A Long Way from Field Champ but my Hunting Dog

Sparty_76

So, about 18 months ago I tell you all I want a bird dog but the wife wanted another family pet and this time a lap dog. In our 35 years of marriage and raising three daughters, we have had 5 dogs, four male Golden Retrievers and one female Toy Poodle (the vet talked us in to adopting it). A couple of the Goldens were pheasant hunters but not as driven as my friend's Labs. We looked at smaller dogs like Brits that would also be good bird dogs. One of our daughters has a very hyper Lab as are as my friend's dogs so my wife did not want one of those. When it came right down to it we decided we knew Goldens best. They are easy to train, great with kids (we have four grandkids now), and are relatively mellow. But I still hoped for a "hunter". There are not many Golden breeders that raise upland game dogs. However my wife found these "cream" Golden pups she just loved. However the breeder she found made no claim of their stock being hunters (not even for ducks). So my wife picks this pup she falls in love with and has to have. I did not have the heart to say no so we bring him home, a white bundle of fur. My daughter named him "Izzo" (you can see why at the bottom of this thread). I called my friend with the hunting Labs and he says I should have gotten a Lab but he will help me make this "Swamp Collie" a bird dog.
So I take Izzo out several times to the farm and shoot over him with blanks and even try throwing pigeons in the air and shooting a shotgun. Izzo was not gun shy and loved getting the birds. However, I still did not know if he would find pheasants for me. So I decided to try him at a game farm a few weeks ago. The wife wanted to come along which was a mistake cause all he wanted to do was walk by her. A couple birds went up but I missed them. I was very disappointed we did not do better. I had about given up when Izzo sees a rooster and runs after it. The owner of the game farm said he had potential so I should bring him back. The next week Izzo and I go back without the wife. A couple hens are planted in in a fence row and I am told where they are. So we walk down the fence row. Somehow we miss the first bird, and I figure we must have walked right by it. As we walk closer to the second Izzo is ranging out in front of me. Suddenly about 10 yards in front of me sits this hen. It takes off and I shoot it. She drops about 40 yards out. Izzo looks up watches and runs out gets the bird and brings back to me.
So we walk back towards where the first bird should be. I am kind of day dreaming and thinking I have a better duck dog than pheasant dog on my hands when I noticed Izzo was not in sight out in front of me. I panic because the wife will kill me if I lost her dog. I called Izzo about three times when I see him running back towards me about 75 yards out in a chopped alpha field to my left. He runs up to me with a live hen pheasant in his mouth. He stops and sits in front of me and looks up as if to say, "Here you go Dad, look what I got!" He must have jumped the bird and it ran. I figure he ran it down. I was as proud as if one of my daughters just got their first hit (in High School Softball). Well the jury is still out but I think I may have a bird dog on my hands! Next week I am going to try him on wild birds.

Locust Fork

Go Izzo!!!

I just LOVE Goldens. We have five dogs and my Golden....Jack....is MY baby. They are wonderful dogs.

You have to get a bigger picture posted so I can see him.

discusdad

good story

Mercury

When I was a kid, my dad had a bird dog.

Sad story, we ended up shooting him.

Wouldn't fly! [:0]


(My dad loves to tell people that, gets them all wrapped up in the story, then BAM!)

[;)]

Merc

Sparty_76

Locust, the dog Izzo replaced was named Jack. He was a BIG Clasic Teddy Bear Golden. He was a decent hunter, but what he loved to do is go out and help me cut wood in the woods here in north east Wisconsin in the winter. He would just lay in the snow and watch me unless a nasty bird or rabbit came by, then he protected me from them. As much as he loved watching me he LOVED to sit on the tailgate of the truck with me and eat Lunch while taking a break from cutting. We always each had his favorite Jiffy (and only Jiffy) Peanutbutter sandwitch and an apple. He would eat the whole apple and all. He was always great company. He was filled with cancer in December 2011, and I had to put him down at 12. God willing I pray Jack will be waiting for me on the other side of the river, and we can cut some more in the snow someday.

We got Izzo in May of 2011 to go along with his 9 year old Toby. If you send my your email I will send you pictures of Izzo as a puppy and now. He is beautiful, and is called an English Cream Golden. He is good looking too. He is also the most gentle of our 5 Goldens, unless you are a bird! I would also like to ask you some questions on your auctions. I want a rifle but no sure what I want.

Thanks! Fitz

Sparty_76

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susie

Great story. You must keep us posted as Izzo progresses. Sounds like you got a "twofer". [8D]