Dogs at rest with the seasons over
 

The grouse season has come to a close in NY, unfortunately. Duck season has been over for a while. I really pounded the grouse since I bought my year old started setter in early January. We took a lot of birds with my little Jesse and she handled the birds better than I had a right to expect for a year old dog. I got lucky with this one. She turned out to be among the best year old dogs I’ve owned. Always under control and she doesn’t crowd the birds or bump them. I used an E collar initially with her but no longer need it. She’ll need to go back to a trainer in the spring to sharpen up her retrieving and make her steady to wing and shot. Then she’ll be finished. I expect this dog to become a true grouse dog when she gets another season under her belt. All she needs is to be hunted hard, which I will do with my grouse coverts only minutes away. I’m looking forward to the 2019 season already.

The waterfowl season has been over for Clark, the golden retriever, for a while. But we still spend plenty of time with the ducks in the Great Swamp observing and just enjoying them. It’s one of my favorite things. We’ll head into the swamp this afternoon and stay there till dark spying on the wintering mallards and blacks.

Clark and Jesse often share the same chair when resting. The Parkers in the background are my hunting guns. I use them all during the season. Each has a specific purpose and use. I particularly enjoy the 10 bores for waterfowl. I load 1 ¼ oz, 1200 fps 10 bore cartridges which is perfect for my shooting. Most of my shooting is done about ¾ of a mile hike in and the heavy 10 bores are a tad heavy to carry in, but I don’t really care. I enjoy shooting them too much to leave them home.

In their natural state.

https://i.imgur.com/kN161Nvl.jpg

Tom I like your choice of dogs and shotguns!

Jay those are fine looking pups as well!

Sherwood relaxing on a Ranger ride

Yours dogs have the life. Hunted hard during the season and the run of house during the off season. That is the life for the hunting dog.

Most hunting dogs we have had would prefer to hunt year round. Summer vacation is the time they look forward to the least. Sort of like us, though.

Hunting season may be over but field trial season is just beginning

A couch full of dogs is a wonderful sight. What type of dog is that big fella? The eye patch is great.....kind of makes you wish you could jump into the picture and hug that big head. The setters are beautiful. My Jesse is a small setter and not as pretty as the bigger types such as those in the picture and Dean's beautiful female. But she is wonderful anyway and I love the hell out of her. She is very affectionate and I must admit that she sleeps in my bed with me. I spoil the heck out of my dogs. I couldn't live without them. They bring an incredible amount of joy, in and out of the field.

Personally I like small Setters. My last one, Ringo, was a small framed male dog that could really find birds.

Raider and Hobbs are in recharge mode also.....

Grace will take her siestas wherever she can find room.

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Dean, Where do you get that amber colored nyquil?

The family room couch is a great place for everyone to relax. A camp bunk with some sun is nice too!

We hunted quail over setters in January. It was great to watch them work.

I am partial to Brittanies, though

dean that sure is a big cat how much does it weight....our lab sleeps like yours....belly up...charlie

Brittany's are great dogs Mills. They were my dogs of choice years ago. The best grouse dog I ever owned was a Brittany. As I mentioned, I switched over to setters because they are more traditional in the grouse coverts, in my opinion, and they generally tend to be a bit more stylish on point. But I still have a very fond spot for them. Who knows, I might own another some day.

Ahem.... I think you got that backwards Tom...

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I stand corrected Dean. You are absolutely right.

The dogs don't understand that we are not hunting any more. Soon we'll have woodcock in and should be able to get out for some runs. Until then, they have to deal with "house life" sometime traveling with us and generally being included in as many things as possible. Every dog gets his/her own time whenever possible -- going on a short trip, getting breakfast at the drive through, riding shotgun to the farm. With four, it takes time and creativity to make them each feel special -- time well spent.

Beautiful Gordon's Gary. They are absolutely classic gun dogs. We see far too few of them today. I always wanted to own a Gordon, but never had the opportunity. You are a fortunate man to have a house full of them. I am in totally sync with you about making sure each of our dogs feel special.

Thanks, Tom. We fell in love with Gordons after our first one many years ago. She was a dog bred to be hunted from horseback and was a challenge to train and handle. But, she was a bird finding machine. I've also been fortunate to have two "once-in-a-lifetime" males that handled all the birds we hunt and were true grouse dogs. I know Gordons are not for everyone, but they are great companions, true one family dogs, and too smart for their own (and sometimes our) good. And, generally, they have extraordinary noses.

I enjoy all bird hunting breeds, but setters in particular, no matter their color or country of origin. To me they are like a finely engraved shotgun -- especially a Parker! -- beautiful to behold and a pleasure to live with.

I've enjoy reading of your pup's progress and have appreciated the photos. Keep us posted.

I ran cash for a half hour today, we go to a snowmobile trail, there is still 1.5 feet of snow up here. He always wants to head into the woods, I am afraid he will pull something in that much snow. My wife and I are taking him to a pheasant farm this sunday an hour south of us there is no snow on the ground. When we first got cash, we put him in his kennel in the living room just like the previous owners did. We both have 2 story homes, so I figured I would keep his surroundings similar so he would adjust easier. That first night I ended up on the recliner with my fingers through the kennel wire. I woke up in the middle of the night with a numb arm, as soon as I moved, he woke up. He made a big sigh, and went back to sleep. Now he sleeps upstairs on a love seat next to our bed. He took over our bed for his naps like this picture.