Silver Creek Kennels turfing it up!

When Tim and Kris Hammons aren't running their red dogs, Tim likes to take a ride on the Big Blue... check out this action!

Ransom Has Arrived!

As many of you are aware, our beloved Finn McCool, the mascot of the Flushing Whip and our editor's inseperable companion passed away this past January. Finny was a product of Ken & Linda Ruff's Brophy Irish Setters. This weekend, we traveled to Sycamore Illinois, home of Brophy Kennels, and picked up the newest addition to our home... meet Flushing Whip Editor In Chief, aka "Ransom"... while he can never replace our Finn McCool, he certainly is bound to fill a void in our family and home... a special thank you to Ken and Linda Ruff for once again making our kennels and our home a better place! I think you might see a picture or two of this guy in the Whip... :)

How 'bout that tail !!

Deb and Ransom

Ready to go...

Looks like they will get along...

Getting acquainted

Ken Ruff and Deb Faze

Ken is currently undergoing some serious medical issues... please keep him and his family in your hearts and prayers with best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Leave Ken a note at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kenruff

Help with Technology..

Hi all,

As some of you may know, we have a pedigree datebase for our red setters that currently has close to 4000 dogs... unfortuanately, as with much older technology, the application does not work with more recent operating systems, such as Windows 7. I would like to get the data into a more contemporary format, and if possible, to try and find an open-source server-side app that would allow folks to add to to the database from a website... if there is anyone out there with some time on their hands and a willingness to donate some time and expertise to such a project, I would be appreciative. Shoot me an email at conneautcreekredsetters@gmail.com for more info!

Been there, done that...

The Irish Red and White Setter Club of Ireland has announced that they are pursuing a program of outcrossing to Irish red setters to improve their breed, due to concerns about their gene pool. Interestingly, the club has made a specific notation in their program rules that any FDSB Irish red setter (or any Irish red setter that has FDSB blood) would not be eligible. So, the Irish Red and White Setter Club is planning to outcross their gene pool to another breed, but they are prohibiting any outcrossing to the single breed that has been most successful in outcrossing to improve their breed? Ummmm... the logic of that philosophy somehow escapes me. Also, it makes one wonder... how do these folks intend to ensure that there hasn't been some outcrossing occuring in either the Irish red setter population, or the Irish Red and White population? Wait, of course there has been no outcrossing in these two populations; the FDSB Irish red setter population is the only canine gene pool that has ever outcrossed, right?

In the meantime, if any of those folks would like some advice on how to run a successful outcrossing program, feel free to contact us. We're the National Red Setter Field Trial Club. We've done that, and we brought a breed back from extinction. We've also got the best Irish red setters on the face of the earth, and that includes Ireland.

From the Irish Red & White Setter Club website...

INTERNATIONAL OUTCROSS PROGRAMME FOR IRISH RED SETTERS & IRISH RED & WHITE SETTERS

It is envisaged that any Irish Red Setter or Irish Red & White Setter from an FCI Country and a National Kennel Club which the IKC approves of could be used in this programme. The reason the club suggests that this programme be confined to FCI countries or such National Kennel Club is that agreement in regards to an Outcross Programme would have to be a binding document. As this is an International Outcross Programme the Irish Red & White Setter Club recommends that this would be run with the co-operation of the Irish Red Setter Club and the National Kennel Club of that Country, the Irish Kennel Club and the Irish Red & White Setter Club.

A formal agreement between the two participating Kennel Clubs.

Rules & Regulations for an International Outcross Programme.

• All Irish Red Setters and Irish Red & White Setters, which are proposed to be included in this Outcross Programme would have to be approved by the Outcross Committee.
• All Irish Red Setters included in this programme would have to have the appropriate health certificates in regards to Canine Leucocyte Adhesion Deficiency, CLAD and a Hip Dysplasia certificate.
• All Irish Red & White Setters would require the same certificates plus a certificate in regards to being von Willebrands free.
• In regards to testing Irish Red & White Setters for von Willebrands disease, CLAD & Hip Dysplasia the Irish Kennel Club will recommend a Veterinary Surgeon approved by them to carry out this procedure.
• The details of all the dogs’ pedigrees, health certificates and all other relevant documents must be presented to the committee four months prior to any mating. Any deviation on this matter must have the approval of the committee.
• The Irish Red & White Setter Club is aware that some ‘Irish Red Setters FDSB’ were imported fromAmerica and were mated with Irish Red Setters in Europe . This American Red Setter breeding is not recognised by the American Kennel Club as Irish Red Setters or by the Irish Kennel Club and the Irish Red Setter Club is totally opposed to having dogs with such breeding being introduced to the Irish Red Setter gene pool. We are aware that these dogs were crossed with English Setters in the past. Under no circumstances can any dog with such pedigrees be used in any part of the Outcross Programme.
• The Irish Red & White Setter Club proposes that all dogs participating in the Outcross Programme would be micro-chipped for identification. It is also proposed that any resulting pups may be DNA tested at the request of the Outcross Committee. This would have to be part of any signed agreement entered into by all participants in the Outcross Programme.

Canines Helped Capture Bin Laden...

A FEARLESS four-legged recruit joined US Special Forces as they stormed Osama Bin Laden's secret lair.

The explosive-sniffing dog was strapped to an assault team member as they took on one of their greatest challenges to date.

He was part of the operation in which the elite US Navy Seals lowered themselves down ropes from three Black Hawk

helicopters into the terrorist supremo's hideout in the town of Abbottabad, Pakistan, on Sunday.

The world's most wanted man, 54, was shot dead by a Special Forces marksman during the raid.

Heavily armoured hounds — equipped with infrared night-sight cameras — have been used in the past by the top-secret unit.

The war dogs wear ballistic body armour that is said to withstand damage from single and double-edged knives, as well as protective gear which shields them from shrapnel and gunfire.

German Shepherds have been leading the way in SAS raids in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wearing oxygen masks, the pooches have been trained to jump from aircraft at 25,000ft, before seeking out insurgents in hostile environments.

The animals will attack anyone carrying a weapon and have become a pivotal part of special operations as they crawl unnoticed into tunnels or rooms to hunt for enemy combatants.

The cameras on their heads beam live TV pictures back to the troops, providing them with critical information and warning of ambushes.

Dogs were also used in the capture of Saddam Hussein and in the killing of the Iraqi dictator's two sons.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3562677/Fearless-four-legged-war-hero.html#ixzz1LTeXJXnI