My parents refused to let me have a dog as a kid. They both had dogs and sad stories to tell. My guess is that they just wanted to keep me from the heartbreak of losing a dog.
Great dogs teach us how to be responsible and what true love can be. I swear that the reason dogs love us so much is that they know they only have so many years to do so. My pups all lived between 10-15 years. If humans loved as much as dogs, we would use up our lives just as fast.
Dogs can be our best and most reliable friends. All they want is attention, food, some cuddling, and to be with us. Now that’s True Love.
My lifetime of dogs has been wonderful. They have all been most special in different ways. Even dogs from the same litter were unique. I am not sure if I trained them or if they trained me. All my pups have been German Shorthaired pointers and one Black Lab. All were hunters.
Here is my legacy of great pups.
Kriegie She was my first pup. My brother and I shared the expenses after I finally talked my parents into letting me get a dog. They fought hard but they to loved Kriegie. Her name was the nickname of German POWs in WW2. My dada had become a POW/Kriegie after being shot down on his 50th combat mission as a B-17 bombardier. This dog could hunt! Countless birds and a turkey were harvested thanks to this pointer and retriever. She lived to 15 and hunted until her end.
Liebe After losing Kriegie, my wife picked out Liebe. Her name means Sweetheart in German. This rascal was the first of a big litter to come to her so she went home with us. What a brat! She chewed everything and was a stubborn bullhead but was wonderful with the kids and a great hunter. Liebe was also the fastest dog I have ever seen. We often hunted pheasants in Maryland and Pennsylvania on the same day. Liebe passed at 13 and Tessa was our single dog.
Tessa To keep Liebe company, we met a friend that gave us Tessa. She was all brown, with no spots. Tess was bigger than Liebe and they hunted fine together. As we were preparing to move to Montana, Tessa followed several deer into the road and was hit by a hit and run pickup truck. I was pretty sure that it was my neighbor but could not prove it. We moved to Big Sky Country without a dog.
Coalby Being dogless was no fun. The kids loved pups, so we found a dog in Moscow, Idaho that was as black as coal. Hence her name. The dog deal included a flight to Bozeman where we picked her up. Coalby filled the puppy niche and became a superb hunter. If she was not hunting, neither was I. No bird sneaked past her nose. Her problem was porcupines. She hated them and went after them several times. A skunk also became a stinky mess. At 11 years, she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Magnum My friend had a litter of sweet pups and gave me Magnum. My wife like Magnum PI so that became his name. Mag was our first boy dog. Classic and beautiful, Magnum was a hunter’s dream. For 10 years, no cockbird in Montana was safe.
Sheba One day a lab wandered into the yard. It was Sheba. Her owner was a plumber working on a home near us and Sheba was making friends. She didn’t want to leave. Later the plumber asked me if I could take her. He was moving to Pennsylvania, and they couldn’t take a dog. This lab was an amazing hunter and great with the kids. We never knew how old she was but she had a great life with us.
Shelby This sweet girl was a whoops. A friend’s shorthair, and the neighbor’s golden retriever had a litter. Shelby came out all black. My wife picked her out after we lost Sheba. Her name came from Sheba and Coalby. We lost both pups close together, and Shelby helped to fill their loss. Shelby may have been the best bird dog I ever owned. She would hunt all day and retrieved waterfowl with the best labs in town. I hunted Shelby at her favorite spot along the Missouri River a week before we lost her. We bagged our pheasants, and she dropped them into my hand perfectly. She swam in the river before crossing over.
Jag We lost Magnum, and Sheba close together. Shelby was a only dog and we thought a new pup would be good company. A breeder in Roundup, MT, hooked us up with Jag. He has been superb, and Shelby and Jag got along great. Jag stays at 25 yards and is a great listener. His hunting skills are still improving. I have not yet seen his best. Looking forward to this Fall.
A few things that I have learned is …
Get Dog Insurance Any and all dog meds and health concerns are expensive. Insurance usually has a minimum before it kicks in but that can happen in a hurry.
Using Great Food Processed dry kibble is boring and not nearly as healthy as other freeze dried and healthier and full of protein choices.
Using a harness collar Collars can choke and injure your dog when restraining. Chains and chokers are also dangerous. A shoulder harness adds a handle and a way to support the dog safely and securely.
Don’t waste your dog. If the dog is a hunter, hunt them. Every hunt makes them better. Training is best done afield.
Love your pups every day. They have shorter lives. Don’t miss a moment.
Name your dog One syllables are best. Their name can’t sound like “Whoa, No, Stay, Sit, Come.” Training to whistle and hand signals is best.
I would be unhappy without a lifetime of dogs. They were all wonderful and made me a better hunter and man.
Montana Grant
