THE PUPPY STAGE AND FIRST HUNT

5 months old

The first few weeks of owning a puppy are great.  during this time you and your puppy get to know each other and you bond to each other.  Sage and I had a great time.  I purchased all the puppy gear and even began raising pigeons.  I read books and watched training videos that I borrowed from  friends and began the journey of training my first hunting dog.  The first thing I learned was that this pup was amazing.  She had all the bird dog instinct built into her.  I had to work on obedience but the hunting part came built in.  My neighbors who did not have any pointing dog experience were amazed at this little puppy pointing pigeons and pheasant wings etc.  What great fun!

That fall at 6 months I took her on her first real bird hunt.  Blue grouse hunting in central Utah.  I was determined to make the first year of hunting fun for her and not do a lot of disciplining.  We had a great time, we brought back 9 birds and Sage had a blast.  We also went Chucker hunting  and had lots of fun.

Sage first grouse hunt

sage first wild chucker  Good girl 6 months

The next big event we had was one of the most fun times I have ever had in my life.  The pheasant hunt.  Opening day has always been one of my most favorite days.  My brother and hunting pal Brett and I and my son Michael and Our dogs Sage, My other shorthair Callie and my brother's dog Hazel headed to a place we thought had lots of potential.  Early that morning my brother and his dog got into some birds and got himself two nice roosters.  Me and my dogs did not have the same success, in fact Sage had managed to find an electric fence and thought it was me who was shocking her.  Later that day Sage found a farmers pet duck and to keep her from catching it I had to shock her more than I had done before to keep the duck from getting caught. The day ended with Sage next to me not sure if she wanted to leave my side for fear she would be shocked again.
Monday two days later we gave it another chance and this is the day Sage figured it out.  We found another hunting spot and tried it out.  I was so excited to have Sage get on her first wild pheasants.  What a feeling it is to see your young pup wind a bird, stock it and point it to perfection and then go and retrieve it!  Sage pointed 5 wild rosters that day and we both came home in seventh heaven.
Sage was everything I had hopped for and more in a hunting companion.  I have been amazed at the natural ability of this dog, every thing seems so unforced and easy for her and she made me look good.

8 months old and awesome!




5th roster  of the day and a retreive for Sage at 8 months old!

 



My name is Shawn and I have created this blog for all those people who love the outdoors especially if its shared with family, friends and a good dog.
I grew up hunting behind the family hunting dog "Dingo" an English Pointer that at the time I didn't realize how lucky I was to hunt behind a dog with such a great nose and the ability to pin a old rooster down.
Well as the story goes life happens, Dingo got old and passed away.  I went to college and got married and started a family and I got away form hunting.  I had no desire to go hunting without a dog, lets face it how can hunting be any fun without a dog?  A few years ago a great thing happen.  My brother purchased himself a dog.  A poodle pointer named Hazel.  He was so proud of her and took me hunting with him, Chucker hunting, I had never hunted chucker before and I soon learned that the saying" the first time you go chuker hunting is for fun the next time is for revenge" is very true. We didn't get any birds that day but I had a blast and before I knew it I was looking for a dog.
The question what kind of dog to get?  I did some searching and asking around and I came to the conclusion that the German Shorthaired  Pointer was the dog for me.  I was nervous about the training and decided I would get a dog that had some training to give me some confidence that I would be successful with my first dog.  I found a female named Callie she came from champion AKC breading and had spent many hours with a well respected trainer here in Utah.
I took Callie home and she was ready to hunt.  My brother Brett and I had a great time hunting pheasant and  chuckers and grouse.  Callie is a sweet dog and only wanted to please.  She would hunt all day and love every minute of it but there was something missing in her personality and the connection she and I had.  As I got more and more into hunting I decided that I was ready to get a puppy of my own.  Where was I going to get the puppy?  I wasn't willing to spend the money that people are asking for dogs back east but I didn't want to make a mistake and buy the wrong pup. I was looking for a hunting companion.
After a long search I found  Kelly Craghead owner of Midas Creek Kennels.  Kelly spoke to me about his search for a great hunting dog.  A dog that can track a running bird or scent a bird in any terrain.  A versatile dog that leaps into the water and make that great retrieve, hunts upland and waterfowl birds and be a great family pet when you get home.  He also told me about NAVDA ( North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association).http://www.navhda.org/  An organisation that promotes and fosters versatile hunting breads and has chapters all over the United States that helps train and test hunting dogs.  His two dogs are both VC champions a very prestigious title awarded through NAVDA.   I quickly found my way over to Kelly's house and found his beautiful dogs.  The dad Mighty Jaeger and the mom Brightest star Maia.  I fell in love with a beautiful puppy with long black ears and black spots that I soon took home and named Black Sage.

My boy Parker with his first pheasant on 2012 youth hunt

Making memories with mans best friend.