Author: janetbob

Straight Forward, our four year old setter female, won the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational April 10,11,12, 2013, besting a select field of 13 others who qualified through Championship placements to be invited to what some call the “Super Bowl” for cover dogs.   Dave Hughes was at the helm and Mike Spotts provided scouting services for “Cracker’s” work over her three consecutive days of hunting.  “Cracker” started off on day one with a four evenly spaced woodcock find performance that stands out as among the most exciting and accomplished efforts in the twenty-three year history of this event.  Her birdwork was the result of a hard driving, determined effort that took her to likely objectives.  It seemed that after each find, Cracker would just bore ahead and be found on point in the next inviting cover.  Her style and intensity on point leave nothing to be desired.  “Cracker” was named “Day Dog” for this start to the Invitational.

Day two featured more of the same, multiple finds executed perfectly on both grouse as well as woodcock.   Again, not only her birdwork, but “Cracker’s” fast, determined and classy moving hunting effort took her to the top of the judges’ list for the Day 3 call-back.

In the finals, “Cracker” was paired with last year’s winner, Ch.  Terharr’s Elvis.  Three inches of sleet and crusted snow greeted the brace as they cut loose at 9am.  “Cracker” was energetic and proved that she had the stamina and endurance to go strong three days in a row as she lit out and stayed hard at it the entire hour.  At 50 “Cracker” came across a small pond and broke through the thin ice.  Handler and gallery members were on their way to the scene when she emerged, shook herself off and continued undeterred.  Seconds later she stopped promptly on the wild flush of a woodcock.   This was the only bird contact for the day as conditions were extreme.  Continuing Cracker finished still driving and was found pointing where grouse tracks in the snow were shown to the judge, but no birds were flushed.

Game Changer, our female year-old setter handled by Bob Watts scored second at the Grand National Grouse Puppy Classic held April 13, 2013, over a new course laid out on the Gladwin Preserve near Meredith, Michigan.  Twenty-nine pups from nominated litters competed.  “Sallie” took advantage of the new venue that gives a grouse dog who loves to run and hunt an opportunity to lay out front and be seen hitting objectives.  She was industrious, fast and especially classy looking on the run.  Bold, cracky, athletic, serious in application and attractive in motion are the traits we look for in a prospect and “Sallie” fits the bill.  Sired by Impact Player ex our Grand National Grouse Ch. Full Tilt, Sallie has two littermates who are off to a notable start to their promising careers.  High Impact (male, Mike Spotts, owner) won the West Branch Grouse Trial Club’s Open Puppy this spring and Full Impact (female, Marty Stoker, owner) won the Pennsylvania Grouse Trial  Club’s Open Puppy.

Pennstar, born at the start of the 21st century, has died.  “Rock”, a dog for the new century , pushed speed, athleticism, smooth snappy gait, drive and bird handling ability for cover dog standards forward.  Just as importantly, “Rock” infused these important traits into his pups who have gone on to succeed at the top of the cover dog world.

 

Rock’s career was overshadowed in the early months by his female littermates who won early and won big.  Rock was not mature enough to challenge his sister, First Option when she won the Grand National Grouse Puppy Classic against 54 other pups.  However, it was only a few weeks later that Rock went west and won the Michigan Open Puppy Classic and from there the wins just kept on flowing–highlighted by eleven derby placements.  In transitioning from derby to all-age competition, Rock, benefiting from the work and handling of professionals Dave Hughes and Ryan Frame, moved seamlessly into winning at this next level.

 

Over the next five years, Rock rang up wins across the country in every region of cover dog competition.  In some of these wins he was handled by co-owner Dick Brenneman.  In a number of them he was handled by Dave Hughes.  Rock scored 5 Championships and 1 RU Championship on wild birds, generally in fields of 60-80+ dogs.  Few male setters in history have attained this distinction.

 

Rock became known for his especially fluid gait, quick feet and speed.  One veteran judge remarked that “he enjoyed watching Rock hunt more than any other dog he had ever seen”.  Our philosophy in owning, campaigning and breeding cover dogs is that in a field of 60-80 dogs, it’s the dog that hunts fast, hard and with eye appeal that will separate himself from the other good dogs.  Rock taught us that.

 

As a producer, Rock lived up to the expectations we had formed based on his performances.  His offspring have won virtually all the top cover dog stakes.  The Grand National Grouse Championship, The Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational and the Grouse Futurity (three times) are all accomplishments of his progeny.  Additionally, his pups have won the Foster Award and the Flanagan Award (top cover dog derby) a record three times.  Many of his offspring have won at high levels in other stakes and registered more than thirty-five wins in cover dog classics. All totaled, his pups have won over 400 placements.  That translates into a lot of enjoyment for many owners.

 

In saying good-bye to Rock, I remember traveling with Dick to a trial in 2002 when Dick came out with, “After doing this together for twenty years, Rock’s the best dog we have had and he’s the best dog we will ever have”.  Since 2002 we have had a good number of well-known and important winners, but so far, Dick is right!

Frozen semen from the 1998 Grand National Grouse Champion Body Guard is available at private treaty.  Contact Dick or Bob for details.

Straight Forward, our young setter female, put down a strong, forward and hard driving one hour hunt that included a grouse find and a back to win the PA Grouse Championship for 2012 over the Allegheny National Forest courses near Marienville, PA.  This was the 100th anniversary running of the PA Grouse Ch.   “Cracker” was handled by Dave Hughes.  It took a nearly perfect performance to win over the other 59 entrants, a number of whom put on championship level displays of hunting and bird finding prowess.  Congratulations to Ch. River’s Edge Sadie owned by Pat Cooke and handled by Mark Foreman for winning Runner-Up.  Sadie, the 2011 Seminatore Award winner, had two finds and mounted a strong challenge.

Everything came together for “Cracker” during her brace.  She was consistently laying forward at 100-200 yard range, driving from one objective to another.  Only on one turn did she come from the side.  At 25 “Cracker’s” bell stopped and the scout found her more than 150 yards away with the grouse right in front for the flush.  At the flush “Cracker” was motionless.  Later in the hour, she backed on her bracemate’s find.  “Cracker’s” last ten minutes were as strong as the first ten and she finished well ahead searching.  It’s a thrill to watch a performance like this one and to win the Championship we covet most, other than the Grand National.  All the work that I put into her as a pup and all the work Dick and Helen Brenneman (often “Cracker’s” handler in workouts) put into her as a derby/all-age has paid off.  Pro Dave Hughes has polished “Cracker” and his expert skills as a handler let “Cracker” show off her talents ideally. 

“Cracker” is sired by Craig Peters’ Ch. Keystone Red Rage ex our daughter of Pennstar, Quixstar.  We chose Red Rage as the sire to breed to Quixstar based on his exceptional athleticism, drive, running class and intensity around wild birds.  Rage’s dam, Keystone’s Red Ryder has been to the Championship circle and recorded a long string of wins.  Rage’s sire, Steve Chippini’s, Ch. Chip’s Torquato, has proven to be a sire with important influence in raising the quality of coverdogs, as he appears in the pedigree of a good number of top dogs on the circuit.  “Cracker’s” dam, Quixstar, is sired by 5X Ch. Pennstar ex Barnburner (whose offspring have won 68 times).  The dam’s side of the pedigree brings a strong dose of our Grand National Grouse Ch. Body Guard blood leading back to Ch. Ghost Train.   When we decided to breed Quixstar she was in the care of Jim Smythe of Lititz, PA.  When we retired females or when we chose not to campaign them, Jim has taken them as hunting companions while allowing us to mate them if we wish.  On a trip Jim and I took to North Dakota,  Quixstar was the star bird finder and the most exciting dog on the ground and on point–we took several of our other top dogs on this trip.  Quixstar could really roll,  was light on her feet and had a knack for digging up birds and pinning them like few others we have owned.  She passed away in 2011 and we are especially happy to know that her blood will go forward through her daugher, Straight Forward.

On the eve of the start of the 2012 Grand National Grouse Championship at Marienville, PA, Full Blast was recognzed as the winner of the Flanagan Award for the top setter derby during the 2011-2012 trial season.  Co-owners Dick Brenneman and Bob Watts additionally received a plaque for “Jeb’s” success in winning the Harden Foster Award for the top coverdog derby, regardless of breed.  Jim Chambers of Uniontown, PA, is the breeder of “Jeb”.  Purina, represented by Dean Reinke,  hosted the event which was attended by many of the professional trainers, club officials and handlers prepared to run in the Grand.  Dick Brenneman along with Dave Hughes were recognized as the handlers of “Jeb” during his fine string of wins.  A large cash prize,  funded by Purina, went to Dave for his success.

Spitfire, 3-year-old setter female, owned and handled by Mike Spotts of Bloomsburg, PA, won the title of National Amateur Grouse Champion on October 13, 2012, over the extensive wooded venue at the site of famed Grouse Ridge Setters, Norwich, NY.

  “Lola” faced down a strong 39-dog field of top grouse dogs handled by amateurs. “Lola” ran  fast, smooth and forward and with arresting style.  She consistently hit objectives near and far as they were presented.   At the 25-minute mark her bell was believed to have stopped and scout Dick Brenneman found her standing proudly with high head and tail.  The grouse was right in front where she said it was and “Lola” was motionless for the flush and shot.  She carried on with drive and responsive handling for the hour and finished with undiminished pace…going away at the pickup.

Spitfire is a product of our kennel.  Her early start here found her matched with another nice female pup of similar age in Straight Forward, who was Runner-Up Champion at the Northern New England Woodcock Championship just a few weeks previous.  Mike had his choice of the two pups from different litters and his journey with Lola testifies to his making a good choice for both himself and “Lola”.  “Lola”  is the product of Mike’s hard work and dedication as an amateur.  While Lola has never been with a pro, she and Mike benefit from the advice of professional Tom Gingher and the occasional use of his grounds outside Bloomsburg, PA.

Spitfire’s breeding (Bold Move X Jumpstart) reflects a strategic effort on the breeders’ part to reinforce and fix the blood of 5X Ch. wild bird Ch. Pennstar in Lola’s litter.  Pennstar is the sire of both Bold Move (Pennstar X Sorber Run Serena) and Jumpstart (Pennstar ex  Grouse River Jessie).   Bold Move, brother to Grand National Grouse Ch. Full Tilt, is now retired.  He was campaigned with success on the grouse circuit as a derby and all-age competitior.  Jumpstart, now owned by Mike, also has had a number of recent all-age wins under his whistle  and she has been challenging in Championship stakes for the last year.  She won the prestigous Pennsylania Grouse Trial Club, Open All-Age stake in the spring of 2012. 

The moment when the announcement of Lola’s win was made was all the sweeter for Mike as his wife Amber and 7 mo. old son, Jacob (first field trial),  were at his side.  It does not get any better than this!

 

High Impact, male pup from our Impact Player ex Grand National Grouse Ch. Full Tilt, kicked off his competitive career with a 2nd place win at the West Branch Grouse Trial Club open puppy stake.  “Razz” was six months old when he put down a hard hunting and very stylish effort for Bob Watts, handler.  Both Bob Watts and Mike Spotts have been working “Razz” and we are excited with his smooth running style, high cracky tail carriage and serious hunting application.

In late September 2012 forty-four cover dogs gathered in Maine to compete in the one hour Northern New England Woodcock Championship.   Our young female Straight Forward (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Quixstar) was named the Runner-Up in a stellar field.  Dave Hughes handled  3-year old “Cracker” to this win in the early weeks of the fall 2012 coverdog season.  As a young dog “Cracker”  won steadily as a puppy and derby and in the spring of 2012 she scored wins in cover dog all-age stakes with Dick Brenneman handling.  When she is at home “Cracker” has generally been handled in workouts by Helen Brenneman.  “Cracker” is expected to complete the fall trial season with Dave Hughes.

Pennstar

Pennstar, now 12 years old, continues to produce pups that have high potential to excel as cover dogs.  “Rock” sired a quality litter for Scott Chaffee early this summer from a daughter of Taz.  We made the trip to MI to pick out a pup and were impressed with the animated, bold, straight-tailed pups.  We picked out a female.

As we have done for the last several years, we had “Rock’s” semen analyzed by Dr. Martin, a reproductive specialist, in Lewisburg, PA.  In September 2012, Dr. Martin declared that Rock’s semen had a remarkably high sperm count with a high percentage of normally shaped sperm that had excellent motility.  “This dog has the semen quality of a two year old!”, he exclaimed. 

We are fortunate to be able to continue offering 5X Ch. Pennstar’s stud services to the public.  He sired this year’s winner (Full Blast) of both the Flanagan and Foster Awards for cover dog derby of the year.  This is the 4th  winner of the Flanagan Award that Pennstar has sired.  Additionally he has sired winners of the Grand National Grouse Championship, the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational, three 1st place winners of the Grand National Grouse Futurity and more than 30 Cover Dog Classic winners.