Spring Training for Katie and Smudge

We took a trip to my parent's farm over spring break. While there we took advantage of some great weather to work Katie and Smudge. It was nice to have some big fields and woods in which to work the dogs. It was getting green, but not too bad. I also took the opportunity to snap some pictures of the dogs.

Smudge scores another blue ribbon, Charlie and Hawk go back with the Formans.

On Presidents Day, I took Charlie and Hawk back to the Formans at their training grounds in central Kentucky. The spring cover dog trial season starts this coming Saturday and Hawk and Charlie are on their way.

Smudge kept his roll going with another Derby 1st place on Saturday, February 25. Smudge ran well and had several nice finds. This is his second placement of 2012, the other was a third place in an Amateur Shooting Dog stake at an NBHA trial in South Carolina.

Katie did not take.

We are disappointed to report that Katie is not pregnant. The breeding of her to Charlie did not take. We have to wait another year for a batch of puppies at Pinestraw Setters.

Pheasant Hunting with Pinestraw Setters

Smudge and Katie got to go on a pheasant hunting trip to Illinois and the well known Harpole's Heartland lodge. They shared time down with the Vizslas, but everybody got in on the action. Smudge learned a lot and tracked down several wily roosters, pinning them cautiously once they were cornered. Katie remembered the pheasant dance too and pointed her fair share. Here are a couple of pictures showing them doing what they were bred to do.

Hawk wins Amateur Derby, Smudge gets 3rd in Am Shooting dog

On January 14, 2012 Pine Straw Black Hawk had won first place in the Amateur Derby stake at the Sumter County Bird hunters NBHA field trial (American Field). Hawk had four broke finds. This was Hawks first AF amateur placement which qualifies him for most amateur championship trials.

At the same trial Pine Straw Smudge took 3rd place in the Amateur Shooting Dog stake. He had two nice finds, one far to the front. This was Smudge's first shooting dog placement, not too bad for a derby aged dog.

Katie Finishes Her AKC Field Champion Title

Pine Straw Katydid has had an amazing fall. She ran well but didn't place in the Montana Shooting Dog Championship and the National Amateur Grouse Championship (in which she got RU last year). After those two prestigious events, Katie has won first place in 5 different stakes and third in two others. She amassed enough points to complete her FC title and is now just 3 amateur points shy of the Amateur Field Champion title. Two of the first place ribbons and one of the third place ribbons came from horseback stakes. At one point Katie earned 3 blue ribbons in a seven day time frame.

Katie has proven to be versatile and to be a great bird finder. She is biddable and wants to please, but still has the fire to go big. We have hopes for more great things to come for Katie, the next thing on the list is another go at motherhood. More on that to come.

Smudge excelled this fall!

Smudge has had a really good fall. He won first place in the Open Derby stake of the Central Georgia Pointing Dog Club trial on November 22. This was a dual sanctioned American Field / AKC horseback field trial. Smudge was handled by Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennels. Smudge has also gotten the following placements this year: second place in the Open Derby at the Kentuckiana Pointing Breeds Association (AKC), third place in the Amateur Derby stake of the Michigan Amateur Field trial clubs fall grouse trial (AF), third place in the Open Derby at the Vizsla Club of Metro Atlanta's AKC horseback trial, and fourth place in the Amateur Derby Stake at the GSP Club of South Georgia's AKC trial. Because of his AF wins, he is now qualified for both Open and Amateur championship trials.