Rusticwood Irish Setters

11/02/2024

A little puppy spam. 3 weeks old.

11/01/2024

First meal went well. Some were a little more enthusiastic than others but I think everyone got a good taste.

10/28/2024

When momma dog goes in just long enough to clean up. Poor starving babies.

10/27/2024

Puppies moved out of the bedroom. 13 new collars. 208 toenails clipped.
Lexi’s favorite part of being a mom? 8 cups of food a day!

10/25/2024

There have been three ROMV (Register of Merit Versatility) sires whose ROMVs were achieved by having both conformation and field champion offspring.

Am/Can CH Red Star Of Hollywood Hills CDX ROM ROMV x CH Red Shadow CD
-- FC Sharon IV (dob 2/29/1948)

CH Rusticwood Olympic Medalist CD ROM ROMV x CH Winsome Joy Bright Star CD JH
-- FC AFC World Class Wynn Bright Star MH (dob 12/29/1989)

CH Thenderin William Muldoon ROM ROMV x Penny O'Shenandoah CD
-- Can CH AFC Amber O'Shenandoah CDX SH VCX (dob 7/27/1981)
-- FC AFC Duke O'Shenandoah CDX MH VCX (dob 7/27/1981)

Here is CH. Rusticwood Olympic Medalist CD, ROMV. Bo.
Sire of 50 titled get. 43 AKC champions, 9 with titles on both ends. 1 Field/Amateur Field Champion and 6 obedience and agility title holders.

10/25/2024

This is a great explanation.

Why does a purebred puppy from a reputable club breeder cost so much?

1. Health Testing on Sire and Dam
2. Routine Veterinary Care
3. Breeding Costs. Progesterone Testing, Stud Fees, Brucellosis Testing, Travel to and from. TCI, Frozen Semen, Chilled Semen, Shipped Semen
4. Quality Puppy Food and Supplements
5. Whelping Supplies (boxes, pens, toys, expendables, supplements, other containment)
6. Vet Checks for Puppies, Vaccines, Dewormers, Microchips
7. AKC registration and Microchip Registration
8. My time. It takes about a week of my time arranging the breeding and to raise the puppies until 8 weeks that is a minimum of 1500 hours of work and effort.
9. Puppy kits, printed materials, and health information.
10. My time spent educating owners and continuing to give advice for the life of the dog.

I won’t include the club memberships, championships, travel to shows, advertising, hundreds of hours of time spent promoting purebred dogs. I won’t include missed vacations, sleepless nights, very high repro vet bills, missed breedings, c sections, singletons, or bad luck. All expensive and we do it for no other reason than to preserve our breeds.

If I hear another person say they are just looking for a pet and not a showdog then my advice to them is go ahead and buy a car with no warranty, no manual, no VIN or registration and the odometer is broken. Good luck with that. I hope you have a good trainer and good insurance.

Most of what we produce become someone's well-bred pet. Loved cherished companions that go to carefully screened homes. It is only the exceptional ones we breed. Therein lies the difference.

10/23/2024

Eyes are opening and they are walking around like little drunken sailors.

10/19/2024

Babies are 1 weeks old today. Just about everyone has doubled their birth weight and new collars all around.

10/16/2024

Babies are gaining and growing. I have already had to change out their little collars. Lexi is being a great mom!

10/13/2024

It’s been a busy weekend but happy the babies are here safe and sound. 6 boys and 7 girls. Lexi is being the best mom.

10/11/2024

Some action shots of Oswald at Decatur Alabama obedience trial last weekend.

10/06/2024

Oswald and I went to Decatur Alabama KC obedience trial where he earned his first qualifying score in Open A.

09/14/2024

We are so proud of Harrison. Thank you Chatham for piloting him to that last major.

08/27/2024

It’s official! Lexi is GrCH Rusticwood Exclusive BCAT.

08/04/2024

Lexi finishes her grand championship with her 6th major. Now onto more titles at the other end.

08/04/2024

Benjamin goes BOW all 4 days in Kenner LA to pick up a total of 5 points. Baby boy is growing up.

07/06/2024

Proof he CAN retrieve over high jump!

07/05/2024

Benjamin learning his recall at beginner obedience class.

07/05/2024

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Rusticwoods!

05/27/2024

05/15/2024

Benjamin had fun at our first ECSCA Regional and National. He received two second places and a fourth place. He showed well and had fun!

05/15/2024

Benjamin receive Puppy of Achievement award from AKC.

04/13/2024

Lexi finishes her BCAT title today in Perry GA. She sure loves this sport.

10/16/2023

Benjamin “Winfree’s Benjamin Button had a fabulous weekend in Tennessee. He won 2 Beginner Puppy Sporting Group firsts and 1 group 2nd. He’s really catching on to this dog show stuff.