To bird dog people, summer camp can be a lot like football camps, and even a little like the vacations of their youth. Like football players, bird dogs are put through their paces at camp; experienced dogs get conditioning via roading and then time on the ground; young dogs get final touches on whoa breaking, honoring and stop-to-flush, and then the repetition of bird contact after bird contact to reinforce the training.
But largely, as in the days of our youth, summer camp is for the youngsters. Puppies are given time to run and try to experience everything, learning the difference between larks and game birds, learning to go with their handler, and experiencing life on the road.
Those dogs experiencing their second summer are expected to start following the rules and to show an aptitude for handling birds. These dogs, know as derbies, should find birds, get them pointed and start learning the manners expected once on point. And the first year finished dogs, those having gotten all of their training, are given the chance to show that they have come of age and really get it, or are at least getting there. An occasional bobble in the manners department may be tolerated, but it’s really time for them to gel into a finished dog.
When summer camp is mentioned in most bird-dog circles, training on the American and Canadian prairies comes to mind. With the wide expanses, cool temperatures, and availability of wild birds, the prairies have been trod by bird dogs and horse mounted handlers for well over one hundred years. But the prairies aren’t the only place to hold summer camp.
Late in the summer of 2015, I was fortunate to get to spend time with pros from the three main field trial venues: All-Age, Horseback Shooting Dog, and Walking. From the Walking trial arena, I spent time with the Forman brothers, Marc and Scott, from Shady Hills Kennels. My time in the Shooting Dog realm was spent with Jeanette Tracy of Ladywood Farms. And lastly, I visited the All-Age camp of Lee Phillips of Trail South Kennels. Come along and we’ll look at these three camps and how each prepares its canine campers for an arduous field trial season.
JEANETTE TRACY’s LADYWOOD FARMS is located in the once rural, now just outside of suburbia, eastern Pennsylvania. Her training grounds here have been in the Tracy family for almost as long as horseback trainers have been heading to the prairies. Jeanette has established herself as a top pro in the major Shooting Dog circuit, handling many dogs to Champion or Runner-Up titles, as well as other important awards like the Elwin G. Smith top English Setter Shooting Dog award that Pine Straw Black Hawk garnered under Jeanette’s whistle in the 2015-2016 season.
Jeanette is one of several pros that have a preference for staying at home for summer camp and it didn’t take long for me to see why.
THE TERRAIN
This big chunk of rolling eastern Pennsylvania ground contains numerous hedge rows that have been maintained to provide lines and edges that dogs can be directed down. The hedgerows run in different directions in different parts of the property, providing good scenting opportunity regardless of the wind direction on any given day. These lines also allow Jeanette to reinforce the forward race so important in a trial dog.
There are small wood lots scattered throughout and wooded fence lines, both made up of mature trees. These areas provide good escape for the birds, but also give much needed shaded areas that allow the dogs brief respite from the summertime sun.
The water on the property is mostly artificially provided. Water barrels at key intervals allow the dogs a place to cool off and rehydrate when needed, very important on the days when that summer sun flexes its muscle.
THE BIRDS
As for the birds, there are numerous Johnny houses strategically located throughout the property providing quail, chukars and even some pheasants for the dogs to find. The old axiom about needing birds to have bird dogs being as true as any axiom could be, these Johnny houses are key. The birds are typically flown out in advance of training, but can be caught and placed for specific purposes if needed. A close eye is kept on the number of birds in the houses and they are replenished as needed. While not wild, the birds used by Ladywood get a lot of time in and out of the Johnny house and seemed to always fly well. Jeanette told me that not only do they get good recall on their bobwhites, but also on the strong flying chukars as well.
THE EXPERIENCE
Summer temperatures dictated an early start to our days and before the sun broke over the eastern Pennsylvania hills we were turning birds out for the dogs to find. And while Jeanette and I turned out birds, her scout and right hand man, Dillon Schaffer, saddled the horses. Not all of the training occurs off horseback, but the derbies and shooting dogs are run that way, and most puppies once they’ve gotten an introduction to birds and handling.
Most days, young dogs got first dibs on running which meant they enjoyed the cooler temps and better scent conditions. The older, more experienced dogs were given the tougher task of finding birds and lasting longer as the mercury rose.
So we started off with some derby aged dogs and boy were they fired up. I got to see a well muscled orange and white pointer male that was a bit willful in his ground race. Jeanette likes to keep the young dogs fairly close until she knows she can trust them on their birds. This pointer started off hard running, taking edges, and not quite turning every time he was asked. He slammed into a very stylish point along one of the hedgerows, muscles rippling as he was very intense. As Jeanette went in to flush he couldn’t quite stand it and took a hop to the side. Jeanette patiently set him back and then continued with the flush. He stood, but it seemed to be touch and go for a second or two.
Next up was a pretty double masked, lanky, tri-colored English Setter female named Sugar. She was fancy running, with a smooth gait and cracking tail that demanded “Look at me!” She wasn’t as big running as the pointer had been, but the offset was that she seemed to hang on Jeanette’s every word and so Jeanette was able to steer her where she wanted. The sleek Setter was placed on one of the hedgerows and halfway down it, abruptly turned 90 degrees to face the cover. As we rode up, Sugar was locked up tight, nostrils flaring and eyes focussed on some brush 10 feet ahead. Her tail was rigidly straight with the feathering flickering in the wind. The grass still held the Kelly-green hue of summer, but its scent dampening effect didn’t prevent this field trial prospect from nailing the point. At the flush of the bird, and the crack of the blank gun, she held fast, only craning her neck to watch the quail dart around the brush and fly across the field to a far fence row.
Other derbies had their turns and before too long it was warming enough for scent conditions to begin to deteriorate. It was not yet hot, but definitely warm. So it was then that the experienced bird finders were brought out. These runs were kept fairly short, being just practice to ensure the older dogs kept sharp on their manners.
On those days that the sun and humidity conspire to side line the action, Jeanette and her scout Dillon take young puppies into an area they call “The Orchard” where there is shade all day long. Here, Jeanette has a small Johnny house and check cords the little guys into birds. Or sometimes Jeanette will have them point pigeons, while she styles them and holds on and Dillon throws birds for them to ogle as the birds make a raucous escape.
Typically, by early afternoon the dogs are being put back in their kennels, the horses are un-saddled and turned out, and equipment is being put away. If you happen to be visiting when there is a litter of little puppies at Ladywood, this is the time when momma gets a break and you get to play with the little bundles of bird-dog potential. I got to mess with a litter of 4 week old English Setter babies, and there isn’t much cuter than that!
A lot of work gets done at Ladywood in the summer time. The convenience of having all the tools, the kennels, the stables, and a reliable number of birds makes staying at home well worth it for Jeanette and her string.
MARC and SCOTT FORMAN run SHADY HILLS KENNELS in Western New York, but they travel to Northern Wisconsin for their sumer camp. This team of brothers has become a top contender in the grouse and woodcock trials known as “Coverdog" trials, and not only can be counted on to have multiple titles won each year, but also to regularly appear at the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational. The Invitational includes the top 14 cover dogs from grouse and woodcock trials, and the Formans won it in early 2015 with an English Setter named Uppercove Billy Babe.
THE TERRAIN
Thick stands of young aspen, mixed with other hardwoods and borders of alder swamps are the haunts frequented by the Forman brothers in late summer. Thanks to the forestry management of public land in Wisconsin, many acres of regrowing harvested timber are in the proper stages of growth to support both woodcock and grouse populations. These areas of previously harvested timber, often referred to as “cuts” are the primary focus of the Formans’ summer training days.
The density of the upland jungle is further thickened by ferns that often grow tall enough to completely obscure a full sized pointing dog. The cover is so very thick this time of year, the dogs wear both bells and GPS collars on their training runs and even then finding a dog on point can take several minutes of diligent searching.
THE BIRDS
Wild Birds. Those words stir something special in every bird hunter’s heart. Heated debates ignite like five-year-old kindling when wild bird trials are compared to planted bird trials. While we’ll dodge that debate, there is no doubt the birds the Formans target at summer camp are wild birds. Ruffed Grouse, at least those east of the plains, may very well be the most wild bird in the good old U.S. of A. And woodcock have plenty of wily tricks up their sleeves, if they had sleeves that is. The dogs that run successfully on grouse must learn to point with just the right amount of scent without getting too close and woodcock, while not as touchy as grouse, will often run if pressured too much.
THE EXPERIENCE
Days start early in the Northwoods. Marc and Scott load up the dogs into the trucks and head down the small dirt roads that meander through the aspen and pine forests. If you’re lucky enough to tag along you’ll hear the brothers discussing the cuts they want to hit, in what order; often planning out an entire day's worth of spots as they bump down the road.
The first dog out of the box was a young half masked tricolor Setter male called Petey. He was fired up and tore into the cover with his bell quickly becoming the only evidence of his movements through the young aspen jungle. The Setter swung back close at Scott’s call and went crashing off through the cut again. If you’ve never followed a dog with a bell, especially in the thick cover where you have to listen intently, then you don’t realize how loud silence can be. But that is just what happened when Petey slammed to a point after about 5 minutes. Once a dog points, especially a young one, there is a hurried search in the direction where the bell was last detected. We plowed through the aspens, wet with dew, to find Petey, buried in ferns and locked up tight. As Scott eased past, a woodcock vaulted out of the ferns and zig zagged over the tops of the little trees. In the next twenty minutes, the young Setter had four more finds, with mostly good behavior, requiring minor correcting on just two occasions. But, those corrections are what we were there for anyway, it was training camp.
A quick drive a half mile down the road put us at the opposite side of the big cut. A pair of Setters were put down next, one a first year shooting dog, the other an old hand and field trial champion. As they coursed that end of the thick aspen grove, the two different bells darted this way and that, making it difficult for this writer to keep track of which dog was where, but the Formans not only knew who was where, but also could tell what they were up to. As it turned out, this end of the cut held fewer birds, but the old hand had two finds on woodcock, as well mannered as you could want. The young girl had one find that eluded all flushing attempts, but then rocketed away as she was sent on to relocate. A situation that can be a bit frustrating for the trainers.
At the next cut a handsome orange and white Setter male, DJ, was given the chance and he didn’t disappoint. Just two minutes into his run and he locked up beautifully, head and tail high. Marc stepped in front and a woodcock spiraled up and up; DJ stood like a statue. Ten minutes later, DJ pegged another woodcock in some very thick aspens. As we neared the edge of the cut we entered an area where the trees were a little bigger and a little more spread apart. The ground undulated with little humps and valleys. And that is where DJ found the grouse. He pointed, gorgeous in the leaf filtered light, intensity in his eyes, high on both ends, his muscles quaking and his nostrils flaring. Scott saw the grouse run, and we could tell DJ did too, but he didn’t move a muscle. When the grouse finally thundered away, and the shot was fired, we knew we’d seen a quality run.
Not all the dogs were as polished as DJ. Many were very young, but I was able to witness the learning occur. One little Setter female, a derby aged dog in its second year, relocated three times on a running woodcock and finally got it pinned. I felt sure she gained much from that experience.
At the end of a day spent with the Formans, you’re plenty tired. From just after sun-up until about supper time, you’re walking, and it’s not a stroll through the park. Busting through the thick cover, stepping over or around logs, trying to hurry when the aspens seem determined to keep you from finding the dogs, will wear you out. At least it does this aging bird dog lover. And when the stars shine again the cool nights and clean air of the Northwoods team up with all that walking to help you sleep the sleep of the innocent.
LEE PHILLIPS is TRAIL SOUTH KENNELS. And Trail South Kennels is located in the small town of Boston, deep in the storied bird dog country of Southwestern Georgia. But living in historic bird dog country isn't Lee’s only connection to the bird dog days of yore; every summer he makes the traditional pilgrimage to the prairies of the American West. Like decades of pros before him and many of his contemporaries, mid-July finds Lee packing up dogs, horses and all the gear and heading North.
THE TERRAIN
At first glance, it feels like you can see forever. Spend time following birds dogs across it, and you realize you just about can. The slow rolling land covered with auburn colored native grasses, interspersed with patches of brush, hayfields and the occasional yellow sunflower field lays out a huge network of objectives to challenge the even the biggest running dogs. People talk about “big country”, this is big country, and you really can’t appreciate what that means until you get on a horse and ride it.
Lee spends his time near the South Dakota town of Mobridge. Training grounds here are often passed down from trainer to trainer as one retires. Lee was introduced to these grounds by Fred DiLeo, who was a mentor to Lee as a field trial trainer.
THE BIRDS
Wild birds. Sometimes lots of wild birds. Those are the nuggets that feed the fervor for the raw boned Pointers and rangy Setters that are tested here every summer. The country provides the opportunity for the dog to develop his independence, to show he has the confidence to go big. But it’s the sharp tailed grouse, “chickens” to most of the bird dog guys, and ring-necked pheasants that provide the motivation to go. The need to drink in the sweet feathered scent, hidden out there, way out there, is what fuels the drive and elicits the all-age prairie race.
And those same birds both teach and test the dogs. Young dogs that crowd these birds soon learn that it results in them flying away. When pointed, the birds will show if your prospect is broke when they’re out a half mile or more from the handler. Once a dog goes on point, a seemingly short distance can take forever to cross on horseback. With a young or inexperienced dog, you find yourself holding your breath the entire way, at least as much as you can as your horse canters the rough ground.
THE EXPERIENCE
The days start long before the sun rises. Horses and dogs have to be trailered to the area, or “pasture” that is going to be worked. As daylight breaks, horses are pulled out and saddled. This country, this life, demands horses. Getting them there and ready before the sun is up allows more dogs to be run before the day gets too warm.
Lee and his brother Roger finished saddling the horses as the sun broke over the eastern horizon. A short time later they were turning a pair of derby dogs loose. A white Pointer and tricolored Setter raced away. The handlers guided the dogs through the grass toward a large swale that opened into still green hay field. The young dogs raced ahead, but checked back in for security as young dogs often do. The right edge of the field broke 90 degrees right, then back straight and repeated that pattern several times. The hay was green with alfalfa and clover mixed thoroughly throughout.
On the first right hand bend both dogs got birdy, almost pointed and then moved excitedly on, both with tails cracking so hard they looked like over wound wind-up toys. Thoughts of keeping in touch with their handlers obviously fading from their minds they pushed out farther. The Setter went over a hill, and when she didn’t come back Lee cantered up the rise. Just as Lee crested the hill, a chicken was in the air and the Setter starting after it. He was able to stop her with a hearty “Whoa whoa whoa”. A brief stop to set her back and stroke her up, then it was off again.
The Setter caught the pointer again as they took another right hand bend in the hay field. Just as the Setter was completing her pass of the pointer, she followed her nose into a hard right turn and locked up tight. The Pointer slammed on the brakes, either in a back or from his own tasting of the sharp tail scent on the wind. Handlers dismounted and Lee went to flush. And then the air was full of flapping, chuckling chickens. The Setter only moved a step and then stood firm on Lee’s caution. The Pointer took a few hops, but Roger got him stopped. As the handlers moved toward the dogs, a sleeper bird burst up at Lee’s feet. Both dogs stared wide-eyed and seemed to puff up, but neither moved an inch.
The dogs were turned loose again and we decided to head back toward the truck. It was then that I realized the importance of horses in this country. When we made the turn I looked to see the truck and was amazed how far we had come. In the excitement of watching the dogs and seeing the birds, I hadn’t realized how much ground we had covered. The truck and horse trailer were tiny specks on the horizon, and these were just derby dogs that we had followed, not the big time all age contenders.
We did two more braces of young dogs. One of the derbies Lee ran was a lively little liver marked pointer named Penny that wowed us all. She was fast and fancy and found her share of the birds. That little girl showed a lot of potential. When you see a dog that makes you watch them, you know they have a shot at winning. And this little girl went big in the open terrain.
As the day warmed, we switched from derbies to broke dogs; the broke dogs needing less practice at finding birds and more practice handling way out there. With me being new to the All-Age game, Lee explained that he likes to see dogs that want to be with him early on. He taught me that a great All-Age dog wants to go with you, but just go with you from out there. It’s kind of like having a string that connects you to the dog to help guide it, and the All-Age dog’s string is just really long. This wide open country, with birds to find, encourages those dogs to develop independence to be out there, and provides the opportunity for the handler to be able to see them that far away and encourage them to handle; strengthening that imaginary string.
I got to see a couple of All-Age champions and an up and coming contender. The distance at which those dogs handled was amazing. As we rode the rolling terrain, often on ridge lines, we could see the dogs as small white specks way out there (the traditional comparison is that the dogs look to be the size of an aspirin). And when Lee would sing to them, they would turn. Shoot, I was amazed that they could even hear him at that distance much less respond to his commands.
The old timers found birds too, as you would expect. While the derbies did a good job locating birds, you could tell the experienced dogs knew where to look and how to handle the often touchy wild birds. They knew to look in the patches of waist high green bushes tinged yellow in anticipation of the coming fall, and near the springs and seeps where there was shade from the warming sun and water for the birds to drink.
For three days I got to chase dogs on the prairies. Early mornings were the best; starting in the pink predawn light, with late summer grass smells on the cool air, and the wild birds plentiful and wonderfully driven bird dogs. I don’t have much experience with the All-Age game, but I’ll tell you what; I think I had as much fun in those three days as I’ve ever had.
SUMMER CAMP often ends somewhat abruptly. Field trials start in early fall in the northern latitudes, and often those trials bring a halt to training. The first All-Age trials actually start on the prairies before the trainers leave, and the grouse and woodcock trials usually start only weeks after the Formans return from Wisconsin. Jeanette gets rolling before the heat of summer is completely gone too, as the shooting dog circuit starts as early as September.
As the trial season takes off, it is time to see just who paid attention, and maybe who had a little too much fun at summer camp.
Sincere thanks to Jeanette, Marc, Scott and Lee for letting me tag along and experience their respective versions of summer camp.
If you're looking for top notch handlers for shooting dog, cover dog, or all-age dogs, see the contact numbers below to contact one of these great pros.
Jeanette Tracy - Ladywood Farms (717) 227-4773
Marc and Scott Forman - Shady Hills Kennels (585) 233-8349
Lee Phillips - Trail South Kennels (229) 516-0365
