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Welcome to the Northwoods Bird Dogs website. Please bookmark us and visit this page for info on
planned breedings, training progress, field trials and other newsworthy items. |
Sunday, July 18. 2010
One of the tools we use in the education of our puppies is a stakeout chain. Sometimes called a chain gang, the stakeout chain is a long chain with huge eye bolts at each end through which stakes are pounded into the ground. Shorter chains are attached along its length to fasten individual dogs. The stakeout chain is also a great tool when traveling. It’s an easy way to care for multiple dogs…plus it keeps the dogs secure and out of trouble. We put them on the chain to relieve themselves, feed and water them and to allow them to simply relax and be outside.
Stakeout chains can be made various ways. For many years I have made my own and now know exactly what works best. My stakeout chains hold six dogs and are 32’ long. Six drop chains are evenly spaced about 65” apart along the chain and are 18” long. (You don’t want them too long or the dogs can get into trouble with their neighbors along the chain.)
We begin putting puppies on the stakeout chain when they’re about eight weeks old. They get accustomed to physical restraint in general and learn, specifically, to give to pressure on their neck. We attach each puppy to their own drop chain and then leave them alone.
The chain gives enough so that when one puppy tugs, those next to it get a tug, also. Most puppies are uncomfortable at first and bark, pull or sometimes, just freeze. In time, though, they give in to the tugs without thinking and that’s the response we want. The transition to the leash or checkcord is now fairly easy.
By leaving the puppies to figure it out on their own, we’re not perceived as causing the restraint. In fact, after they settle down and we bring fresh water, they think we’re the good guys! I agree with Bill Tarrant, who in his book, Best Way To Train Your Gundog - The Delmar Smith Method, wrote, “The best way to train a pup or dog is to let another pup or dog do it.
Thursday, July 15. 2010
Most businesses are nothing without the dedication and reliability of hard-working employees. Northwoods Bird Dogs is no different.
Three years ago, Jerry and I took a big step when we decided that we couldn’t do it all ourselves anymore. The business had grown, thankfully, and to serve our clients in the way we wanted to, Jerry needed help with training and kennel chores.
Through the grapevine we heard about Zac Colton, who was 15 years old at the time. After meeting and talking to Zac and his parents (and his parents checking us out, too!), we hired him. Zac lives about 15 miles away on a hobby farm with four horses and a couple of dogs. Now a high school senior, he is involved with basketball and golf.
We feel extremely fortunate that Zac has returned each summer to work for us.
Our neighbor, Jeff Hintz, comes over three days a week to help. He’ll do anything but his main job is as shooter. He works for free access to our wireless home network so after work each day he stops by the house and downloads whatever he needs to his iPad.
Jeff is retired from a successful career in the Twin Cities and who, along with his friend, Ron Watson, has owned a chunk of Pine County land for 25 years. The two are avid grouse and woodcock hunters and spend a good share of their summers and falls as our neighbors at their hunting lodge.
Thank you, Zac and Jeff!
Tuesday, July 13. 2010
The puppies from our Blue Riptide x Blue Ghost litter were eight weeks old last weekend and Jerry and I had a steady stream of families here to pick out their puppy.
This was the second Northwoods Bird Dog puppy for two of the buyers. As we all know, it’s a small world. In 2006, Kevin Sipple first bought a wonderful tri-color female that is a littermate to this litter's dam, Blue Ghost. This year he picked a matching, even-marked, tri-color female. Dwayne Splan is also back. His first puppy was a male out of Magic’s Rocky Belleboa x Old Glory Bluebelle in 2008 and, again, he was on the list for another male.
Other buyers included Chris Bye and Roberta Scherf from Wisconsin and the Nielsen and Head families from Minnesota.
It’s a sad day for me when the puppies go…but we’re grateful to the new owners and happy for the puppies.
Wednesday, June 30. 2010
 Hey Jerry and Betsy:
Great to see you guys…Again, we really appreciate all your care and attention to these pups for their first 8 wks. They are so very much better socialized, confident and relaxed among people as a result. Our pup took about a half hour to get acquainted with her new surroundings, and then she acted like she'd been living here for her entire life. My wirehair treated her gently, and they have been getting along fine. I'm happy to report that she didn't make a noticeable sound last night--to our great surprise and delight. She regaled us most of the way home when she wasn't sleeping, but I put her kennel right next to our guy Chance last evening, and that may have made all the difference.
Matt, Owner of Brio
Thursday, June 24. 2010
The Fourth of July is fast approaching. This important national holiday is a great time to kick back with friends and family over a barbeque grill and enjoy a favorite cold beverage or two.
The weekend has also become synonymous with big displays of fireworks…and an occasion when more than a few puppies have been made gun shy by bottle rockets, firecrackers and other pyrotechnic explosions.
Over the years Betsy and I have heard too many sad stories of young dogs that were badly frightened—or worse—by loud fireworks. Puppies have become so scared that they panic, run away and are lost or hit by a vehicle. Others have chewed out of crates, sometimes breaking teeth and scratching until their paws are bloody.
Fortunately, the solution is easy. Simply isolate your puppy during the duration of the fireworks. Put it in a crate in a place safe from the noisy explosions. Consider your basement or garage. Keep in mind that the dog’s sense of hearing is much more sensitive than ours.
Coming next: The proper way to introduce gunfire to your puppy.
Puppies aren’t born gun shy..it’s a man-made problem usually caused by loud noises. Hunting dogs require a planned introduction to gunfire. The best way is gradually.
Tuesday, June 22. 2010
 What a cute puppy pile! Most of the litter is taking a post-breakfast nap but I caught the orange-and-white male just waking up.
Our litter of five from CH Centerpiece x Ms. Pearl’s Delight are 28 days old today. Jerry and I are very happy that Pearl is keeping them all gleaming white and with full tummies. Today, though, we’ll start weaning them.
The puppies are darling! Most are about the same size but one male is a bit smaller. The coloration is finally coming out on the orange-and-white female….and it is a lighter orange than on the male. Most are very even marked and a couple have very sweet freckles.
 Chris Mathan, a friend and owner of The Sportsman’s Cabinet, visited us while in Minnesota on business recently. We have known and worked with Chris for many years. She is a marketing specialist geared toward the outdoors and developed the brand and website for both Northwoods Bird Dogs and Dazzle Gardens, my horticulture business.
In addition, Chris is an excellent photographer and has provided us exquisite photographs of dogs, training sessions, flowers and landscapes. She has an extraordinary sense of style and a keen artistic eye. She perfectly captures her subjects and her photos are, literally, breathtaking.
Chris and I also collaborated on a 2010 calendar project, Why We Love Flowers.
We feel fortunate that Chris brought her camera and took time to photograph some of our dogs. Luckily also, the pasture was in full bloom when Chris photographed Blue and Cash, 9-week-old littermates out of Northwoods Blue Ox and Houston’s Belle’s Choice.
Check out more of Chris’ photography—including shots of Bird Dogs, Field Trials, Upland Hunting and garden photos—and her other work at www.sportsmanscabinet.com.
Saturday, June 12. 2010
 Ridge Creek Cody won the 2010 Bill Conlin Setter Shooting Dog Derby Award. This award honors the top English setter shooting dog derby in horseback trials and, with this year’s wine, Cody set a record by amassing the most points ever for a male. Cody is owned by Larry Brutger and was handled by professional Shawn Kinklaar.
Second in point standings was his litter brother, Houston’s Blackjack, owned by Frank LaNasa and Leroy Peterson, and handled by Frank.
Congratulations to these fine young setters and their owners and handlers.
Northwoods Bird Dogs is especially proud of these dogs. The dam, CH Houston’s Belle, was bred and is owned by Dr. Paul Hauge. I trained and handled Belle to two championships and four runner-up championships in grouse trials from Minnesota to Pennsylvania. Due to her outstanding and versatile talent, and with Paul’s blessing, I also handled her to horseback wins on sharptail grouse.
When it came time to breed Belle, Paul and I worked together to choose the best sire. When we saw CH Can’t Go Wrong at several grouse trials, we were impressed with his desire, fluid gait and uncommon bird-finding ability. The litter was born in January 2008 here at Northwoods Bird Dogs and was raised by Betsy and me.
Both Cody and Blackjack returned to us for training. Cody went to North Dakota during his first summer and I worked Blackjack on Oklahoma quail and ruffed grouse and woodcock in 2009.
The breeding goal of Paul and NBD is to produce setters that have the physical build, instincts, brains and bidability to adapt to their owners’ hunting. According to the observations of Mike Husentis, reporter of the US Quail Shooting Dog Futurity, we are meeting our goals.
Cody’s lineage traces to dogs that were primarily campaigned in the woods and foot trials. Cody’s performance here was proof positive that good dogs adjust to their handler’s wishes and to the type of terrain on which they hunt regardless of where they began.
~ Mike Husentis
Friday, June 11. 2010
 This is the cutest litter ever. But then, as you know, Jerry and I always say that.
Even though the six puppies from our Blue Riptide x Blue Ghost (Cotton) litter are walking and getting stronger legs, they still sleep a lot.….and usually piled on top of each other. Cotton makes the most of the opportunity and heads outside to check out any pigeons flying around.
The puppies will be four weeks old this weekend and we’ll begin the weaning process. They grow up so fast!
Saturday, June 5. 2010
 Happy new owners picked up their puppies from the Northwoods Blue Ox x Houston’s Belle’s Choice litter in the last 24 hours. We’re down now to the four we’re keeping and it looks pretty lonely in their run. We know we can’t keep them all; more importantly, we’re thrilled for the puppies and their owners.
Two of them are three-time puppy buyers from us including a buyer from our very first litter in 1995. This time he drove—marathon style—from his home in northeastern Oklahoma to pick out his female. Another is an avid (maybe manic is a better word) hunter and he also chose a female to go with his previous two males. The final female went to a wonderful family with three sons. Who will have more fun in that home—the puppy or the kids?
Monday, May 31. 2010
 The weather has been warm and beautiful and the puppies don’t need the whelping nest as much……but it seems they still like to curl up with their littermates.
Their eyes are open now and they are getting more active. Ghost continues to be a wonderful dam and we are extremely grateful that all are healthy and robust.
We mistakenly reported the litter breakdown. There are 2 tri-color males, 2 tri-color females and 2 black-and-white females.
 Ms. Pearl Delight whelped five puppies during the evening hours of May 25. There is a good mix: two orange-and-white (one male and one female) and three liver-and-white (one male and two females). These puppies are big! They are almost as large as Ghost’s litter…..and they are 10 days older.
Pearl is quite protective of her puppies and is utterly content to spend most of her hours nursing and caring for them.
Wednesday, May 19. 2010
We are very excited about an upcoming pointer litter which crosses CH Centerpiece with Ms. Pearl Delight. Pearl is due to whelp May 25.
CH Centerpiece is a handsome, 55-pound, liver-and-white male. He is also a six-time champion, two-time runner-up champion with excellent focus on finding birds and lofty style on point. Centerpiece has an outstanding pedigree full of dogs that have proven themselves on wild birds, including ruffed grouse and woodcock.
Pearl also is liver and white with a great attitude and personality. She has experience on all kinds of wild birds with uncommon bird-finding ability and natural staunchness.
See Litters page for photos and pedigrees.
Tuesday, May 18. 2010
 During the early morning hours of Saturday, May 15, Ghost whelped six puppies—three males and three females. All are either tri-color or black and white…which is wonderful but we’re sorry to lose Ghost’s beautiful coloration of orange and her dark nose and eyes.
The sire of this litter is the extremely handsome and talented Blue Riptide, out of our excellent nick of Blue Chief x Blue Blossom.
All are doing just fine and first-time dam Ghost is very attentive and protective.
Thursday, May 6. 2010
The seven puppies—all-tricolor—out of Northwoods Blue Ox and Houston’s Belle’s Choice (Jill) are healthy and growing fast. They walk/waddle around the whelping nest and play gently (so far!) with each other.
Jill is still providing all the nutrition for the litter but this weekend we’ll begin the weaning process.
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