Russell Irish Setters

So here is a good update on what I've been up to lately and on the accompllishment of Russell dogs here and elsewhere:

I travelled to Arkansas in late October to run dogs at the Irish Setter Club of America's National Field Trial and to ride and watch the braces of the NFT.  Russell dogs Jack, Meg, Sister and John competed.  John, Sister and Meg ran in the Derby Classic and all did a good job for Pro Trena Cardwell.  Trena elected to pick Meg up despite a decent run as she began to slow slightly and with no bird contact it was decided that "it was not about today" and that Meg would bet benefit by ending her day early.  Sister and John each ran well, and had a nice point in the call backs to end up third and fourth - not bad for their first ever derby stake; they turned a year old during the NFT. 

Jack was not himself during the Open Championship and I gave Trena the thumbs up during a water break: thumbs up meaning put a rope on him.  He was feeling much better later in the week and ran REALLY well for me in the Amateur Championship, but was unfortunately birdless.  He did a nice job though, especially for his first hour stake.  He never quit and I felt quite proud of him - not so much me, as I had a few handling lessons from both my scout and my judge at the end of the brace!  Live and Learn, at least my dog did a good enough job that both of them felt obligated to let me know how I had not helped the dog out much!  LOL!

I rode all the braces of the NFT and have to recommend attending to anyone who can.  It is a really fun trial, very positive, lots of fun, and great to see the red dogs for an entire week! 

Jack then travelled out to California with Trena where he won his first Open Gun Dog Stake and placed in an Open Limited Gun Dog Stake.  YIPEEEE! 

Hope delivered her pups on  the 26th of November and all of them are doing very well.

Carie called ot say that Rumour - Can Ch Russell's Grapevine finished her Can Companion Dog title with three High in Class and a third in Class!!!!  Way to go team.

I have recieved many emails from the owners of the Tate X Rumour litter that their first hunting season has gone really well with some of the pups showing finished bird work in their first season - WOW! and that retrieves are going well too.  Pretty cool!!! 

Russell and Raisin both received clear ratings on their PRA Rod cone 4 tests which has made those who have their pups here and in Europe very happy.  Their son Eli in Germany has continued to do well in the show ring and in the field - including versatile tests - and has been used at stud there a number of times.   Their daughter Kiera has a litter just over a year old who are performing well too, and of course we have Hope pups here.   Donna in BC has a son who has already gotten an obedience title, and I am sure we will be hearing more about Keeper as time goes on.  Kiss in Norway is doing well too.  It is a nice litter. 

That's it for now phewf!

Hope delivered 11 pups in just over 4 hours yesterday afternoon!  She is an excellent mother and the pups are all great looking, calm and quiet.  Check out the litter page for more information and photos.

AT LONG LAST!!!!!  Mary is in heat and on her way to Jack who is currently at Chukarhill Kennel in Eastern Washington State.  After the breeding, which should happen in the next couple of weeks, Mary will return home to me to have her litter, and Jack will go on the field trial circuit, including the National Field Trial in Arkansas.  I am sooo excited.  After spending most of the summer in hospital, this will be a welcome positive!!!  I can't wait for this litter, they should be VERY nice dual (show and field/hunting) dogs!  Keep your eye on the site for updates!

Mary had her hips OFÁ Radiographed last week in Ohio by Jean Webb who is helping me to look after Mary right now.  The hips looked great by all accounts, so now we just wait until the results come back.  There is a wait list forming for this litter both because of Mary and Jack themselves, but also because of the incredibly success of Cassie Allen's litter by Jack's brother Joey out of Mary's Dam Reba.   Those dogs from Cassie's litter are two now and they are doing incredibly well both in the field and in the show ring with Fiona finishing her show championship last week. 

The pedigrees differ slightly insofar as Mary is Reba's daughter by my Norwegian import Russell.  SO the pedigree is going to combine the dual pedigrees of Russell, Karrycourt, Mythodical, Bright Star, Starbrite, Saeterelva (Norway) right up in the first few generations and includes two living dual champions in Raisin and Rip.  I am very excited about this litter and can't wait to get going on it.

I have been having a few health problems lately, but have arrangements in place for a friend to support the puppy raising so that this litter will recieve the same or better care, socialisation, training, and exposure that all Russell pups get.  We will make sure that the temperament and puppy testing and structural evaluations are all done.  Next week I will send out a copy of the litter contrtact to my wait list, and we can begin the process of formalising deposits and wish lists.

To my past puppy folks, please accept my apologies for not getting your puppy's photos up on the site in a timely manner.  I have only limited access to emails at the hospital, and no access to photo editing, so this blog will have to suffice for now.  Thanks every body, hug your red dogs!

Susan

This coming weekend the BCABPC will host the Canadian Chukar championships near Kamloops BC.  This will be John's first trial and Meg's last as a pup.  Jack and Hope will run in the broke stakes despite having had absolutely no work lately.  I've been feeling poorly and a short hospitalization has thrown a monkey wrench in my tune-up schedule.  Well, that and the bobcat that ate all but 3 of my pigeons!    Other Russell dogs running at this trial will be CArrie's Rumour (Dam of the 13 pups from november) andTwist - aptly named 'Russell's Natural Disaste after breaking her leg as an 8 week old pup.  Twist is coming along well for Carrie.  Finger's crossed that I will convince the docs to get me out of here today! 

For those of you asking, I have put up a new page for Lohmann's Paddy O'Leary which can be accessed via the "Our Males" page.  They are from last fall.  Paddy continues to do well living with Rhys in Saskatchewan, and I do plan on seeing Paddy and getting his OFA done soon.  I hope to have a litter sired by Paddy in the coming year.  Thanks for your continued interest in this nice young German Import dog. 

Goose's owner Karen and I blasted down to Colorado last week to support the ISCA's bid to make the Walking Championship an AKC reality.  The trial at Rocky Mountain Roosters was a lot of fun with the possible exception of the high winds hte first day.  It was fun to see so many folks that I had not seen for ages, and fun to see a bunch of dogs I had not had a chance to see for ages as well.  Meg was the star from our camp with her second place in the puppy stake.  Jack and Hope each had their own little issues - nothing so humbling as running green broke dogs!  Raisin got to have a little fun in the non-regular hunting dog stake which she won - the ribbon was not the important part though, it was the doggy smile on her face and the sheer joy of running her with no pressure on either of us!   It brings tears to my eyes to watch her work, she is just a great dog. 

It was fun to travel with Karen and for her to get to run at a national event.  Goose was much like my two "broke" dogs though, so it is back to the training fields with them all. 

Little John had fun on the road with us, and soon it will be time to run him and I can't wait for this hunting season!  Always fun!

I went with friend Karen and Goose to the Irish Setter Club of Seattle field trial.  Meg ran in the all pointing breed puppy stake and placed second!  That makes two for two for little Meg!  Her sisters also ran in their first stake with owners Chris and Caryn and showed signs of brilliance.  Jack ran well and handled a bird properly and ended up with his first sernior stake placement by going fourth in the Open Gun dog Stake.  Our friend Ed Meyer won again with his Rio dog, what a nice team they are making.  Karen ran with Goose who had a breach of manners in their debut together.  C'est la vie. 

Karen, Chris and I have decided to go to the ISCA's Walking Championship, field trial and hunt test in Colorado in order to support the club's efforts to get an AKC recognised walking championship going. 

John (Russell's Nuthin'RunsLikeADeere) has had a bit of training this week and he continues to impress me.  His sister Twist (Russell's Natural Disaster) and owner Carrie went out with Phil and ran her on quail.  Twist did a great job by all accounts, and is learning to bust cover like mad!  Apparently she also did a good impression of a sea bird by going into the ocean after some birds. 

We ran pups and broke dogs yesterday again and I am so pleased with them all.  Meg is the BIG STAR right now, she has relly figured out what this game is about.  She ran well and independantly and handled very well.  The baby pups are getting more independant and less reliant on each other when down,   Jack and Hope ran broke and had an honouring lesson as well.  Hope's range is coming back, and Jack's pattern is as well.  It is interesting to see them adjust after they learn to be broke.  (Which means that they point, and then stay on point while I flush the bird and fire the gun.)  All of them have handled this extended road trip very well, and all have learned a lot about social manners and travel.  They have no difficulty with eating up while on the road which is a great thing. 

Grandma Raisin is also enjoing her trip, she is a bit jealous of the young'uns getting to run when she does not, but a cookie or two seems to appease her!  She loves being able to do whatever she likes when she gets a turn to run!  And being the one allowed into the hotel room...not that she's spoiled..no not Raisin!

Jack and Hope made their senior stake debut.   Jack handled a stop to flush and had a pretty decent race.  He took too many steps on another  STF on a couple of birds, though, and was picked up.  Not too bad a beginning, but not good enough.  Hope had a slow start, then was getting into her stride when she came upon her bracemate on point.  She initially backed the bracemate, then moved in front and stole point, the birs went up and it was too much for the brace of green dogs, and though she stopped when asked, her breach of manners earned her the rope.  The beginning showed glimmers of brilliance, but was not good enough for either of them to stay down for the entire brace. 

I got to see Ed Meyer get Rio around for the first time in a senoir stake today with numerous finds and honours - good work team and a well earned blue to you both!!!

We'll trial again next weekend, so wish us luck.

The pups got to play with a nice young lady all da on Saturday, so they hada  blaast.