A Momentus Achievement?

For those interested, the Eukanuba National Championship is airing tonight on The Discovery Channel at 8 P.M....This is an AKC dog show, and the dog that won BOB in Gordon Setters is the state of the art in "dual dogs".. I suppose a dog that performs well at both polar extremes??
Unfortunately, the Gordon is once again slipping from Field Performance and becoming the darling of the bench folks, pumphandle tails and all..
It's sad to see all the progress that was made since the '70's slip away so easily and completely..

'Nuff said!

I will not be watching...

A Sporting Tradition

I'd like to thank my friend John from The Upland Learning Curve for drawing my attention to The Old Hemlock Foundation.
I'll let everyone peruse the website as they see fit. There's an awful lot of information concerning George Bird and Kay Evans, not to mention photos of the Old Hemlock "family" and their dogs..
The main gratification for myself was seeing an old friend as one of the Trustees of the Foundation. Jeff Leach, his lovely wife Gabriella, and I go back a long way. The Leach's lived a few towns over and we belonged to the same hunt club together 20 or more years ago.
Jeff and Gabby are gentle folks, and birddog people of the first order, and they are most deserving of the honor of being Trustees of such a worthy organization. One that's purpose is to keep the memory, tradition and values of the Evans' and Old Hemlock alive for eternity, as they should be!
Gabriella is also a highly talented artist, and presented me years ago with a gift of pencil drawings of a quail and woodcock. They are some of my most prized possessions, and are displayed prominently in our home. These works of art will be featured in a post in the near future, as they are so deserving of recognition..

So congratulations to Jeff and Gabriella Leach, and all the Trustees and principals involved in the formation of such a worthy foundation..
Think about them in making a tax deductible donation to such a worthy cause as keeping our gunning traditions alive..

Quote of the day...

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"


An oft used quote, usually attributed to the Irish Conservative Edmund Burke, but who's true author is somewhat in doubt... An excellent thought to keep in mind as we attempt to negotiate the challenges ahead; and indeed, in our daily lives...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

and that's what it's doing out on New York's Tug Hill Plateau, a popular and productive grouse destination..

Looks like the season is OVER!

Check out this link.. That stick on the right is measured in feet, not inches!

The Poetry of Robert Service

and this work, in particular, I find to be a haunting one..

I've always been fascinated by wild and primitive places, and the solitary souls that call them home, in spite of their harshness and foreboding.
Robert Service must have felt the same way. He was born to in England to Scottish parents, and emigrated to North America in 1894, where he found employment with the Canadian Bank of Commerce. In 1905 he was directed to the Yukon Territory at Whitehorse. Within five years, he had gained fame as the storyteller of the Yukon gold rush. His first book of verse, "Songs of a Sourdough" made his name.
He left the Yukon in 1912 to become a Red Cross worker and war correspondent.. He subsequently settled in France and married a French woman, but he is ultimately best known for his writings of the Yukon..
I'm a bit of a loner myself, and in another life before having family, maybe I could have gone the way of the men Robert Service writes so eloquently of... because I must admit, I sometimes find myself having trouble "fitting in"...


The Men That Don't Fit In


There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don't know how to rest.

If they just went straight they might go far;
They are strong and brave and true;
But they're always tired of the things that are,
And they want the strange and new.
They say: "Could I find my proper groove,
What a deep mark I would make!"
So they chop and change, and each fresh move
Is only a fresh mistake.

And each forgets, as he strips and runs
With a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones
Who win in the lifelong race.
And each forgets that his youth has fled,
Forgets that his prime is past,
Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead,
In the glare of the truth at last.

He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance;
He has just done things by half.
Life's been a jolly good joke on him,
And now is the time to laugh.
Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost;
He was never meant to win;
He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone;
He's a man who won't fit in.

Robert W. Service 1874-1958

New Year's resolution

Yeah, I know... I hate them too, and never follow through on them, or have yet to up to this point!
But, this year I resolve to get into the habit of taking a camera with me on most outings. Often, when I am out I see things that I would like to record for posterity, and never have the means to do so..
I often can't figure how some folks get their dogs on point, or pics of birds in the air. I always thought that if I'm workin' dogs, the object is to work dogs, and there are little enough hands available even with two people! Stopping the action for a photo-op seems superfluous...If in the field, the first priority is to culminate the hunt.
But, I'm getting older, and it would be nice to have some visual mementos to look back on when I'm confined to the porch...
We'll see as the year progresses if this is just another one of those unfulfilled promises to myself...

More to come..

Gary Larson...... again

All of my regular readers know how much I've enjoyed the work of Gary Larson over the years, and I still bemoan his retirement from "The Far Side," in the same way I miss John Belushi, the comic genius..
But, here's another way to start the day off with a laugh from Larson...

Enjoy the weekend.. and please click to enlarge.

Can't teach an old dog....

And I'm not talkin' about the canines... I'm referring to myself!

In the face of all the high tech goodies out there, I find myself clinging to the old materials and older ways..
I eschew high tech fabrics... I stick to my old duofold undies and love my Filson woolen garments. I'm one of the lucky ones, I guess in that the I don't find real wool itchy..
Still have my Barbour waxed cotton Gamefair jacket for wet days, and I enjoy it's tradition.
LL Bean's Maine Hunting Shoe.. The boots I love to hate! My feet freeze in them, very little ankle support and I can only fit so much sock inside, but if I could run into moist conditions, they're the boots I always wear! I have a pair of Russell's South Forty Birdshooters also, but only if it's dry or on special occasions!
Brushpants... Ahhh the ole brushpants.. Don't wear 'em much anymore, as I find if I get into brush that is too thick, I have a helluva time gettin' out thanks to a pair of arthritic knees so, I just wear the old jeans I've been wearin' all day, and for probably a week before!
I bought a high tech WingWorks vest a couple of years ago, mainly for it's water carrying capacity for some thirsty gundogs. It's a beautiful piece of equipment! Well thought out.. adjustments up the gazoo, and the owner and designer is the nicest fellow anyone could ever do business with.. But, it's got a high-tech plastic buckle that makes me look like Darth Vader, so I usually end up grabbing the old, well worn Filson vest that has shells of all gauges still in it's pockets, moldy old feathers, rubber stoppers that I used to put in the horn of my first generation Tri-Tronics beep collar, Purina Performance bar wrappers for the dog, (they worked so well on the dog, I tried some myself and they're actually not bad) and God only knows what else if I bothered to clean it out.. I still carry the old style squeeze bottles that I get in the bicycle shop for watering the dogs, and they still leak from the spout and wet the back of the vest while being stuffed in the game pouch.. What the hell, no birds back there anymore anyway!
I do generally bow to an orange hat, but if any decent person saw it, they'd probably buy me a new one. We're not required to wear orange in N.Y., thankfully, because I hate the stuff! While I will allow that it offers an element of protection in the deer woods, I follow the old ways and turn it aside..
Maybe I'm a dinosaur, but I cling to the old ways! I don't believe in change for the sake of change. I'm bonded to the way I've always done things, even though new and better ways might be available.
I find comfort and peace in cracked leather straps, and real brass buckles tinged with verdegris... I'm a throwback to the past, I guess.. But, I like it back there! The only concessions I will make to newfangled technology is dog training equipment, and devices such as the Garmin Astro in the interest of safety for the dogs.

I'm too old and too opinionated to change!

My Life...

Was going through a drawer today looking for something else that I don't really need, when I came upon this dusty old relic from my working days, when I was actually a productive person... Or, maybe not so productive...

I guess I wasn't very busy that day!

Anyway, today it's the story of my life!

click to enlarge, and see the depths of my depravity!

The History of Grouse Ridge... in photos

Grouse Ridge Kennels in Oxford, NY has produced some of the finest English Setters of current times. Pete and Katie Flanagan, as their Dad, Dr. Tom before them, have made a life's work of breeding wild bird trial Setters, and I've yet to see a dog I wouldn't be proud to own from the Flanagans..

Here is a history of Grouse Ridge in pictures, going all the way back to when Dr. Tom was a young lad..

Enjoy!

pictured is Grouse Ridge Will

Charity

I came across this small truism years ago. I don't recall where and it doesn't really matter..
All dog people will see themselves here...


A bone to a dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog when you are just as hungry as the dog.

Sorcery & "The Wand"..

If I had a nickle for every time I heard a diminutive, lightweight birdgun referred to as a "wand", and invested those many thousands of accumulated nickles with Bernie Madoff, today I'd have about 3 cents...

Whenever I hear a shotgun described by it's owner as "a wand in his (or her) hands,", the first thought that comes to mind is that it is too light for said owner to shoot effectively. And while this is not true in all cases, I find it to be the rule in most.
Like Glynda, the wand can be used for good, but I find it more like Merlin's magic wand, wielded as a tool by the Antichrist... Now, this is not to assume that those few talented folks who can weild these wands with precision have made a pact with the devil, but I sometimes wonder what entity has imparted the discipline to these tortured souls that I so sorely lack...

I've had the pleasure of witnessing Andrew of The Regal Vizsla crush targets with his sub 6 lb. birdgun with authority, and I've got a buddy that can run straights on the Skeet field with his pretty little Model 42 Field gun, lacking the bulbous Cutts compensator that added forward weight and discipline for the average shooter. This little 42 is all original, except for the Simmons vent rib, and looks like the day it left the factory!

All in all, it takes alot of practice, and just maybe some practice of the Black Arts, to point these lightweight birdguns with the form needed to score... In facing the truth, I possess neither, and therefore arm myself with shotguns with a little more weight, and weight forward in particular to mask my mediocre style...

Anyone know where these "pacts" I hear so much about can be signed up for??

For more definitions of shotgunning adjectives, visit Cold Duck to see what my friend Michael has to say on this subject.. Scroll down to the post of December 3rd, "Why there are no paid Advertisements at Cold Duck" and read some of Michael's wisdom..

Enjoy the weekend...

Native American Truth

My regular readers are coming to know how much enjoyment I get from these Native American quotations.. They are always in reverence toward the Earth, Nature and the Great Spirit..
I find it truly a pity that "modern" man is not so enlightened..

_______________________________________________________


In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge were with the animals, for Tirawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals to tell men that he showed himself through the beast, and that from them, and from the stars and the sun and moon should man learn.. all things tell of Tirawa.
All things in the world are two. In our minds we are two, good and evil. With our eyes we see two things, things that are fair and things that are ugly.... We have the right hand that strikes and makes for evil, and we have the left hand full of kindness, near the heart. One foot may lead us to an evil way, the other foot may lead us to a good. So are all things two, all two.

Eagle Chief (Letakos-Lesa) Pawnee

Me n' The Frog

Laprohaig, that is...

I'm finding myself growing more and more fond of distilled spirits, Scotch in particular, and the Single Malt variety to refine it even further...
Since giving up beers and ales almost completely, due to the gout that it seems to trigger in my elbow, of all places... Not the big toe anymore, I've embarked on a mission of discovering the endless varieties of Single Malt Scotch..
I confess to having a couple Thomas Hardy's Ale around Christmas, My son bought them for me, and I just couldn't bring myself to make him drink them alone; and yes, this is the same Thomas Hardy of "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" fame. This is an ale that everyone should try at least once.. At almost twelve percent alcohol, it's similar to a wine, but it is the best ale I've ever tasted.. and I used to brew my own, years back, before it put too much weight on me.
But, back to my incursion into the world of Single Malts...
I started with "The Glenlivit", and I think it's an excellent jumping off point, particularly for such an uneducated palate as mine..
I've added "The Frog", Bowmore, Glenmorangie, Highland Park, and a less pricey bottle of Speyside.. They're all quite different, and some folks admit to favorites, while eschewing the others..
Honestly, I've yet to meet a Single Malt that I didn't like, but I'm still new to the Path...
There are so many to try, and the enjoyment is in the trip itself..

I'm certainly enjoying mine...

pictured is the Laprohaig distillery, on the island of Islay, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides..

Hey! That's not fair.. doggie style

Ooops. maybe I should rephrase that.... let's make it "canine style"...


This was passed along to me by one of our readers, The Knotsmith , who's work on the finest lanyards on Planet Earth has been mentioned on these pages before..
The subject was also recently mentioned by our friends at "A Piece of the Purest Challenge".. This is a great article that points up how dog's can recognize fairness, and mostly lack of, in their dealings with others.. This does not come as a great surprise to me having had an interest in observing canine behavior, and what make thir minds work, for the better part of my life.
To read the article, click on the link from Science News...
And don't forget, in the box on the right, to click "view sequence" for a little laugh.. I wonder if these two pups are "union" or free agents??

Canine behavior at it's best... Is it any wonder I like dogs better'n most people??

Welcome

I'd like to acknowledge, and send out a warm welcome to our newest contributor, The Knotsmith..
Larry has made a couple of his hand braided lanyards for me, and they are sheer perfection! I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Every real dogman deserves a hand braided whistle lanyard from The Knotsmith.. They're unique to your specs, and there's nothing else out there that compares..

Welcome aboard, Larry!

Fantasies...

Are the works of the current crop of Master Italian engravers sich as Galeazzi and Fricassi giving way to the young "turks" at Creative Art?
Some will always want classic English scroll, with perhaps a dog scene, or gamebirds, either upland or waterfowl, or some mixture of it all.. But, some will wish to go a bit further to achieve something just a little different, as the lead photo of a Fabbri from Creative Art shows..
It's called "Fantasy" engraving, and it's being applied to the world's finest, read most expensive, firearms. I happen to like it, but i've always had champagne tastes on a beer budget..
I've never been a fan of the deeply cut Germanic style of engraving, although I have seen some fine examples, but the style and often the subjects, do not thrill me like the fine Italian Bulino (bank note) style. But, taste is a very subjective virtue, and there really is no right or wrong..
For those that would like to see more of the work of the Masters at Creative Art, click here... Click all the links, paying particular attention to the Fantasy scenes..
More examples can be found at the Ivo Fabbri site.. Scroll down to "Engraving Examples"... Peruse them all, but once again, pay particular attention the the Fantasy examples..

I enjoy the Fantasy engraving... What's not to like, and it's fun to dream...

Enjoy your Monday!

Money Can't Buy Me Love??

It just might be able to buy love, or an obscure form of it, but the one thing it cannot buy is knowledge. And there's only one thing that truly can.. Experience in the good ole' School of Hard Knox!
The Japanese tend to love everything American, and Field Trialing and FT dogs are no different. It's been pretty big since about the early 1980's, and true to form, the Japanese enter everything in an analytical way looking for ways to improve upon the wheel.
Many top field dogs of varying breeds from top kennels have been shipped to Japan, but they don't stop there.
Teams of Japanese trialers paid some heavy coin to learn the rudiments, and hopefully the secrets of top American Pro Trainers
One of the top Shooting Dog trainer/handlers on the East Coast hosted some of the Japanese handlers eager to buy knowledge from the best.. And teach them he and his son did, but they also were made to do chores around the kennels and stables... That's also part of what it's all about!
The Pros fullfilled their part of the bargain, teaching the basics, and the advanced basics while working clients dogs.. But, when it came time to work a dog with some of the invaluable "tricks of the trade", the Japanese interns were sent off to do chores.. Shovelling manure behind the barn or some such. These tricks were not part of the bargain, and not for sale for any price!
Seems like a fair bargain to me... The Japanese got what they paid for... No more and no less..

The above scan is the cover from a 1983 issue of "Hunting World" from Japan.. The photo shows Norm Sorby gunning over the legendary Gordon, Danny Boy O'Boy...
click the pic to enlarge..

Desiderata

After nearly sixty years, there is still much for me to learn.. And to put into practice that which I already know..
I'm still a work in progress,so to speak, and that work takes a lot of work..
I need to keep striving...

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --


Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

A warning on sugar free sweeteners

From the American Veterinary Medical Association:
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.
If you think it's no big deal that your dog just ate some sugar-free gum or a cookie or two, think again. You may want to make an immediate trip to your veterinarian.

While veterinarians have suspected that the sugar substitute xylitol can make dogs sick, there is now further clinical evidence of an association between the product and possible liver failure in dogs. A clinical report appearing in the Oct. 1 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) discusses the sometimes fatal conditions developed by dogs that have ingested xylitol. Xylitol, a sweetener found in many sugar-free chewing gums, candies, baked goods and toothpastes, is a naturally occurring ingredient that may have far-reaching negative health effects on dogs.

"Not all things that are natural are safe," said veterinary toxicologist Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, who along with veterinarian Eric K. Dunayer co-authored the report. "There are plenty of things in the environment that are toxic to pets."

While not all pets become ill after eating xylitol, Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said the public—and especially dog owners—needs to be aware of the potential dangers. She added that pet owners should make sure that products containing xylitol are kept away from dogs. If an owner suspects that their dog has eaten products containing xylitol, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

"The potential for severe illness is very high," she said. "People don't think sugar-free gum can kill their dog. I didn't before I got into this. But this is something people should be aware of."

In the report, Drs. Dunayer and Gwaltney-Brant, staff members at the Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Urbana, Illinois, used the Control Center's data base to gather information on eight dogs that were treated between 2003 and 2005 after eating products containing xylitol. Each dog became ill, and while three of the dogs survived, five of the pets either died or had to be euthanized because of liver failure possibly stemming from xylitol ingestion.

Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said three additional dogs that ingested xylitol after the study was conducted either died or had to be euthanized after becoming ill. All three, Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said, had liver failure.

Dr. Gwaltney-Brant described the potential negative xylitol effects on dogs as a "species difference."

"People only absorb a certain percentage of xylitol," she said. "The human body doesn't even notice it. However, in dogs, xylitol triggers significant insulin release, which drops the blood sugar. It is definitely a species difference. People aren't in danger from sugar-free gum containing xylitol; dogs are."

The number of xylitol-related pet exposures is on the rise, according to Dr. Gwaltney-Brant, partly because of increased awareness, but more so because xylitol is being used in more products. The incidence of reported xylitol exposures climbed from 70 in 2004 to 170 in 2005. As of August, the Poison Control Center reported 114 cases of xylitol exposure this year.

"This is the tip of the iceberg now," she said. "Anything that is sugar-free could potentially have substituted xylitol for the original sweetener."

The extent of xylitol's potential effects on the liver are new—and certainly not good news—for dogs, their owners and veterinarians.

"The fact that xylitol-containing products can cause problems in dogs is a relatively new find," Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said, explaining that the sweetener had already been tied to low blood sugar in dogs—but not liver failure. "Once you start looking at something, you see a lot more of it."

Some sugar-free chewing gums, Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said, are as much as 70 percent xylitol, depending on the brand and whether the product is used as a primary sweetener.

"A 22-pound dog who consumes 1 gram of xylitol should be treated," she said. "This can equate to 3 to 4 pieces of some gum products."

One dog in the study that had to be euthanized because of its condition had eaten four large, chocolate-frosted muffins that contained about 1 pound of xylitol.

"They use it like sugar," Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said. "Baked goods can easily contain a large amount of xylitol."

There is no information on whether severe xylitol poisoning has occurred in cats, Dr. Gwaltney-Brant said.

"If we get exposures, we have blood sugar checked as a precaution," she said.

Dogs, however, are potentially at risk. And while further studies need to be conducted to definitively establish a cause-and-effect relationship between xylitol ingestion by dogs and liver damage and bleeding disorders, Dr. Gwaltney-Brant hopes the message gets out.

"Liver failure is one of our main concerns when dogs get into this," she said. "The low blood sugar we can deal with. But the liver damage, even with aggressive treatment, can make it difficult to save these animals."

For more information, a copy of the study, "Acute hepatic failure and coagulopathy associated with xylitol ingestion in eight dogs," or an interview with author Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, contact David Kirkpatrick at 847-285-6782.


Be careful out there.. From Chinese dog treats, to canned food, to normaslly available table scraps.. It can be a dangerous world for dogs.

Nice to see this blog still here!

This is my first post here.
Well, what do you think????

Scottish Gordon Setters

One may give pause to think... How silly.. All Gordons are Scottish!

Well, Yes... and no.
The Scottish Gordon, and European Gordons in general, are a bit different from their American counterparts, at least cosmetically..
But, other than tail set, these Scottish Gordons show some high style, and intense capabilities of Grouse on the Moors..

Please peruse the site Working Gordon Setters.com for info on Gordon Field Trials in Scotland. And don't forget to click the box all the way to the right which often shows a photo of the named dog..

Enjoy!

A favored Winter Passtime

Watching the birds at the feeders..

They're antics never fail to make me laugh out loud, and they've all got different personalities!
The Cardinals, as shown seem very dominant, and don't care for other birds in the vicinity while they're feeding..
The Tufted Titmouse, a placid little bird... Very gentlemanly
Goldfinch.. a real little beauty!
The Chickadee, a real pleasure to have around. Beautiful little birds and very mellow..I always enjoy looking out to see a Chickadee..
This year, we've had very many Juncos.. They make a helluva mess. They kick ten seeds off with their feet for every seed they eat. But, they leave alot on the ground for the Doves and Sparrows.
The ever present Blue Jays, with their raucous vocalizations and rambunctious attitudes.. Pretty much the dominant bird down here.
The Red Headed Woodpecker.. A beautiful bird that does not come on a regular basis, but is always a treat to watch..
There's also a bird that is new this year and I've yet to identify. It looks like a small finch, with a light greed body and wings that resemble a sparrow.. I've got to dig out the guide.

And then... The dreaded squirrels, who's numbers this year are great. I won't do them any harm for eating the expensive Sunflower Seeds, but they can sure tick me off.. Hell, the squirrels don't have the reasoning power to figure out that I put the seeds out for the birds and not for them, and the way I look at it, they're just tryin' to get through another day with as little strain and pain, just like me!
But this year there is a new twist.. I hung a "Cobs-a-twirl" from the birch tree.. It holds four corn cobs, and is free to turn as the squirrels jump for a cob. I haven't had it up long enough yet to provide any antics, but from accounts at the feed store, the little rodents can provide endless entertainment with it...

Time will tell, but in the meantime, I enjoy all the wildlife that show up for a free meal "on me"..

Holly's Diagnosis

There once was a girl,
with a cute little curl,
right in the middle of her forhead...

When she was good,
she was very, very good,
but when she was bad she was horrid....


Origin unknown.. at least to me. A little ditty that my dear Mother used to recite quite often.. I thought it applied to holly the puppy quite well.





Holly, the young Gordon, has been limping a bit upon rising for a few weeks.. Two successive snap tests showed no tick borne illnesses to treat..
This morning, my wife took Holly to work with her at the Vet Hospital, for a more comprehensive check-up.
X-rays of right shoulder and elbow show some arthritis creeping in already. Damn!! This little dog is only 5 1/2 years old, and just coming into her own.. These genetic diseases are taking their toll on our dogs earlier and earlier.. Yes, I suppose she's middle aged for a Gordon, but still too young for arthritis..
She can certainly still motor once she works the kinks out, which doesn't take long, but it's the beginning, and I don't like it!

So, this will enter into decision on when the newest, and maybe last puppy will be arriving at the BnT home..

Stay tuned for future developments..

This n' That

Well, we made it through the New Year unscathed.. Mostly by following my practice of sleeping through it and avoiding it entirely! I learned long ago that New Years revelries were not good for my health, so I just ignore them..

On a more positive note for birddog enthusiasts, I came across a blog all about canine olfactory powers, and there's much that we Pointing dog types can learn from it concerning scent.. It's called "Did a Cat Shit in Here?" and, despite the name, there's lots of good info to be gleaned... Check it out!

On the shotgun side of things, Michael of The Cold Duck blog has another great post about the RBL-16 that deserves a serious look. I always considered myself to be a maverick swimming against the tide of accepted knowledge on such issues, but the thoughts expressed at Cold Duck coincide perfectly with my own.. It's odd for me to find such a kindred spirit when it comes to shotgun issues.. Give Cold Duck a look..

Enjoy the coming weekend!