News and Events

This past May I chaired the 25^th annual North East Pennsylvania fundraising banquet for the Ruffed Grouse Society. We had several tables of DeCoverly owners who really enjoyed meeting eachother and talking setters. The banquet was successful in raising several thousand dollars for RGS. Look for details about next year’s banquet in our winter newsletter.

DeCoverly owners Jane Corwin, Frank Luksa, and Bob Sexton will be competing in the English-Setter-Only National Specialty Hunt Test  on Sunday September 24^th in Mansfield Center, CT.  Jane’s Ringo and Frank’s Duke have already earned their Junior Hunter titles and are going for Senior Hunter. Bob's Beau is going for his Junior Hunter title.  Also, Duke and Beau are littermate brothers of my Clipper, so Clipper is excited for them! 

Vintagers is here again already. Ken and I will be there from September 21^st to the 24^th. Vintagers is a dog friendly event and last year we were happy to see several owners stop by with their setters. Come see some beautiful guns, great shooting gear, and be sure to stop by our tent and say hello.

Last but not least, the biggest, most exciting news here is the release of the NEW DECOVERLYKENNELS.COM!!! For the past year we’ve been steadily working on a new website. We hope that you’ll stop by this new site often as we’ll be updating pictures and content throughout the year.

Training Tip - "Come When Called"

Teaching your dog to come when called is a very important lesson.  Given that you may someday need to call him or her away from a road or other danger, it is as much a safety issue as it is a simple convenience.  There are several ways to do this using an e-collar or check cord, but another method that we use is just using a whistle.  When you’re out running your dog, wait until she is running towards you and blow the whistle.  When she arrives praise her verbally and physically.  In time she’ll learn that a blast on the whistle (or whatever command you use) means “come to me”.  This is a very positive way to teach this lesson.

Clipper's Corner

It has been an exciting summer for Clipper.  Although the birds have been few and far between given the warm weather, we have been out hiking and swimming in our pond.

The biggest news for my wife Jenn, Clipper and I was the birth of our daughter Caroline on June 1^st.  Clipper has definitely matured since her arrival.  Somehow he just knows that he needs to be calm around her.  His new favorite chair is the rocking chair in the nursery, and if it’s occupied he likes to just sleep at the foot of the crib.

He has also turned into our little “guard pup” whenever I’m not home.  A few weeks ago we were having a new mattress delivered.  Whenever someone comes to the front door Clipper always goes to greet them and is very friendly.  However, I was at work and he was in the nursery with Caroline.  Jenn answered the door and Clipper started barking.  The entire time the deliverymen were in the house Clipper never left the nursery.  They even walked by a few times, but he stayed with Caroline.  Although we don’t want to scare any harmless deliverymen, we can’t help but to find this an endearing quality!

Owner Snapshot

We have a steady stream of letters and pictures from our owners about their DeCoverly English Setters, and would love to hear from you. The following letter from Bryan Ellison reminds us that there are times that we really need our companions more than others.

My name is Bryan Ellison.  In 1997, I was diagnosed with Cancer of the voice box and vocal cords.  In 2003 the doctors told me my voice box and vocal cords had to come out and that I would never talk again.  Soon after I came home from surgery the doctors told me I would never hunt or fish again because I now breathe through a hole in my neck instead of my mouth and have no voice at all.  I was determined to talk again, which I did in about 6 months.  I had told the doctor I wanted a dog and he said I would not be able to blow a whistle or call a dog.  Well, once again I had a task to complete so I learned how to blow a whistle.  I still can’t call a dog very loud but with the electronic collars of today I can use the beep control.  So I was off to find a dog.

I had read a lot about English Setters and went to DeCovery just look at their dogs.  There I met Ken and Bridget, two of the most caring people on earth today.  Bridget took me into the puppy room and let out about six pups.  I was looking at the brown and whites but this black and white kept pestering me and wouldn’t go away.  I finally said to my wife that “this one has chosen me, I think I’ll take her”.  We did just that. 

I brought her home in April of 2005 and we spent a wonderful summer together in between bouts with chemo and radiation.  I named her Patti, because that is the one name I can say pretty loud.  Patti and I spent the summer either out in the woods or in my chair with her on my lap.  It was almost like she knew I had good times and bad times. 

In October I asked Bridget about their training program.  I was pretty depressed at the cost of training.  I had lost my job when I got the cancer surgery, so money was pretty tight.  Bridget told me to bring Patti out in October and that she would work something out for me.  When I found out all I needed to do was to drop Patti off I couldn't believe it.  Bridget took Patti for 4 weeks, the longest 4 weeks I spent in long time.  Patti and I had formed a very tight bond and I really missed her.

What a beautiful job Bridget did with her.  I couldn’t ask for a better dog.  I have to say a great big THANK YOU to DeCoverly Kennels for giving me the best season in my life.    I know what ever I have left will be much better now thanks to Ken and Bridget.  Patti and I got 17 Pheasant and 14 chukars this season.  I had a grand time with her and we got out and hunted whenever we could.

Brian Ellison and Patti, NJ