Mardelle & Eric,

I would be interested in being added to your list for one of your Tekoa Mountain pups. I will send a deposit check to the address below.

I purchased one of your Patriot X Bell puppies in 2005, I've attached a picture. Penny has been a wonderful dog which makes me want another Tekoa Mountain puppy. My older English Setter just recently passed away which is why I'm contacting you to see what litters you might have available. I'm looking for a female that is either orange/white (prefer) or tri-color.

Look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

Cheryl D. Blaylock

• Pup #7: Female
• Sire: Tekoa Mountain Patriot
• Dam: Tekoa Mountain Belluka
• Whelped: 05-16-05

• Color: Orange and White
• Temperament: Steady
• Owned by:
  Dan Delany (email Dan)                     

Nice talking with you this morning about Sheba. Here is a recap. She is by Patriot and out of Bell; 46 pounds; OFA Excellent; even temperament (not soft or hard-headed); short coated; smart and cooperative; broke to wing, but not shot; was a natural retriever and is now force broke to retrieve. I did not spend much time training on planted birds. The Sheba 4 months photo shows her pointing a pigeon.

A month later, I just started hunting her on chucker and shot 78 chucker over her that winter. The Sheba 5 mo photo shows her on the morning of her first hunt- we are at the truck and she is waiting for me to release her. Her first time down, she wanted to hunt about 200 yards out, but I have always kept her within 150 yards. No problems with keeping her close, probably because there were a ton of chucker that year. She pointed the first covey she found, let me flush, and she retrieved a bird. I think she pointed 3-4 coveys that day. She eventually tried to catch a few birds and needed a correction ("come-in" whistle with a nick on the e-collar).

The Sheba 12/28/09 photo shows her pointing chucker this week. She has no problems finding birds, but as increased hunting pressure causes birds to flush out of shotgun range, she sometimes gets frustrated and may accidentally bump birds if they will not hold. She has good endurance, an efficient gait and is sensible (slows down in the sharp rocks). That trait will not win a field trial but it will get you through 2 full days of hunting. She runs and points with a 10:30 tail. Not sure why. She holds her tail at 12:00 during the flush. In the past I did not need to style my dogs up on birds, but will try that on her.

I need a second hunting dog, so am considering either breeding her or buying a pup. If I breed her, I need a sire that throws a higher tail. Would like hear your ideas and opinions.

Dan Delany
wildriver@charter.net

• Pup #1: Male
• Sire: Tekoa Mountain Patriot
• Dam: Tekoa Mountain Belluka
• Whelped: 05-16-05

• Color: Tricolor
• Temperament: Bold
• Owned by:
  Jim Norman (email Jim)                     
  Tuscola, Illinois
  

Nitro turned 2 on 5-15-07 so I had his hips OFA Certified ( GOOD). Nitro is out of Bell and by Patriot.

Thanks,
Jim Norman

Hi, Eric & Mardelle

I am sending you an update on Nitro. He is out of Jack & Bell. Last season in AKC Nitro won 2 legs of his Senior Hunter. He need's 3 more to become a AKC Senior Hunter Champion. He also is certified AKC Water Retriever.

In NSTRA he has 10 placements in 3 different Region's, Mi. In. Il. He is also a great producer . We are getting outstanding pups with alot of natural ability at a young age. He has taken our breeding program to the next level. He is a great dog both on the field and off. My wife calls him her 55lb. lap dog. Here are some picture's from last season.

Thank You,
Jim & Zack Norman
Hillcrest Kennel

Hi, Eric & Mardelle

Last season Nitro became a 1xCH NSTRA. Over the summer I started training Nitro for AKC. That way we could go back and get his AKC Senior Hunt Test Champion. Two weeks ago Nitro pick up his final 3-legs of senior. Now he is a AKC Senior Hunt Test Champion. Nitro's new name 1xCH Norman's Tekoa Storm SH. Nitro is now a dual champion. Which means that he can run head to head with the dogs that are out their and win and he can also run to standards and win. Here are some pictures one picture is Nitro with his final leg, the other picture is Nitro with all his AKC ribbons.

Thanks,
Jim Norman
Hillcrest Kennel

Hi, Eric & Mardelle

Sorry time has gotten away from me. Last season Nitro got on a roll. He started placing and with his 2 wins he became a champion 1XCH Norman's Tekoa Storm. That was the weekend before our National Dog of the Year Trial. This would be mine and Nitro's first National Trial. On the first day of qualifying Nitro took 2nd place in the field. On Friday he had a good run and made the cut to run on Sat. (final 24 dogs). On Sat. Nitro split the field with his brace-mate so both dogs did not make the cut to the final 6 dogs. This National Trial Started with 196 dogs from all over the U.S. and Canada. Nitro ended up with 17th place. Below are some pictures from last Trial season.

Thanks,
Jim Norman
Hillcrest Kennel

Hi, Eric

NSTRA updated the current standing's. Nitro is ranked 14th out of top 25. His number in order is 36. This is the second time this year he has been in the top 25. At the beginning of the season he was in the bottom 25. Then fell out and now is back. I am sending links to the NSTRA TOP PERFORMANCE 12-18-2011 and Nitro's Trial Activity.

Happy Holiday

Thanks for Everything

Jim & Zack Norman Hillcrest Kennel

• Pup #5: Female
• Sire: Tekoa Mountain Patriot
• Dam: Tekoa Mountain Belluka
• Whelped: 05-16-05

• Color: Orange and White
• Temperament: Strong willed
• Owned by:
  Robert & Sandra Sexton (email Robert)
  Chandler, Arizona
  

Hello Eric and Mardelle,

I wanted to give you a quick update/high five on Remy, (Bell\Patriot puppy #5 from May 05.) I just returned from her first field trial this weekend and words can't describe how pleased I am with her performance. Bill Gibbons has been developing her for me for the last year and has done a wonderful job with her.

This weekend she was entered in her first field trial. Bill ran her Saturday in the Open Derby and then I ran her Sunday in the Amateur Derby. She ran a large shooting dog brace always to the front with 2 broke finds on Saturday to take first place and then repeated her performance Sunday with one find to win the Amateur stakes on Sunday. That's right, she swept the derby's in her first field trial and best of all she had all the pointer people scratching their heads.

So first, I wanted to thank you again for breeding a great dog and sending her to me. Second, l wanted to let you know to keep your eye out in the American Field for Tekoa Mountain Phoenix because we may just have something with this dog. Thanks again for the wonderful dog and have a Happy Holidays!

Robert Sexton

Hello Mardelle and Eric,

I thought I would take a minute to wish the both of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Now that the holidays are almost here I wanted to thank you again for the way you handle your clients when they are looking for a puppy. I also wanted to give you just a quick update on how my pup (Remy) has been doing.

Arizona had an exceptional year for rain last year and with the rain comes the birds. Did I tell you SHE LIKES BIRDS! It would be nice if we would get some rain this year but so it goes in Arizona. Anyway, with all the wild birds available I’ve went ahead and sent her off with Bill Gibbons. At this point she has only been with him for about a month but he seems to really like her and he seems as excited about her potential as I am.

That's about all I am willing to say about her for now I don't want to raise the expectations too high yet. Stay in touch and don't forget about keeping me on the short list for a Sunrise pup when you find the right female.

CHEERS to the both of you and to good birddogs!

Robert Sexton

Hi Eric and Mardelle,

I have another update for the two of you. Remy ran in the Bill West Derby Classic, her 2nd open derby trial this season. She ended up in the winners circle again! Not first place this time but a close 2nd. She ran a nice to the front brace with one find. The judges really liked her and said that they would have placed her first if she would have had 1 more find. The pointer that took first had 3 finds in a earlier brace.

People are really starting to take notice of this little setter and always want to know who I got her from. Thanks once again for breeding the type of setters that you do. The next trial she will be running in is on Feb. 24th-25th in New Mexico.

Robert Sexton

Eric and Mardelle,

I am pleased once again to let you know that Remy has won another derby stake. This time it was the New Mexico Derby Classic. This was her first chance to run out of state and in a 45 minute trial that was judged using all age standards. She ran a nice race, not all age but close. She had 3 classy broke finds and was still going forward and strong when time was called. Region 12's trial season is winding down so with this win it appears that she will also end up as the regions Derby Dog of the Year!

Everyone, especially me, seems excited to see a Setter doing well at the trials. The judges and other field trailers always want to know who I got her from and I am always proud to tell them that she is a Tekoa breed dog. Anyway, that's enough for now, I need to go deflate my head and get it out of the clouds. I'll send some pictures from this trial when I get them.

Best regards,
Robert

P.S. Region 12 had their annual 2007 meeting and awards presentations this weekend and Remy was awarded Region 12's 2007 Derby Dog of the Year Award. Next year she starts running with the big dogs and I have high hopes for 2008.

Hi Eric and Mardelle,

Region 12 just finished the trial season and I wanted to let both of you know how well Remy did in her 1st year running as a shooting dog in Region 12. The region had 9 Shooting Dog Trials this year including the 2 Championships and Remy managed to place or win in 5 of the trials. At the end this trial season this is how everything stood for her:

2 Open Shooting Dog Wins
1 3rd in a Open Shooting Dog
3rd places in Amateur Shooting Dog

Although she did not place in the Open or Amateur Shooting Dog Championships this year she got around clean in every trial she was entered in and looked great doing it. I hope that you are as proud of her accomplishments this year as I am because without the right breeding program this would not have been possible. I have included a couple of pictures from this year for both of you to look at.

Robert

P.S. Eric, please don't forget that I am still interested in finding a good stud dog to breed with Remy. If you come across a stud that will complement a Patriot/Bell female please let me know. I don't want to do anything that would reduce the quality of dogs that you have worked so hard to produce. Please feel free to contact me anytime.

Thanks again,
Robert

I just finished ready the field and I wanted to take a second to congratulate you on Patriot's 5th Championship win. With his winning record and the fact that he is also a producer of great dogs he may well be on his way to the Bird Dog Hall of Fame.

I have attached a picture of the '09 AZ Open Shooting Dog Champion to back up what I have said above.

I hope for your continued success,
Robert