Testimonials
Chuck,
Just thought I would drop you a note on Rusty. So Far this year he has hunted for
Blue Grouse, sage grouse, ducks, chukars and pheasants. He has done outstanding
field work. His skills are incredible. He listens to his whistle command, hand
signals, pointing is second to none, and retrieving spectacularly.
Your breeding program has produced an outstanding hunting companion, Great personality and loyal friend.
In about a week we are leaving for Oregon to hunt valley quail. Rusty has already proven himself on them last fall, but I expect he will outdo himself again.
Thanks Again
Randy Weatherford
Gunnison, Colorado
Tom Lally, a hunter from Washington State, bought a male puppy from me a few years ago. Tom hadn’t had a bird dog for over twenty years. He admitted that he didn’t know much about training a dog. I advised him to do four things for his young pup. Bring him into the family, continue the socialization that we started, and bond with him. Finally, get him out into the wild bird field and put him into as many wild birds as possible. Don’t worry about him making mistakes. Let him learn and have fun. Tom followed my advice. He took his puppy, Yogi, everywhere with him. He had Yogi in the house every day, playing and spending time with his family. Tom and his young son took Yogi out hunting every weekend during hunting season. They did not expect a finished dog the first season. They were patient and allowed Yogi to explore, learning how to search and find birds. Yes, Yogi made mistakes; he flushed birds, chased them, and did all the other transgressions of youth. However, each hunt Yogi got better, he gained more confidence and started to figure out how to find and handle wild birds. He was having fun. Right after Thanksgiving I got an e-mail from Tom:
“Hi Chuck and Blanche - Yogi grew up today and am I ever relieved. My son and I went hunting a river bottom area and Yogi searched the area and found and pointed five pheasants. He retrieved the three pheasants that we hit. One of them was wounded and he had to track the bird for a good ten minutes before he found it. He retrieved the live bird to hand. The area was a public hunting spot and the birds had been pushed frequently so they didn’t hold very long, but Yogi did all of the work himself. I thought I would share that bit of Thanksgiving news with you. I know that you know, but Yogi just turned six months old yesterday. For six months old I think he is fantastic.”--Tom Lally
Our friend, Gary Popiel, bought a wirehair from us a few years ago and trained Patches using our methods. Gary stopped in at the end of the 2005 season to chat. He told me that Patches had over ten invitations to go hunting. Fortunately for Gary, Patches was allowed to bring along a friend: Gary. Gary’s hunting friends have both pointers and Labs. However, they know that Patches will go into the high, tough cover and find pheasants better than their pointers, and she will retrieve ducks in cold water where their retrievers don’t like to go. Gary smiled and said, “I get invited to hunt on some great ranches in Montana because of my dog. She is the best dog I have ever owned and she was the easiest to train. She practically trained herself. Patches is now nine. When you have your next litter, reserve a pup for me. I am sold on versatile gun dogs.”