Hi guys,

Planted a Chuker for Chilli this morning figuring she would hunt it up and try and jump on it, only to be incredibly impressed when she quartered through the field, followed the scent cone until she was about 10 feet away and locked up into a very staunch point. She let me walk up, rub her back and talk to her. She held her point until I flushed the bird. That's pretty amazing stuff for a four and a half month old puppy.

Thanks !
Steve Schluckebier

Hi Eric & Mardelle,

Just thought I would drop you a line and let you know we are really enjoying our pup. We named her Lady after the setter I grew up with. One quickly forgets the puppy stage once your dog is grown but it all comes back to you quickly! When speaking to Eric on the phone before we picked one out he said "our dogs will be curios and confident." Now there is a breeder that knows his line. She knows no fear. Second or third day out in the yard she stepped on a rake leaning against the house. I was concerned the noise would scare her; see slowly turned to see what made the noise and didn't even flinch. She is turning out to be a sweetheart in the in house too, now that she is realizing that the entire world is NOT her chew toy! I have attached a couple pics, and yes, momma picked out the collar.........

Thank you again,
Mark

This is my son, Heath's female pup, Joy. She has had the most birds killed for her this season.. Pheasants and quail. This was a pheasant.....she also runs big.
Brad

I haven't raised the number of setters you all have but I got my first setter in 1966 and have raised some ever since out of many of the best sires in the country over those many years. Never once have I seen the overall quality I'm seeing in these pups. The man in Columbus who has a five star boarding kennel and a full time dog trainer shared that both he and his trainer have never ever seen a more intelligent pup than the one he has.

This is appearing to have been a real nick!
Brad

More pup pictures...we are having about 15 to 20 finds each morning and all four are finding birds and backing well....last picture is Bea on a native covey of quail at the end of the day.
Brad

I know you are getting sick of Patriot puppy pictures but this was Doll this morning on wild birds. All the pups just keep getting better.
Brad

Eric - Mardelle

Bea and Scarlet this morning - They ran for 2 hours 15 minutes - 78 degrees - 70 % humidity and were going strong at pick up.

Take Care
Jack

Hi guys,

Just wanted to check in and say hi.......It has been another good training season and I am looking for to getting out to do some bird hunting very soon.........

I attached some photos that I thought you might like. Maybe you could use them on your web site, or just enjoy them for your viewing pleasure.

These are all pups out of my Long Hollow's Outlaw, aka: "Ringo" & your "Patriot"....... All fantastic wild bird dogs and high in style, class, and trainability.

Thank you
Ryan Fortier

I received my pup in fine shape early yesterday. He is becoming very attached to me and is getting to know his surroundings. He is very quiet when he is within your presence and a bit verbal when he is put "outside." He is learning the word HUSH as well as his name "Scout."

He is extremely affectionate. I am lucky that the first night, I put him in his crate next to my bed and he slept the entire night. I hope that is a sign of things to come.

He is not eating much yet, but it may be due to the stress of the flight and making adjustments.

It is apparent he had a bath before he was shipped. He was clean as a speckled pup!

Thanks so much.
Clint

Dear Eric and Mardelle,

Here are some pics I took of Scout today at his Fall brush up training at Crockett Kennels in Bowie Texas. He is having a great time and so am I learning to work with him. We set out 4 birds in about a 50 acre pasture and he found everyone and held steady until we flushed them. I think he will be a fine hunting companion. I cannot wait until the season starts.

Clint Spraggins

Dear Eric and Mardelle,

These pics were taken back in October. I am going to take Scout out next weekend and get him on some placed pen birds at my farm. I hope to get some good pics. He is doing great.

Clint

Eric & Mardelle,

Here are some pics of Scout this weekend. ( 02-07-09 ) My son is in this photo. We shot about 10 birds. Scout is doing very good!

Regards,
Clint

Eric & Mardelle,

Some photos this morning ( 01-30-10 ) of a little quail hunting in Bowie, Texas on the Oklahoma border. It was about 22 degrees and ole' Scout went strong all morning in the cool weather. Scout is out of Patriot and Richards Majectic Kate. A very good nose and we are working on the tail a bit. A very good dog!

Regards,
Clint Spraggins

Just a quick note to let you know that Lu won the Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship. She had power race with 5 finds and a back. Lu set the pace early in the second brace. There were 22 dogs including 12 time Champion Kelly's Rebel Maggie.

Judges included were Richard Robertson Jr. of Idaho and Glen Johnson of Orange County, California. Gary Brown scouted Lu.

Lu's 2nd Championship was the Pacific Northwest Open Shooting Dog Championship. Lu ran the country and was found to the front each time on point. Lu had 9 finds, a back, and one unproductive in the 9th brace. Her finds included Wild Huns, Quail and liberated Chuker. This was an 18 dog stake that included several champions and runner up champions. Her 2nd Championship this week! (Sept. 2007). From each find, we would turn her loose and find her to the front ... pointed again!

Rich Robertson Jr. scouted Lu.

Alex Mauck

Hi Eric & Mardelle,

Do you recognize Abby's #1 pup Sam! He's 3 years old already. Sam is the 7th Setter that I've had, and by far the best handling and intelligent Setter I've ever run. Our family has had Setters since 1949 and except for one, we have trained them all. Some we have trialed successfully, but our location and being a business owner has limited our ability to trial Sam. I feel sad about not being able to trial him as he handles like a real partner in the field. He hits all objectives on his way to extending his range. He answers the whistle with a quickness that makes me think that I am a wonderful handler but knowing he’s just the smartest setter I have ever had. His personality is typical, loves to run and loves people. A lap dog is an understatement when it comes to Sam. He'll sit in front of the lounge chair with his chin on the seat and the saddest eyes you can imagine. Do you still have his sister? My wife and I liked both pups so much when we saw them, but we are glad we didn't take the sister too in retrospect. Sam was enough work for the next couple of months!

The reason I am contacting you is that we lost our 16 year old Rock last month. We would love to breed Sam and am wondering if you would have any interest with any of your females. I understand that Sam has no trial points, but I know that Sam has outstanding field trial instincts with a ton of style and flare. I have won before with less able dogs. In any case, if this isn't an option, we would be interested in a tri color male with markings like Sam.

Drop us a line when you have a chance.

Thanks,
Rhett & Laura Day

Rita is doing great. She is getting along great with my other dog and we hunted 5 days in Oregon and Idaho last week. Rita is a sweetheart and she is really classy and has a great nose. I am sure she will end up being a great hunting dog. Thanks for everything.

Rita is shown above with my other dog "Pepper." The two of them are really going to be something special. They hunt extremely well together. They already back each other every time. Rita has an awesome nose and will be a super hunting dog. Rita is also starting to retrieve naturally. She is already competing to get to the dead birds. If she has a negative right now it is that she has a hard mouth, but I think that will get better all the time. She doesn't crunch the birds she just doesn't want to let me have them!

I think the best thing about the two dogs is that they really like each other. They sleep on top of one another every night. They are best buddies. I couldn't be happier with the two of them. Keep in touch and I will definitely see you at the Reno trial this year.

Dave Woelfle

Won 2nd place derby at the WI Horseback National Prairie Chicken Campionship!

Thanks.
Dennis Lutynski

Thought I would share some photos of Abby at a recent hunt, age 2. She weighs 46 lbs. She's a "pushy broad;" if the Lab got to a dead bird before Abby, she'd take it out of his mouth and bring it to me. She has good, hard points. She can run like the wind ..... although it's tough to do in SW Portland!

Jeff Montee

Donna's photo of Abby with the Calla Lily won recognition in an Oregonian photo contest.

No official accomplishments, other than dominating our lives. She is a sweetheart.

Jeff Montee

Dear Eric and Mardelle:

From left to right in group pictures, Emmy, Sally, and Sadie. Second picture is Sally with her peregrine falcon hunting buddy and a rooster she caught. Sally will be 11 this summer and Emmy just turned 9...where did that time go and it is very distressing to see these great bird dogs and wonderful friends aging. Both are still hunting very well but I have to hunt, especially Sally, a bit sparingly. When you picked Sally for me you picked a puppy with a one-of-a kind personality which as an older dog, she still has. Sadie was raised from a good falconer friend of mine in Boise from his 8 year old pair of Robertson setters. She shares many common ancestors as Sally/Emmy and also a very special bird dog.

At some point in the next year or two I will have to get in touch regarding another puppy. I hope this finds you well and have a great New Year! I just wanted to share the photos, they are incredible dogs and have been doing lots of hunting this season.

Brian D Mutch | Biologist
The Peregrine Fund | World Center for Birds of Prey
Conserving Birds of Prey Since 1970
bmutch@actaccess.net