’s earlier tome: How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves. It provides straight forward explanations and extremely helpful illustrations leading to the principal goals of a good serviceable hunting dog, one that brings home the bacon every time. Every owner of anew gun dog pup would do well to combine both manuals to start that pup along the right road into the field. Naturally, though, the new book alone can shape an adult pointing, flushing of fetch breed to “best trained” status within several months.”

Click on either picture for more information

Just Kidding! This is NOT a militant farmer. This is NOT a radical splinter faction of the FOA.

The crops were up late this year, and Dave couldn't come out to play. So they killed two birds with one stone, so to speak.

Send us your hunting pictures! E-Mail them to orderdesk@DOGSUnlimited.com!

I have a story for you. 

I was elk hunting near Chambers Lake Colorado when I shot a nice bull elk.  It was in the evening, near dark and the rain had started.  After I shot the elk, I watched it run with the arrow still in it.  The elk bolted away from me about 100 yards then  went downhill from there.  We tracked blood and could tell it was a lung shot but we ran out of daylight and couldn't see anymore. 

We came back in the morning and looked all day for the elk and couldn't find it--what blood was left was washed away from the rain.  After giving up and being greatly disappointed--because I knew the elk was dead, but just couldn't locate it--I decided to go back to camp and grab my cell phone to go make some calls to let my hunting buddies back home know [what happened].  

On the way back to camp I realized we had new neighbors. I introduced myself and told them the story of my elk.  It just so happened to be Eric and Jane Cook with 2 horses and 3 dogs, one named Joe  These dogs were German Shorthairs. They usually stay a couple miles down the road but were unable to maneuver their trailer into the [camp] drive, so decided to come down to our drive.  Eric said old Joe could find that elk for me, and at first light in the morning that is what we would do.

[The next] morning we took the horses up the mountain with Joe leading the way.  We went as far as the horses could go, then went by foot to where I shot the elk. We followed the blood trail to the spot where the elk had headed down the mountain.  From there Joe did the rest. 

He had a GPS unit on his collar so Eric could keep track of him.  I was told just to stay at the last blood.  So I waited and before too long, I heard a faint yelling.  I wasn't sure so I just sat there. Then I heard it again, and sure enough my spirit began to rise as I knew old Joe had found my elk. 

I couldn't thank Eric and his dog Joe enough, for the elk I shot was a true trophy. Joe found that elk after 2 days of off and on rain.  He is an amazing dog. 

I will never forget the elk hunt of 2008. 

Thanks A Lot .
Bow hunter Dan Thomas from Ohio

Strideaway is an online publication dedicated to and promoting the great sport of American Field Trials and the dogs that compete in them. The objective is to present the voices and ideas of experienced trainers, handlers, breeders and other knowledgeable participants whether they are involved with All Age or Shooting Dogs, horseback or walking trials with particular emphasis on wild bird trials and the dogs that compete in them. Check them out!
www.strideaway.com

John from Wisconsin sent us this picture of his dog, Belle, and her new pups. He writes:
"I raised my litter in the heated whelping dish from Dogs U.  Absolutely one of the best dog products I've ever purchased."



To see the Whelping Nest, click HERE.
For a related article, go to March 2007 archive.

Stay patient in your training. Many of us get impatient or frustrated when we think our dog isn't learning fast enough or ignoring his training. Analyze what's going on and try to see it from a dog's point of view. Remember, they don't think like we do! This picture is a great example of keeping control--with a check cord--while offering encouragement and praise.

Even though this dog has gone through lots of repetitive training, he's very sure he wants to jump in on the bird in front of him. The check cord is a gentle reminder of who's in charge.

Everybody's doing it.

Get yours HERE.

 

 

Send us a picture at orderdesk@DOGSUnlimited.com! Don't forget to include your Good Dog!

 

The Kentuckiana Pointing Breeds Association held a fun match on April 19 & 20 in order to gain AKC licensed status for Field Trials. From the looks of all these smiling faces, they had a great time!