KT’s Dogs
GROUSSIE
Groussie has been a companion of KT’s for almost 12 years. She is an AKC registered yellow Labrador Retriever. Many people are fooled by her beautiful red tint and mistake her for a Vizsla. She may be the smartest of KT’s dogs. KT swears she understands English.
Groussie has hunted from Texas to Canada. She is at her best when hunting Grouse in heavy trees and cover but loves it all. Her nose is incredible. She is the go to dog when it comes to retrieving crippled, running pheasants. She is also KT’s favorite fishing dog. Groussie has never had a bad day. On the water, in the boat, in the field, or on the couch, Groussie is happy. Groussie has taught me much and has definitely made me a better person.
IRIS
My breeders wife Sandra once told me that Iris means “gentle flower”. I never looked it up but I have to believe she was right. Iris is nothing short of amazing. The most gentle and loving dog that I have ever known. A perfect pet. Iris is a black and white English Setter. Her black eye patch and that big black stripe through her perfect tail makes her one of a kind.
When she hits the field her personality changes. The birds don’t have a chance with Iris in the field. When hunting tight mountain cover for grouse she stays close and works thorough. Hunting chukar in the open mountains of Idaho she ranges to the next mountain. In Nebraska CRP she hunts at perfect gun range. She understands the difference when hunting bobwhites versus scaled quail. She creeps slowly into a staunch point with bobwhites. She would cut out and to the side of a running covey until she was well ahead and then cut back pinning the covey of scaley’s between her and the hunters. She is truly one of a kind. I love them all, but she has a special place in my heart.
HANK
Dr. Bob Taylor, from The Animal Planets “Emergency Vet’s”, one of the world’s best canine sports surgeons is Hank’s owner. Hank is a 5 year old liver and white English Pointer. Bob hunts at my place in Nebraska and he leaves Hank with me after Nebraska’s pheasant season to hunt the later quail seasons in Texas and Arizona.
What Hank lacks in style he more than makes up for with desire and a strong work ethic. Hank has what some breeders call sickle tail. When he points his tail bends over into a hook shape like a sickle. Field trailers don’t like it, but it makes no difference to me. Hank doesn’t miss many birds. He has the best nose of all the dogs. His personality makes every hunter fall in love with him.
ROSIE
Rosie is the most special gift I have ever received. She is a tri-colored English Setter. She was a gift from Montanan horse-back field trailer Shannon Nygard. Shannon ended up with too many dogs in her kennel and needed to thin the herd. I fell in love with Iris immediately, but I couldn’t compete with Rio’s (you will be introduced to him next) love and desire for her. Rio won out in the long run. He and Rosie are inseparable. I definitely see puppies in their future.
She was fully trained when I received her and that has made hunting with her a dream. She knows her business. Commands are rarely needed. After spending her first five years chasing Hungarian Partridge for hunters on horseback she has really adjusted well to the pheasant and quail fields of Nebraska and Texas. Thanks Shannon for a very special gift.
RIO
Rio is a five year old black and white English Setter with a face that looks like he is wearing a black bandits mask. The only thing he will steal is your heart. Rio is driven. His smooth gait gives the impression of gliding through the field. A gait similar to a Tennessee Walker. He will hunt all day long day after day with no signs of fatigue. I have never hunted with a better pheasant dog. One client asked if he had a degree in pheasantology. You gotta love that.
He adjusts easily when hunting birds and terrain that are unfamiliar to him. When hunting Nebraska pheasants he ranges just within bird range. In Montana he will range out further, but not too far. In Idaho and Arizona he will range as far as a half mile without ever busting a bird. His point is solid and stylish with that big, bushy white tail. When working a field he methodically covers every possible hiding place. He is a true pro.
POCO
Poco is the newest addition. A tri-colored English Setter, she is the product of the torrid love affair between Rosie and Rio. She was born on an unforgettable Christmas Eve two years ago. Poco occupies a deep and special space in my heart because I actually delivered her through a very difficult pregnancy. She is a real survivor. Four of her litter mates were still born and Rosie almost died in delivery. I fell in love with her when she was 5 seconds old.
She is still learning but showing that she has great potential. She is a top notch retriever and loves to bring the bird back with her head held high. She sometimes will strut in a circle around you like she’s taking a victory lap. Poco has more personality than most dogs. Just looking at her will put a smile on your face. I am looking forward to many years of adventure with Poco.
