(Pictured above: Valor, Sugar, Sochi, Bell, Trouble, Sassy)
Below you'll notice letters preceding the registered names of our girls. We spend our summer months involved in running our dogs in events earning those letters (titles) and winning ribbons.
We were introduced to this world of Hunt Tests when Sugar was in training. They recognized her talent soon after we dropped her off. We went to watch her and we enjoyed it so much we were hooked! Now I handle most of the girls myself with plenty of room to improve. I must be getting better though, the girls and I went 11 for 12 in 2017. But, I know there's a lot more to it then meets the eye and I have a great deal more to learn.
We also recognized that running Hunt Test, winning ribbons and earning titles would also be a great indicator of intelligence and trainability of our dogs. .
Following is a description of titles.
The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. and the United Kennel Club, Inc. are providing a program to develop the hunting retriever to fulfill its intended purpose in life - hunting. These two organizations, working closely together, providing hunters and hunting retrievers a series of actual hunting tests in a controlled environment working toward titles granted by UKC
Started Hunting Retriever (SHR),
Hunting Retriever (HR),
Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH),
Grand Hunting Retriever Champion (GRHRCH),
HRCH Whiskey Raiders Sugar - "Sug"
HRCH Whiskey Raiders Sugar
" Sug"
AKC -SR67035601
UKC-R247-287 CNM- Clear - LR-CNM730/38F-VPI EIC-Clear - LR-EIC2701/38F-VPI Eyes - Clear LR-EYE6861/49F-VPI Hips - Excellent -LR-206119E32F http://www.huntinglabpedigree.com/pedigree.asp?id=90142 |
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Sugar has a modest pedigree but you would never know it. We really didn't know a whole lot about what to look for when we found her, but boy did we get lucky!.
She comes from pointing lines. Her pedigree includes 2001's US Open Pheasant Champion GMPR MHR Rik's Risky Raider (APLA Hall of Fame). Sug is small in stature, weighing in at 55 lbs. What she lacks in size she makes up for with intelligence and her incredible nose. She is built for endurance and has unbelievable drive. She never runs out of "GO" and when you get her out of the truck YOU better be ready to hunt! Sugar's not only a terror in the upland field, catching pheasants out of the air before a year old, she's also a great water dog. There's no water too cold or mark too far! Her ability with multiple marks is incredible weather in a cornfield or slough. She does have a off switch and at the end of the day afield she loves to crawl up in my chair with me to nap. " It's not the size of the dog in the fight " |
HR Whiskey Raider's Sochi Bear - "Soch"
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Whiskey Raiders Sochi Bear "Sochi" was the very first puppy Whelped by what has become Big Cottonwood Retrievers. She was born during the Winter Olympics in Russia. She's big, white and very athletic. Even though she lost a eye at 10 weeks old, you'd never know it. She's the best blind running dog I have, no pun intended!!! She's a real team player, extremely trainable and can go all day.
She's equally at home quartering a CRP field as she is sitting quietly in the goose pit. She even brought home a check from the first and only BDC event we ever entered. She's 7/7 in HRC hunt tests and would be well on her way to a Championship title if she wasn't producing such beautiful puppies. Hopefully we can earn it in 2018. AKC -SR81989205
UKC-R253-547 CNM- Clear - LR-CNM828/14F-VPI EIC-Clear - LR-EIC2871/14F-VPI Eyes - Clear LR-EYE6865/13F-NOPI/UR Hips - Good -LR-219698G24F-NOPI |
SHR Trooper's Lil' Shot of Whiskey - "T-Rub"
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"Trouble" is from Sugar's second litter. We kicked ourselves for not originally keeping her so, when given the opportunity to get this little girl back we jumped all over it! The "lucky" streak continues! We feel it was meant to be... a week after bringing her home we received word that her Sire, HRCH Flatlander's Layin' Down The Law, lost his life. "Trooper" himself was one Grand Pass away from His GRHRCH and his blood lines include 2011 NFC FC AFC Cody Cut A Lean Grade, FC AFC Code Blue, FC AFC Hilltop's Hayseed & 2XNAFC 2XCNFC FC AFC Ebonstar Lean Mac. When breeding to Troop I didn't really realize what a strong pedigree he had and his daughter Trouble shows promise and definitely has his easy going attitude and willingness to please. She's a happy dog!
Trouble completed training with Dane Johnson at Apex Retrievers in early 2017. Dane sees a lot of potential in this pup......how couldn't he?! She went 4/4 running HRC this Spring and will continue her progress. OFA HIPS: LR-225270G24F-VPI GOOD
OFA ELBOW: LR-EL76696F24-VPI NORMAL CNM: LR-CNM1546/24F-PI CLEAR EIC: LR-EIC3939/24F-PI NORMAL UKC REG: R257-454 AKC REG: SR86337804 |
HR BCR'S Ultimate Sacrifice- Valor " Val "
BCR's Ultimate Sacrifice
"Valor"
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Valor is Our "Old School Girl".
When I heard about her litter, I immediately knew I would want one of these pups! It's pretty common to find 2XNAFC 2XCNAFC FC CFC Ebonstar Lean Mac in many dogs pedigree but it's usually 5 or 6 generations removed. Val is out of 8 X GRHRCH UH McMac Magic Eye's A'smilin MH "O'Malley" & GRHRCH AR King's Magical One MH. O'Malley is one of the most decorated Offspring directly out of Lean Mac. Which mean we have a Granddaughter of one the best ever! It will be interesting to watch her develop and were are excited to see what Dane and the boys at Apex Retrievers can mold her into. Valor earned her Started Title running 4 for 4. The objective is for a Finished title by the end of 2018. |
BCR's Whiskey Bent N Hell Bound- "Sassy"
 BCR's Whiskey Bent N Hell Bound "Sassy"
www.huntinglabpedigree.com/pedigree.asp?id=109682 |
Sassy is a Sugar / Kota pup and lives up to her name. Although small in stature, You know what they say... Dynamite comes in small packages! She's the spitting image of her mother in looks, size and attitude. She's constantly working on her place in the pack and doesn't back down. She has a very nice pedigree loaded with Grand Champions.
Her Sire is GRHRCH UH CPR Lucy's Lefty Dakota Thunder "Kota". There's also SRSC 9X GRHRCH Barkley's Yankee Thunder "Boomer" owned by Chris Akin of Webfoot Kennels. Another big name is GRHRCH Lucy in the Sky With Diamond. Who was out of FC-AFC Forland's Bored Out Ford (HOF 2011) & GRHRCH Vedge's Tuscumbia Kate. So, we'll be expecting a lot from this little girl in the future. We'll be keeping you posted with her progress. AKC -SR94053309
UKC-R265-280 CNM- Clear by Parentage EIC-Clear by Parentage Eyes - Clear LR-EYE13925/16F-PI |
Big Cottonwood's Lil' Gun Slinger- " Pistol"
 Pistol and Sassy
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We had a different name all picked out, but after spending a few days with this little "Pistol" it was just much more fitting! She is something else. Extremely independent and has a NO QUIT, WON'T BACK DOWN attitude.
Pistol is sired by GRHRCH Fowlmasters Big Black Buck MH12 & HRCH Blue Sky's Fully Involved "Ash". But her loaded pedigree goes even further. Grand Sire is SRSCH 15xGRHRCH Big Black Dude II MNH4, no other dog in history has as many Grand Passes. Looking at the bottom side of her pedigree you'll find three BIG names including 2011 NFC FC Watermark's Running Back MH "Emmitt", 2006 NAFC FC AFC Carbon Copy of Horn Creek (2008 Hall Of Fame) and 2003 NFC FC AFC Five Star General Patton. From the reports I'm getting from the boys at Apex I wont be disappointed . I realized that I can't always rely on my good luck to find a good dog! |
Go to Huntinglabpedigree.com for full pedigree.
