North American Pudelpointer Society Newsletter
April – June 2021 • Volume 5
As many of you know, our good friend, pudelpointer enthusiast, NAVHDA judge, and past president of NAPS passed away on April 9, 2021. A native Floridian, Pat had a busy and varied life. He earned an MBA, owned and operated an amusement vending machine business, several bars and restaurants, and a fencing installation company. Retirement in 2004 didn’t slow him down. He became the Florida State Chairman of Ducks Unlimited in 2004 and also earned his Captain’s license and went to work for the US Army Corps of Engineers on a project out of New Orleans until 2014.
Pat got his first pudelpointer in 1994 and fell in love with the breed from the beginning. He joined his local Florida Palmetto NAVHDA Chapter for help with training and enjoyed being involved with NAVHDA so much that he went on to become both Vice President and Treasurer for the chapter at various times and then became a NAVHDA judge in 2004. He started Tideview kennel in 2007 and produced 3 litters in his time as a breeder.
I first met Pat at a 2015 NAVHDA test in Georgia where we were both running dogs. Upon seeing us with 2 pudelpointers, he promptly introduced himself to my husband and me, and proceeded to ask us all about our dogs, while relaying his history with the breed as well. All through that test weekend, he offered pointers from a judging perspective as well as that of a handler. In the evenings he would hold court in the clubhouse regaling everyone with hunting stories and testing anecdotes.
Pat became the first President of NAPS in February, 2019 and was a great advocate for this budding organization. He never did anything half-way and was always willing to help out in any way he could, which usually involved talking to people. He was instrumental in the progress made in the first 2 years of operation. He was considerate, encouraging and often called his fellow board members once a week just to check in and see how things were going or to run an idea by them. I could usually count on hearing my phone ring early in the morning on Saturday for our weekly chat. He was thoughtful in his suggestions on what we should do for NAPS and always took the time to listen to, and understand, the views of others. I believe one of Pat’s true life joys was getting to know people whose paths he crossed in life.
Below are some words from the other Board Members who knew Pat.
I’ve thought a great deal about Mr. Pat since I found out about his passing. I didn’t know him as long as many in the NAVHDA/Pudelpointer community did. Never hunted with him or trained or tested under him although I did first meet him at a NAVHDA event. He was guarding the corner of the pole barn at the Jersey, GA MidSouth Spring test. We small chatted a bit but I never forgot him.
This past fall we got to know each other much better. Speaking over the phone a good amount, I listened much more than I talked and that was just fine by me. He had great stories. I especially enjoyed hearing about his duck hunting adventures. Not bragging, just interesting experiences about dogs, hunting and life in general. The last time we spoke was a week or so before he left this world. The conversation covered several topics that in included NAPS, he was proud of the work accomplished by this young organization and always appreciative of the many people involved in making the Pudelpointer breed better. He was always helpful and generous with his knowledge. Pat was the kind of person I wish I could have met 30 years ago. He is and will be missed.
~Matt Morgan
I got to spend time with Pat on several occasions, one of which when he judged one of my dogs in Florida. The best word I can think of to describe Pat is “jolly”. The two things you could always count on with Pat were, he always knew the best places to eat and he could entertain you with fun stories for hours. I feel very fortunate to have been able to spend time with Pat. He will be missed.
~Jeff George
Like many others, I first met Pat at a NAVHDA event. He was camped out with his dogs talking to everyone that came through. As a nervous first time handler it was nice to run into this happy-go-lucky guy, eager to share advice and stories. I talked to Pat a lot that weekend which turned into future calls about pups and what-not. Once I became involved with NAPS that turned into regular conversations about everything dog and life. He was always up for a good laugh and a great story. I’m going to miss those calls. He was truly a great ambassador for the Pudelpointer breed and never missed an opportunity to grow and educate newcomers to it.
~Adam Mayo
In April, the first NAPS sponsored “Pudelpointer Fun Run” went into the history books with a great amount of participation. 25 dogs ran and several spectators came to watch. Most dogs were entered in the Gun Dog category with 1 each entered in the puppy and senior dog classes. Andrew Hopkins and Ripsnorter’s Achikalakoda, aka Koda, won the day with 225 points. I hope that those of you who participated had a rewarding experience and that those who weren’t able to join us will try to make it to one of the others that are being planned in other areas.
It is our hope that those of you who attend these “Fun Runs” will, first and foremost, have a fun day with your Pudelpointer. We hope that you and your dog both made new friends. Perhaps you met another PP owner that lives close to you and have a new training buddy. Maybe you have discovered a new place to train. You may have found someone that can give you some tips on how to plan a trip to Kansas, Iowa or South Dakota and maybe even someone with whom to make that trip.
You will see a variety of different PPs and might see where you want to go to get your next PP or possibly what stud dog is out there that you want to breed to next time.
You will possibly see some well trained dogs in the field event and realize what your dog is capable of. But, even better, you will be able to showcase your own dogs’ abilities in the field events
The possibilities are endless but you will have to make the effort to attend an event in your area.
If I didn’t have the good fortune of meeting you at our Ohio day then I hope to see you at one of the other area “Fun Runs” or, next year in Ohio.
They were everywhere, everywhere! Pudelpointers that is! Well, along with great people who were willing to share their dogs and their knowledge about the Pudelpointer breed. The day was full of activity. While dogs working in the field was what the day was set around, there were lots of other things going on as well. Great stories, lots of helpful tips, questions answered, laughter, and did I mention dogs? There were so many dogs!
While some people may say, if you see one you’ve seen them all. That is not the case with a PP. Every dog was unique and wonderful with their own look and personality. While it might have been a chilly day weather wise, the Elk Ridge Hunt Club was a beautiful place to be on a chilly day. With a gathering in the club house for a nice lunch prepared by the ERH club and more conversation, you didn’t even remember the chill. It was an exciting fun filled day all because of our love for a dog, a Pudelpointer.
Thank you for every ones’ hard work to organize and make this great day happen. The only thing I wish for, is another one!
“Man, I sure miss chasing pheasants back in [insert state]. We just don’t have any good upland hunting around here.” I hear this refrain all too often up here in Alaska, even in hunting dog circles.
I guess some folks would manage to starve at an all you can eat buffet.
Do you enjoy hunting birds that hold nice and tight for the dog, waiting for the guns to come up and flush? Ptarmigan will do that. You like birds that will spook and fly up if the dog gets within 100 yards? Ptarmigan will do that too. What about birds that will run out in front of the dogs for hundreds of yards until finally cornered (looking at you pheasant addicts)? Oh yeah, you’ll have fun with ptarmigan. You like small, fast moving targets that fly low to the ground making hairpin turns? There’s a ptarmigan for that too. You want to be able to hunt in thick brushy or rocky country without having to worry about rattlesnakes or copperheads? Well step right North, and leave the danger noodles behind. Don’t mind the bears the size of Volkswagens with 6” claws, they are usually pretty hard to accidently step on.
Truth is, every flock is different every day. Some areas that I hunt have intense pressure from hunters, and those birds are cagey and crafty, busting wild and far out of range unless you are careful. Other places have heavy pressure from eagles and hawks, so the birds are loathe to take to the wing unless absolutely necessary.
Then they fly like a chukar, skimming the ground and cover as they race to the bottom of the mountain you just spent 3 hours climbing. And they have the nerve to chuckle at you as they do it. Occasionally I do manage to find pockets of those stupid tundra chickens that let you practically pick them up by hand that so many folks claim are everywhere as they dismiss the quality of Alaska’s upland opportunities. Any way I look at it, ptarmigan are pterrific.
Ptarmigan country is breath taking and diverse. It is not unusual for Cedarwood’s Ava Aurora and I to cross muskeg swamps and dwarf willow ravines looking for willow ptarmigan, to then climb 3,000 vertical feet to chase rocks or white-tailed ptarmigan on a single outing. The occasional spruce, ruffed, sharptailed grouse or snowshoe hare along the way adds to the fun. With seasons stretching at least 9 months (and in some parts of the state longer), and generous bag limits of 10 or more per day, ptarmigan make for the perfect quarry for this ADHD hunter with an itchy trigger finger. It helps that ptarmigan make for a mean pot of gumbo.
Few outings are quite as enjoyable as a bluebird, 70-degree August day in emerald-colored alpine valleys chasing white-tailed and rock ptarmigan in a t-shirt. Stopping to scarf down huckleberries and blueberries every so often doesn’t hurt either. In the early season, ptarmigan sport mottled brown or gray plumage depending on which species, and are found in small family groups usually with fewer than 10 birds in each flock. This allows a dog to cover lots of country and find multiple flocks in a single day, and hopefully the guns are shooting straight. The days are long, with nearly 24 hours of shooting light at the beginning of the season, which allows you to have a great hunt in the morning, give the dog a nice rest and be fresh to go out again for another hunt around 9 pm.
As September winds to a close, the birds begin to turn white and gather into their winter flocks. This creates ever shifting, vast expanses of prime habitat that is devoid of ptarmigan. But if you can find where the birds are congregated on a given ready to watch even a seasoned dog lose its head a bit as it is hit with the scent of a thousand-plus birds in a single ravine.
Just ignore the shaming look in the dog’s eyes as you somehow manage to miss hitting even one of the hundreds of birds that erupted out of that willow patch 10 yards in front of you.
By late October, most places will require a snowmachine (snowmobile for you folks down south) to access the birds. Daylight is short, but the hunting can still be good. Fresh snowfall makes it easy to see if birds are in the area leaving tracks meandering around each patch of dwarf willow, and allowing you to press on to more productive country before letting loose the dog. I usually switch to ice fishing until late January, as the snow is often too deep and powdery for a dog to effectively hunt, and Ava doesn’t like swimming in powder too much.
Ptarmigan hunting in January and February can be good, but March is pure magic. Long, sunny days create a firm crust on the snow that allows the dog to run and range, and makes for good snowshoeing conditions. Not to mention that trying to shoot a flying white speck against a snowy background in flat light overcast or blinding sunshine is sure to challenge any gunner. The air is crisp and clear, and fair-weather days are usually easy to be had.
One of my favorite parts about hunting winter ptarmigan is that it really forces the dog to rely on their nose and not be lazy. Spotting white birds in the white snow is no easy task, made all the more challenging by ptarmigan’s pesky habit of burying themselves completely in the snow. Once a dog really figures that out, it becomes a great exercise for the handler to trust their dog. Those buried ptarmigan might flush while you are still snowshoeing 60 yards out. Or they might let you walk on top of them waiting until you’ve huffed and puffed, stomping all through the patch of cover convinced that your dog is a liar before appearing on the back of your snowshoe. And if you were wondering, I missed that one only to have the recoil send my contorted body flying face first into snow deeper than I am tall. At least Ava was kind enough to sit on one of my snowshoes for me so it couldn’t escape as I flopped my way out of my expertly crafted, impromptu snow cave. Not sure that she’s forgiven me yet for letting that bird get away.
So yeah, I guess it’s true what they say. We just don’t have any good upland hunting in Alaska. You should all probably just stick to pheasants and stuff.
When people think of Pudelpointers, they typically think of the NAVHDA system or VPP. However, there are several other venues that you can pursue all while training your dog to be better in the NAVHDA system.
Hunting Retriever Club is the one I have the most experience with. I’ve met a lot of great
people at these events in the last several years and would encourage anyone to venture down this road. The events are typically full of friendly knowledgeable people and solid dogs, and you and your dog will both benefit from the experience. You’ll occasionally see a GSP or GWP but they are predominantly full of Labradors, Goldens, and Boykins, so be prepared for questions about your dog! I personally took my dog through to the Finished level earning his Hunting Retriever Champion title. However, any level will build your dog’s confidence, cooperation, and obedience.
There are 3 main levels of testing that all build on each other with a simple pass or fail. Started, Seasoned, and Finished. Each level is comprised of a series of land marks and a series of water marks. Below is a basic run down of each level.
Started: Each Flight will typically consist of 40 to 50 dogs. Each one will be tested with 2 singles in each series. You can choose to shoot your blanks if your dog is steady or have another person do so if not. They do not have to retrieve to hand only within one step of the handler. This is entry level retriever work that will help transition and build into a finished dog at the NAVHDA Utility level. It’s also a way for your dog to be exposed to lots of gunfire, birds, people, and chaos, which I feel really teaches patience.
Seasoned: Flights typically consist of 30 to 40 dogs. Each dog must be steady and will have to pass a double mark retrieve (to hand) and a blind in each series. There will also be a walk up or walk off bird and a distraction bird in one of the series as well. This test really helps obedience and control of a dog, as well as teaches steadiness by blind and basic handling.
Finished: Flights typically consist of 30 dogs. All Dogs are off lead and collar free. Each dog must retrieve a triple set of marks and a blind in each series. There is also a diversion bird in which the dog cannot switch retrieves. After either set (judges’ choice) each dog must sit and honor the following dog’s series and remain steady. This level really builds on control and obedience.
What a great start to 2021. We’ve got a couple big things to celebrate and I cannot wait to share them with you. We sold 223 Pudelpointer Calendars! There are still a few left so we have discounted them to $10 each, if you know anyone who needs one. In the mean-time make sure you’re getting lots of good pictures ready for this year’s calendar contest on Facebook.
You all seem to be enjoying the swag shop and have given us some valuable feedback as to what additions you would like to see. We have taken your suggestions to heart and have some NEW swag in the shop. The dry fit long sleeved shirts have been a big hit, so we have added the orange, olive and hot pink!!! The zip-up hooded sweatshirts sold out in a snap so we have restocked with a new darker green color.
We’re also replenishing the Max 5 camo hats and we’ve added a charcoal and blaze orange trucker style hat to the mix. We’re also doing a test run with coffee mugs in limited supply. There are a lot of great new things in the swag shop, so make sure you head on over and take a look.
Also, make sure if you have not renewed your membership that you get those invoices paid, so that you have access to all that is coming this year!! We are working on planning more “fun-day” events, trainings and other events for the Pudelpointer community. Keep in touch with us via Facebook or email for more updates on what is happening! Hope you all have a great start to your spring and summer!
Take Care!
In a time when politics can be so polarizing there are topics that I feel we can agree on, at least in part. Regardless of our individual opinions on the 2nd amendment we all understand the need and importance of securing and protecting our firearms while providing us some insulation from civil or criminal actions. Security can mean many things and, in the case of firearms security, revolves around protection from theft, protection from fire and protecting us from civil or criminal action.
We should all understand that there are several legal actions underway in our country’s courts that can open opportunities for civil action particularly in the case negligence. Most of us feel safe from such actions as we are good, sound, law-abiding individuals. Yet how many of us fail to secure our firearms daily? Are we negligent if an unsecured weapon is stolen from our locked home? Is locking our front door sufficient in the eyes of the law or our judges? Are trigger locks sufficient?
I will use Californian examples as I am most familiar with their position. Many of us have some type of security used to protect our guns while others of us do not. Storing long guns under the bed is no longer reasonable security. Some states have defined the requirements for home gun security containers. California safe minimum standards are: A gun safe that is able to fully contain firearms and provide for their secure storage, and is certified to/listed as meeting Underwriters Laboratories Residential Security Container (RSC) rating standards by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).
California makes it a crime to keep a loaded gun somewhere on your property (or property you control) if you know or should know that a minor (under age 18) is likely to get access to it without parental permission. There are three levels to the crime, with increasing punishment based on the following circumstances:
- You stored the gun carelessly or simply left it somewhere the child could get to it, and you didn’t take reasonable steps to prevent that from happening (“criminal storage of a firearm in the third degree”).
- The child actually got the gun and hurt someone with it, took it out in public, showed it in a threatening or angry way, or used it in a fight (second-degree criminal storage).
- The child obtained the gun and killed or seriously injured someone (first-degree criminal storage).
- (Cal. Penal Code § 25100 (2019).)
Gun ownership is under attack across the country. The California laws above provide leverage against gun ownership without confronting the 2nd amendment. Check your local state regulations and statues for the laws that affect you.
Now back to the characteristics of security containers. Local sporting goods stores, and many chain variety stores, carry a variety of safes from locking cabinets to heavy steel gun safes. Many of the locking cabinet styles fail to meet Underwriter Laboratory standards (UL). As for Residential Security Containers (RSC), all are not equal as each may or may not meet levels of security required for a RSC level 1, 2 or 3 rating. For example to achieve a level one rating, RSC I requires the safe to withstand a 5-minute attack by one person using common hand tools like screwdrivers, drills, and hammers. It needs either a UL Group II combination lock or a Type 1 electronic lock. The door construction needs to be equivalent to 3/16-inch hearth steel, and the walls constructed of at least 12-gauge steel (or equivalent). If it meets these requirements, it gets this rating.
As you can see, to achieve the lowest RSC rating, there is substantial difference between California’s UL minimum requirement and those safes that meet the RSC 1 level of construction. RSC 2 and 3 require even heavier steel construction. The average safes you find in box stores meet the UL requirement of RSC but fail to achieve the higher rating of RSC 1, 2 or 3. An example of these lower end safes theft deterrence can be found in this video. https://www.roguesafe.com/node/7.
I encourage you to watch the video. Obviously securing the safe to the floor and locating it in a corner where thieves would be unable to generate the leverage needed would be a huge help.
When determining which safe I required, I settled on American Security BF. It is double walled 2 inch thick 12 gauge steel filled with a cement, gypsum mix much like concrete for fire safety. The door is reinforced with a full plate of 1/2 inch steel. A 60 x 36 x 26 model weighs in at 1350 lbs.
Fire ratings are the second component of safe construction. Fire ratings differ greatly from safe to safe. 30 or 40 minute ratings at 1200 to 1400 degrees are common. 1 hour and 2 hour ratings are more difficult to attain and require different construction methods to achieve. Carefully note the parameters of the fire rating. Heat level (degrees) and duration (time) can be expressed in many ways. When reviewing your fire rating needs consider your location. Are you located within a city fire protection district or do you fall in rural district? Are your firemen housed in the local firehouse or is your suppression force volunteer? These conditions will help you determine the fire rating (time) needed.
Many states and municipalities have varying laws on firearm security so please consult those laws as well as forecasted future regulations when making your purchasing decision. Carefully determine the size of the safe or container you require considering the height, width, length, number of guns and other objects to be stored. Security rating and fire rating needs as well.
This could be the last newsletter you received from NAPS! We still have a few members who have not renewed for the 2021 year. All members should have received an invoice via email for the $20 annual renewal which was due March 31. We will be sending out one final reminder invoice this month. Please make sure you renew so you don’t lose out on your membership benefits. If you’re not sure if you already renewed, please reach out and ask. If you accidentally renew more than once, we will simply apply the extra payment to your 2022 membership.
For 2021, so far, our membership is certainly increasing. We have 81 new members so far in 2021, which is already 8 more members than we gained in all of 2020. Our total membership right now is 204. We hope to continue adding more membership benefits throughout the year and we thank you all for you continued support as we grow and develop.