Russ I know exactly what your going through. Gunners empty chair still brings tears to my eyes. I can't imagine life without a bird dog. Daisy is 7 and while she hasn't slowed down it's time for a new recruit and 4 is a bit much so I'm willing to wait for the passing of another one befor I bring in a new dog.
My wife will be PISSED to say the least but I figure it's better to ask forgiveness than permission especially in this instance.

............:eek: Oh my, no dog?

Hey, Rich. When is that litter of setters due? I am thinking of getting another setter. Old Speck died last summer, she was one hell of a dog. My male Shiner, is 11 today- still hunting well, but he is 11. Betty will be 7 in May, and is generally a joy to hunt with-just like her mother Speck. I have thought about breeding Shiner to Betty--that would be a father-to-daughter breeding, but what the hell-I do live in West Virginia! It would be easier to just buy a pup than produce and raise a litter myself.

Harold the couple is still just dateing. I can find out what the proposed breed date is and let you know. These are real nice setters.

Nice job on the avatar Rich.

Rich', Ithink you will like a setter, but they are a little highr maintanence than GSP's because of their coat. My preferance has always been to blck and white dogs, and females over males. We just got another 6" of snow this morning on top of the 4" of snow then freezing rain that came on Wed, so bird hunting is kind of shut down. Went to an Eagle scout award ceremcony last night for my friend Terry's son Trent---you met Terry at the bar in Channing when we had dinner. His other son AJ, is also an Eagle scout and now in the Air Fo rce Academy. Both of those boys can shoot grouse with the best of us--they have a setter that I gave them as a gift out of my last litter 7 years ago.

I'm impressed with the way these dogs hunt and are very mild mannered compared to Daisy who is rather high strung. The long hair is a downside when i have had shorthairs for the last 20 years. I'm willing to give one a try if it all works according to plan.

back in the 70's - a guy I worked with had a trial breed setter, his father in law had a Ryman setter. I loved the big old style dog, and would hunt more with him than the other dog. The older gentleman was at the house one day with his dog. My then wife ( not to be confused with the angel I married later ) saw the dog and asked "does it shed".

My friend's father in law gave her a puzzled look and said " you're going to run a vaccum anyway, aren't you"

:biglaugh:

I think I would have liked your friends father. My GSP's all shed, and yes the wife runs the vaccum.

Bird Dogs
 

"I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better". George Bird Evans 1906-1998

I visited GBE at Old Hemlock in June 1997 and spent a wonderful day with him and Kay. We talked on all sorts of subjects, mostly about the English Setters he had been breeding for so many years. GBE and Kay were fine people and the world of bird dogs is short two friends that truly loved their avocations.

The photo is a print of the only known watercolor produced for the market by GBE. I believe the dog, Tony's Mayhawk Speck, was his first bird dog in 1931. The print provenance is somewhat murky, and once in a while I doubt the veracity of those that offered them for sale. But, I'm glad I own it and the 22 books written by GBE over the years.