My new setter Jesse
 

My new year old started setter is doing better than I expected. The guy who trained her did a great job with her. She is not bumping birds and is holding her points. No breaking. All indications are that she will be a true grouse dog. I'm going to try to kill as many birds as I can over her this year to get her a bunch of experience. I took two with her this morning, two yesterday and three the day before. And she handles beautifully. I am very, very pleased. I'm going to send her to a trainer in the spring to work on her retrieving. Thats the only area that needs work. She picks up the bird but doesn't bring it back to me.

That's a keeper for sure!!

Beautiful, and being mostly white easy to see in the grouse woods too.

You have a fine companion there, congratulations.

Wonderful Tom! Beautiful setter.

His “ticking” (spots) will continue to develope and darken til he’s well over 2 years old.






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Thanks for the comments guys. She is on her way to becoming a true grouse dog, I believe. She is already cautious and points from a distance. Two things I look for. I've killed about a dozen birds over her in the short time I've had her. I've gotten very lucky with this dog. What she needs now is plenty of grouse shot over her this season. I'm trying my best. I live only 10 minutes from my coverts so I can hunt anytime I feel like it.

I will send her to a trainer in the spring to work on her retrieving and make her steady to wing and shot. Wing and shot is not really necessary but I like my dogs to be totally finished.

Jesse and I got rained out today but we'll be hunting tomorrow. I cooked a grouse dinner for a few of my friends. It was a great meal with sweet potatoes and fresh asparagus with hollandaise sauce. It was a nice end to a very good week of hunting.