I'm Houston's Image

I’m Houston’s Image, call name Jake, was a 45-pound, tri-color English setter with a beautiful blocky head and square build. He naturally backed and retrieved and was an outstanding wild bird dog. Jake was stylish in motion and would take your breath away on point with his lofty pose.

I had always dreamed of owning a classic grouse dog—like the ones in the  old paintings.  It would be an even-masked, tri-color setter male with a blocky build.  He would be big and powerful with a square head and deep brown eyes. He would be a strong bird finder and would naturally back and retrieve. 

Houston

Houston was an extraordinary gun dog owned by Dr. Paul Hauge of Centuria, Wisconsin.  He possessed all the trademarks of a Hauge dog:  strong bird finder, extreme loftiness on point and a smooth, effortless gait.

Houston was an English setter with a solid white body and a tri-color patch on the right side of his head.  He weighed about 48 pounds and was physically strong with a solid build, medium leg, medium coupling and a blocky head.  He naturally backed and retrieved.

I have been fortunate to have been closely associated with many outstanding gun dogs and field trial champions over the past 20 years and am writing profiles of some of these dogs to bring them to life.  

These profiles will include strengths and weaknesses, triumphs and tribulations.  Hopefully they will also provide insight.  These dogs came from varied backgrounds with different builds and temperaments but were believed in by their owners and became, in time, legendary dogs. 

Enjoy!

While October is usually our favorite month, it was bittersweet this year as Blue Smoke was laid to rest.  He was diagnosed with several lung tumors in late August and hung on like a true champion until the pain was too great to bear.