Bird Dog Ranch

10/13/2024

Update from Chris Bontraeger-
As some of you know last Monday evening Chris’ daughter was kicked by a horse & air lifted to Iowa City. Luckily it was a cool night & she was wearing a heavy coat. After several days in the hospital the doctors diagnosed her with a bruised abdomen & a torn liver. She is back home now. Chris says she’s her happy little self & getting around fine, just going to need a bit of time to heal.

09/16/2024

A new addition to our trophy wall...
The Tommy Thomas Memorial Grand Amateur Limited Gun Dog Championship plaque.
Thank you to the International Brittany Championship Association for running the event & providing the plaque!

09/04/2024

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at these 3 great events this fall-
9/28-10/3 Iowa Brittany Club fall horseback field trial.
10/4-10 Hawkeye Brittany Club fall horseback field trial.
10/19-20 Iowa Brittany Club hunt test.

07/24/2024

The ample rains this year have blessed us with lush green fields. Food plots are growing vigorously & the cover is thicker than we’ve seen in several years.

07/24/2024

Last spring we were blessed with 2 new additions to the ranch-
First is a beautiful memorial bench donated by Mark & Julie Claypool, in memory of Tommy. The bench is located on the South side at the breakaway. It is in the perfect spot to relax & appreciate all of our blessings.
Secondly is the new AED/Defibrillator, located on the wall in the building. This donation was made possible by several great clubs working together for the well being of all participants. The clubs behind this generous donation are the Iowa Brittany Club, the Hawkeye Brittany Club, the Tri-State Brittany Club, the Minnesota Brittany Club & the National Vizsla Association. Honestly this is one item that I pray we never have to use, but just incase it could make the difference in someones life.

03/26/2024

Bracing for the 2024 International Brittany Championships. Breakaway for the GOLAA at 8:30 tomorrow. Good Luck to everyone.

03/23/2024

Entries close tomorrow, Sunday March 24th for the International Brittany Championships. The drawings will be held Monday evening. Due to the weather, the Grand Open Limited All Age Championship will start on WEDNESDAY, not Tuesday.
The Grand Amateur Limited All Age Championship will not start until Friday. The Tommy Thomas Memorial Grand Amateur Limited Gun Dog Championship will start on Sunday, with the Ron Zook Memorial Grand Open Limited Gun Dog Championship to follow, not to start before Monday afternoon.

On Easter Sunday (3/31) we will have a Dinner after the days running, all are welcome... We will be having Baked Ham and Lasagna. Side dishes, appetizers and desserts are welcome. Please let us know if you will be coming so we can get a head count.

The Iowa Brittany Club trial will follow the International Championships (Saturday April 6th). Entries close for that trial on April 1st... The trial will conclude with the Ed Powell Memorial Grand Open Limited Gun Dog Championship. Entries for the Championship close on Monday April 8th.

Contact Lisa Po***ck for more info. or to RSVP for Easter Dinner!
[email protected]

03/05/2024

Looking forward to the International Brittany Championships, starting on March 26th. The premiums are available on the ABC web site. Easter Sunday, Sunday March 31 (during the Tommy Thomas Memorial GALGD CH) we will be having a pot luck Easter Dinner. Ham and Lasagna will be provided, side dishes and desserts are welcome. Hope to see you there!

02/27/2024

Premiums for the Iowa Brittany Club spring field trial and Ed Powell Memorial Gun Dog Championship are available on the AKC Events website.
The Iowa BC trial follows the International Brittany Championships, which begin on March 26th in Thayer, IA.
https://webapps.akc.org/event-search/ #/search

02/16/2024

Please plan to join us for these great Spring field events.

March 16-17 Iowa Brittany Club Hunt Tests, open to all pointing breeds.

March 26-April 4 TriState International Championships. Open to Brittanys only. Four one hour championships.

April 5-11 Iowa Brittany Club Regional Field Trial + Hour Gun Dog.

April 19-21 National Vizsla Association Shooting Dog Championship & Gary Jagoda Derby Classic. Open to Vizslas only.

April 26-28 Hawkeye Brittany Club Regional Field Trial.

April 29-May 2 ABC Gun Dog Classic. Hour stake. Open to Brittanys only.

May 3-8 Minnesota Brittany Club
Regional Field Trial & Hour Amateur Gun Dog.

10/02/2023

Waiting on Bob W. to make up his mind- run for cover, fly to a safe spot , get on the bus or none of the above! He was in no hurry to be on his way.

10/02/2023

First brace of the AGD on Saturday morning at the IBC trial.

09/08/2023

Puppies first day out in the kennel. No problem getting in & out of the barrel! They’re going to sleep well tonight🐶😊

08/04/2023

As we start getting ready for our Fall 2023 Season- I want to send out a “BIG” Thank You to everyone that has come out or is coming out to help while I’m at home taking caring of a few things. Hope to see you all soon!

07/02/2023

Our fall field trial season kicks off with the Midwest Vizsla Shooting Dog Championship & Gary Jagoda Derby Classic. It’s a great group of people with beautiful bird dogs. All Vizsla owners & handlers with qualified dogs should put this field trial on their calendar!

Join us for the 2023 Midwest shooting dog and Gary Jagoda Derby classic at Union County Bird Dog Ranch. Sep 7th to conclusion. Bi***es in season will not be permitted. More info to be added. Union County Bird Dog Ranch - 3159 210th St, Thayer, IA 50254 For more info please call or email Justin

07/01/2023

Please plan to join us this fall for some great field events-

Sept. 7-9 National Vizsla Association - Midwest Shooting Dog Championship & Gary Jagoda Derby Classic

Sept. 29-Oct 5 Iowa Brittany Club - Horseback Field Trial, including a 1 hour Gun Dog stake.

Oct. 6-8 Hawkeye Brittany Club Horseback Field Trial. *The Jim Hoyer hour has been cancelled*

Oct. 21-22 Iowa Brittany Club Hunt Test.

04/20/2023

Minnesota Brittany Club is hosting a Brittany only Field Trial May 5th-7th at the Bird Dog Ranch in Thayer, Iowa.

Also hosting the Tommy "Lunchbox" Thomas Memorial Brittany Grand Amateur Limited Gun Dog Championship May 8th-10th
premium...
http://minnesotabrittanyclub.org/news_108_691842556.pdf

04/06/2023

The International Brittany Championships concluded yesterday at the ranch.
GOLAA Championship, judged by John and Joanne Perry.
The GOLGD Championship, also know as the Ron Zook Memorial Gun Dog Championship, judged by Burton Wice and Leroy Long.
The GALAA Championship, judged by Peter Coppens and Howard Burbach. Finally, the new GALGD Championship, The Tommy Thomas Memorial Amateur Gun Dog Championship, judged by Tom Jagielski and Howard Burbach.
Thank you to our sponsor Nestle Purina, our judges and all who participated to make the event a success!

03/04/2023

Only 3 weeks until we kick off our field trial season with 4 Big Championships!

01/20/2023

It’s time to start getting ready for the 2023 Spring season. This is our tentative schedule, please see the respective premiums for details of each event-

3/18-19. Iowa Brittany Club Hunt Test, open to all AKC registered pointing breeds.

3/28-4/5. TriState Brittany Club International field trial. GOLAA, GOLGD, GALAA, GALGD

4/6. ABC Field Futurity, hosted by the LaSalle Brittany Club.

4/7-13. Iowa Brittany Club regional field trial. Includes the 1 hour Ed Powell GOLGD stake.

4/28-30. Hawkeye Brittany Club regional field trial.

5/1-4. ABC Gun Dog Classic. A 1 hour GOLGD stake hosted by the Hawkeye Brittany Club.

5/5-10. Minnesota Brittany Club regional field trial. Includes a 1 hour GALGD stake.

01/20/2023

Such an honor to have this new award in memory of Tommy. He loved the sport, he loved the dogs & he loved the people that he was out in the field with week after week! Good Luck to all the amateurs competing!

Tommy Thomas Memorial Amateur Handler Awards

This award is being donated in memory of Tommy Thomas and was developed with the express purpose of promoting sportsmanship and to recognize and reward amateur handlers for their successes in the sport of field trialing. Amateurs are the life’s blood of our sport!

The awards will acknowledge the top Amateur Handler / Dog combination each year. Awards will be presented for the Top Amateur Handler in all Amateur Gun Dog stakes, and Amateur All Age Stakes. Points may be accumulated for 30 minute and one hour amateur AKC sanctioned stakes run by Regional Brittany Clubs, sponsored by the American Brittany Club or AKC sanctioned stakes held for Brittanys only.

Sponsorship for this award will be from private donations

Points for both awards will be calculated from the fall season of a given year until the end of the spring trial season.

Coordinator: Lisa Po***ck Statistician: Lisa Po***ck

Current standings and points schedule is available on the ABC website: http://www.theamericanbrittanyclub.org/Awards_TommyThomasAmateurHandlerOfTheYear.htm

10/19/2022

Big shout out to Cole from Sundown Equipment, Bevington, IA!!! I sure appreciate Cole’s expertise & professionalism. Thank you for coming out this morning to get our Kubota tractor up & running again.

10/18/2022

~IBC HUNT TEST~

IBC Hunt Test this weekend at the Bird Dog Ranch! Entries close Wednesday Oct 19 with Jill Sackett. Still have plenty of room for last minute entries!

Peak colors & great temperatures forecasted for this weekend, come on out & enjoy some time in the field with your bird dog!

08/08/2022

With fall right around the corner, you’ll all want to start making plans to attend the field events scheduled at the Bird Dog Ranch! See you all in a few short weeks!

Sept 8-10 NVA Midwest Shooting Dog CH & Gary Jagoda Derby Classic

Sept 23-28 IBC Horseback Field Trial

Sept 30-Oct 6 HBC Horseback Field Trial

Oct 22-23 IBC Hunt Test