vom Holzbach Blog
Kennel updates and hunting/Training Journal
The 'B' Litter Arrives
Abby whelped seven healthy pups overnight with just the amount of build-up that we’d expect from her. Starting several weeks ago, Abby excavated an elaborate den nestled in the ferns in our backyard. It reaches at least five or six feet deep with a nice cavern at the end. Instinct is amazing!
She was bound and determined to get to that den to deliver her pups, so we kept a close eye (and leash!) on her leading up to the delivery. It wasn’t easy to convince her that the nice box in the living room with fresh bedding and a heating pad was ultimately a better solution than a muddy hole in the ground.
Pre-labor stretched on for longer than expected, so a quick trip to the vet and a reverse progesterone test confirmed that whelping was imminent. In other words, it was going to happen on her own time and not anybody else’s.
The first four pups to arrive were all males, making me a little nervous about the reservations we’d taken for female pups. In the end, we welcomed five males and two females. An eighth puppy—a female—arrived two hours after we thought everything was complete. Sadly, she was stillborn and could not be revived. Despite the joy we felt for the seven healthy puppies, the amount of grief for the lost pup really caught us by surprise.
Abby is exhausted but adjusting well to caring for the puppies. She’s feeding them well and learning the fine art of lowering herself to the ground without squishing any puppies. It’s fun to watch her figure this out! We’re taking turns sleeping by the box to make sure everything goes well overnight, but so far it looks like Abby has this handled.
The Making of the 'B' Litter
After getting Acacia vom Holzbach “Abby” certified for breeding, we set out to select the ideal stud dog for our B litter. One of the nice things about getting together each year in South Dakota for DL-Fest is the opportunity to see many of the breed-certified Deutsch Langhaar in North America. It’s a high-stimulation environment between the hunting, the dogs, and the people… so it’s a nice chance to observe the temperaments and adaptability of all the dogs.
Lakota vom Veybach “Jake” stands out as a very calm, friendly male with a gentle disposition. At the same time, he has a ton of hunting drive and has scored really well in his performance tests. So even though he lives 1,800 miles away in Wisconsin, he was the right choice for us. One quick road trip later and Jake was settling into our home and waiting for his opportunity. I can’t say enough nice things about him—considering that he was picked up by total strangers and driven across the country, he was happy-go-lucky and pleasant for the entire time.
While Jake stayed with us, we had the opportunity to do a little training and even hunt at a pheasant preserve with him. It was really nice to get some firsthand hunting experience with the sire of our next litter. He impressed us with his drive, his wide-ranging search, and his passion for retrieving. He’s exceptionally good in the water, too.
After a successful breeding, Jake traveled home via van transportation. We were all sad to see him go, but can’t wait to meet his offspring in a couple months.
Closing Out the 2019/2020 Season
We certainly had an abbreviated hunting season, being completely occupied with puppies for most of the late fall and early winter. To cap off the final days of Washington’s upland hunting season, we headed over the mountains and spent a week in the southeast corner of the state. Despite cold weather and being terribly out of form for late season hunting, we made the most of the opportunity end the season with some birds in the bag!
We certainly had an abbreviated hunting season, being completely occupied with puppies for most of the late fall and early winter. To cap off the final days of Washington’s upland hunting season, we headed over the mountains and spent a week in the southeast corner of the state. Despite cold weather and being terribly out of form for late season hunting, we made the most of the opportunity end the season with some birds in the bag!
The breaks of the Snake River were calling to us after finding our first chukar there last year. Hindsight suggests that perhaps starting our big hunting trip chasing chukar up canyon walls may not have been the best way to ease into it, but we heeded their call. The plan was to make a quick loop up the canyon since Abby would be waiting (hopefully patiently) in her kennel in the truck. Everything was covered in snow, so we picked a reasonable ascent and started exploring. Just a short while later, Piper was on point up above us. She held that point staunchly for at least twenty minutes while we dragged our sorry rear-ends up the mountain. I looped around and tried my best to approach her from above. She held steady and indicated the direction of the covey. They flushed a bit far away - and I was heaving and wheezing heavily - so I shot in their general direction but unfortunately did not connect. Regardless, the extraordinary dog work - and having hardly hunted at all this season to stay sharp - was really impressive and absolutely made my day.
We slowed down a bit in the following days and hunted pheasant and quail in the Pomeroy area. We met up with a friend who taught us a ton about January pheasant cover. We were seeing lots of birds but, despite sub-freezing temps and gusty winds, they were very spooky and flushing well out of range. Finally, on the last spot of the day, we were able to pinch a running rooster in a creek drainage and get him to take flight within range. I connected on the shot and Piper executed a perfect track and recovery. She followed his trail for about 100 yards until she located him over the dropoff and in the flowing creek. I could not have been more proud!
We took advantage of opportunities to get Abby out into the field as well. We weren’t ready to shoot around her, but we definitely wanted her to smell some birds and get used to searching out in front of us. She got a huge kick out of following Piper around in the snow. Later, we took her to a site where we’d shot quail the day before. We let her search the drainage and look for birds on her own. The quail didn’t seem to be there, but she was lucky enough to happen upon a couple of rooster pheasants. She also led us to a rooster carcass hidden in the grass, likely taken by a hawk. It was clear that she knows that birds are something special.
We returned home tired, sore, nursing raw pads and a barbed wire cut… but also refreshed, rejuvenated, and happy. Piper continues to impress with her developing maturity and Abby is just about to find out what she was born to do. We are so excited to get started on training for next season!
'A' Litter All Grown Up
The puppies have all departed for their new homes and are settling in nicely. I have so enjoyed the updates that I’ve gotten from the new families! I’m excited to know how all of the dogs do in their first few months of training and eventually heading into their first hunting season next fall.
The puppies have all departed for their new homes and are settling in nicely. I have so enjoyed the updates that I’ve gotten from the new families! I’m excited to know how all of the dogs do in their first few months of training and eventually heading into their first hunting season next fall.
The ‘A’ litter now resides in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington! I hope to see many of them at a future DL-Fest gathering in South Dakota.
We kept Acacia vom Holzbach “Abby”. It has been fun to get to know her now that her littermates are gone. It took until the last brother left before she finally looked up and really noticed us! There’s a huge difference in how the pups view the world, depending on whether they are still part of the litter, or if they are striking out on their own. One of our challenges will be building Abby’s confidence despite having mom around. We’ll be looking for opportunities to get her out on her own to build independence, whether in the field or just going to a puppy kindergarten class.
Finally, here are some pictures of the pups around the house and yard in their final days before being picked up by their new families.
'A' Litter at Seven Weeks: Preparing to Launch
This was a busy week for the growing puppies! They visited the vet for exams and vaccines, they visited our local breed inspector for tattoos and microchips, and they learned how to ride calmly in the car while venturing out on all these errands. Their world is expanding daily!
This was a busy week for the growing puppies! They visited the vet for exams and vaccines, they visited our local breed inspector for tattoos and microchips, and they learned how to ride calmly in the car while venturing out on all these errands. Their world is expanding daily!
It has been fun showing the puppies off and continuing to welcome new visitors here at home. Having built a strong foundation of curiosity and boldness, the pups greet each new experience with confidence. Each of these pups is capable of maturing into a self-assured, well-balanced dog, and I can’t wait to hear how they do in their new homes.
By next weekend, the pups will start heading off to their new homes. I couldn’t be more excited about the wonderful homes we have lined up for each and every one of them. Between now and then, we’ll introduce them to live birds, start closing them in the kennels overnight in preparation for crate training, and continue car exposure with more short trips around town.
We took profile pictures to document the pups at 7 weeks of age. Peanut butter proved to be the best way to get and keep their attention, but please forgive the couple with messy faces!
Acer vom Holzbach
Alder vom Holzbach
Ash vom Holzbach
Aspen vom Holzbach
Atlas vom Holzbach
Acacia vom Holzbach
Amber vom Holzbach
Autumn vom Holzbach
'A' Litter at Six Weeks: Becoming Individuals
The physical and mental development of the puppies hit warp speed this week. I think they look taller, leaner, and more mature every time I look at them! Photos that I took on Tuesday suddenly look outdated by Friday. In addition to physical growth, the puppies are starting to display distinct personalities and traits. They are truly becoming individuals instead of just a pack of puppies.
The physical and mental development of the puppies hit warp speed this week. I think they look taller, leaner, and more mature every time I look at them! Photos that I took on Tuesday suddenly look outdated by Friday. In addition to physical growth, the puppies are starting to display distinct personalities and traits. They are truly becoming individuals instead of just a pack of puppies.
The biggest milestones this week were the first trips outside and the introduction of game. We are deep into the wet Pacific Northwest winter, so breaks in the cold rain are few and far between. Still, we take advantage of every opportunity to get the pups outside - even briefly - to expand their world beyond the house. All of the pups took to the new experience quickly, but they all had different ideas of what to do. Some wanted to wrestle with their siblings, some wandered off to visit the chickens, and some got a serious case of the zoomies. They are all clearly enrichment-seekers, but their methods varied from one pup to another.
Much to the pups’ delight, we introduced them to dead birds such as a duck, a quail, and a couple wings we’d saved from last season. What a treat to get to watch their deep instincts awaken as they encountered these new smells. Again, reactions varied. Some pups approached with cautious curiosity and some with unbridled enthusiasm. Everybody wanted to pick something up to carry in their mouth, including a couple impressive attempts at dragging the heavy mallard off to some unknown destination. There’s no question that these pups embody the genes of countless generations of well-bred hunting dogs.
We continue to welcome visitors of all ages to ensure that the pups are getting plenty of human socialization. It’s fun to show off the pups and see them grow their confidence when meeting new people. We’ve been teaching them to sit quietly to ask for attention, which makes for a more sane greeting instead of eight puppies flinging themselves wildly at the gate!
I can’t forget an update on Piper, too! She got her stitches out this week and is fully on the mend from last week’s surgery following the mastitis infection. It is wonderful to have her back to normal and in good spirits as her body finishes the healing process.
It’s hard to believe we only have two weeks left with these puppies. I have mixed emotions because I’m excited to see these pups head off to great new homes, but I’ll also miss each and every one of them!
'A' Litter at Five Weeks: Building Confidence
The puppies had a big week this week: they moved out of the whelping box and into their playpen. This gave them much more room to run and play, which definitely changed their interactions. Life no longer centers around eating; they are making social bonds and learning how to interact with each other, with people, and with their environment.
The puppies had a big week this week: they moved out of the whelping box and into their playpen. This gave them much more room to run and play, which definitely changed their interactions. Life no longer centers around eating; they are making social bonds and learning how to interact with each other, with people, and with their environment.
Each puppy gets one-on-one time out of the playpen at least once a day. They get to play with Piper, explore the living room and kitchen, and discover surprises around each corner. Their confidence has grown by leaps and bounds every day as they boldly explore their expanding world.
We also take the pups out in small groups for structured play with new toys. Today we introduced the tipping board, which is a 2’x2’ square elevated on a tennis ball. It moves unexpectedly as they climb on it, giving them a chance to gain confidence on unstable surfaces. They took to this new challenge easily and enjoyed climbing on the new toy as it wobbled around.
The best surprise for me this week was how well the pups learned to use their litter area. Puppies have a natural tendency to go away from their sleeping area to keep their living quarters clean. However, I did not expect them to grasp the concept of the toilet area so well. They aren’t mistake-proof, but it’s clear they understand the idea and get to the box whenever they can.
We also introduced a kennel so they will become comfortable sleeping in it to set the stage for future crate training. They took to it immediately! Some of the boys enjoyed playing whack-a-mole with any body parts that came through the holes of the Ruff Tough, which seemed to be a fun game for all involved.
We are increasing our focus on socialization with a variety of people. We hosted a brief visit with a couple of small children this weekend, which the puppies really enjoyed. We will increase the number and variety of visitors over the coming days.
It’s fun seeing the pups adapt and grow with every new experience. It’s good to take advantage of this key development window to build confident, capable dogs that will easily adapt to new experiences throughout their adult life.
'A' Litter at Four Weeks: Independence and Discovery
Week four was all about independence for the pups, both by choice and by circumstance. They are gaining confidence in themselves during play time, whether it’s with each other or during their one-on-one times outside of the whelping box.
Week four was all about independence for the pups, both by choice and by circumstance. They are gaining confidence in themselves during play time, whether it’s with each other or during their one-on-one times outside of the whelping box.
We take each pup out of the box every evening for some focused, individual interaction. They’ve gone from being a little unsure about the bigger world to boldly exploring every corner of the living room. It’s fun to see them learn to use all of their senses, especially when they stick their nose to the ground to track some new smell. Fun discoveries include finding mom’s water bowl and a stack of clean towels to knock over. Their early self-confidence in these new experiences will go a long way towards developing each pup into a confident, curious dog with strong coping and adaptation skills.
Circumstances also demanded a new level of independence because Piper was rushed to the emergency vet during the night with a sudden onset of a mastitis infection. We are so thankful that we caught the fever early and got her immediate medical attention. She’s recovering at home, but it’s clear she’s in a lot of pain. It’s especially heart-breaking because she wants to care for the puppies so badly, but they can’t be allowed to nurse or otherwise harass her. We’ve compromised by bringing one or two pups at a time to visit with her, which seems to be thoroughly enjoyed by mom and pups alike.
Thankfully the puppies were already eating on their own from a bowl and were only nursing as a supplement at this point, so the transition away from mom’s milk has been easy and quick. They are growing in leaps and bounds, sometimes gaining a half pound in a single day. Their physical growth and development is accelerating just as quickly as their cognitive development, which is truly amazing to witness.
The next big milestone for the pups will be moving out of the whelping box and into their playpen. They’ll learn to use a designated litter area and will have much more space to engage in play. Hopefully Piper will be on her feet soon and able to join them for periods in their new play space.
'A' Litter at Three Weeks: Up and Alert
The puppies took on their third week with open eyes and ears, giving them a week characterized by alertness and awareness. Suddenly they were noticing things in their world - especially each other. The regular rhythm of feeding and sleeping gave way to an additional activity: play. The living room is now ringing with the sounds of puppy barks and puppy growls as the pups engage in this crucial developmental activity.
The puppies took on their third week with open eyes and ears, giving them a week characterized by alertness and awareness. Suddenly they were noticing things in their world - especially each other. The regular rhythm of feeding and sleeping gave way to an additional activity: play. The living room is now ringing with the sounds of puppy barks and puppy growls as the pups engage in this crucial developmental activity.
We also introduced a bowl of milk formula to see if the pups were interested in beginning the long process of weaning. The first introduction was mediocre - a few of the pups were eager, a few were indifferent, and a few just wanted to splash in it. By the second introduction, it was a hit. All eight pups figured out how to slurp the milk and quickly learned that they love feeding time. It’s not a clean affair by any stretch - I think they end up wearing as much as they consume!
As the last of the pups pass through the transition period and into the beginning of the prime socialization and learning window, we will begin doing short exercises to challenge their minds and develop learning skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. It’s a real treat to play a role in this crucial period to shape their coping and problem solving skills for a lifetime.
'A' Litter at Two Weeks: On the Move
The A litter puppies turned two weeks old this weekend. It was a big week for them! The theme of the week was mobility. They are really getting their legs under them. What started with just a few shaky stands soon turned into first wobbly steps. Seemingly overnight, they were on the move.
The A litter puppies turned two weeks old this weekend. It was a big week for them! The theme of the week was mobility. They are really getting their legs under them. What started with just a few shaky stands soon turned into first wobbly steps. Seemingly overnight, they were on the move. Poor Piper is learning how to find a spot to safely lay down in the whelping box while eight puppies scramble around for position near her. It can be quite the production.
The first eyes made their appearance on day 10. Within three days, everyone’s eyes were open. They are still learning to focus and I can tell they don’t see much yet, but they are definitely starting to get the hang of the new sensory input. It is so fun to watch them try to put together all these new skills.
I can’t forget to mention their strengthening lungs. Wow, some of them can really howl! They definitely all have their tricks for getting attention and, ultimately, for getting fed.
Without further ado, here are the highlights from this week:
'A' Litter at One Week Old
We’ve had a busy week as we all get adjusted to raising a litter of puppies. Piper continues to do a great job, though I can tell she gets a little bored sometimes! Things are slowly falling into a regular routine as we work together to care for the pups.
We’ve had a busy week as we all get adjusted to raising a litter of puppies. Piper continues to do a great job, though I can tell she gets a little bored sometimes! Things are slowly falling into a regular routine as we work together to care for the pups.
The puppies are growing like crazy with huge weight gains every day. We have an evening ritual where we weigh and inspect each pup, log their data in our spreadsheet (we are engineers after all), and spend a little one-on-one time for their neurological and physical stimulation.
We have a couple reservations left for male pups. Please visit this page for more info and contact me at jwapenski@gmail.com if you are interested!
But what you really want to see are pictures, right?!
The 'A' Litter Arrives
The A litter is here! Piper delivered eight healthy puppies on Saturday night - and not without her usual flair for the dramatic.
The A litter is here! Piper delivered eight healthy puppies on Saturday night - and not without her usual flair for the dramatic.
Early labor began on Friday night and continued into Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon her water had broken, but there was still no progress after a few hours and a strong effort at pushing. A quick call with the vet turned into a recommendation to go into the hospital, just in case the first pup was stuck.
We drove quickly to the emergency vet and got settled into a room to wait. Piper continued pushing and straining. In jest I said, “If you deliver a puppy now, Piper, so help me…,” but she one upped me. She soon pushed out not one but two puppies onto the hospital floor. This was surely my payback for making such careful plans and staging all necessary supplies in a sanitary setup in our living room. The hospital floor.
A tech rushed in to assist with cleaning up the pups and getting the cords tied off. After a quick consult, we were advised to go home since everything appeared to be progressing normally. Now, the concern was to get home - safely - fast enough to avoid a birth in the car. We rushed home with the heat blasting, imploring Piper to please hold off until we arrived home. She dutifully obliged, and pup #3 was born shortly after getting re-settled in the whelping box at home.
Happily, the remaining pups arrived without nearly as much excitement, and Piper settled into her new role as doting mother right away. It’s truly amazing to watch these deep instincts come to life. She is completely devoted to caring for the pups, rising only when I suggest that she go outside or get a bite to eat. Simply magic.
The puppies are beautiful, healthy, and big. Half of the litter was over a pound at birth! They fill their days with eating, sleeping, and eating some more - they are going to grow quickly!
There are three females (one brown with a white chest patch and two dunkelschimmel) and five males (one brown with a white chest patch and four dunkelschimmel). I can’t wait to see them grow up and turn into amazing companions and bird hunting machines. But for now… just some more nap time will do.
The Home Stretch
Entering the ninth week of Piper’s pregnancy is both exciting and nerve-wracking. She appears wider every time I look at her! I tell her she’s “glowing” but in truth, I can tell she’s ready for this phase to end. Her perpetually good-natured attitude is being challenged by the discomfort of the final days of carrying growing pups.
Entering the ninth week of Piper’s pregnancy is both exciting and nerve-wracking. She appears wider every time I look at her! I tell her she’s “glowing” but in truth, I can tell she’s ready for this phase to end. Her perpetually good-natured attitude is being challenged by the discomfort of the final days of carrying growing pups.
We visited the vet this week for an abdominal x-ray to find out how many puppies to expect. This is important because it’s essential to know if all of the puppies make it out, or if emergency care is required for a stuck pup. Given the jumble of pups in the image, it’s not a guarantee of the final number, but it’s the best tool we have to generate a good estimate.
Counting skulls and spines in the image, our vet could find at least eight pups! I’ve been playing with the image contrast and might be able to pick out a ninth… it’s really hard to tell which skull goes with which spine and what might be hidden behind the others. Above all else, it’s a startling reminder of just how much is going on inside there!
The pups have definitely been very active in the past few days. I can feel them kicking and squirming - and so can Piper. Every once in a while she will twitch or jump when they really start moving around. A highlight for me was seeing a lump protruding from her side, giving it a little pet, and feeling it wiggle in response. Truly an amazing experience.
Logistically speaking, everything here is ready to go for the big day. The whelping box is all set up in her favorite corner of the living room. I’ve put together a kit of supplies with the help of experienced friends and mentors. Everything is queued up…and now we wait!
Pregnancy Confirmed!
After Zeke and Piper were bred, it was time to play the waiting game. We knew there wouldn’t be any obvious signs of pregnancy for a while, but that didn’t stop me from reading into all of Piper’s behaviors. Was she extra tired? Extra clingy? Extra…maternal?
After Zeke and Piper were bred, it was time to play the waiting game. We knew there wouldn’t be any obvious signs of pregnancy for a while, but that didn’t stop me from reading into all of Piper’s behaviors. Was she extra tired? Extra clingy? Extra…maternal?
Three weeks in, she refused her first bowl of food. Normally this is cause for concern, but in this case, I was ecstatic. Surely this pointed to pregnancy! She still needed to get nutrients, though, so we tried to get creative over the next few days. I boiled chicken and rice, flavored her kibble with beef fat, mixed in canned food… and still she wouldn’t eat much. At one point she gingerly picked up each kibble, sucked the juice off of it, and deposited it on the floor next to her bowl. Every. Last. Kibble. I couldn’t tell if I was being outsmarted or if she was really feeling that awful.
Finally the day came when we could have a look inside with an ultrasound exam. The vet walked her out of the exam room to get prepped and we sat in the empty room, nervous as expectant parents. After a tense wait, the door opened and the doctor popped in with a grin spread across his face. “You want to come see them?!?!”
Piper was cradled on the exam table and there, on the screen, was a fuzzy image of a tiny puppy. Paws, tail, and a tiny fluttering heart. It was breathtaking. At this point it’s too early to get much of a count, but we definitely found multiple, squirming pups tucked in there - each one just over an inch long. We are beyond excited!
We left the office with stern instructions to get her eating as soon as possible, so we stopped at the pet store on our way home to try some different foods and flavors. Piper has never been picky before, so this is a new phase for all of us. I got a funny look from the clerk as I deposited an arm load of “one of everything” on the counter, to which I simply shrugged and offered, “Pregnancy.”
The next milestone is an x-ray exam in about twenty days to get a puppy count in preparation for whelping. Until then, we’ll keep up with some light-duty grouse hunting, as much eating as possible, and keeping all of our minds occupied until early November!
Head on over to our Litters page for more info on this breeding and available pups!
Dusky Grouse Redux
Feeling pretty excited about our rookie success on Dusky Grouse, we headed back over the mountains at our next available opportunity. We retraced our steps to the areas we’d found birds and focused our efforts on identifying likely habitat and resting spots.
Feeling pretty excited about our rookie success on Dusky Grouse, we headed back over the mountains at our next available opportunity. We retraced our steps to the areas we’d found birds and focused our efforts on identifying likely habitat and resting spots. We looked for clues in the vegetation and tried to find patterns. For example, the crop of the grouse we’d shot last week had been stuffed with blue elderberries and rose leaves, so we kept an eye out for these likely food sources. We knew there were birds in these mountains, so now we tried to predict exactly where they were hanging out.
Despite significantly different weather conditions with cooler temps and high winds, we found another dozen birds in similar locations. Our best success seemed to be along the edge of the clearcut for the high tension power lines - which makes sense with the grouse’s reputation as a bird “of the edges”. Sneaking up on the windward side of the hills, we crested over the top of each hill and found birds hunkered down on the downwind side. This tactic didn’t provide for any scenting opportunities for the pup, but most of the birds hadn’t held well enough for a point anyway.
The high winds made for strange flight patterns and we struggled to find many shooting opportunities, but I was lucky enough to connect on a beautiful Dusky Grouse that leapt up out of the clearcut and headed straight toward the safety of the thick forest. It made for a challenging retrieve because the bird fell into the thick brush at the edge of the forest, but there was never any question that Piper was going to find that downed bird. After a brief wait while she worked the scent into the cover, she appeared proudly at the clearing and delivered the grouse to my hand. I was ecstatic.
Piper did end up with a beautiful point on a sitting bird along a ridge, but unfortunately the bird flushed low on the steep slope and Piper broke from her point - so no shots were taken. It was nice to get a point on a bird that notoriously doesn’t hold well. We are still working on putting all the pieces together!
All in all, it was another successful day as we added to our notes and knowledge about these grouse and their habits. It feels good to come home with birds on our first two attempts and we look forward to further dialing them in!
Chasing Blues
We made it a goal this year to really focus on early season grouse hunting. With Piper being pregnant, we wanted to take advantage of as much of the September and early October hunting opportunities as possible. Here in Washington, that means forest grouse.
We made it a goal this year to really focus on early season grouse hunting. With Piper being pregnant, we wanted to take advantage of as much of the September and early October hunting opportunities as possible. Here in Washington, that means forest grouse.
After a couple of unproductive outings in the thick undergrowth of the temperate rainforest that we call home, we decided to head over the crest of the Cascades to the dry side of the mountains. We studied maps and satellite images to pick a few forested public areas that seemed promising for both Ruffed and Dusky Grouse.
Just a few miles and several switchbacks up the first forest road, we had our very first grouse encounter. A pair of Duskies were starting to cross the logging road when we came rolling up. Joe hit the brakes and put the truck into reverse. We crept backward out of sight and looked at each other. What now? Excitement got the better of me and I hopped out of the truck, grabbed my gun, and tiptoed through the woods. Feeling a bit like Elmer Fudd, I swiveled my head back and forth as I stalked through the pines. Sure enough, two grouse leapt up out of thin air and flushed in opposite directions. I stood, slack-jawed, as I watched one sail across my field of view and into a distant tree. I later told myself that it was WAY too far away to shoot, but in reality, I was just paralyzed by the rush of the new experience.
Since this location seemed promising, we set off from the truck and walked the ridge in a large loop. Other than re-flushing the grouse out of its tree perch, we didn’t encounter any other birds in this area. It was quickly getting warm and we worried about pushing Piper too hard, so we went back to the truck and continued our drive through the National Forest.
The day continued in much the same way - drive to a new spot, hike in a big loop, and flush a few birds. We moved a total of eleven grouse before finally getting an opportunity to shoot. Right as the end of shooting light was approaching, a young bird crossed our path and froze when he realized his mistake. His exit wasn’t fast enough and I was lucky enough to connect. Piper had a flawless retrieve to hand - a perfect way to end our first day chasing blue grouse.
Zeke Goes Hunting
While Zeke (Bolt vom Coraschatten) was staying with us for breeding purposes, we took advantage of the opening of Washington’s grouse season to stretch his legs and to learn more about his hunting abilities. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to hunt behind the sire of our future litter; in addition to getting to know him in our home, I’d also get to know more about his hunting style and handling of birds.
While Zeke (Bolt vom Coraschatten) was staying with us for breeding purposes, we took advantage of the opening of Washington’s grouse season to stretch his legs and to learn more about his hunting abilities. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to hunt behind the sire of our future litter; in addition to getting to know him in our home, I’d also get to know more about his hunting style and handling of birds.
We stayed close to home and hiked the logging roads of the state forest near us. This western Washington foothills terrain holds a few ruffed grouse - not a huge population, but enough to reliably get some bird contact without driving more than twenty minutes from home. The cover is ridiculously thick so the chance of actually seeing and shooting a bird is always slim.
Zeke’s enthusiasm for the impending hunt was infectious. Once he realized we were loading guns, boots, and him into the truck, he was positively buzzing with excitement. By the time we arrived at the trailhead, he was almost shaking. There was no doubt about it - this sweet boy was hunt-obsessed. Even so, his excellent training kicked in and he heeled nicely up the logging road before taking off like a rocket once he was released for the search.
Hunting behind Zeke was a bit like hunting behind a cannonball. It was apparent that this was new terrain for him, proven by the bloody nose he received from a blackberry tangle. He was undeterred though, and proceeded to search the forest with great enthusiasm. It was comical for us to watch his style of powering through the brush, since Piper is a much more thoughtful (read: cautious) searcher in thick cover. Neither approach is necessarily better than the other, just different. Despite his vigorous search, he checked in frequently and always stayed within a reasonable range for hunting in thick cover.
We moved a couple of grouse and Zeke had the opportunity to show off his tracking skills in the forest, but no shots were taken. My favorite moment was when a grouse flushed out of a tree along the road, completely unseen. At the first sound of wing beats, Zeke froze. What a good, steady boy!
Even though we didn’t have any birds to show for the outing, I was very pleased to see Zeke’s enthusiastic search and excellent nose work. He clearly has a nice mix of natural hunting abilities and trained skills such as steadiness and whistle handing. He was cooperative and showed great teamwork, much to my great delight.
Knowing the hunting styles of both the sire and the dam of our upcoming litter is really important to me. I think it’s essential to be able to discuss both parents with prospective buyers. Temperament and natural hunting abilities are essential to the future of the Deutsch Langhaar breed and to my breeding goals, so I’m really excited to see how these puppies will turn out!
The Future Begins
We welcomed a very special visitor to our home earlier this week: Bolt vom Coraschatten, known as “Zeke”, flew to Seattle from Denver to (hopefully) breed with Piper. We opted to have him come a little early so that we could get to know him better, have him get settled in and comfortable, and to err on the side of caution when trying to identify the right time for breeding.
We welcomed a very special visitor to our home earlier this week: Bolt vom Coraschatten, known as “Zeke”, flew to Seattle from Denver to (hopefully) breed with Piper. We opted to have him come a little early so that we could get to know him better, have him get settled in and comfortable, and to err on the side of caution when trying to identify the right time for breeding.
It’s a lot to ask of a dog to fly to a new city and adapt to a new home with strange people and strange dogs. Happily, Zeke settled right into the pack without any hesitation. As I write this, he’s flopped across my feet for his afternoon nap. He has proven to be an absolute sweetheart and a real pleasure to have in our home. He takes affection very seriously and will affix himself to you if you know all the best spots for scratching.
Before he arrived, I worried that bringing a male dog into our house with a female in heat would cause absolute mayhem. I’m so pleased to say that hasn’t been the case at all. Both dogs are really well-behaved and understand the house rules, even though the circumstances are a bit out-of-the-norm for them.
As part of bringing Zeke into our normal routine, we took both dogs to our local training grounds for some physical and mental exercise. It turns out that Zeke is crazy about rabbit drags! He executed a perfect track on a 200m drag and proudly delivered the rabbit to hand. It’s amazing how these skills stay so sharp year after year. The Deutsch Langhaar’s excellent game recovery abilities continue to be one of the things that make us really love this breed - they will track, pursue, and recover dead or wounded game no matter the circumstances.
As for real-world hunting, Zeke’s owner describes him as an absolute soldier in the field. He particularly excels in waterfowl hunting, where his intense retrieving desire really comes out. He’s been known to chase down wounded ducks over hundreds of yards and deliver enormous geese to hand. In addition to waterfowl, he has hunted a wide variety of upland birds including grouse, pheasants, partridge, and quail. I’m excited that these puppies should inherit a strong passion for hunting with excellent natural abilities, especially when it comes to retrieving.
I’m happy to report that we had a successful mating between Zeke and Piper today, so hopefully pups will be on their way in early November! We’ll try again once or twice before (sadly) sending Zeke back home to Colorado where he can get started on his hunting season. As for life here, we’ll do some local grouse hunting while crossing our fingers and hoping to confirm a pregnancy in the coming weeks. It’s exciting to see our plans start to take shape as we look ahead to the next generation of Deutsch Langhaars!