ThornValley GunDogs

24/07/2024

Popped home at lunch to let the dogs out, and everyone went out, pottied and came right back in. Except the puppy.

FAITH! HEEEERE Faith! FAITH!?
Where's that silly puppy??

Finally found her like this.

She stayed on point for several minutes until I went out and flushed that goofy dove.

I think she's got it.

28/06/2024

Lots of truths here. This might hit you in the feels a bit. It did me.

https://www.facebook.com/100049211145093/posts/1115327620117599/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

This is the picture I want you to look at the next time you’re frustrated or mad with your young dog.

On the left is a 6 month old labrador, Andaras (Andy) - she is a lunatic sometimes and will eat ANYTHING and then barf it up in your shoe. She wakes up every morning ready to GO. She wants to swim she wants to dig she wants to bark at the doll my daughter left face down on the sofa that could be the devil. She chews and jumps and does all the things a young dog should do, even with a crooked jaw.

On the right is 11 year old Labrador, Sam. He is here because he lost his family and he is covered in lumps and bumps and it hurts to walk very far and stairs are really hard. He wants to play but gets tired easily and he sits at the door waiting for us to come in because he’s too old and weak to push it open and tear after us like Andy does. He does not have long left on this earth and he knows it, but he still enjoys his long naps and food snuck to him from a willing 6 year old.

The only difference between them is 10.5 years. That’s it. That’s nothing. While we luckily get upwards of 8 times that time, they get the short end of the stick. 10 years seems like a long time; but it isn’t. 10 summers, 10 birthdays, 10 Christmases. It goes by like that. This goes for ANY dog and ANY breed.

I look at Sam and I remind myself that all the energy and crazy that Andy has today won’t last forever. She isn’t my first puppy, she won’t be my last, but I am her ONLY person in her life and I need to give her the best possible one. Not get frustrated when she acts just as she should do at her age. One day, she won’t be able to, and God how I will miss it.

My love and advocating for senior dogs isn’t just because they are the most wise and loving animals out there, it’s also because they keep me humble and reminded of what’s to come. The fate that none of us can escape but comes much faster to our beloved best friends. We owe them so much for what they give us in their short time here. So I forgive easily, I laugh often, I stretch my patience and always train with kindness and respect to the animal. I stay grateful for every day with them, because the time I get with them is a privilege, not a right, no matter what phase it is. Cherish them.

- Helen St. Pierre

30/04/2024

The picture of Indy is just an attention getter, but it is apropos to this post.

Over the last 6 months or so, I've spoken to several of our followers, friends, and ThornValley puppy family members about doing some gundog training this spring/summer, including evening/weekend classes, as well as some beginner gundog/hunt test/tournament trial weekend training. We may be able to still do some weekend training, however things here at ThornValley have taken a bit of an unexpected turn.

I am retiring from Ohio University and beginning June 3rd, I have accepted a Wildlife Biologist position with Pheasants/Quail Forever, working in S.OH helping to support the Northern Bobwhite Quail Initiative.

This is a dream job of mine, combining my education in Wildlife Biology, my 35 year career in research and my passion for game birds and habitat.

It does mean the gundog training I had plans to expand will have to be put on hold for a bit, but am super excited to get to work for Pheasants Forever.

If we've talked about training, feel free to call me and we can discuss some potential options.

25/04/2024

Today, Faith is 8 weeks old.

"Hey Lori, let get some good pictures of her on her 8-week birthday."

Sure.

04/04/2024

Meet FAITH. Five weeks old today, and already in high gear.

25/02/2024

United Field Trialers Association 2024 National Championship. Days 1 and 2.

Got our luxurious creekside campsite, did a little practice/training, Lori got her Flushing Championship jacket, and today Lori, Indy and I ran the Doubles Flushing qualifying trial. We were lucky enough to make it to Finals tomorrow. 🤞

14/02/2024

My Valentines.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

03/02/2024

"I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." — Thomas Jefferson

20/01/2024

Duck huntin' with Boz and Bella.

Nothing better than sharing a duck blind with one of my oldest hunting buddies and one of my favorite Labradors.

We laugh so much you forget the cold (and probably scare off a few ducks).

15/01/2024

Trying to get some bird work in before the deep freeze sets in.

15/01/2024

When that nose hits. ❤️‍🔥

Indy is an upland birds worst nightmare. 😎

12/01/2024

Rest in peace Ellie.

The last of a fantastic ThornValley litter that contained a bunch of great upland and waterfowl dogs.

Our sincere condolences Sue and Mitch on your loss. Thank you for giving her a wonderful 15 years.

Good girl Ellie, hunt em up! 💛

01/01/2024

2023 in review. Like always, there were a lot of ups and downs for last year. But going back through some pics reminds us that we had a wonderful year with our pups, our friends and family.

Thank you to everyone that contributed to our fantastic 2023.

Happy New Year from ThornValley GunDogs! We wish you and your families, (and canine family members) an amazing new year in 2024!

25/12/2023

Well its not a white Christmas, but it was a beautiful morning for a walk with my Maddie May.

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family from ThornValley!

16/12/2023

My sweet baby puppy ThornValley's Sunshine Madeline. Can't believe she's a year old already.

Going through her 4 generation pedigree earlier today, I counted 2) National Field CH titles, 2)National Amatuer Field CH titles, 11)FC AFCs, 2) QA2, 1)CH/MH, 1)CH/SH, and 6) MHs, not including all the UKC/HRC titles not listed, including her momma's new UFTA Field Champion title.

She sure has the goodies behind her. Excited for hunt tests and trials in the year(s) to come for this sweet little girl.

22/11/2023

Hunting and trialing pics are amazing. But. Post like these make our hearts happy.💛

03/11/2023

Opening morning limits. It's almost unfair to the pheasants. 😎

02/11/2023

Happy THIRD Birthday to our favorite WhammerHammer Valkyrie!🩶🤎

03/10/2023

Throw back to when Ruffed Grouse were not extinct in Ohio. Hailey, Cody and Scott, in Athens County circa 1995.

30/09/2023

UFTA Open win this past weekend, and an AKC Senior Hunter pass this weekend. I just love this little girl.

25/09/2023

Great UFTA trial weekend for Team ThornValley GunDogs.

Lori placed a ThornValley great grand-puppy in a 20-plus dog Open Flushing trial. Thanks MaryBeth for letting us again run your supercharged race dog.

Scott ended up with a First Place finish in a 20+ dog Amateur Pointing trial with Valkyrie. Val is really starting to come into her own and all her hard work is paying off.

Ms. Kansas had a butchered run in the morning, but came back strong for a WIN in the Open Pointing division in very tough field conditions with 20+ dogs.

Two First Place finishes in a weekend is a first for us and a big weekend against some really great dogs and handlers.

Thanks Colin for another fantastic trial, as always!

21/09/2023

Valkyrie and Kansas on point this morning.

21/09/2023

ThornValley SunRise.

Happy Birthday morning walk with my better half Lori Baney Carpenter and my two best Labrador girls.

19/09/2023

Miss Madeline getting some bird work this morning.

19/09/2023

Just another gorgeous September morning.

14/09/2023

Picture perfect September morning for some bird work. 49⁰ at 7am.

12/09/2023

Doing some steadiness drills this morning. Getting ready for grouse camp...hunt tests...field trials...FALL!

29/08/2023

Training pics from this morning. Kansas is learning to BACK from a better distance. Valkyrie...notsomuch. LOL We are LOVING these cool crisp mornings.