...sounds familiar.

But, back to your dogs -

Bruce, when is the new pup's 1st birthday?

Dean, she is just 2 now, so she's not a new pup, and has two seasons under her. The first, she was six months old and following Shortstop and pointing when he did and working back when he did and getting snarled at when she busted birds. The second and last fall, Shortstop could no longer hunt hard and keep up the pace, so she was primary and Shortstop did hunt and sat down or laid down when we stopped in the field, and Triple would not stop hunting, even when I was tuckered. When Charlie and I went on our grand adventure to western North Dakota and hunted sharptails in those absolutely rugged and beautiful Little Missouri Badlands, Teddy Rooseveldt country, we didn't even take Shortstop and took only her. I posted a lot of photos here about that hunt and they turned out to be immensely popular. I sure advise people who can walk hard and who have dogs and feet that can stand it, to go out to Medora, Rough Rider country, and have the trip of a lifetime.

John Dunkle hunted over her on her first season and wanted to drive home with her and a little D 20ga that I have , he didn't mention when he would bring them back.


( I say unloved about Charlie's dogs, but Charlie is right now a couple hundred miles from me picking up his two who have been at doggie charm school the last couple months. Charlie can hardly wait to see them and see what they have learned. He talks to them and believes they can actually understand what he is saying. I understand Dave Weber, a buddy of Charlies from Ste. Gen and another Parker guy, bought a set of pink doggie thorn booties for one of them for our SW trip. )

So, Charlie and I are planning a Jan or Feb trip to the southwest for a couple weeks, AZ or NM and walk the hills, draws and plains, eat enchiladas, drink margaritas, and shoot quail. I'll have Triple for that and between her and Charlie's two setters, we should have plenty of dog power. Triple likes to curl up against me, but that darn Charlie, he won't even allow his two unloved and uncared for setters in bed with him. All these setters are Llewellins, the little, fast setters that seem to do better out here in big country than the bigger, blocky, grouse dog setters of the east.

I would have most DEFINITELY might have brought back that that little D 20GA in a few years...! Triple, well - no way!!!.. She'd fit in with my pups all too well, is my guess :)

Again, Bruce, sorry about your loss of Shortstop..

John

Sounds like one of these dogs that will never really go away, never be far from one's thoughts, that will be the standard that every dog afterwards will be measured against. A man is lucky to have one dog like that in a lifetime. Carry on Bruce. Hopefully there will be another for you.

So sorry to hear of your loss, Bruce. We lost a 9 month old pup a week ago, a little GSP named Lacie. (my wife's dog) and have been reeling from the hurt.
I bought her a new pup from a litter out of Northern Utah just two days later. (over her objections of ever getting another dog) Drove all day, and half the night to get it done.
The healing is beginning. A new pup doesn't replace the old love lost, but they are powerful medicine.
Here's the drive home:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a19...2/NewPuppy.jpg
Cathy and new pup getting to know each other:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a19...gx2/Puppy2.jpg
Here's to the healing!

Todd, thanks so much, I am so sorry about the puppy's life cut short and my best for the new pup. Cathy looks happy and content .

Dogs are blessings for mankind.

Bruce: We are men and are not show emotions, but there nothing wrong with grieving the

Bruce: I'm sorry to hear of the loss of Shortstop - a dog I never knew, sharing life's journey with a man I've never met but in cyber-space. All dogs are special and a hunting dog is so inextricably connected to the hunter that separation seems impossible - yet we know it is inevitable. With each passing, I have proved my tear ducts work. We cannot "replace" but we do welcome yet another, until our own journey achieves its end. Until then, enjoy the dog with you now, anticipate the hunts yet to come and recall past memories with pleasure.

Best regards,
Jack

Bruce: Sorry to hear of your loss, I enjoyed hunting behind Shortstop with you. Shortstop was a strong, dominant dog that was a joy to hunt with. I hope Triple begins to fill the loss of Shortstop as your look to the fall hunting season.

Thank you,
Tom Wooden

Gosh. I am really touched by the outpouring of condolences from so many who hunted over him and those who did not. He wanted to be dominant and he wanted the birds first above all else. Thank you very much, so many wonderful people.