Not Just a Pretty Face!

Pine Straw Katydid has continued her winning ways. After a solid performance at the National Amateur Grouse Championship where she didn't place, but garnered compliments from many people including the judges, Katie has earned two more placements. These placements came in two different stakes of the Central Georgia Pointing Dog club trial. Katie got 3rd in the Amateur Limited Gun Dog on October 8, and 1st in the Amateur Gun Dog on Sunday the 9th. These were both horseback stakes and the competition was comprised of several field champions and national field champions.

Katie can be seen in the attached photo with some of her winnings. She has placements on wild birds and planted birds as well as walking, horseback, and coverdog stakes. She is a RU-CH with the AFTCA/American Field and has 6 points and one major toward an AKC Field Champion title.

We are now looking forward to having Katie bred this winter (2011-2012). Please check back here to see the litter announcement which will be posted once the breeding is confirmed. You can also call me at 912-256-3826 or email me at esetters3@yahoo.com if you have questions about the breeding or would like to reserve a pup.

Katie starts the year off with a Bang!

Pine Straw Katydid got our trial season started off right with a victory over 22 other dogs at the Old Dominion Vizsla Club's North Dakota fall trial. Katie had a great race and 2 well mannered finds for pro Jamie Fountain. This AKC horseback first place is a great win for Katie as it earned her a 4-point major. This was Katie's second try of the season, her first coming in the Montana Shooting Dog Championship where she held her own, but didn't place. We have plans to breed Katie this fall and every win she gets shows that her bloodline deserves to be carried onward.

Smudge gets his first placements, Hawk scores again

On March 5th and 6th, the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Atlanta held an AKC walking trial. Smudge got his first two placements with a 1st place in the puppy stake and a first place in the derby stake as well. He was handled by my wife Amber, who obviously did a great job and brought Smudge the luck he needed. Hawk got second place in the derby stake. It was a fun weekend, and Smudge's two first place wins got him his juvenile points toward an AKC Field Champion/Amateur Field Champion title.

As a reward for his efforts, Smudge has been given a month at camp with pro trainer Jim Tande. Jim is going to evaluate Smudge to help us determine if his talents lean toward horseback or walking events. Almost every judge that has looked at him and Hawk have indicated that they should be running horseback. We'll see what comes of Smudge's time at camp.

Charlie and Hawk both get first horseback placements

The Middle Georgia English Setter Club held a dual-sanctioned (AF/AKC) horseback trial February 4th through the 6th at Stockton Plantation. Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennel handled Charlie in a shooting dog stake (AKC-Open Gun Dog) and garnered 3rd place out of 26 entries. In the Derby stake, Hawk had a nice run with a couple of good finds to take 2nd. I handled Hawk, and this was my first horseback placement as a handler. All in all it was a pretty good weekend.

Pine Straw Blackhawk gets 2nd place in open puppy!

On Saturday, January 22, 2011, Pine Straw Blackhawk placed 2nd in the Open Puppy stake at the NBHA Northeast Regional Championship Trial. Hawk surprised us with a huge run, outracing a much older pointer pup and staying far to the front for most of the twenty minutes. This is the first placement for Katie's pups and we couldn't be happier. Smudge had a great race, but was constantly molested by his brace mate, which prevented him from covering the ground in his usual style. Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennels helped prepare the pups for puppy trials by introducing them to horses for us. Thanks to Jamie as always.

Pinestraw Black Hawk earns first two legs of Junior Hunter

Pinestraw Black Hawk earned two legs of his junior hunter at an AKC hunt test recently. Hawk had multiple finds and held his points until the flush on every bird. He was complimented by the judges and had a fun time. Hawk ranged well, as far as any dog that ran, and his first point on both days was over 100 yards out. We are proud of the big boy.

Katie named Runner Up Champion at National Amateur Grouse Championship!

On Wednesday, November 17, 2010, Pine Straw Katydid was named Runner Up Champion at the National Amateur Grouse Championship that was held near Marienville, Pennsylvania. There were 69 dogs drawn for this cover dog event that lasted most of 5 days. Katie was in the 33rd brace, which ended up being the last brace due to a few dogs being withdrawn. Katie ran hard and tore through the cover. She had 1 grouse pointed about half way through the brace and one at the buzzer. I knew Katie had the breeding (CH Chip's Uncle Buzzie X Sky's Blue Belle) but she's been running horseback for the last year, so I wasn't sure how she'd do back in the woods. Anyway I want to say thanks to some of the really nice people that have helped me along the way: Chip for his mentoring, coaching, and help giving Katie a brush-up on grouse; Steve for breeding this great little dog and giving me advice along the way; Jamie Fountain for handling Katie in the horseback events and keeping the edge on her; Gus for scouting and buying dinner; Craig for his advice and thoughts on breeding; the Formans for their coaching; all of the people that worked to put on the NAGC; and especially the judges for selecting RU CH Pine Straw Katydid. There were so many nice people that made the experience even better, from the judges that were approachable and helpful, to competitors that were fair, honest and sincere in their congratulations.