Chill winds brought our 2010 WCA Western Field Classic to a blustery conclusion on Sunday.

We finished the Open Puppy with just enough light to get pictures! Congrats to all the competitors at the event and I was very happy with all my canine charges!

My current string is probably the youngest I’ve ever had. The only veteran, LZ, is four years old. My other two gun dogs, Maggie and Sascha are not 3 yet and the oldest futurities I ran were shy of 12 months.

That bodes well for the fall trials and Nationals as the dogs continue to mature.

We are looking at several exceptional training opportunities for the dogs this year. Aside from a couple small trials out here in California, perhaps a hunt test or two, I AM WORKING ON STEADYING DOGS TO WING AND SHOT until early summer.

I have good friends looking into a late summer training area near Flagstaff, AZ, where I can finish off the footwork and graduate to horseback work, so the dogs will be heading into the fall competitions in top gear.

Last fall I went up to Oregon/Washington for trials in September. I may do that again or I might consider doing the WCA Mid-America in Michigan depending upon what my clients prefer.

I have a talented group of futurity dogs that owners/breeders may like to showcase.

I plan on getting a lease near Ardmore, OK to train on in November prior to our Nationals the first full week in December.

Anyway, here are the Snake Breaks placements for the Winter 2010 campaign.

 I am proud to report that ALL of our client dogs placed and five got points towards their AKC field championship. Congrats to all of the dogs and thanks to the owners for their continued support!

All our best,  Steve and Anne

The dogs did a good job, overall I was quite pleased.

Grau Geist Buk Naked Tiger Lily “Lily,” a bitch owned by Michael and Lisa Hodges from Indiana won the Field Futurity with a fine effort to put us in the pink (the color of ribbons for the Futurity winner). Lily was bred by Dick and Mary Wilber of Lubbock, TX. Her dam is Grau Geist’s Buck Naked, and her sire is GRB’s Hearty Burgundy owned and bred by Gina Bosio. Congratulations to both sire and dam owners for a fine breeding!

Grau Geist's Buk Naked Tiger Lily wins the National Field Futurity

Lady Luck didn’t smile on my big-running Getty dog. She had judges and the entire gallery sitting high in the saddle in both the NFC and the NAFC but was lost on course at about 45 minutes in the open championship after having one nice covey find. She failed to find birds in the NAFC even though the judges and handler Dick Wilber were praying to the field trial gods for it. The best dog doesn’t always win at Ardmore, the best of the fortunate dogs do.

FC Saga's JP Getty von Reiteralm with Holly McKnight, December 2009

As you can see, Getty is not only a dog that catches people’s eyes in the field, but she is a beautiful dog to boot.  Co-owner Virginia Alexander says, “Getty is solidly built and not overdone structurally in any way. An easy to live with personality at home, but with brains and prey drive that is able to catch on fire when the game is birds.”

Our week ended with Rocky’s nice third place finish in the National Derby. She is owned by Jack Altura and bred by Myron and Debra Meifert.

Westend's Outdoor Pocket Rocket - 3rd Place National Derby

The first field trial of the season is January 8 out at Castle Butte followed by two more trials in January and trials every weekend in February.

He headed to Ritzville today and is looking forward to training there!