We are planning a litter for spring 2022, but I’ve decided to hold off until we’re done with Ruth and Obi’s Utility Tests before we take on any more dog tasks (interviews, deposits, etc.). I’m shooting for the first week of November to have all of the health clearances, pedigrees, test results, etc. loaded on to the website and get a formal breeding announcement made. Then we can start talking about puppy placement.

The goal of testing Obi and Ruth are not Prize Ones, with the move and Charles’s new job there hasn’t been gobs of training time to get to that point. We will be happy to pass.

Caleb was the first junior handler for the Foothills Chapter of NAVHDA, they are a new chapter based north of Charlotte that was started in 2020. There are two other chapters in the Carolinas: the Carolinas chapter and the Tarheel chapter. Folks at the Foothills chapter were very friendly and nice to visit with. We were very thankful for judges Ed Harrington, Tim Clark and Leon Hardy for taking time out of their lives the weekend after NAVHDA Invitational in Iowa to come and judge this test.

Caleb walking Sally down to the field

These photos are all taken from very far away because I wanted Caleb to handle Sally and not have her distracted by me. This was a little over a week ago, Sunday, September 26. We were at Quail Haven Hunting Preserve in Harmony, North Carolina. She was the eighth dog to run the test and so the field was pretty stinky. We all love to make excuses as to why our dogs didn’t do what they were supposed to in tests, so here’s mine. Sally had fours on everything except “Search” was a three (I think she was hesitant with the stinky bird field) and “Desire to Work” (she’s never been wild bird hunting before, so this is all still new) was also a three. She probably had some of the most bird finds on the day though, but as one of my favorite judge quotes goes, “This isn’t an Easter egg hunt”.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Caleb kicking up a bird in front of Sally
Sally pointing a bird. It isn’t stylish but got the job done.
Caleb and Sally wrapping up their field work
Good flying quail are tough to come by, but Quail Haven has them.
NAVHDA Natural Ability Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Sally and Caleb after the field

The tracking portion of the test was next, Caleb did not want me over with the handlers and judges, so I stayed behind at the clubhouse. She did great on the track, went right to the bird and pointed it. Caleb walked over and picked up the bird (now it lives in our bird collection).

Caleb and the other handlers way over yonder at the track

The final portion of the test was the water and the evaluation of attributes. She did great on the water, Caleb threw a couple of bumpers and she came back with both of them. All of the dogs tested both days retrieved their bumpers, the judges really appreciated that and brought it up at the reading of the scores. Some dogs won’t go for the bumper and they have to use a dead bird at the water (which is a hassle).

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Water
Sally retrieving the bumper
Evaluation of attributes

Everything came back clear from the evaluation of attributes and coat was judged Medium Dense/Medium Harsh.

Caleb, age 12, Sally, age 7 months with judges Ed Harrington, Tim Clark and Leon Hardy

Caleb and Sally ended up with a Natural Ability Prize II with 103 points. Pretty darned good for a first time 12 year old handler and a 7 month old dog who hasn’t been wild bird hunting yet. Thanks to Charles for taking the time to help Caleb learn how to handle a dog in a hunt test and to all of the volunteers for putting on a great test.

Next up on our dog adventures, Obi and Ruth will give the Utility Test a shot. Obi got a Prize III on the Utility Preparatory Test and Ruth got a Prize II, so it will be interesting to see how those scores line up with the new ones.

Good luck to everyone out there chasing the sharptailed grouse around, it was so strange not going out to the Nebraska Sandhills for the opener. Charles is headed out that way after Thanksgiving and I am terribly jealous. It is beautiful here in South Carolina and the people are nice, but the east coast is crowded. I know that I will be super happy to be here come February though.

Congratulations to the new NAVHDA Versatile Champions in the breed, I know of at least two. I’ll wait for the magazine to say for sure. And everyone up in Pennsylvania for AWPGA National Specialty, have fun! I really wanted to go, but my oldest son is a senior this year and it is the end of the first quarter, so I have to tutor him to get through midterms.

I’ll catch back up with you all after the Utility Test is done. I’m pretty sure we’re down in South Carolina with the Carolinas chapter, so it will be fun meeting another new NAVHDA bunch.