Gwyndara Catch The Wind
July 17, 1998 - March 17, 2010
(Aus Ch Gwyndara's Montepelier ex Gwyndara September Morn)
Imported from Australia - OFA Good - PRA/CLAD DNA Clear

Lara Suttle's description of Catcher's natural hunting ability:

"Catcher was birdy as hell. I took him to a friend's farm where I'd released quail a few years ago, and ran him in the one acre fenced area where I knew a covey had established itself. (Useful for exposing pups, their little faces are a riot when an entire covey flushes wild if they don't stop and point.) He started working with the wind right away and was on those birds in a flash... and damn if he didn't lock up on point and stay there until I got up to where he was. I don't run dogs on a long line because they are all stronger than I am anyway AND if they pounce enough birds they seem to figure out that they can't catch them anyway so start pointing and holding point for me. I figured Catcher was going to get himself a face full of birds but he didn't. He waited until I flushed them and then he didn't even chase, he stood there with a look of WONDER on his face and watched them fly. That didn't last long, he was ripping around the place pointing them from that point on and having a great time. I was afraid he was going to keel over from exhaustion before I managed to get a leash on him.

So, next day I ran him with Dee and not on the fenced field where we know the covey is located. (Dee's too damn smart for that anyway, she just runs to where the covey is and points.) Catcher worked independently of Dee but did look to her for the proper response to my commands for turning or changing direction. He caught on pretty quickly, didn't quite back Dee when she found a single but he didn't swipe point either (she would have killed him for that and I think he knew it). She taught him a lot and he had a blast running with her but wasn't as big a runner, so she found all the birds before he caught up to her.

A week later I took Catcher out alone to see what would happen minus Dee for "inspiration". He handled really well and had a solid point. He is a more reserved hunter, not about to plow through dense cover, and has a medium range. When unsure of himself he stayed close to the handler. I think if he had more experience, those "issues" would have gone away in time. He found birds, held point even if they flushed wild on their own, and seemed to thrive on praise. He had a lot of potential. I fell in love with that dog, such a gentle soul and really very trainable if you are used to working with the "softies" like I am."

~ Lara Suttle, Subtle Irish Setters

Catcher and Dee after their day of hunting:

Catcher (left) and Dee (Right)

(Dee is officially known as Am. CH Subtle Delight CGC CD JH VC. Dee won the the walking amateur shooting dog non-regular class at the EISA field trial in Petersburg, Delaware in September 2001. She finished her American Championship with Best Of Breed wins over champions, was #7 Irish Setter in Novice B obedience for 2003 (Front and Finish) with only being entered three times in Novice B that year, just enough to finish the Companion Dog title, and was a therapy dog for many years. Dee is owned by Lara Suttle of Subtle Irish Setters in NC, USA.)

~ Pedigree ~

Breeder: Leanne Jones, Gwyndara Irish Setters, Australia
Owner: Joella Young, Florida, USA

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