Winning a grouse championship is not an easy accomplishment. Rather, it is one of the toughest titles to win in field trial competition. Handlers dedicate many hours of hard work afield with their dogs and, even then, most dogs that compete in these trials never win.

We are extremely happy for Greg and very proud of Peggy. Peggy was whelped at our kennel in the spring of 2006 out of Paul Hauge’s I’m Houston’s Image and Blue Silk. Peggy was trained initially and spent time in our training programs in North Dakota and Oklahoma. It was my pleasure to be part of Peggy’s training and development.

CH Satin From Silk is the second dog in her litter to earn a championship title in a wild bird field trial. Her sister, CH I’m Blue Gert, owned by Dave Moore, won the Region 19 Walking Shooting Dog Championship held on sharptail grouse in 2008.

Last year’s winner, CH Hifives Wrangler, a pointer female handled by Bruce Minard, earned runner-up laurels based on a solid race and three good woodcock finds.

RU-CH Magic’s Climb Kaytoo, owned by Steve Snyder and handled by me, was recognized as being one of two dogs closest to the winners. Kay hunted with purpose during her hour and pointed grouse three times, although only her second was counted by the judges. After flushing but unable to produce a bird on her first point and just as I was releasing her to relocate, a gallery member walked by and flushed the bird. Kay pointed for the third time in thick hazel and as the judge and I struggled in to flush, the reporter saw the grouse flush. That is field trialing…..and another reason it is so hard to win.

Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship

The Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship was plagued by inclement weather. I handled two dogs to nice performances. Northwoods Blue Ox and CH Houston’s Belle, owned by Paul Hauge, ran the first morning in heavy snow that clogged bells and rendered hearing extremely difficult. Ox managed a mannerly stop-to-flush on a grouse in his brace.

Belle had a beautiful find on a group of grouse hiding under some pines. She stood for more than 15 minutes while the judge and I searched. We finally found her by flushing the grouse and then seeing her on point not far away. She was shivering from the cold and soaking wet, but still on point. That is the stuff of champions!

Blue Shaquille had a good effort. He was found pointing a woodcock with beautiful style and perfect to shot. He also hunted in the nasty conditions with purpose and determination.  He backed his bracemate and pointed a grouse just as time expired.

CH I’m Blue Gert ran a solid hunting race and had a lofty woodcock find.

Moose River Grouse Dog Trial

We also competed in the Moose River Club’s trial in late October. The days were marred by cold rain and high winds but strong performances were laid down despite the bad weather.

We were pleased that Cold Creek Pearl and CH Houston’s Belle won second and third places, respectively.  

Cold Creek Pearl, a two-year-old out of Belle and Paul Hauge’s Blue Shaquille, is owned and was handled by Ian MacTavish. Pearl had a nice find on a mixed pair of grouse and woodcock and ran a huge, forward, hunting race. So far in her young career, Pearl has done an excellent job for Ian by placing in several grouse trials and AKC stakes. Pearl was born at our kennel and started on birds by us. We are very proud of her!

Eight-and-a-half-year-old Belle ran in a terrible rain storm and still managed to point two grouse. She is amazing. On her first find, I relocated her twice and she finally pinned the running bird. Her second find was some distance off course. It took some time to find her but she remained solid, soaked and shivering, until I arrived to flush her grouse.