Montana Feathers
When Jack passed away we were rattled to the core.
He was our children's first dog and his life came to an end far too soon. It took a few months for it to set in and for us to realize that our home was in desperate need for some more tail wagging. We started to do some research and it wasn't too long before we decided that a Brittany would be a good fit with our lifestyle. We found a breeder up in the Swan Valley, secured the pick of the litter, waited a few months, devoured a bunch of books... and then the day finally arrived.
It's been about ten months now and our boy Rudy has easily cleared the bar that Jack had set so high.
His first hunting season was nothing short of remarkable. We were in the field together for about twenty days, with his first official hunt taking place in early September. It was a sage grouse hunt and it proved to be a day that I will never forget.
I knew Rudy would be birdy, but one never really knows how a dog is going to behave during their first actual bird hunt. He would be hunting alongside his older brother, their first hunt in tandem. That, plus the fact that Rudy was only seven months old fed my concerns. My friend and I assumed there would be a fair amount of puppy-grab-ass happening and we were prepared to deal with that aspect. So what could we do... other than turn them loose and proceed to watch the instincts of two amazing dogs come to life.
The next few months were all about the pheasants, huns and sharp tailed grouse that we flushed in the coulees of Central Montana.
During our first year together, Rudy and I have taught each other a few things. Having him along as my gun dog is an entirely new chapter in my world of bird hunting and it's immensely gratifying.
Come spring, my wife and I will continue to work with him at the Missouri Headwaters Gun Dog Club, where he will be keeping his nose to the ground and his feathered tail high in the air. There is still a bit of work to be done with regard to his WHOA as well as honoring another dog's point.
When September rolls into town, there is no doubt in my mind that ole Rudy will be right where we want him.