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Random Fall Pics from MN-WI-PA

2011-12-01T10:44:00.016-05:00

The first week of October in WI was quite warm. Things were mostly restricted to short jaunts early and late in the day. It was interesting to see (now almost 9 months old) Cliff grow mentally as well as physically on the trip. I think he gained at least a 1/2" of leg and we got to see his light switch flip for birds. Cliff got pounded the hardest and got to see the most birds for his efforts. By the end of October he was finding and pointing birds by the dozen on his runs.
Over in Minnesota by the middle of October the weather cooled and the leaves were long gone. Here Lacey had a grouse in our first run in Minnesota. See the other pictures below of Crappie Camp in MN. Back in WI for the last two weeks of October and the woodcock flights were in. This is what brightened the light for Cliff. After a few jaunts in the middle of a flight of woodcock, Cliff was nailing both grouse and woodcock each time out. Here Mickey has a woodcock deep in typical popple cover one morning, he is in there but tough to see.There's the proof.
And there is a bowl full of WI woodcock fillets from Sig, Howard, and myself over the course of a week during the flights. The pattee was good but it lacked some flavor, have to work on getting those spices right.
Back in PA Mickey wasn't missing a beat finding grouse. Didn't take long to realize this year's beech crop was astronimical. The brown leaves are the beech thickets. The beech not only supplies a food source but the leaves hang on late into the fall, the leaves of the young tree thickets hanging on into the winter to provide the birds the best food and cover in the pole timber. The PA Grouse CH saw the benefit of the beech this year with over 100 grouse moved in the first 4 days.
Another succesful evening in the beech thickets and a PA limit for one hours work.

And PA definately had the biggest grouse we saw all year. Dark colored and fast running birds too! This one needed 6 shot to slow it down.

Life is Happy When You're Crappie

2011-11-12T12:39:00.018-05:00

Minnesota Nor'twoods means lots of walkin' in familiar covers. This was Lacey's turn to do some prep for Region 19. My time to walk off inches! I know that bell stopped, where's that fricken' dog?

There's Lacey. Got grouse?
... and the flush and miss. You'll never find a soul that heard me say I'm good at this. I call it conservation.

But not everyone at Crappie Camp misses!

After sunset it's smoked salmon, oysters, Leinies (Old Mudd for some poor souls with apparently no taste buds and an iron gut) and cooking dinner with a fire and North Country NPR Radio. The Grinch waits to call in for Trivia Hour.... Good times!

Did you just crack an Old Mudd!!? No wonder your so damn Grinchy!

Then all that ground pounding, bear baits, snowshoes, Leinies, missed grouse, lost spectacles, pays off in a Region 19 Crappie Camp Sweep! Oh what a feeling!

Our Basic Breeding Philosophy

2011-03-21T14:45:00.000-04:00

Our litters are rare; we do not currently have the proper facilities and resources to operate a systematic breeding operation. Our breedings are meticulously researched, planned, and rationalized from before conception through hypothetical production of the subsequent generation. Therefore, when we do produce a litter it is only with the goal of producing the next generation that can advance what is in our kennel and the general course of the field quality English Setter. With each litter our hope is to produce at least one individual that can achieve the pinnacle of our goal. But rest assured the majority are quality field companions in the least.We steadfastly feel the bitch is the most important fraction of the equation. Consequently, we will not breed a bitch unless we feel she fits our vision, can win at the highest level, and is expected to advance our goal. With each litter we breed we do the best we can guided by the 18 breeding principals listed here (as adobpted from "20 Principles of Breeding Better Dogs" by Raymond H. Oppenheimer) and our vision of the high class, field trial, all-age grouse dog. These are our goals, not guarantees. It is not expected that every breeding, or likely even the majority, will achieve complete success. It is a difficult endeavor. But we will do the best we can, learn from the mistakes and failures as well as the successes that are achieved, and make better decisions with each experience. We are dealing with genetics, with Mother Nature. We can only attempt to influence the outcome, as we do not have complete control.
- Keystone Setters, May 2001

Keystone Setters’ Basic Breeding Principles

1. Remember that the animals you select for breeding today will have an impact on the breed and your program for many years to come. Keep that thought firmly in mind when you choose breeding stock.

2. You can choose only two individuals per generation. Choose only the best because you will have to wait for another generation to improve what you start with. Breed only if you can reasonably expect the progeny to be better than both parents and you would be satisfied if you could only reproduce both.

3. A pedigree is very important. But a pedigree is not a bible or an instruction booklet, rather one of the many tools at your disposal for guidance. It should simply assist in your evaluation of the good and bad attributes that your dog or breeding is likely to exhibit or reproduce. Do not get over indulged in paper. Always remember a pedigree is only as good as the dog it represents. The more names on that pedigree you know intimately the more likely you will be able to predict what it will reproduce. You’re personal observation of the individuals involved matters most.

4. Genetic theories and Statistics do not apply here. You cannot expect statistical predictions and genetic theory to hold true in a small sample size (as in one litter of puppies or one kennel operation). They only apply to large populations. We are of course concerned about improving the future of the breed. And our primary concern is the careful evaluation of what is needed to improve what is in our kennel, one breeding at a time. It is our thought that these two concerns go hand in hand. But genetic theories and statistics will not dictate our program. What will drive the course of action is the trust in our observations, goals, and knowledge of what we have, what is needed, and were it may come from added to the lessons of trial and error. Genetic theories and statistics are best left to the ‘experts’.

5. Breed for a total dog, not just one or two characteristics. The quality individual is a class individual. And class is an all-encompassing measure of style, form, and function! The latter being oft times ignored. Do not follow fads in your breed because they are usually meant to emphasize one or two features of the dog and often come at the expense of the soundness and function of the whole. Seek quality and keep in mind that quality is not merely the lack of faults, but the positive presence of virtues. It is the whole dog that counts!

6. Quantity does not equate to quality. Quality is produced by careful study. Having a good mental picture of what you are trying to achieve. Patience to wait until the right breeding stock is available and to evaluate what you have already produced. And above all, having a breeding plan that is dynamic yet envisioned at least three generations ahead of the breeding you do today.

7. Hereditary traits are inherited equally from both parents. Do not expect to solve all of your problems in one generation. Many traits you are seeking cannot be changed, fixed or “created” in a single generation.

8. Remember that breeding does not "create" anything. What you get is what was there to begin with. It may have been hidden for many generations, but it was there. If you get what you didn’t expect go back and study the dogs and their lineage to find out what you missed.

9. Line breeding and/or inbreeding are valuable tools, being the fastest method to set good characteristics and type. But it must be attempted with careful thought and comprehension. A side yield of our goal is to produce a uniform litter with relative field quality from the first pick to last. This is routinely achieved only with careful line breeding. Line breeding also serves to bring to light hidden traits that need to be eliminated from the breed. Therefore, much discrimination must be utilized when selecting individuals for a line breeding program. Only the most extraordinary should be used. The ordinary should be forgotten. Don’t be afraid to drop an individual or line from your program and start again if time proves it is fraught with perverse hidden traits.

10. Out crossing is key to long-term success and progress. However, use out-crosses very sparingly and with much thought. For each desirable characteristic you acquire, you may just as easily acquire many undesired traits that you will have to eliminate in succeeding generations. There are two goals of the outcross:
1) to add to the program in the area of identified weaknesses and/or,
2) to strengthen the desirable attributes of the program. Always while adding genetic variability. It is imperative that the outcross does not detract. It is our current thought that the mental and physical attributes that define the greatest performing individuals are an example of extreme genetic variability in relation to the population or family line norm. If you have a well designed and thought out program of line breeding that has established a high average type set of desirable genetic traits, out crossing will supply you the greatest amount of genetic variability in relation to the type set of your line bred family norm. And thus the greatest chance at producing the great individual that possesses the variability towards the positive. Some may say that this is genetic theory but we counter that this is theory based on careful observation. And with all theory and observation we are willing to learn and change.

11. Be astute in your selection of individuals for the program but don’t be a pedigree pedant when considering the outcross [see #3]. It is possible that a great individual with an unknown or untested pedigree performs and produces quality and could add to your program. Likewise an individual from any corner of the upland game bird world has the potential to contribute. As long as it is an English Setter it should be investigated as if a potential asset. Out crossing by nature involves the greatest risk/reward.

12. Remember that skeletal or physical defects are the most difficult to change. Physical form is entirely predicated by genetics. Behavioral characteristics can be greatly influenced by environment but the genetic tendency towards positive behavior and function is a long-term goal. A given adverse behavioral tendency(s) can be tolerated in an otherwise desirable individual [see #15]. But skeletal or physical defects are to be avoided.

13. Discard the old cliché about the littermate of that great producer being just as good to breed to. Littermates seldom have the same genetic make-up. Evaluate the individual on style, form, and function first (class). Ponder the pedigree second.

14. Do not bother with a good dog that cannot produce well. Enjoy him (or her) for the beauty that he represents but do not use him in a breeding program.

15. Be honest with yourself. There are no perfect dogs (or bitches) nor are there perfect producers. You cannot do a competent job of breeding if you cannot recognize the faults and virtues of the dogs you plan to breed. To be successful requires a cutthroat approach to evaluating prospects and your own program. Those that do not measure up must be eliminated from the kennel. Honest evaluations of what is yours and what belongs to others are required. Difficult decisions and set backs are par for the course.

16. Choose to breed individuals based on quality not conscience. Do not allow personal feelings to influence your choice of breeding stock or prevent you from incorporating a good dog into your program. The right dog for your breeding program is the right dog, whoever owns it. Don't ever decry a good dog; they are too rare and wonderful to be demeaned by pettiness. At the same time do not use a less than adequate dog because it belongs to your buddy or is your favorite companion.

17. Do not choose a breeding animal by either the best or the worst that he (or she) has produced. Evaluate the total get by the attributes of the majority. Remember that he (or she) was only half of the equation in that production.

18. Don't ever be satisfied with anything but the best. The second best is never good enough!

Summer Training

2011-03-20T22:10:00.000-04:00

Summer is Training Time! Birds and field time for the pups. Here's Cliff and Roy (Go Phils!) at 16 weeks old getting some work at camp Foreman over the holiday. These two horses are out of our litter by Red Rage ex Beauty. Twelve more weeks until it's time for the North woods. God I hope they are short weeks!

Update on Spring Litters

2011-03-20T16:06:00.000-04:00

RU-CH Montero’s Rock ex Keystone’s Best Bette
Bette had 4 females and 1 male, white & orange and tri-color. Pups whelped 4 April, 2011. One or two pups remain. Call Bill Henke at 814-715-4934.

CH Keystone’s Red Rage ex Beauty Keene Valley
The six pack is doing well! But now the hard part, which one!!????

New Years Approaches Fast!

2011-03-20T15:20:00.000-04:00

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!!!

Ten Years Young

2011-03-20T14:20:00.000-04:00

L-R; Judge Mike "Booker" Groy, Craig Peters and CH Keystone's Red Ryder, Jim Thomas and RU-CH Thomas's Adirondak Ringo, Judge Steve Groy, Region II Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship (run at Partridge Run public management area on grouse & woodcock) 9-18-2011

4XCH Keystone's Red Ryder, or Lacey, proved she still has it. My friend asked me this summer when we started prepping for the fall, "I thought you retired here!". Think not my friend! We still believed. At 10+ years of age, having whelped 4 litters, 29 living puppies, and 4 champions to date it is a real testament to the quality of an animal to see her do what she did and be able to give a performance that was more than worthy of a championship. It is a truly rare feat to see animals compete at that level at that age, especially brood females. We may be more proud and impressed by that win than any other.

Have a great October. We will!

Pups and Spring Results

2011-03-20T11:45:00.000-04:00

ALL AVAILABLE SPRING PUPS ARE SOLD. The pups look very good to date and have a great start. We are excited to see such well built, nice looking pups across the board and hope the results in the field will follow suit.

We only entered one trial this spring (no placements) which is just fine by us. Too many more important things on the schedule this spring! But we are ready to work with the new pups this summer and ready to work towards getting the old veterans back in tune. Then we are really looking forward to next fall, more great bird hunting trips out west, and testing some young pups for the first time in the north woods!

However, this spring there were lots of placements on pups out of Keystone dogs. It's great to hear about placements in so many different venues with many different handlers, both amateur and professional, and even the ladies getting involved! Keep them coming! Here are highlights of a few big wins:

• Three Keystone’s Red Rage (Mickey)/Mahoney’s Bessie Blue pups gain placements at AKC trial in MD for sportsman John Thereault who bred his female last summer and attended his first trial.

• Bob Watts and Dick Brenneman added more spring derby placements in PA for their female Straight Forward who ended up third in the Flanagan award for top setter cover dog derby (A Mickey pup won the Flanagan Award last year and Straight Forward was from the only cover dog litter of his that were derby age in 2010-11). And Helen Brenneman did all the handling on Straight Forward! Straight forward is out of Keystone’s Red Rage/Quixstar (Pennstar).

• A Keystone’s Red Rage/Pinekone Triple Shot male placed in the Amateur Derby at the Hanover US Complete trial in VA for Ashby Morgan. A littermate placed in puppy stakes in the fall. This litter was a true August whelped and registered litter.

• A Taz sired (Keyston’s Red Ryder’s brother) pup, Grouse Woods Reese, out of a Chip’s Torquato/Keystone’s Red Ryder female (littermate to Red Rage) won the RI Woodcock CH.

• A Chip’s Torquato/Keystone’s Red Ryder pup, Peacedale Duke, won the Phil Fogg One Hour (Open) Classic on the Cape in MA for a repeat win of this stake.

• A Chip’s Torquato/Keystone’s Red Ryder pup, Chip's Charlie Brown, placed 3rd in a 26 dog AKC walking quail stake in GA for Mike Reeves with several nice finds and a back.

• A Chip’s Torquato/Keystone’s Red Ryder pup, Keystone’s Red Recession (Will), gained 2nd in the WI Moose River Grouse Trial Club SD stake with three nice grouse finds for Sig Degitz (Sig’s female littermate did some good things in the MN SD stake a week prior with a great grouse find and good run).

• A High Definition/Keystone’s Red Ryder pup, Montero’s Rock, won the PA Grouse Trial Club AA stake with a great run and a beautiful limb grouse find.

• A Long Gone George/Keystone’s Red Ryder pup, Debbie’s Long Gone Marley, won an open derby placement in NH at the Kilkenny Classic trial weekend.

Congratulations Stony Fork Fargo - 2009/10 Flanagan Top Setter Derby Award Winner

2010-03-20T22:24:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to John Shields and Stony Fork Fargo for winning the 2009-10 Flanagan award for the top cover dog setter derby in country. Fargo is owned, trained, and handled by John shields and was bred by Gardner Stoker. Both are hard working amateurs. John is pictured above in Marienville, PA with Fargo and their biggest win of the year at the one hour National Derby Classic along with judges Mike Groy (standing left) and Roland Swank. Fargo is out of Gardner's female Elektra and was sired by CH Keystone's Red Rage.

2011 Keystone Litters

2010-03-20T21:12:00.000-04:00

We have several litters planned for the coming year. For more information on any litter please see below descriptions or e.mail us at keystonesetter@zoominternet.net or call 443-206-1091.

(Pictures of CH Keystone's Red Rage - top, and Beauty Keene Valley - bottom)
CH Keystone's Red Rage ex Beauty Keene Valley
Beauty has been bred to Red Rage and pups should be due sometime around St. Patrick's Day. Red Rage is an intelligent, tuff as nails grouse dog that has produced the same including last year's Flanagan Derby winner Stoney Fork Fargo and again this year a leading Flanagan point derby female in Straight Forward. Beauty is a beautiful masked white, black, and ticked 48 lb young female with a great gate and running style to go with poker straight pointing style. She is a full sister to Peacedale Blackjack and is out of CH Peacedale Duke. Her dam is out of Long Gone George ex Grouse Ridge Digger who is out of Grouse Ridge Reroy and a Grouse Ridge Storm Female. We expect some nice looking pups out of this. A few picks may be available. Call Craig Peters for details @ 443-206-1091.

(Picture of RUCH Montero's Rock by Chris Mathan of the Sportsmen's Cabinet)
RU CH Montero's Rock ex Keystone's Best Bette.
Rock was RU in the National Amateur Grouse CH at only 3 1/2 and is a very intelligent and stylish powerhouse of a dog at 50 lbs +. These will be his first litters. He is sired by CH High Defintion (sire of AA CH Jetsetter) and out of CH Keystone's Red Ryder. Bette is a fast, fancy, high flying tri-color female out of CH Keystone's Red Rage ex Keystone's Pale Ryder (she by CH Tug Hill Raven). This litter was bred 31 January and 2 February for end of March pups ready to go by mid May time frame. Only a few picks taken to date. Call Bill Henke for puppy information @ 814-715-4934.

RUCH Montero's Rock ex a female sired by CH Cracklin' Tail Speed ex a CH First Rate/CH Long Gone Punkin' female.
This female will be bred 25, 27, and 30 January, putting pups on the ground before end of March and ready to go in May. Call Bill Henke for information on the owner of the dam and puppies, 814-715-4934.

Nice start to Spring

2010-03-20T20:34:00.002-04:00

A great weekend in the northeast for the first trials of the year. We spent Saturday judging at the Lehigh club's horseback trial. Felt like a wet noodle after a day in the saddle but had fun with great weather. Also great to see all the wins in the RI trials this weekend. It's always great to see people enjoying their dogs and winning in all different venues and areas. Richie Frisella keeps on winning with CH Peacedale Duke and his son Peacedale BlackJack gaing 1st and 3rd in the open shooting dog. Sweeping the open shooting dog at their trial, Dennis Vescuso got 2nd with his male Chestnuthill Jake out of CH Keystone's Red Rage and he also placed his Duke female Chestnuthill Suzie (younger sister to BlackJack) 1st in the derby. And over at the southern RI club the Foreman's went up against the pointers and got 3rd with Mike Reeves' and Steve Chiapinni's younger brother to Duke and Mickey, call name Chip's Charlie Brown. Good Stuff!

Puppies, Bird Hunting and Pictures

2010-03-20T19:27:00.000-04:00

It's dark on the way to work, it's dark on the way home. Blah! Looking at bird hunting pictures and the nice emails from folks with pups from us or pups out of Keystone Setters is one good way to get rid of the winter blahs.
This is a picture of Scout pointing woodcock and with his owner Curt Cote and his son after a good October hunt in New England. At 7 months Curt shot 54 grouse and woodcock over Scout's points this fall! Scout is from Bill Henke's shop out of his Keystone's Best Bette (CH Keystone's Red Rage ex Keystone's Pale Ryder) and sired by CH Long Gone Boston.

This is a picture of a 5 month old male, Merlin, sired by CH Keystone's Red Rage and John Theriout's female that was reported by his owner to be hunting AND pointing ND pheasants. He is the small tri-color pup in this shot hanging out with all the big dogs and their pheasants.

This picture was already posted on the internet but I just love it! These are pups sired by CH Peacedale Duke and out of Babe Keene Valley and are just 8 weeks in this picture. The boys (3 of them) belong to Bill Curtis of Mass. These pups are younger siblings to 2 1/2 yr old Beauty Keene Valley who we just aquired from Bill and Richie Frisella to breed to CH Keystone's Red Rage later this winter-spring. Beauty or B as we call her, is also pictured here pointing birds.

Stoney Fork Fargo (CH Keystone's Red Rage ex Electra) won the Flannagan Top Cover Dog Setter Derby award last year and was sold to new owners. Here's a quality shot of him on point during his new owners first trial in New England where he got a first in the Amateur Gun Dog Stake.

Making it coast to coast for the holidays here is a nice shot of Mike Spies' dog Ted out of CH Keystone's Red Ryder and sired by CH High Definition. Ted is pointing California Valley Quail in southern California on the Kern River this December.

Happy Holidays to everyone. Have a great winter!

An October to Remember!!!

2010-03-20T18:42:00.000-04:00

What an October! I'll never forget it. Great friends, some very bizarre events, but lots of great, great times. WI and MN were absolutley fabulous. We arrived on 1 October and when the sun came up the next day it was beautiful. For the next 3 weeks the weather was nothing short of perfect with only an afternoon or two seeing some high cloud cover. It was unreal and the birds were terrific with the dogs performing near flawlessly on trips with Sig, Mike, Howard, Scott, and Al (great friends make great hunts!). Mickey was the bird finding star for me. He was sucking down grouse like a vaccum every time down. His performance at the WI CH was one of the top 10 I have ever witnessed. He handled on a string, ran to the front with some terrific powerful moves, and had 3 immaculate grouse finds. The first early on, slamming on point just in front of us with a grouse in a tree (you could tell he did not bump it by his proximity and suddeness of which his bell silenced plus the fact the other dog and handler had just been through the area likely causing the bird to jump in a tree. We witnessed this repeatedly on our trip.). His last find came near 100 yards to the dead front with only seconds left in the hour. How he did not win that trial will remain one of the bizarrest things I have witnessed at a field trial for a long time and really tests your resolve for these silly trials. But he came back strong at the PA grouse CH and this time I flat blew a placement for him. Again he ran a huge, strong hour. To the front and with us in 71+ degree mid day heat. He had two gutsy grouse finds at 40 and 48. It was a dry, leaf crackling hour and hearing was difficult at best. With 2 minutes to go he swung by and was sent to the front. At time he was gone, vanished. With the noise we did not know where he went and could not locate him. His chance for a placement was lost. Gut wrenching. A real waste of a fantastic effort yet again. But he has proven to me beyond a doubt that he is one hell of a grouse dog and one gutsy athlete with bird drive beyond comparison. At least others are more successful than his amateur handler. Our friend Chuck Wingard won the MN Derby Classic with his son of Mickey and a real nice grouse find in his effort. A daugher of Mickey (handled by Helen Brenneman!) had a nice effort to win the Blakely Derby Classic in PA. We got to witness both! And best of all Mickey's younger brother Chip's Charlie Brown won the MI Woodcock Championship with 3 grouse and 3 woodcock finds. Quite a feat for a 2 1/2 yr old dog over 70 others. Congrats to owners Mike Reeves and Steve Chiappini and handler Marc Foreman! That makes 3 out of 4 males from Lacey's Torque litter to be champions and I am betting Sig and I can make it 4 with Sig's sister to these boys willing to make it 5! And all without an elaborate, relentless promotional campaign, winning with pure talent. Sig and I have put this family to the test in the woods and we have both been conviced after this fall that these dogs are absolutely peerless when it comes to pure bird finding abilities in the woods and their pure athleticism. They are an absolute pleasure and thrill to own.
Attached are pictures of Sig and Mickey after a great mornings hunt and Lacey and Will after a memorable evening 'happy hour' hunt. Also is Chuck Wingard winning the MN Derby Classic with his son of Mickey. What an October with great friends. For now, I'm going back to sleep. Wake me up next year when September ends!

Debutante Ball

2010-03-20T14:25:00.000-04:00

Debutante Ball
A coming-out party in the Wisconsin uplands
By: Tom Davis

If you read "The Shooting Sportsman" magazine check out this feature article by outdoor writer Tom Davis in the September 2010 issue, http://www.shootingsportsman.com/magazine/2010/debutante-ball. You may also know Tom from his other writings in such periodicals as "The Pointing Dog Journal" and his books such as "A Tattered Autumn Sky". We were hoping to meet up with Tom & Tina this fall in our travels but east was west when west was east and it looks like we won't be able to coordinate our paths to cross this fall for a hunt. Tom's article "Debutante Ball" is about a hunt with artist Peter Corbin and Tom's then 18 month old, derby aged setter Tina in where else but Wisconsin. Tina is out of Red Ryder's (Lacey) second litter to Chip's Torquato. Tom & Tina have been all over the midwest and west bird hunting and creating new articles, and are planning to be in the North East this fall. The pencil drawings in the below post are among a few that were done by Peter Corbin after his hunts with Tom & Tina. I have always been fond of pencil drawings since early college days. But the amazing thing about these quick sketches is they are exactly that, quick. Almost done as an afterthought in a short sit down.

Fall will be here in 4 days!

OCTOBER!

2010-03-20T14:13:00.000-04:00

As they say, wake me up when September ends. And it's almost here! Have Fun!

Tri-Colors!

2010-03-20T08:33:00.000-04:00

Tri-colors are always great! Pups out of John Theroult's Tricky Dick bred female and sired by CH Keystone's Red Rage (see pedigree link under stud dogs). Raised by kids is always a good combo! These pups are all sold and off to good hunting-trial/field test homes.

Spring 2010 Season - too busy

2010-03-19T08:17:00.000-04:00

Well spring for trying to get out with dogs went down hill and ended up rough this year at our place. Unbelievably we were only able to get out in the woods twice this spring, unreal! Very little time to get to training and get dogs worked and I think here we only entered 4 trials total. Unfortunately there was just no time to get to the things that should be more important. Some things are just out of your control. But the good thing is there are plenty of Lacey’s pups out there and pups out of Duke, Mickey and others that at least make it fun to follow what everyone is doing. Actually it is getting to the point where it is too hard to follow everyone and what they are doing but here are some of the placements from this spring. Sorry if we missed some. Quite a few were wins of particular note due to level of competition, prestige of the trial/club, or what have you. The nicest part is it shows the dogs winning in all sectors of walking and cover dog venues from Massachusetts to Minnesota, on wild birds as well as liberated quail, and a majority of the wins are coming with amateur owners/handlers doing much of the work (no slight on a pro, just shows trainability of the dogs). Congrats to everyone!

MA - 1st Peacedale Duke (Chip’s Torquato ex Keystone’s Red Ryder), New England Setter Club 1 hour Shooting Dog stake, 1st Peacedale Duke Amateur SD Stake on Cape Cod Mass.
RI – 3rd Chip’s Charlie Brown (Chip’s Torquato ex Keystone’s Red Ryder repeat litter), North East Woodcock CH – Joel Collier derby stake on planted quail
RI – 1st – Peacedale Duke, 2nd – Chestnut Hill Jake (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Iron Maiden), 3rd – Peacedale Blackjack (Peacedale Duke ex Babe Keene Valley), Peacedale Club Independent Field Trial OSD
RI – Multiple placements in Derby and Puppy stake for Duke’s puppies such as Chestnut Hill Suzie, Peacedale Club Spring Trials
PA – 3rd – Chip’s Charlie Brown, Black Ash Amateur Derby
PA – 1st – Straight Forward (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Full Tilt), Venango Puppy Classic
PA – 1st – Stony Fork Fargo (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Elektra), 1 hour National Derby Classic with nice ground effort and a finished grouse find. Chip’s Charlie Brown honorable mention from the judges for his ground effort.
PA – 2nd Straight Forward, West Branch Open Puppy
PA – 1st – Keystone’s Red Rapture (Long Gone George ex Keystone’s Red Ryder), 3rd – Keystone’s Black Berry (Long Gone George ex Keystone’s Red Ryder), Lancaster Co. Bird Dog Club Amt Puppy
PA – 1st – Straight Forward, PA Amt club Amt Puppy
PA – 2nd – The Mercenary (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Elektra), PA Amt club Amt Derby
MN – 1st Northern Lights Meissa (Chip’s Torquato ex Keystone’s Red Ryder repeat litter) – MN club Open Derby with a broke woodcock find
MN – 1st Keystone’s Red Recession (Chip’s Torquato ex Keystone’s Red Ryder repeat litter) – MGDA club Open Derby with a nice ground effort and grouse contact

Aftermath

2010-02-08T22:11:00.000-05:00

Pictures of the dig out and the road to a friend's in PA 15 mins away the day after. The good news is it was 36 and sunny with some melting. Made for bright white snow.

Spring

2010-02-08T15:23:00.000-05:00

OK I called it. I erased the talk on here about the other nasty 'S' word. Spring is here. We ran dogs a little last weekend for the first time in forever. It wasn't great, but we ran. And we might get out this weekend for the first trial of the spring and go from there. It won't be easy here as we are very busy and only have plans for a few trials. Getting ready for anything will be tough. But hopefully everyone else is getting out too and has a good spring. Maybe we will get some pictures.

Hell Apparently Froze Over

2010-02-07T16:21:00.000-05:00

Pictures of the storm in our area. We got about 25" or so on 2/6/2010. Now I think we got about 20" more on 2/10/2010 but lots of wind. It's not fun. The picture with Mickey, he's in an area of the yard that I shoveled out last week so they had a place to go.....

OMG!

2010-02-06T17:52:00.000-05:00

Why don't I just shut up! Anybody for #4! Unbeleivable, they are now calling for another 'significant' snowfall Thusday-Friday. Somebody shoot me please!!!

Mid Winter Sale - Don't Miss Out!

2010-02-06T09:20:00.000-05:00

Once in a lifetime opportunity! Don't miss this chance to own something to make your friends green with envy! Got some very rare and completely unique Maryland snow for sale. Real cheap if you’re interested. Another shipment coming Wednesday so we are offering a clearance sale. Come and get it, don’t miss this opportunity for a real class product you will be proud to own!

Sonoffa b****........!!!! My dogs don't even have a place to poop!

It's Winter This Year!

2010-01-11T19:58:00.003-05:00

Winter is definately here this year. This is probably the coldest it's been in 3-4 years at least. The ground froze in December and has not thawed since and we got wacked with over 20" of snow before x-mas. Thankfully the day after X-mas it rained and was gone. But the cold stays and I'm betting its just a matter of time before the next significant snow event. With the winter we haven't done a whole lot but we did travel to VA this past weekend to run in the Nat Amt Walking Championship. We didn't expect much but wanted to enjoy getting out in the field in what was a cold but sunny weekend. Mickey didn't dissapoint and did what we expect of our dogs, run and show versatility on game. He finished with the highest bird score of the event (5) and not only had the only wild bird finds in the stake but had 2 woodcock finds on 4 woodcock and threw a well handled back in for good measure. Now we just have to spend the next weeks recuperating his torn pads as he wore them off on the frozen tundra from the 16 degree nights. Another plus of the trip was hearing from so many people in VA that watched and were impressed with his bird finding as well as the nice pups he sired that they had. We also recently got nice pictures of Chukc Wingard's litter as well as good reports from Bob Watts and Dick Breneman on the female that they kept and have done some winning with.

In our kennel the young Lacey - George pups are starting to mature and go. Still early to tell what sort of chasis they will sport but the positive signs are starting to show. Hopefully the winter is not too severe and we will be out soon to get ready for a few trials this spring if time allows.

A Thousand Words

2009-11-19T13:04:00.005-05:00

I like this picture. One of those thousand word shots but is a good representation of the infatuation that draws us to bird dogs. Man’s infatuation with nature and awe struck admiration for a pointing dog’s senses and abilities, abilities that we can never experience, to conquer nature with that mesmerizing control over a pinned bird. OR...... Mike could just be looking at Ted thinking, “Man what the hell is the matter with you today!” 1,000 words you can fill in!

Runners!

2009-10-20T16:32:00.002-04:00

Short on details at the moment, more updates later. But just returned from a few weeks in WI, MN and PA and the name of the game was runners! I don’t remember so many grouse on the run as we saw in front of the dogs, mine and others. Even had woodcock on the run, one in particular I saw running before chasing it up. The dogs did an excellent job even with the running birds handling and pointing birds all the way through in each state. I think the record runner was a grouse that ran on Lacey what seemed like a 100 yards even in thick WI cover (she ended up bumping it but it was my fault, I didn’t believe her after about the 5th relocation!). And I had a brood of grouse in one cover I worked for two days that ran like rats, they were unbelievable. Not sure if this is a sign of older birds (and a bad sign indicating a low hatch) or what but it was interesting. The PA birds were awfully touchy and had to be pointed from a distance, but not sure they were quite classable as runners. So far this year in working dogs in PA, NY, WI and MN it looks like we are averaging about 4-5 birds/hr over the dogs with both grouse and woodcock counted and they have been handling the birds flawlessly. It's been a great year. I'll look at numbers later.

Also, congrats to Mike Reeves in GA and ‘Chip’ Chiappini on winning the Wolverine Derby Classic with their Torq-Lacey male pup called Charlie with three broke finds on grouse and woodcock!

Last of the George's

2009-08-06T16:57:00.008-04:00

Not much going on this summer and much too busy doing the wrong things. Here are some pictures of latest pups out of CH Long Gone George ex CH Keystone's Red Ryder that kept us busy doing the right things. About the only significance to these pups at the moment is due to an unexpected passing these are the last pups out of George.

Keystone's Red Recession

2009-08-02T10:18:00.001-04:00

Keystone's Red Recession

Some Good Spring News

2009-04-22T16:02:00.010-04:00

It seems like we weren’t the only ones beset by offbeat injuries and such lately. But with the jinx going around there was still good news to be had from the field. It is getting tough to keep track of all the puppies that are spreading out across the country but here are some highlights.

For the most part a National Championship is just like any other except for the name. Even so, for some reason they seem to keep coming for the dogs. CH Peacedale Duke and Richie Frisella added a RU-CH to his laundry list by being named RU-CH at the US Complete National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship in RI in April over 33 entrants (see pic above). This makes Duke the third male setter out of Lacey to place in a National Championship stake and the 5th National Championship placement for all of them on wild and planted birds. Pretty neat stat! Bill Henke came back the week after his puppy stake accident in Marienville and got a third in the Venango derby stake with his female Keystone’s Best Bette out of Keystone’s Red Rage and Keystone’s Pale Rider. And Sig Degitz in Superior, WI continues to develop his latest Keystone’s Red Ryder – Chip’s Torquato pups around wild birds. Sig says his female Marley is an unbelievable grouse dog and she got to show it by placing 3rd in the MN derby stake with 2 nice grouse finds (as a puppy). Attached is a picture of Marley with her placement and also her brother Will pointing a woodcock (although he is not as masterful at wild birds as his sister).

The Best of Times and Worst of Times

2009-03-31T08:06:00.005-04:00

Not sure what it is but this winter-spring has been a roller coaster. Keystone's Red Rage had a good winter in SW Georgia with Jim Tande. The highlight of which was an hour and a half hunt off horseback on purely wild quail in which he had 10 great covey finds and out birded his two pointer bracemates 10 covies to their combined 3. He came back north running and hunting as good as he ever had. Then I have never had as great a spring season working dogs in our upland covers as this one. My reliable covers were full of grouse. Every pine stand or barberry patch was full of tracks, feathers, and droppings. The dogs performed exceptional work pinning very spooky grouse in the sparse spring cover. In a month of weekends they scored about 20 grouse finds and half a dozen woodcock and very few mistakes. The plan was to judge the Ontario Grouse CH in mid March then be in good shape for the Armstrong Classic, Reg 1 Walking CH, and maybe catch one or two more. But things have imploded. Bill Henke lost what was a promising young female, Keystone's Red Rum (not Red Run as listed but an ironic name switch that did not need corrected), that was high on our future plans out of our last Torqe and Lacey litter while running in the Grand National Puppy Classic. Mickey broke his tail somehow while I was judging the Ontario CH. And now Lacey is battling an old recurring shoulder injury. The highs and lows of bird dogs are like the wind. Take each find one at a time and enjoy all you can when it is there. One thing I have learned over the years; no matter how bad it seams at times if you keep going forward the good is always around the next corner.

The Buzz at Ames

2009-02-23T12:10:00.007-05:00

Every February it seems the bird dog world lights up with interest from pointer and setter folks as it nears time for the National Championship (All Age) at the Ames Plantation. Since the inception of the internet and message boards the fervor from setter enthustiast over the prospect of a setter winning this event goes out of control. It has been almost 40 years since a setter won this championship and I guess the tension is too much for some. In recent times there are only a few setters that annually qualify (a tough feat in itself) and have run. This year there were two. And one, Jetsetter, perhaps came closer than anyone has since 1970 to winning the title. Jetsetter is co-owned by his breeder Jim and Sheri Michaletz with Dr. Berry Win. Jet finished his three hours with a great ground effort and 3 good finds but fell short of the eventual winner pointer Lester’s Snowatch who had 4 finds. Jetsetter was sired by High Definition who is also the sire of our Montera’s Rock. So we felt a little connection to his efforts and would have been happeir than most to see him succeed. But with all this hoopla and our own little connection to the dog we also received the timely photo attached here from Tom Davis. Tom’s year old setter pup out of Chips’ Torquato and Keystone’s Red Ryder has been a terrific wild bird dog for him already and he reports she is a pretty, fluid moving animal as well. Tom travels a great deal and this past February he was in TX bird hunting and doing some research. While there Tom snapped this picture of W.C. Kirk on the tailgate with Tina. W.C. Kirk is of course the last man to walk the steps of the Ames Plantation at the conclusion of the National Championship with a setter, that being Johnny Crockett.

RU-CH Montera's Rock moves to the Box P Ranch

2009-02-13T15:01:00.003-05:00

Bill Henke made the tough decision and sold RU-CH Montera's Rock to Bill Prestage of the Bar P Ranch in Texas. Rock will still be following the ciruit in the Keystone state each spring, on the prairies each summer, and off to the northwoods each fall on the wings of trainer Joe McCarl's truck. And Bill Henke may even be running him in amateur stakes from time to time. Not much change for Rock. And he will be assured of spending his winters each year hunting the wild quail of the Bar P Ranch in Texas with Mr. Prestage and Mr. McCarl. Good luck to them in gaining more championship placements and chasing many of the best wild birds North America has to offer each year - ruffed grouse, woodcock, sharptail grouse, and wild Texas quail! Lucky dogs!

A season of 'Sporting Classics'

2008-12-03T16:09:00.011-05:00

The fall hunting and trial season is over and it was a fun one, we could almost say a classic. Whenver we were able to get out the birds always seemed to be there and by most accounts from others it was a good overall year for birds. Hopefully the winter does not bring a lot of foul weather, we all can still get out to find more birds, and they go into the spring healthy.

The trial season ended well. We ran in the Region 2 walking CH in Petersburg, DE on what are some terrific grounds to work a walking dog. It was a very nice trial and Peacedale Duke showed his stuff for Richie Frisella with 8 great finds and a stop-to-flush in his hour to take home the championship in a very nice stake. The ideal cover of this venue is well suited for a sensible bird dog and made for a lot of fun watching Duke perform. The attached picture is from one of his finds during the trial.

The following weekend we attended the Delaware horseback event on the same grounds. On Saturday it was for the Open Horseback stake with Keystone's Red Rage and we ended up doing a little more training than trialing as it sometimes goes. But Ernie Saniga ran him in the Sunday Amateur Horseback stake and took 3rd. An interesting placement in a horseback stake for 'Mickey' with an amateur handling him for the first time.

The season ended with a phone call from a stranger asking about the dogs and referrencing an article in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of 'Sporting Classics'. After digging up the issue we found writer Tom Davis was waxing a bit about his new female pup out of Chip's Torquato and Keystone's Red Ryder. Tom has been sending us some fantastic reports of the bird finding abilities of his pup 'Tina' throughout the fall! Attached is picture of her from the magazine article. Tina has successfully pointed and has had shot over her points sharptails, wild pheasants and even was nailing covies of wild huns for the gun in North and South Dakota at 9 months of age and less. Sounds like a true winner! Sig Degitz also has been reporting great grouse handling prowess with his littermate female 'Marley' in WI as she has been pointing and handling grouse all through the fall. With the female we still have from the litter it sounds like the females were the hit from this repeated cross.

Another Good Trip to WI in 2008

2008-10-29T12:59:00.008-04:00

As always we had another good trip to WI. The grouse numbers seem to be holding steady. Not getting cooperative hatching seasons has kept a lid on the expected cyclic peak. We found plenty of grouse to keep us busy but not the bumper crops we are waiting to see. The woodcock did let us down as it appeared local birds had moved and the flight birds had yet to arrive during our visit and the birds may have taken a good hit this spring with foul nesting weather. Overall, Mother Nature was a little strange this year. Irregardless the people and the place never seem to let us down.

The brightest point of the trip was of course adding another champion and two more National Championship placements to the kennel operation. Keystone’s Red Rage (‘Mickey’) was named Champion in the National Amateur Grouse Championship held in Wisconsin, while his half brother Montera’s Rock (‘Rock’) was named RU-Champion for Bill Henke. It was a great entry including many champions and quite a few dogs (at least 11) finishing with clean work on grouse or woodcock. Both ‘Mickey’ and ‘Rock’ had big, forward, driving races. ‘Mickey’ finished with one sharply executed find working and pinning a running grouse to go with two forward limb finds on woodcock in one of the best performances we have witnessed on these WI grounds. ‘Rock’ had one excellent dug up grouse find with a big, mature and determined forward run as professional Joe McCarl had him ready to go after a summer on the prairies. These were two great wins that were thrilling to be a part of! And it was a clean sweep for Keystone’s Red Ryder as she is the dam of both males out of different sires (Chip’s Torquato and High Definition). It would be hard to name a setter female alive today that could top her combined win and production record. She is a three time champion, two time national champion, producing two champion setter males and one runner-up champion setter male with five championship placements that include two national championship placements. There is no doubt we would be nowhere without her.

The attached picture is RU-CH Monter's Rock being posed by reporter Mary Beth Esser and judge Rich Boumeister after being named RU in the 2008 National Amateur Grouse Championship in Wisconsin.

It's a New Season!

2008-09-25T14:15:00.014-04:00

Fall into early winter is the time that most field trial puppy litters are planned! See 'Puppy News' to the left for information on puppies or give us a call.

So far this season it is the same as last. Dennis Vescuso continues to win with his 'Jake' puppy out of Keystone's Red Rage with 3 derby placements in September. Steve Chiappini placed his female 'Spotty' (Keystone's Red Rage ex Chip's DD) in the derby stake and John Shields placed his male in the puppy stake (Keystone's Red Rage ex Elektra) at the fall DuBois trial. Richie Frisella continues to place his Peacedale Duke puppies with his ugly dog 'Edgar' leading the way.

And the new season sure sounds like it is going to be a great one for birds! The New York Grouse CH showed an abundance of grouse. Keystone's Red Rage finished a strong hour with two grouse finds but a little rough around the edges race kept him from pressing for consideration. Attached below are pictures from Jon Fricke and Dave Terhaar on their recent trip to North Dakota and the UP of Michigan. The orange/wht female is Keystone's Red Reign (Ott), littermate to Keystone's Red Rage and Peacedale Duke, and the tri-color is Dave's pup out of 'Ott' and Terhaar's Elvis with a bucket of North Dakota sharptails.

September is about to end so we are looking forward to heading out to WI in early October for some hunting and a few trials and see old friends. Good luck in your season ahead!

New Partner, New Name.

2008-06-29T11:49:00.005-04:00

Yard training is not too exciting but its about the only activity with bird dogs in the summer. But one item of activity; Bill Henke now co-owns Montera's Rock with Phil Gould of Bernardsville, NJ and Rock's name has been changed to Keystone's Red Rock.

Quite often we get asked the question, "where is that High Definition litter?" They are out there doing good in all kinds of conditions across the country. We know Rock and Ted for sure will be showing up at some trials next season. And attached above is a picture of 'Lu' owned by Dale Herndon in MI. 'Lu' is a littermate to Montera's Rock (Keystone's Red Rock) and Mike Spies's Wenaha's High Rider (Ted). Dale has not been field trialing 'Lu' but enjoys training her on birds in the back yard and working her on wild birds around his camp in the northern LP of Michigan and says she is doing great as his hunting dog and has contemplated a try at trialing. Combined, these three littermates have been 'wild' bird hunted on woodcock, grouse, chukar, sharptails, hungarian partridge, pheasant, valley quail, scaled quail and OK/TX bobwhite quail. All wild birds and all with great success in addition to their field trial wins.

The Grinch

2008-04-20T11:55:00.000-04:00

‘Lacey’s’ Red Army Marches On; Continued Successes in the Field

2008-04-18T14:37:00.043-04:00

The Spring 2008 season has been good.

Tri-State Field Trial Club, RI, 5/24/08:
Dennis Vescuso finished the season with another win on his puppy Chestnut Hill Jake (Keystone's Red Rage ex Iron Maiden - she by CH Grid Iron) for 11 wins on the season. Attached is a picture of 'Jake' working birds preparing for his derby season.

Robert Ecker also placed Spruce Run Rippper for owner Pete Kaczic of NYC. 'Rip' is out of Keystone's Red Rage and Donnie Spencer's Sorber Run Kate (she out of GNGCH Bodyguard). Attached is a picture of 'Ripper' also prepping for his derby year.

We are liking what we hear of RU-CH Keystone's Red Rage's pups and the consistency he is emanating. His oldest pups are only 2 as of the middle of June 2008 but the MO is he is filling them with his run and incredible drive, they like to stick birds and stand tall, and they tear apart the cover and handle grouse. Every litter to date that is old enough to field trial has produced winners.

California, 5/24/08:
Out on the other coast, Mike Spies won the Santa Clara Walking Shooting Dog Stake in CA as his Wenaha High Ryder ('Ted') continues to get better with age.

The Empire Championship at Grouse Ridge, NY, 5/18/08:
CH Peacedale Duke wins again as he takes RU-CH to the new Champion Grouse Ridge Digit. 'Duke', like his mother, keeps showing great consistency in his field trialing that makes a dog a 32 time winner. 'Duke' ran his winning hour Friday and then ran in the Yankee Bird dog Trial half hour stake in CT on Sunday and won that stake. 'Duke' undeniably has an impressive record for a dog that just turned 4 in February. Congratulations to Grouse Ridge Digit and Pete Flanagan and Richie Frisella and handler Robert Ecker.

During the most productive weekend of the spring, 4/13/08:
Keystone’s Red Rage showed well, in spite of his handler, and was awarded Runner-Up Champion at the recent Region 1 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship in Rhode Island. Judges Dave Marshall and Dom Preite enjoyed his six find, one stop-to-flush performance in the warming conditions enough to award him the RU-Championship in a very competitive stake to join frequent winner Mike Flewelling and CH Chasehill Little Bud (John Stolgitis owner) on the podium. ‘Mickey’ spent the winter conditioning from horseback on the plantations of southwest Georgia, finding and pointing the famous Georgia wild quail with Jim Tande, and it really paid off as he ran in the warmest brace of the stake and continued to find birds the entire hour with the same style throughout. On the same weekend Ginny Chiappini handled ‘Spot’ (by Keystone’s Red Rage ex Chip’s DD) to a second in the amateur puppy stake at the PA Amt. trials while the still young Montera’s Rock (by High Definition ex Keystone’s Red Ryder) gained second in the amateur All-Age stake for Bill Henke. While ‘dahn’ in Pittsburgh, Steve Chiappini’s Chip’s Old Hickory (by Keystone’s Red Rage ex Chip’s Peppie Leppew) gained 3rd at the National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity in a great stake with a record 42 entries! Other close calls this same weekend were Richie Frisella and Peace Dale Duke being carried as RU in the Region 1 Amt Walking CH until being knocked out by his own brother ‘Mickey’.

The pictures are from Keystone's Red Rage's performance in the Reg. 1 Amt Walking CH. The bird work is his sixth and final find coming 3 mins after time.

CH Taz Wins again, 4/18/08:
Lacey's brother Taz continues to march on as well. CH Taz added a 7th win in a Championship stake to his record in being named Champion at the Mid-States Walking Shooting Dog Championship for Robert Ecker and Phil Gould! An interesting note, the Runner-Up Thunderbird Punch Buggy handled by Travis Gellhous, is Taz and Lacey's cousin. He sired by T's Gunrunner who would be a full brother to Mountain Magic. The Tekoa Mountain Sunrise ex Lookout Mona cross continues to inject always needed life into today's walking and cover dog setters.

Peacedale Duke continues to produce winning pups. Richie Frisella continues to place 'Tux', 'Rudy', and 'Buck' in puppy stakes this spring and Jerry Kolter has placed his 'Duke' puppies, such as 'Oscar', in the Nittany Valley Open Puppy stake as well as others back home in MN. Attached is a picture of Oscar.

And earlier in the Spring Season, Jan-Feb/2008:
On the Left Coast Mike Spies showed well at the Region 11 Walking Shooting Dog Championship in California with Wenaha’s High Ryder (High Definition ex Keystone’s Red Ryder) and a 3 find, two back performance for this very young dog who will not be three until Memorial Day 2008. ‘Ted’ also placed in a few US Complete Shooting dog events in California over the winter season. The Forman boys continue to show Steve Madeiros’s setter male Starlight Cracker (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Chip’s Peppie Leppew) can find grouse as he finished a strong hour in the National Derby Classic with a grouse find that had him carried deep into a competitive trial. This work goes with his win at the International Cover Dog futurity last fall and his grouse work at the Grand National Grouse Futurity and shows ‘Cracker’ is a natural cover busting dog that digs up birds. Dennis Vescuso continues a hot streak on his setter male ‘Jake’ (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Iron Maiden – she by Grid Iron) with wins in Virginia, Delaware and Massachusetts early in 2008. ‘Jake’s’ record to date is 8 for 8 in puppy stakes all over the North East and Mid-Atlantic and is reported to be an incredible front running pup showing great natural composure around his birds. Richie Frisella continued to do well with Peace Dale Duke gaining more shooting dog wins during his January-February winter training in South Carolina. While there, ‘Duke’ made the final day call backs in the NBHA National Championship. Richie also placed his pup ‘Rudy’ out of ‘Duke’ while in South Carolina and in Massachusetts. Steve Chiappini had also placed Chip’s Old Hickory third in the Amateur Derby at the Armstrong Classic (35 entries) as ‘Smokey’ displayed his impeccable sky kissing pointing style. And although not this spring, last November Joe McCarl handled Bill Henke's Keystone's Best Bette (by Keystone's Red Rage and Keystone's Pale Ryder) to first in the PA Open Puppy stake.

This closes out the 2007-08 season and speaking of impressive records; Keystone's Red Ryder's production record now stands at 6 winners with 53 wins. To our knowledge of these 6 winners all are multiple winners, two have championship placements, three have classic wins, and of the 53 wins only 4 are puppy placements. More importantly Lacey's pups have been hunted to great satisfaction by their owners on just about every wild game bird in the lower 48 states from Maine to Georgia, North Dakota and Montana to Texas, and Pennsylvania to California. 'Lacey' has more than proven her worth to us in the field and in the whelping box and it is a great feeling to watch her do the setter breed good. We are very much looking forward to watching her latest offspring grow in the field.

Overall a very nice spring season that continues the family trend of success whether trialing or hunting, from the North East to the Southeast, East Coast to West Coast, from foot or horseback, on wild birds or released quail, and always with Class in Purpose, Style in Motion, Power on Point.

The Story Of Mountain Magic and Ravenwood Suzy Wong - One Long Journey!

2008-03-05T14:40:00.000-05:00

The story of 3XCH/RU-CH Keystone's Red Ryder (Lacey) and her older brother 4XCH/2XRU-CH Taz is a long one - Literally! Both Lacey and Taz's sire is Mountain Magic or Chad. Chad is out of legondary Hall of Fame A-A setter champion Tekoa Mountain Sunrise ex Lookout Mona. One of the most productive setter crosses in the history of field trials producing at least half a dozen All-Age champions including Tommy B, Pacesetter's Equinox, Mona's Delight, T's Gunrunner and others. Field trialer Phil Gould of NJ bought Chad from Richard Giuliano (of RI and Guard Rail Fame) when he was less than a year old. As Mr. Giuliano told us he obtained Chad from Hall of Famer Gene Cassale (of CT, owner of HOF CH Guard Rail) and in turn Gene had gotten both Chad and a female littermate from Rich Robertson (of HOF Robertson Kennels in Payette, Idaho). As it was, Gene had the two setter pups and a full kennel of pointers so was looking to get rid of the two setter pups and continuing their journey. Thus from one coast to the other, and from one hall of fame kennel to the next it was a long journey for these two precosious pups! Once in the hands of Phil Gould he and Maggie Maier bred Chad to a stocky built setter bitch typical of cover dog breeding sired by Achy Brakey Jakee (he the sire of CH Pioneer Will and CH Centerfold Rose) and her dam by Grouse Ridge Been. The first breeding produced CH Taz. Taz was handed over to handler Robert Ecker of Midnight Kennel where he was deftly developed into a top notch cover dog. After the early returns on the success of CH Taz a repeat litter was achieved and produced CH Keystone's Red Ryder. I was fortunate enough to have friends like Phil and Maggie that gave Lacey to me as a 7 week old pup and Robert Ecker of Midnight Kennel who helped vault her to numerous titles! Oh, and in case you are wondering...... that other female pup sent to Gene Cassale from Rich Robertson was Ravenwood Suzy Wong. She eventually ended up with Pam Peete in Delaware and when bred to Smith setter Thumb's Up became the damn of horseback and Smith Setter Award winner 7XCH Ravenwood Riley, owned by Joe Cincotta and handled by Norm Basilone of NJ. And once again the pattern continued as when this cross was repeated Mr. Basilone won again with 2008 North Carolina Shooting Dog CH Ravenwood Pot O'Gold owned by John May.

So one long journey for two setter pups resulted in quite a record. One sired two multiple cover dog champions –4XCH Taz and 3XCH Keystone’s Red Ryder with 10 cover dog championship placements between them, the Flanagan Setter Derby Award, and a winner of the Grand National Grouse and Walking Futurity. The other was the mother of multiple horseback champions - 7XCH Ravenwood Riley and CH Ravenwood Pot'O Gold with 8 horseback championships between them, the Smith Setter Shooting Dog Award, and numerous other substantial wins. Literally one long journey.