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Fonzie's has shown that he has the "real stuff" when
it comes to hunting.
For the third year in a row, Fonzie has been the primary hunting dog for
friend and former outfitter, Gary Neese of Hamilton, MT. Last year he started out
with a banner year with
two limits of Hungarian Partridge and a limit of Sharptail Grouse in just
1-1/2 days of the opening weekend. That's a total of 20 birds. Not a bad way
to start out the season. 2009 he didn't get to go as often as last
year, but nonetheless managed to produce a limit of birds for Gary on the
first weekend they got out.
At the National Specialty in Iowa he
showed that perfect Breton style, impressing all with his easy run,
quartering efficiently, and a level of cooperation that drew praise from
CEB President and Judge Christian Gunther. The only thing lacking
on his first run - was the bird. Everything else was perfect.
The second day in the Liberated Trial he started out strong and we made
it through our first bird. The second point however was our
downfall. Although Fonzie held his point rock solid - the gunners
were unable to produce the bird (I kept telling them to go out further).
The judge asked me to release the dog and the nasty little bird decided
to show himself THEN and we got called for a "missed bird."
Fonzie scored his first Field Trial "PASS" at the Montana UKC
Field Trials in Denton in May. He handled three birds well, but was a
little "sticky" on the retrieves which undoubtedly cost him the
placement.
He followed that up with a PASS in
the OPEN Wild Bird Trial at Wilsal on the second day of Trials.
I couldn't have been more pleased with his run both days though.
He held true to his reputation for stellar cooperation as he hunted
heavy cover for grouse, open fields for Huns and Pheasants, and finally
produced two snipe back in the creek bottom for a Pass. Again he
was complimented for his "Excellent Breton run."
The highlight of the year though was
at the Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gundog Club Specialty Show in Belgrade,
MT. Fonzie put on his "game face" and waltzed his way all the way
from 1st place in his class - to BEST OF BREED. I think he was a
pleased as I was as he leapt and spun in joy at the end of the show.
WAY TO GO FONZ!!!!! |
