Evan blogged about his experiences at the kennel:

“These are gorgeous dogs and everytime I visit the place it’s all I can do to resist throwing the credit card down and putting my name on the waiting list for a puppy.”

He also had an opportunity to take two DeCoverly setters out to hunt released chukar:

“Both dogs hunted beautifully, showing off their distinctly different styles, each getting the job done in their own way but with that unmistakable setter class, ingrained through generations of strong breeding and an unyielding drive to point something. It is always a privelege to walk up on one of these dogs when they are frozen solid as the winter ground they cover so efficiently.”

We appreciated Evan’s visit to the kennel and we’re glad he enjoyed hunting with DeCoverly setters. If you’d like to schedule your own visit to the kennels, email dcoverly@epix.net or call 570-378-3357.

We also love to see our dogs as they leave our kennels and become a loyal member of your family. That’s why we’ve made it even easier for you to share you photos with us and for you to browse through photos from other DeCoverly owners and from our own collection.

Visit the DeCoverly Kennels Photostream on Flickr to view collections of our English Setter puppies, hunting dogs and more. And to submit a photo, just email it to photos@decoverlykennels.com and, after it’s approved by a member of the DeCoverly staff, it will go straight into the photostream.

Got a picture of your DeCoverly setter around the house? Send it in. A picture with your dog after a successful hunt? We’d love to see it!

We share DeCoverly news, photos and more through our page. It offers another opportunity for us to interact with owners of our DeCoverly Kennels English Setters and the page helps create a network of DeCoverly owners. So become a fan today!

Our developmental approach to raising and training Setters is another key component of the DeCoverly Difference.  Our approach is not that of forcing training on a dog, but one which aims to allow our Setters the ability to truly learn their craft in a supportive environment.  In fact, the instincts, intelligence, and desire to please of a well-bred Gentleman’s Shooting Dog, when developed through a relationship with a human partner, allow the best things to happen.

Furthermore, our socialization program has been designed from the start to make sure each puppy has the correct exposure to humans and the outside world.  In this program we evaluate individual personalities and then work to shut down the more aggressive ones and pull up any shy puppies.  Also included in this program is how the English Setter puppies are worked for dominance behavior.

Collectively, these all contribute to the DeCoverly Difference and guides which puppies we will keep from a given litter to be evaluated for breeding.

• Ealry Puppy Socialization and Evaluation Program
• Continuous Juvenile Dog Training Program
• Started Dog Program

Please refer to our website www.decoverlykennels.com to learn more about our development process.

Gastrointestinal Upset
This is a common problem that can occur any time of the year. Alcohol and chocolate in large amounts are toxic. Bones of any kind are irresistible to dogs, and can lodge in the throat, or block the intestinal tract. Be sure to properly clear all leftovers.

Burns and House Fires
Dogs can knock over heaters and candles with their vigorous tails, causing burns and even house fires.

Potpourri
Liquid potpourri is commonly used to give a nice aroma to the home. If your pet has open access, they may take interest. This can cause severe caustic burns to the mouth, gums, tongue and esophagus.

Electrocution
Make sure electrical cords are out of reach, and taped firmly to walls or floors. You should consider using cover slips for electrical outlets as well, dismissing the associated risks.

Plant Problems
Certain plants are a menace to dogs. Poinsettias can easily irritate the stomach and eyes. Some berries are toxic, and cause pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Holly and mistletoe, amaryllis, chrysanthemum, rhododendron and winter broom as well as Christmas berry, cherry, pepper and rose can all cause problems to pets that ingest them. You can easily access a toxic plant list, via the internet.

In fact it takes about three years to train a fine bird dog and give him/her the experience needed for real maturity.  But if the owner takes the shortcut and breaks the dog, the end result is a dog that may never fully develop into the gun dog it has the potential to be.

For example, even if the dog has perfect manners in the field, they may never develop the independence needed to become a great performer as a result of the breaking.  So proper step by step training is absolutely crucial, and this training often times even involves giving a dog room to learn in an unimpeded environment.

To read how more about how Ken achieves this, click here.

This issue includes some pet safety tips for owners, and article from our breeder on training versus breaking English setters, and some great customer feedback.  Overall it’s a great issue for either current owners or potential owners of an English setter.  You can check out the full issue here.