New Years Approaches Fast!

It’s almost here! New Year’s! Only 6 weeks until October 1st. Close enough to start planning and day dreaming of the Nor’t Woods! I sure hope it is as much fun with as much great weather as last year.

The old dogs are starting to get into shape and getting everyone's adrenaline flowing. Of the prospects at a mere 5 months of age or so, Cliff Lee is really starting to get some looks. He has a healthy dose of color but that’s OK. He also was able to inherit some of the great qualities of his Pop’s (Red Rage) that we love so much. When we go to the field he is all business and all about the drive to hunt up birds. He is already showing a great nose, a knack for going to the birdy places to come up with birds, and is sticking and standing his birds with some great style on both ends. Like his pop he has a lot of drive and the short, cracky, high, bee sting tail style on the go with a lot of athleticism. And he has a knack to stay out there and stay to the front. It's tough to get Ansel Adams quality photos off a cell phone while trying to run dogs but attached are pics from the weekend's workout with Cliff nailing a bird nicely and holding long enough to retrieve my phone and take a picture with Roy backing in the first picture and then Cliff relocated (note the tree with the dark spot in the back left of the first picture) to nail the bird (look closely to find Cliff in the ferns just to the right of the tree with the dark mark) with Roy again backing in the second picture.

Here's a try at video of Cliff for those that can see it:



Miss Molly is also showing lots of good looks and bird finding skill (she is out of Montero’s Rock and Best Bette). A fast, elevated, animated bitch like her Pop (Monthero's Rock) she also is very athletic and is sticking birds because she migrates to cover naturally. Perhaps best of all both these pups show the personality, intelligence, and sensibility of their granddam which means they will be fun to work with! At their age there is a long way to go and a lot of evaluating to do to make a finished, class grouse dog for us. But it looks like they will make the Fall 2011 cut and are in the plans for October, off to a good start. So we are now planning, planning, planning and it looks like a very full schedule for October and November. We should be in WI or MN for most of October and then returning to PA until the PA Grouse CH. Hopefully the weather cooperates as do the birds. We are looking forward to good times with lots of friends, familiar bars, and favorite covers. And another Red October run.... Let’s Go Phils!!!