Puppies -Lets see them while they were still cute

[TallCrow]

What started three years ago as a farm companion for my 10 year old son turned out to be more dog than we bargained for. What else to do but jump into hunt tests and field trials!

Proud of little Smokey but extra proud of a shy boy who is now handling his own young dog in trials/tests!

[Gary Laudermilch]

Boys and dogs belong together and these two certainly prove that. Such a joy to see and hear.

[mobirdhunter]

Thanks to Rick for suggesting this thread.

It got me to thinking about our Peat. Peat was the only pup from a breeding of ours from two proven hunters that we had shot lots of birds over. The tragedy was that he lost his back foot (you can see this in the picture of him just after he was born) when his mother accidentally bit it off while attending to him at birth.

Peat's a special dog. I trained him and he has hunted faithfully (and hard!) in spite of his "disability," showing more courage than I would have under the circumstances, I'm sure. One season when our other veteran dog at the time mysteriously dropped dead while retrieving a grouse in northern Minnesota, Peat was my only trained dog (we only had a small pup at the time). Peat hunted as much as I would let him that season. Some hunts I had to help him get up out of ditches that were too steep, but he never lost his desire. Bird numbers were the worst I've ever experienced here in northern Missouri that season, but Peat and I went as often as prudent and managed to find a few coveys. In spite of the bad conditions, it was a special season.

Peat's ten now and in semi-retirement. He refuses to stay home when he knows we are going bird hunting, and is happy to get out if only to sniff the other dogs' birds. This past season, near the end of January, we had hunted out a farm in Iowa and were getting ready to head home. I had put my gun away and my wife let Peat out to stretch his legs while I was getting us ready to leave. After a minute or two she called that he was on point just down the fence line. I did not believe her, thinking it was just "Peat being Peat," but my wife urged me to come and look. I saw him down the fence line with as good a point as I'd ever seen him have. I had to uncase my gun, find two shells and hurry down to his point. He held the entire time and when I finally got to him and walked in, two quail got up. By the grace of God, I shot both for him. He was so happy he could barely contain himself. Needless to say, my wife and I shared his happiness. Time may take Peat away from us, but it cannot take that one season, nor that day from us.

Enjoy your pups. They leave us too quickly.

[Dean Romig]

And what a beautiful dog he is!

"Peat" for his coloring?





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[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

And what a beautiful dog he is!

"Peat" for his coloring?
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Thanks very much, Dean. We've been naming our dogs using the theme of honoring some part of where we hunt -- Sage, Briar, Lichen, Moss, Cedar, Alder...and Peat to date.

[Harold Pickens]

Fancy whelped 4 females and 1 male today, unfortunately 2 other males were stillborn.
All seem to be doing well. I am keeping a female, probably the one with the black mask. All the others are orange and white. I will be posting pictures as they get older. The pups were due tomorrow, but I knew last night they would come sooner, i could tell by her restlessness. My friend Mike, who gave Fancy to me from one of his litters, came over and helped my wife, as I left for work before she started delivering.

[Dean Romig]

Congratulations Harold!

Too bad about the two stillborns. We just have no control over these things.




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[mobirdhunter]

A wonderful occasion! Life begins for all with a litter. You will have your hands full...and enjoy every minute. Thanks for sharing your new pups with us.

[Harold Pickens]

Fancy and pups

[Harold Pickens]

Certainly, they are not much to look at now, but in a few weeks they will be a lot of fun.
Indoctrinated them to the sounds of the classical guitar tonight--their favorite song was "Blackbird", put them all to sleep. I think 4 out of the 5 pups already have homes, so will have no problems there.