Opening Day 2007

Brian,...Boy- Scout and Ally-Cat!,...

and 3 Grouse!

The Majestics in Lake_Superior_Provencial_Park_2006_

Ally Brian Scout

Hi Susan,
Scout & Ally had a blast on their big trip to North Dakota. There were birds everywhere, like rats, but the dogs loved it! They both did really well. The birds were very spooky, but because Scout & Ally obey so well, they still got in a lot of very nice points and plenty of birds were shot over them in 4 1/2 days.

I bet Ally covered 30 miles per day for the 4 full days. She never wanted to quit but I forced her to take some breaks. One time, I left her in the cab of the truck for a break with the windows down about 10 inches and the little brat crawled out through the window and came running after Scout & I. When she had her annual exam in September and she weighed 45 pounds, but now she is all skin and bones again, like when I got her from you. On the way home from North Dakota, she made me pick her up to put her in the truck and to take her out! In between she slept like a log and ate like crazy. But trust me, she would tell you it hurt sooo good!

I did not run Scout as much as Ally because he is now 7 1/2, but I bet he covered 15 miles of ground per day. He was a real trooper. On Saturday, he hit an piece of barbed wire that was sticking out of the ground and I had to get him sewed up with three stitches. He took the rest of that day off but hunted the last 2 days without any problems. He even pointed a cat in the field for us! In my 20 years in hunting with dogs, that is the first time I ever had a dog get injured. You can see the wound in his chest. The vet said because of it's location, it would not be a problem to hunt him in that condition.

We did not get the video footage as I had hoped, but trust me, those dogs were great. The only problem I had with them was hogging the single bed we had in the cabin. Have you ever gone on vacation and slept with 2 dogs in a single bed for 5 nights? But, I was as tired as they were and it was not an issue.

Hope all is well with you.
Thanks again.
Brian, Scout, Ally and Ranger

This next set of Photos covers the last 20 years, of Bird Dog Heaven.

Good Bird Dogs like these only come from people with a true heart,.......

Maggie, Ranger, Scout, and now, Ally have been blessed with just that. I feel very fortunate to have been given the oppurtunity to be a part of the continuing saga of

"Bird Dog Heaven"

Patches was my first dog, and I "rescued" him at 1 1/2 years old when he could not move to Houston, TX with his family.

He was a hunting machine. If God is willing, now that I know how to train bird dogs, I pray to God I get another dog like him

Sometimes a person is blessed with an experience in life they do not fully comprehend until it is gone.

For me this experience came to me through a dog, a most remarkable Llewellin Setter named Patches.
September 15, 1987 was opening day of bird season and a beautiful day for our first hunt together.It marked the first time I ever hunted with a dog and on that memorable day, I shot three grouse over Patches.

Today it remains the only day in my life I ever shot three grouse in one day and it seems as if God has intended it to be that way forever.

As all good things do, they come to an end.For Patches, that came in a period of five days.

He was seven years old and in peak physical condition or so I thought. What I could not see was the tumor at the base of his brain and spinal cord.

Losing him was perhaps the most difficult thing I have encountered in my life. The only thing I could reason was perhaps God needed an excellent bird dog and best friend.

In Patches he got both.

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Maggie She was an incredible Grouse dog and many times this fall I would be hunting with tears in my eyes when I thought back to how she would stalk the grouse as if she was a cat.

Often, she would follow a grouse for 200-300 yards before it would flush.

The best feature about Maggie was she acted as if she was royalty.

She was a beautiful Princess and everyone should have a dog love them the way she loved me. Likewise, everyone should love a dog as much as I loved that beautiful bird girl.

Here is how her obituary read when she passed away:

Friends,
This morning Maggie passed away peacefully in my arms. As far as I know, her and Patches are pointing a handsome Ruffed Grouse right now, while enjoying a beautiful fall day together in the woods.
As you all know, she was a beautiful girl and I feel fortunate to of had her in my life for almost 1/3 of my lifetime.
Maggie and I spent 14 autumns together in the field and I cannot begin to guess how many hours she laid by my side. She was 15 1/2 and she was definitely "daddies little girl." I am going to miss her deeply.

The next item is something that happened when I buried her ashes in a tree
Earlier this spring I planted a Crab Apple tree at my house in Maggie's memory.

On Saturday I buried Maggie's ashes around the tree and then planted some pretty flowers around the tree.

A

After I was done working for the day, I was sitting on my porch looking at the tree and flowers and was thinking " that is so pretty,I am really glad I did that for Maggie." Precisely, right after I said that, a robin flew into the tree.

I watched the robin in the tree for about 5 minuets and then I said, "you are so beautiful Dolly." At that very second, the robin flew out of the tree and then a beautiful white butterfly immediately flew around the tree a few times just above the flowers.

Needless to say, that really touched me.
I never saw a large, pure white butterfly like that one before I saw that one.
I know that was Maggie talking to me.

To this day, I have never, ever seen a beautiful pure white butterfly like that one.

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SCOUT and RANGER

It is amazing to me how quickly Scout adapted to life with myself and with my two English Setters, Maggie (15) and Ranger (12).

Upon His introduction to Ranger, Ranger quickly established is alpha male title in the pack.

One loud snarl and a snap from Ranger was all it took.

Scout quickly understood his position in the pack.

Maggie on the other hand provided a wagging tail and some nice nose to nose sniffs.

Needless to say, Scout felt much better with the situation after meeting Maggie. That was all it took to create the harmony they have been living in ever since.

Since then, I have caught Ranger and Scout nose to nose a few times with tails wagging. But don't think Scout does not know who the boss is. Ranger has earned the respect and he is a great dog too!

I was nervous about how he would react moving into a new home for the fourth time. But I can assure you all, he has adapted to this situation like a duck to water. He follows me everywhere I go and looks at me like I am some kind of God. You would think I had him from when he was a puppy. As I sit here typing, he is curled up in a ball behind me content from his hour long run and full from dinner.

Scout found his forever home and I think he is a happy puppyOnly if he knew that when fall comes, he will be in the woods hunting grouse and woodcock three or four times a week.

Perhaps I should let him know he has a trip to North Dakota planned for him in October to hunt pheasants. Judging by the way he loves to run in the woods now, I think he was born to spend beautiful fall days in the field.

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Then Came Ally,...

Hi Susan,
I just wanted to report all is well with the little brat now.
After I dropped $536 on an RDF (radio directional finder), she has been good as gold. I put the collar on her when we go in the woods to run birds but she is so focused on the birds now, I doubt she will ever take off on me again. I will use the RDF as an insurance policy on her all season just in case... (the little brat).

I can tell you this right now, she is going to be an incredible bird dog, the best one I ever had. She runs through the woods with her nose working like a Hover vacuum. She quarters beautifully, has about a 20 yard range, always checks back in with me, is like a rock on point, backs naturally, listens and obeys like a dream. When I shoot the first bird over her, I am certain she will be an excellent retriever. I have to pinch myself when I think this will be her first year.

All I can tell you Susan is, Ally is incredible. I think next year I am going to enter her in some hunting field trials. Field trials are not something that really interest me but I think I have to show the world I have a world class bird dog, she deserves it. Then, we will get some publicity on rescue dogs as hunting dogs.

Opening day is Friday and she is as ready as I can get her. It will be a fun autumn in the field. In November, we are going to N. Dakota for a week of pheasant and sharptail hunting. I can't wait to see how she does on pheasants.

Thanks again Susan. I O U big time.
Brian

Me and My Brother , Scout!!I can tell you this right now, she is going to be an incredible bird dog, the best one I ever had. She runs through the woods with her nose working like a Hover vacuum.

She quarters beautifully, has about a 20 yard range, always checks back in with me, is like a rock on point, backs naturally, listens and obeys like a dream.

When I shoot the first bird over her, I am certain she will be an excellent retriever.

I have to pinch myself when I think this will be her first year.

All I can tell you Susan is, Ally is incredible. I think next year I am going to enter her in some hunting field trials. Field trials are not something that really interest me but I think I have to show the world I have a world class bird dog, she deserves it.

Then, we will get some publicity on rescue dogs as hunting dogs.

Opening day is Friday and she is as ready as I can get her.

It will be a fun autumn in the field. In November, we are going to N. Dakota for a week of pheasant and sharptail hunting.

I can't wait to see how she does on pheasants.

Thanks again Susan. I O U big time.
Brian

Here is a pic of Ally backing Scout while pointing a woodcock. The woodcock are thick at my property this time of year doing their spring courtship.



She is really having a blast. She is going to be an incredible bird dog! She backs 100% naturally. She listens like you would not believe, even better than Scout. Plus I can trust her on her own when she is outside.
















When she is outside by herself, she does not venture too far from the front porch, which works for me. When Scout is outside, she is by his side. Those two really love each other and just have a ball together!
That's it for here. Thanks again.
Brian

Hi Susan,
Ally is really doing well. She has adjusted quickly. The first day she did not eat too much but now when I put her food down she cleans it up. I feed her just a tad less than a cup, twice a day. Plus her training bits she gets.

As you know, she comes when called in the house very well. Outside I had her on a 25' cable and she was pretty wild and did not listen at all. Tonight she started her electronic training and she has really caught on quickly. Today we were outside for 2 hours and in the second hour, she was on her own. When I called come, she came flying back.

You were right about the lowest setting is all it would take for her to obey. After her training session, I had her running around with Scout and she really paid attention to Scout when he came on command.
I think she is a very smart girl and will train quickly. I want to be able to let her run free when I am outside with her soon, with my complete trust. I am a little bit nervous because I know not too long ago she was a stray and I never want that to happen again.

Everyone who has met her thinks she is beautiful and she loves everyone! When I look at her, I see my first dog Patches and when I see her personality, I see my beautiful girl that passed away last spring, Maggie.

Sometimes when I look at her, the hair on my neck stands up because I think I am seeing my two old dogs in a beautiful young pup.

Scout loves her beyond my wildest dream. With Scout being the alpha male, I was concerned he might be a little bit rough on her. Wrong, I think it is the other way around! I cannot believe how physical she gets with Scout and he loves every minuet of it.

Ranger is still warming up to her.













They sleep side by side and respect each other, but Ally does not trust him enough yet to get nose to nose and wag tails.

That is the way it was with Scout when they first met Ranger, but they are buddies now. Ally is much farther along in the friendship stage then Scout was in the same time period.

The only problem Ally has created for me so far is in my bed. Have you ever tried to sleep with 3 dogs in a double bed? It is all I can do to keep from falling out!

She is a beautiful girl and has exceeded my expectations!

Hope all is going well with you and your new pup.
Brian

Ally, pointing Morning Doves in MI.
Proud writes:
"Is she pretty or what?"

Hi Susan,
Just wanted to let you know Ally is doing really good.
She is something else! She is the most playful and loveable dog.
Her and Scout just have a ball with each other.
She know what birds are now and without a doubt, will be a great bird dog.
She really listens well when she is outdoors. I can trust her outside alone for about 5 minuets, then she is usually at the door wanting back inside. She is going crazy with fun in all the deep snow we just received. She is a real doll!
Thanks.
Brian


Ally and Scout!

We ran into snow at the Michigan border and it snowed pretty hard all the way home.
Ally had a good first night. I made her sleep in a crate because she was all wound up when it was time sleep. At 5:00 I let her outside. After she came back in, she slept on my bed with me and Scout until 8:00. Now she is watching the birds at the bird feeder.
Thanks again Susan. She is everything you told me she would be.
Brian

Hello Everyone,
Ally made it to her new home in Northern Michigan. She was a perfect little doll in the car during her 6 hour ride home. When we got home, the first thing she wanted to do was run and play in the 20" of snow on the ground, enjoying every inch of it. Once in the house, her and Scout were having a great time playing and getting acquainted. My old boy Ranger went right upstairs and wants nothing to do with Ally's coming out party. I think he will be sniffing and wagging tails with her before lunch on Sunday.
Thank you very much for all the hard work you do in getting the dogs moved.
You all have earned my respect.
Brian Majestic

Brian, Scout, Susan, and Ally somewhere in Indiana!

nap time!

A friend joins us in Illinois,
welcome, Bogie
he is on his way to his new furever home too!

We there Yet??

It's a little early for me , but we are headed down the road at 6:00 am,... I'm on my way to meet my New dad, and 2 new brothers!

Last sunset in IA., Ally watches a squirell as the sun sets.

Pretty High ranking to share Angel's Chair, next to my computer!

Just Playin!!

Here I am , just waiting for my Furever home to come along!

Our Neighbors have a huge Sycamore tree in their back yard, the leaves are about 10 inches across .The wind kicked up and they started to fall.
the other night when we were outside.
The girls stopped dead in their tracks, wondering what the heck was falling out of the night sky,??? they then started barking and jumping up in the air to catch them.
Ally is showing you her prize, "cookie"

Me and My Friend, Angel. This is really her house, that I am living in right now. She is just sharing it with me until I find my own home and Family!

I know there is a bunny or something out there!

What A Face!

Boy, this sun sure feels good!

Let Me See Too!!

WWEEE!

Full speed ahead,a day at the dog park!

This Way??

Which way did they go?

Ally is coming into her true spirit, all puppy, and all girl! She will put a smile on your face.
She has now mastered the basements steps and quite proud of her self! She is now housetrained as well.

Ally in motion

Finally caught her in a "still moment"!

Here she is,.... a tough one to catch!

Help is on the way Ally!