Go fish...

Washington State Club news...

Received a couple of pics from NRSFTC member Craig O'Brine in Washington state. The club had a get-together this fall and worked their red dogs. Thanks Craig for sharing!

Close Your Eyes...

A Great Red Setter Has Passed...

Red setter Ch. Prosper

(Comeback Riptide x Comeback Miss Pat)

August 12, 1995 - December 2, 2009

We received notice today that the great red setter Ch. Prosper passed away on December 2. He was 15 years of age. "Jimmy" had a long competitive career amassing a total of 85 placements including 6 championships and 6 runnerup championships. His most notable win was the Region 2 Am Shooting Dog Championship in 2001. After the initial series of 53 entries the judges could not agree on the order of placement between Prosper and a pointer so they decided the only way to settle it was with a second series. After 45 minutes, when Prosper had racked up 5 perfect finds to none for the pointer the doubting judge said "I`m convinced; put the rope on him."

Prosper at age 13 on the North Dakota prairies

Prosper was a very wide running dog who would always show to the front. And, above all, he was a bird finder. I remember well training on the prairies one summer when Prosper was in his prime. Dr. Boser and I had been running derbies for much of the morning, and we hadn't found a single bird. The weather was hot, and we were heading back to the horse trailer to call it a day. When we got back to the trailer, we decided that we couldn't head back to camp without any birds. So, Roger put Prosper on the ground, the same grounds we had just run 2 braces of derbies through with no birds. Prosper had 4 finds in 30 minutes, and was wide and moving forward when Roger went to reel him in.

Prosper was a genuine bird dog, who lived to hunt and work for his boss. He was truly one of the great ones. The National Red Setter Field Trial Club extends condolences to Dr. Roger and Mary Boser. The great ones always seem to leave us too soon.

Al Fazenbaker

Vegans, Evolution Deniers and Right to Lifers...

Most vegans, evolution deniers and right-to-lifers, are more than happy to be healthy hypocrites.The reason:

Most vaccines are made from animal tissue. Seasonal Influenza vaccine, for example, is made from hundreds of millions of embryonated chicken eggs -- one fertile chicken egg for every vaccine dose. Monkey, pig, and guinea pig cells are used to culture various other vaccines.

In the future, flu vaccine may be made from Armyworm tissue.
Several important vaccines are cultured on human fetal tissue obtained through voluntary abortions in the 1960s. Vaccines cultured on various strains of human fetal issue include vaccines for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Chickenpox, Polio, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. All Chickenpox, Hepatitis A, and Rubella vaccines are derived from human fetal tissue cultures.
The very idea of seasonal vaccines is an admission that things evolve. In the case of influenza, this evolution is so rapid and predictable that science can normally create the next vaccine in anticipation of the next evolutionary turn of the virus.

from The Terrierman website http://www.terrierman.com/

Brownhaven Steel Magnolia shows her "steel"

FC/AFC Brownhaven Steel Magnolia

Congratulations to Brownhaven Steel Magnolia, aka "Rachel" who recently took the blue in a 16 dog Open Gun Dog stake and finished her Field Championship. Rachel is now a Field Champion, Amateur Field Champion, and also was the RU 2009 ISCA National Champion. Best wishes to Rachel and her owner Jim Baker as well as her handler Sherry Ebert.

An Outstanding Setter Is Lost...

We received word this week of the passing of Gunsmoke Rising, beloved Gordon Setter owned by Sandra Basham-Chapman. "Smokey" placed over 50 times in his career, defeating over 1030 dogs. He finished his AKC FC before he was 3 years old. Sandra handled him to his AFC. He was Ohio Dog of the Year several times, as well as the Gordon Setter Club of America Gundog of the Year. He won the Gordon Setter National Championship in 2003; he also won the Tri-Setter Classic in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

May he rest in a place with many birds and endless hunting.
NFC / FC / AFC Gunsmoke Rising
October 10 1995 - November 22 2009

The Fike Award...

Congratulations to Dr. Roger Boser, the first recipient of the newly established Jim Fike Amateur Handler Award. The Fike Award, named in honor of long-time red setter handler Jim Fike, is awarded to the red setter amateur handler having the highest number of points in both open and amateur stakes from July to June of the previous year. Jim Baker, shown here presenting the award to Dr. Boser, initiated this award on behalf of the National Red Setter Field Trial Club. Jim purchased and donated the trophy.

Note that the trophy, a metal casting of a red setter standing on point, was designed and cast by NRSFTC club member Dennis Hidalgo.

Thanks to Jim Baker and Dennis Hidalgo for all of your efforts! And kudos to Dr. Boser for an outstanding year of handling the red dogs!


For more information on the Fike Award and other NRSFTC awards, check our website link at http://www.nrsftc.com/Rule_Points.htm

Young Elk At Play...

The Open Shooting Dog Championship...

Check out a piece of the red setter action at Grovesprings MO as another brace of the Open Shooting Dog Championship rolls off of course 1. Handlers in this brace were Tom Norton and Jason Williams. Tom is a long time member of the National Red Setter Field Trial Club; Jason Williams is a pro handler who is currently working red setters for several clients.

Just Horsin' Around...

Ever wonder how the heck you're going to get all those horses you own down to the pasture a half mile down the road before dark? Well, take a look at how a pro horse trainer and handler does it... thanks Dennis Hidalgo for a great perspective on horse handling!

Fall Shooting Dog Championships...

Reminder... drawing for the NRSFTC 2009 Shooting Dog Championships and supporting stakes is Wednesday at 7 pm in Grovespring MO... call your entries in to Bonnie or Dennis Hidalgo...

Call these folks right now!
Cell: 303-886-6084
Home: 303-655-1099
Clubhouse: 417-462-3626

Gather your red dogs and let's go bird hunting! How could you say no to a face like this?? This little girl know what she wants to do... let's go!

See you in Missouri!

ISCA to host Gun Dog Championship

From Nina Johnson, ISCA Trial Chair...

The ISCA Board is holding the 2010 National Hunting Test (HT) and walking Field Trial (FT) on April 3 and 4, 2010 at the spectacular Cloverdale Farm field trial grounds near Danville, VA, where AKC National Pointing Dog Championships have been held. These are truly superior grounds and we were very fortunate to get them – many thanks to member Kevin Culver for securing these wonderful grounds. In addition, I have more good news – the ISCA Board of Directors has also approved our first running of an ISCA-sponsored walking Gun Dog Championship. This event will be held on April 2, 2010, the Friday before the National HT/walking FT on the same grounds. This year, it will be held as a parent club (ISCA) Championship and no AKC title will be awarded. It will be an Open stake run according to AKC Gun Dog rules. The winner will be awarded the title of ISCA Walking Gun Dog Champion of 2010.

A proposal for an ISCA Gun Dog Championship was approved by the ISCA Board in April 2008 and the proposal was submitted to AKC for review in Dec 2008. AKC is supportive of ISCA pursuing this new Championship. New performance Championship events are typically run for a few years prior to AKC granting National Championship status so if this event goes well, we could eventually obtain approval for an AKC title of National Irish Setter Open Gun Dog Champion of 20xx. AKC also provided ISCA with some recommendations for the event that we plan to follow. Those recommendations are:

(1) Qualifications to enter – Quality of competition must be meaningful

(2) Number of starters – Amount of competition must be significant

(3) Structure of stake – Provide a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate abilities. Must be more than a normal weekend trial.

Qualification for the event shall be a placement in any gun dog stake, first place in a derby stake, or a pass in a Senior Hunter test. We are hoping you will consider participating in the event so that we meet the “significant number of starters” recommendation. The stake will be 45 minutes long which is more than the normal weekend trial. This event is our first one and of course, will evolve. We look forward to enhancing it to make it an event that everyone would like to attend, and an event that showcases our wonderful Irish Setters in the field.

We are also asking for volunteers J to be on the various 2010 National Hunting Test, walking FT, and ISCA walking Gun Dog Championship committees and to help out with marshalling, bird planting, etc. If you want to volunteer for any of these committees or help with any task, please email me at (nina_12345@sbcglobal.net) or call (281) 486-9735. We would really appreciate your support in making this a grand event, befitting such a wonderful venue.

The 2010 committees and tasks are:

• FT committee (for both the walking FT and the walking Gun Dog Championship)
• HT committee
• Marshalls
• Gun Captain for HT
• Bird Planters
• Hospitality (food) – making breakfast, lunches, snacks on the grounds. Will have a Friday night BBQ dinner on the grounds.
• Banquet (held Saturday night at the grounds, includes coordination and setting up tables, etc.)
• Judge’s Hospitality (making sure they have what they need, helping with their horses, etc.)
• Versatility Tests – Saturday and Sunday
• Raffle and Silent Auction – (collecting items, selling raffle tickets, setting up raffle items and silent auction items on tables at Banquet)
• Trophies and Donations (Karolynne McAteer has volunteered for this but might like some help)
• Advertising (Karolynne McAteer has volunteered for this but might like some help)
• Catalog (Jeanine Wilson and Karolynne McAteer have volunteered for this but might like some help)

We have located a host hotel and blocked a set of rooms. The hotel will allow dogs in the rooms but you must sign a pet agreement when you check in, and you must notify them when you make your reservation that you are bringing dogs. The host hotel is:

leep Inn and Suites

1-877-424-6423 (Reservations)

1-434-793-6090 (Hotel Direct)

$89 double, $79 single

www.sleepinn.com

II know I did not get everyone on the distribution list who might want to come, so please forward this email to anyone else you think might be interested. I also plan to advertise the event in the December Memo to let the ISCA membership know of the plans. I hope you all can come because the 2010 event will be quite a memorable one, I’m sure!!

Nina Johnson,

ISCA Region 3 Director

National Hunting Test, walking Field Trial Chairman

Ohio Red Setter Field Trial Club results...

Red setter Flushing Whip Roger Ramjet nails a quail during the

Jack Carter Memorial Amateur Walking Shooting Dog stake

Congratulations to the winners and placements for the fall renewal of the Ohio Red Setter Field Trial Club. In spite of a wet week and threat of rain, the weather was dry and just about perfect for the two days of running. I think that Jack Carter is watching over us every spring and fall and making sure we have good weather!

Thanks to everyone who, like always, pitched in and gave a helping hand for this trial. We don't have a clubhouse, no place to really cook, nothing but fields and trees... it's an "old fashioned" trial without the frills, but it always goes great because everyone pulls together. Special thanks to Ed Bartlett, my right hand man, to Tim McClurg for his generous use of horses, to Nick Mellon, pro trainer from Pittsburgh area, to Joe Kusmiercyzk for his donation of food for the cause, and to everyone who lent a helping hand to keep things rolling!

Also, a big thank you to the judges who spent the time in the saddle to watch our dogs... Ed Bartlett, Al McKinny, Tim McClurg, Chris Howerton, and John Golob.

Here's the results...

Open Puppy (Judges: Al McKinney & Ed Bartlett)

1st Hilo Sugar Tin PF Chris Howerton
2nd Conneaut Creek Holly’s Memory RSF Al Fazenbaker

Open Walking Derby (Judges Tim McClurg and Ed Bartlett)
1st Don’t Pinch Me PF Rich Kovacic
2nd Backcountry Hoss PM Chris Catanzarite

Open Walking Shooting Dog (Judges Chris Howerton & John Golob)
1st Backcountry Wanderer PF Chris Catanzarite
2nd Libby PF Ed Bartlett
3rd Sonny PM Al McKinney

Jack Carter Memorial Amateur Walking Shooting Dog (Judges Ed Bartlett & John Golob)
1st Flushing Whip Roger Ramjet RSM Al Fazenbaker
2nd Hilo Easy Storm PM Chris Howerton
3rd (Withheld)

Open Horseback Shooting Dog (Judges Ed Bartlett & John Golob)
1st Mac’s Silver Reign PF Tim McClurg
2nd Wanda PF Chris Catanzarite
3rd Her Ruby Red Slipper RSF Al Fazenbaker

Deb Fazenbaker and Prince ready to ride the gallery. Thanks to Deb for offering her "trial famous" Smokin' Hot Chili for lunch on both trial days. Also thanks to MaryAnn Bartlett for the great desserts!

The Three Amigos...

Al Fazenbaker (best dressed)

Nick Mellon

Al Lee (Region Director for ODNR Div. of Wildlife)

Special thanks to Al Lee for driving up from Akron to check out our trial... we really appreciated the work the ODNR Div. of Wildlife did to prepare the grounds this year... the mowing by the Div of Wildlife was just about the best we've seen in years. We tried to get Al to jump on a horse, and I know he had several offers to purchase some good pointing dogs, so hopefully we'll see him back in March to run in the puppy stake!!

Al McKinney

See you all again in the spring!

New Legislation...

New Legislation Will Protect Recreational Hunting and Fishing on Federal Land

(Columbus) – Two bills introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R- AK) and U.S. Representative Dan Boren (D- OK) will protect recreational hunting, fishing and shooting on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service.
Backed by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA), HR 3749 and the Senate legislation are companion bills collectively known as the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act. They will prevent situations from emerging where public land is closed arbitrarily for hunting, fishing and shooting, mandating that such closures be done through a reasonable and transparent process.
Specifically, both bills would ensure that:
Federal public land managers with the U.S. Forest Service and BLM provide for the use of and access to public lands for hunting, fishing and shooting,
An “open until closed” policy is established for the lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM unless public and Congressional notification is given,
Land managers are urged to lease land for shooting ranges by having the lessee offer suitable assurances to remediate leased lands at the termination of the lease, thus remedying concerns expressed in the past by the BLM over damage to land used for shooting,
Skilled volunteers be used on federal public lands not open to hunting when wildlife management requires the culling of animal populations,
Congress receives an annual report detailing any closures of land to fishing, hunting, or shooting and the reasons for the closures.
“Both bills will guarantee that access for America’s sportsmen to prime public land won’t arbitrarily be denied,” states USSA President and CEO, Bud Pidgeon. “The USSA wholeheartedly supports these bills and urges sportsmen everywhere to contact you members of Congress and urge them to sign on.”
Cosponsors of the Senate legislation are Senators Mike Crapo (R- ID) and Ben Nelson (D- NE).
Cosponsors of HR 3749 are Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R- TN), Kevin Brady (R- TX), Ginny Brown-Waite (R- FL), Paul C. Broun (R- GA), Dan Burton (R- IN), Bill Cassidy (R- LA), Kathleen Dahlkemper (D- PA), John D. Dingell (D- MI), Brad Ellsworth (D- IN), Ron Kind (D- WI), Larry Kissell (D- NC), John Kline (R- MN), Donald Manzullo (R- IL), Thaddeus G. McCotter (R- MI), Jeff Miller (R- FL), Thomas Perriello (D- VA), Ciro D. Rodriguez (D- TX), Mike Rogers (R- AL), Mike Ross (D- AR), Paul Ryan (R- WI), James F. Sensenbrenner Jr. (R- WI), Heath Shuler (D- NC), Bill Shuster (R- PA), Michael K. Simpson (R- ID) and Zach Wamp (R- TN).
Other organizations supporting both bills include the National Rifle Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, American Sportfishing Association, and Safari Club International.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

Dog Behavior...

Kylie's Rising Star...

Don Beauchamp of Cheney Kansas reports that a puppy out of one of his red setters (Chaparral) has placed in a big All Age stake on the North Dakota Prairies. Kylie’s Rising Star (red setter male whelped Sept. 4, 2008) just took a 3^rd place against 24 major circuit All-Age Derbies. Nine professional All-Age handlers competed with their top prospects at the Dr. D.E. Hawthorne Border Classics hosted by the North Dakota Open All-Age Field Trial Club at Columbus, North Dakota, September 9, 2009. The open All-Age Derby just concluded on September 15. Star is only 1 year old.

We're in the process of trying to get some pics of this red dog. WOW! What a win! Better yet, this dog is owned by a 7 year old girl in Texas who sometimes handles her off of horseback! I think we may hear more about this team in the near future!

Irish Setter Club of Ohio fall trial...

The Irish Setter Club of Ohio held its fall Quail Classic and Fall field trial this past weekend at the historic Killdeer Plains WMA in Harpster Ohio. This was the last field trial sponsored by the AKC Irish Setter Club that will ever be held at Killdeer. Here are some pics from the weekend. Not sure of all the placeholders, but hopefully will be able to get that and will post soon...

A sad piece of news...

We have learned this week of the passing of John Yates, a well known professional trainer and the driving force behind the American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA), an organization devoted to the protection of sporting dogs and those who own them. Yate's death was a shock to those in the Pennsylvania Walking Circuit, where John has been a frequent presence for many years.

Funeral arrangements are not known as yet, but will be published here as they become known. Our condolences to his wife Donna and to the family.

Weekend Pictures...

Here are some pics from the Dubois Amateur Walking trial this past Saturday... not sure who the dogs or handlers are, but hope you enjoy the pics nontheless! (I think these are all derby pics...)

Holly's Memory...

Conneaut Creek Holly's Memory

When Holly Bruns passed away so suddenly last fall, it was a terrible shock and a blow to the National Red Setter Field Trial Club. Not long after Holly's death, we had a litter of puppies here at Conneaut Creek Kennels. We had 5 males and 1 female, and since I wanted to keep a female, we decided to name her in memory of our dear friend Holly Bruns.

Well, this weekend we ran Conneaut Creek Holly's Memory in her first field trial, the Open Walking Puppy stake at the Beaver Valley Pointer & Setter Club in Rochester PA. "Holly" took a 2nd place and she looked good doing it! I know that Dale and Holly were watching over us this weekend. We sure miss you both.

Al Fazenbaker

Conneaut Creek Red Setters

Dog Coat Variation...

Wiry, smooth, curly or straight - the genetic reason for the array of coats of different dog breeds is surprisingly simple, say scientists.

Just three genes account for the coat types that make canine pets so diverse. A team of researchers reports in the journal Science that different combinations of these genes account for all of the various textures.

The research could aid the study of the causes of genetic diseases that affect both dogs and humans.

The team was led by Elaine Ostrander from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in Bethesda, US.

She and her colleagues took DNA samples from 1,000 dogs of more than 80 different breeds as well as from a number of wild dogs, including wolves.

These samples gave the scientists access to each dog's genome, which they were able to analyse. They looked for "signposts" of DNA variation, called single nucleotide polymorphisms.

By mixing and matching... these three different genes, we could account for most of the variation that we see in coats in domestic dogs Elaine Ostrander, NHGRI

These signal a mutation or change in the DNA code that could account for a particular characteristic.

Edouard Cadieu, a member of Dr Ostrander's research team decided to use this genetic data to study the dogs' coats.

"There are lots of obvious differences between dog breeds," said Dr Ostrander, "but the coats are just remarkable.

"It seems that every breed has a different coat. Some are long, some are short, some are curly, some are bristly, some are smooth, and there is every possible mixture therein."

Dr Cadieu searched for patterns that might reveal the genetic cause of this variety.

Dr Ostrander explained: "For example, for long hair he looked for a commonality in long-haired breeds that's distinct from what we see in short-haired breeds.

"Edouard started out looking at texture - or wiry hair - and quickly found that there was a single gene primarily responsible for that, as well as (for) the moustache and eyebrow pattern that you see in dogs like the schnauzer."

He then moved on to length, and then to curliness. And for each characteristic he identified a single gene that was primarily responsible.

Wild genes

In each case there was an ancestral or "wild-type" form of the gene that dogs inherited from wolves.

There was also a variant or "domesticated form" that had been selected by breeders looking for particular traits like longer hair.

Breeds with more wolf-like coats - such as those with short, straight hair like a beagle - displayed the wild-type version of the gene.

Dogs with short, straight hair have a "wild-type" form of the gene

"Just by mixing and matching... these three different genes, we could account for most of the variation that we see in coats in domestic dogs," said Dr Ostrander.

The researchers say that the lessons learned from this study could help in the study of diseases that affect both humans and dogs.

Cathryn Mellersh, a geneticist from the Animal Health Trust in Suffolk, UK said: "This study is important because it proves a principle.

"You can use the dog genome as a model to investigate complex conditions and boil them down to a surprisingly small number of genes."

Dr Ostander concluded: "From a medical point of view, this simplicity is great news."

It means, she said, that the problems of diseases with a genetic basis are "much more solvable".

Dr Ostander also expressed her thanks to all of the dog-owners who donated DNA samples from their pets.

"They've turned out to be extremely helpful, and this data set is just going to keep giving and giving."

How Often Do You Mutate?

August 27, 2009

A team of researchers, including the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute's Yali Xue, report using next-generation sequencing to determine the mutation rate of human DNA, according to Scientific Blogging. The researchers studied an area of the Y chromosome of two distantly related Chinese men — their most common ancestor lived 200 years, or 13 generations, ago. From next-generation sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing, they saw that the two Y chromosomes were different at four of the 10,149,085 loci examined. From that the researchers determined that the mutation rate for humans is one in 30 million nucleotides per generation. "The amount of data we generated would have been unimaginable just a few years ago," Xue says. "But finding this tiny number of mutations was more difficult than finding an ant's egg in the emperor's rice store." The team's work will appear inCurrent Biology.

The Omnivore Delusion...

Alert For Wisconsin Dog Owners...

Permission granted to crosspost!
This is a BIG HEADS UP Wisconsin!!!

The following alert has just now been posted to the DFOW website:
www.dfow.net or http://www.dfow. net/DFOWALERTS. htm

BREEDERS RED ALERT AUGUST 18, 2009
URGENT * URGENT * URGENT * URGENT * URGENT * URGENT * URGENT * URGENT *
DFOW has just been notified by a very credible source that between now and just after legislators go back into session floor periods (September 15,2009), the Humane Society of the United States will be orchestrating a breeder bust.
If you have been listed in a breeder directory, have shown your dogs or have advertised a litter in any publication in the last nine years you must be on your guard at all times. Do not allow anyone into your home without a search warrant. In the State of Wisconsin, Animal Control officers and HSUS do not
have police powers. They must be accompanied by law enforcement (although some law enforcement officers are also animal control officers) with a search warrant in order to enter your premises. If HSUS is working in conjunction with law enforcement and there is a search warrant, you must cooperate. DO NOT SIGN OVER ANY OF YOUR DOGS if threatened. Do not believe those that state that the charges against you
will be lessened if you sign over your dogs. Video tape the entire proceedings. If you are detained asking questions while a search is going on, have another individual available to video tape or photograph the proceedings. Ask for proof of identification. Get names and license plate numbers for those coming onto your property. Some breeders have had to get special permits in order to have more than the arbitrary number of allowed animals in their community and have had to waive
their constitutional rights in order to get those permits. If you are in this situation, you must contact a lawyer and find out what your rights are TODAY. If animal control or law enforcement come to your door, walk out of your door and shut it behind you. Do not allow them to enter your home you go out to them unless they have a search warrant. Please read the article What to do when animal control comes knocking
http://www.dpca. org/BreedEd/ when_animal_ control_comes. htm for more details. If anything seems amiss, make notes of dates and times, take names, get witness names, what they did, take photos, and keep a log of suspicious activities. We often hear fanciers state that this issue will never affect me when it comes to breeder licensing legislation. There have been at least
4 situations that have already happened in OUR STATE since the beginning of the year and breeder licensing requirements have not yet been passed into law. The orchestrated bust that we were warned about today could very well be targeted at any one of us. You must protect yourself against false accusations. This is a very serious situation. If you truly believe in preserving the future of your chosen breed or breeds, you must do everything
in your power to protect those breeds and their heritage. Insist on the preservation of your constitutional rights.
Cross posting is allowed.
Tracey Johnston
DFOW Vice President